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The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam will be given on Saturday, April 13, 2013 for currently enrolled Mississippi State University Bagley College of Engineering undergraduates. The exam location will be announced by the NCEES Exam Proctor at a later date. Note that the process for registering for the exam has changed from the past and you should this entire page carefully.

The State Board of Licensures has contracted with a testing service, ELSES, to proctor the FE and PE exams. This means that the submission of your FE application and registration for the FE Exam are now two, distinct processes. To take the exam you must successfully complete both processes. Information on why this change has been made can be found below.

In conjunction with the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors, the following requirements have been established regarding when particular students may sit for the FE Exam. These requirements have been reviewed and recommended by each academic department and were set based on when students are best prepared to take the FE Exam. These requirements were requested by the respective department.

Students must be either in their last semester in the Bagley College or in their senior year. Each student must have their standing verified by their academic department. For those students who must be in their last semester to take the exam the following rules apply: December graduates may take the FE Exam during the Fall cycle ONLY; May and August graduates may take the FE Exam during the Spring Cycle ONLY.

Department	Standing Required to Apply for FE Exam
Aerospace Engineering	Senior Year
Biological Engineering	Senior Year
Chemical Engineering	Senior Year
Civil Engineering	Last Semester
Computer Engineering	Senior Year
Electrical Engineering	Senior Year
Industrial Engineering	Senior Year
Mechanical Engineering	Senior Year
Software Engineering	Senior Year

 

Former students and graduate students must apply to take the exam through the State Board of Licensures. Please see the Board website for application deadlines and application forms. The deadlines for graduate students and former students are different from those for currently enrolled students. (http://www.pepls.state.ms.us)

If you are currently enrolled in the Bagley College as an undergraduate, you may take advantage of a simplified application process. An electronic form based on Adobe Acrobat technology is available for download. In order to complete the form, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available for free download at http://www.adobe.com. Download and complete the FE application form, then print it, in black and white ONLY, on 8-1/2 X 11 inch white paper. You can type text into the fields on the form so you can complete it on your computer. Sign the form, have your department sign the approval page, and deliver it to Laura Bryan in room 160 McCain  Engineering ONLY between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. along with a check or money order for the $25.00 application fee made payable to the State Board of Licensure for PE’s. Do not bring cash. You should also bring your MSU Student ID card when you submit your application. Applications will be accepted February 18-20, 2013. When you submit your application, the College will take your photograph and attach it to your application at no cost to you. This form does not need to be notarized and your photograph must be current. Do not use school pictures, snapshots, or other portraits. Late applications will NOT be accepted.

Your application will be placed on microfiche by the State Board so it must be a clean, clear, copy. Forms that are printed poorly will not be accepted. High school photos, photo proofs, or snapshots are not acceptable for the application form. The College will make a photograph for you at no cost. Hand written forms will not be accepted. Applications without a check or money order will not be accepted. We will not hold aplications until you can pay.

Once you have submitted your FE Exam application to the College, you must then register and pay for the exam itself. This must be done on the NCEES web site and must be completed on or before Feb. 21, 2013. There will be no exceptions to this deadline.

To register for the exam, go to www.ncees.org, click on Exams and read the information on the page. You may then click one of two buttons on the bottom of the page. If you would like to pay the $125 exam fee by credit card then click the on-line registration button. If you would like to pay by check or money order, click the Mail-In Registration button for a pdf form that you can fill out and mail in. Note the form must be received by NCEES on or before Feb. 21, 2013. Merely having the form postmarked by the deadline will not allow you take the exam. Regardless of which method you choose to register for the exam, indicate that you wish to take the exam at Mississippi State University.

Should you encounter problems with the registration process please contact ELSES and also email Robert Green (green@bagley.msstate.edu) with specific details of the problem.

Exam date: Saturday, April 13, 2013

Exam location: To Be Announced by the NCEES Proctor

Applications accepted: Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.; February 18-20. Late applications will not be accepted.

Exam Registration received by NCEES: Feb. 21, 2013

 

Refunds will not be given. The Bagley College of Engineering is only collecting the FE Exam Application fee for the State Board of Licensure and once received, your application will be forwarded to the Board. NCEES is collecting the examination fee directly.

 

What calculator can I use on the exam?

NCEES only allows certain calculators to be used on the FE Exam. It is the responsibility of the examinee to be aware of those calculators which are allowed and to have one available for use on the exam. Neither NCEES, the Bagley College of Engineering, nor Mississippi State University provide calculators for use on the FE Exam. The list of allowable calculators is reviewed and updated each year and the list is posted on the NCEES web site by November 15 of each year. To see the current NCEES calculator policy and calculators allowed for use on the exam, please visit this website: www.ncees.org/Exams/Exam-day_policies/Calculator_policy.php.

Why can I not just register with NCEES to take the exam?

Registering to take the exam and applying for the exam are two separate events. They always have been two separate events but they seemed to be one given the process we used. To take the FE Exam you must first apply to the State Board of Registration and be admitted to take the exam. For currently enrolled undergraduate students this process has been delegated to the College of Engineering. Once you are verified as being a graduating senior, you are permitted to take the exam and your FE application and fee will be forwarded to the State Board. You must then register with NCEES to take the exam. This will ensure that an exam is ordered for you, that there is a seat for you at the exam site, and that you will be admitted to take the exam.

I would like to take the exam but I'm not sure if I'm ready for it. What should I do?

Successfully passing the FE Exam requires that you know the fundamentals of engineering and have spent some time reviewing for the course. Typically seniors are ready for the exam but even then they need to have taken certain courses. If you are in doubt about your ability to take and pass the exam, talk to your advisor or department head. They can give you the best guidance.

I've heard the exam is hard and I'd like to take it once just see what it is like. Can I do that?

Why would anyone want to spend their money and an entire Saturday taking this exam? The FE Exam is comprehensive and can be difficult. However, students who have taken the proper courses and adequately reviewed for the exam should not have trouble passing. We require that you not take the exam unless you are a senior and have done some preparation for the exam. The exam is offered on campus each Fall and Spring semester so it is possible for you to take them exam once you are ready and to do well on it.

Do I really need to study for the FE Exam?

Yes! The FE Exam is a comprehensive test of the knowledge you have gained throughout your undergraduate education. The exam is a test of your knowledge of fundamental engineering topics and you are most likely rusty on some them. A structured review prior to the exam will help you recall the information you may not have readily available and to pass the exam the first time you take it. Students who have failed the exam in the past say they believe they would have passed had they reviewed a little. The students who do pass say that the review was a big help in passing.

I was told that everyone fails the exam the first time they take it. Is that true?

No. Students who are prepared for the exam, have done some review of the material on the exam, and who come to the exam rested, do well when they take the exam. Many people pass the exam the first time they take it. You should too.

I don't really need to be a licensed Professional Engineer so should I bother to take the FE Exam?

Yes you should. There is no better time to take the FE Exam than when you are in school. While you may not need to be a registered professional engineer for you first job, many engineers have found themselves changing jobs mid-career and having a PE has been a tremendous help to them. Should you choose to consult or even hold some governmental jobs, being registered is required. Many employers look favorably upon registration even if it is not specifically required.

I am not currently an enrolled undergraduate, Why can’t I take the exam on campus since it’s closer to me than Jackson?

The State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers has delegated the authority to approve applications for currently enrolled undergraduates to a representative of the College. The reason for this is the College can easily verify eligibility requirements for currently enrolled students. If you are not currently enrolled as an undergraduate you must apply through the State Board and get their permission to sit for the exam on campus.

I'm a graduate student, Can I take the exam on campus?

Not currently. Given the recent changes in how the exam is to be administered there is currently not an option for graduate students to take the exam on campus. You may take the exam in Jackson but must apply through the Board of Licensure. This question is under review by the Board and will be updated once a final decision has been reached.

Why is it cheaper to take the exam in Jackson?

It is NOT less expensive to take the exam in Jackson. This is a point of frequent confusion caused by the way the College collects fees. When you take the exam in Jackson you first submit your application with an application fee of $25.00. When you are cited for an exam you must then register with NCEES to take the examination. When you apply on campus you submit only one check which includes the application fee. The fee is then submitted to the Board in Jackson by the College. The application fee covers the processing, microfilming, and storing of your application. The exam fee you pay to NCEES covers the costs of obtaining an exam and having it graded.

I have my Reference Manual. Is that all I need to study?

No. The reference manual available on the NCEES website is not a study guide. A few years ago there was no limit on the number of reference books you could bring to the exam. What we found was that many examinees brought the wrong books, and/or spent too much time looking up reference information. As a result the reference manual was developed. This manual contains all of the data, formulae, tables, graphs, etc. you will need to answer the exam questions. You need to become familiar with the manual so that you can easily find the information you need when taking the exam.

What should I do to prepare for the FE?

Preparation for the FE is what your undergraduate is all about. You can not learn all you need to know for the exam the week before. Early preparation is essential. Keep in mind the FE exam is testing fundamental knowledge typically expected of all engineers. Detailed study of a particular topic is usually not your best use of time. You may want to obtain a few reference books or study guides to help you prepare. A sample exam can help relieve some anxiety by letting you see what the exam will be like.

Why can't I use my own pencil on the exam?

The NCEES has set a new policy that requires all examinees to use an NCEES supplied mechanical pencil. As merely proctors for this exam, we have no ability to change the policy but must simply abide by it.

How do I contact the Board?

The Mississippi State Board can be contacted by phone at: 601-359-6160. Their mailing address is:

Mississippi State Board of Licensure
for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
660 North Street, Suite 400
Jackson, MS 39202

The Board's web site is: www.pepls.state.ms.us

Why is the test given on Saturday?

The testing dates are set by NCEES and can not be changed by the State Boards. The exam is given nationwide on the same date so going to another state will not get you a more convenient test date.

I do not plan to work in Mississippi so should I wait to take the FE exam when I get a job?

No. You should take the FE Exam as soon as you think you are ready. All 50 states will honor your exam results since it is a national exam. When you are ready to move on to the next step, registration as a Professional Engineer, Mississippi will provide your FE Exam results to the state in which you will be registered.

What are the future exam dates?

The FE Exam is given twice a year. Future dates are:

Year	Spring Dates	Fall Dates
2013	April 13	October 26

 

Why do majors have to be graduating seniors and others only need to be in their senior year to apply for the exam?

Each engineering program is slightly different in how material is covered. While it might be best to wait until your senior year to take the exam so that you have completed more of your coursework, some departments have scheduling conflicts that make it difficult for some students to take the exam during their last semester. These departments also think that students have already covered sufficient material to pass the exam as long as they are in their senior year. Other departments however, think that students need to be in their final semester (graduating seniors) before they sit for the exam. (Exceptions are made to allow students who plan to graduate in August to take the exam during the Spring semester).

Do you have other questions? If so then please send them to Robert Green at green@bagley.msstate.edu. Your question and answer may well be added to the above list.

These links will provide you with additional information of the FE Exam, review books, and the registration process.

To register for the exam with NCEES: http://www.ncees.org/Exams/States/MS.php

Mississippi State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors: http://www.pepls.state.ms.us/

National Society of Professional Engineers: www.nspe.org

National Council of Engineering and Surveyor Examiners: http://www.ncees.org/

Kaplan AEC Education: www.kaplanaecengineering.com

Professional Publications, Inc.: http://www.ppi2pass.com

Mississippi Engineering Society: http://www.msengsoc.org

MSU Bookstore: http://msstate.bncollege.com