What Is EIT And EI Certification & How to Get EIT/EI Certified?
Wasim Asghar 
June 14, 2023Have you passed your FE exam? Now, what’s next?
After passing your FE exam, you can earn an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) certification, an optional credential.
The engineering intern license does not provide any exceptional legal privileges. Instead, it informs employers and peers that you have passed the FE exam and are on your route to becoming a fully licensed professional engineer (PE).
This article will discover what EIT means, what steps you can follow to earn EI certification, and what you can do after obtaining your EIT or EI license.
So let’s start by understanding the difference between EIT and EI certification:
What is Meant by EIT and EI Certification?
After passing the FE exam, prospective engineers are awarded the Engineer in Training or Engineer Intern certification, the most popularly known NCEES® certification in the United States. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES®) recognizes both the EIT and EI certification as valid designations and equivalent versions in terminology that differs from state to state.
Candidates who complete an educational program can acquire the EIT or EI certification before taking the Professional Engineer (PE) exam for earning the PE license. Obtaining the EIT or EI certification demonstrates to the employers that you are competent in the fundamentals of engineering and advancing toward professional licensing.
Furthermore, while the EI certificate isn’t mandatory, taking and passing the FE exam is, as it demonstrates your grasp of specialized engineering principles.
How to Get EIT/EI Certification?
If you’re looking to become an engineer, you may be wondering how to get EIT/EI certification. This can be a great way to show your dedication and skills as an engineer. Here we’ll outline the process of getting certified and what it can do for your career. Let’s get started.
1. Get an Engineering Degree From an Accredited Institute in the US
Complete your engineering education and earn an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited institute in the US to meet the FE exam’s eligibility requirements. A bachelor’s degree may be required on a minimum basis, depending on your specialization.
Employers in highly specialized industries such as chemical, biotechnical, nuclear, and geotechnical engineering, for example, may frequently require degrees. A diploma in engineering, on the other hand, can prepare you for a career in software, mechanical, or technical engineering fields.
While it’s possible to get your foot into engineering with a diploma, the number of employers requiring experts with degrees is increasing.
2. Study For the FE Exam
Earning an EI certificate requires passing the FE exam, also known as the EI exam, which demonstrates your skill and understanding of the industry.
So start preparing for the FE exam. Make sure to receive a free copy of the FE Reference Handbook in digital form (PDF) from NCEES®. Although you can buy a physical copy too, we recommend you become used to searching and browsing the PDF because that will be available during the official exam.
Get an NCEES® approved calculator, familiarize yourself with it, and learn the functions that will be useful during the exam.
We recommend considering our FE electrical exam preparation course, which will able you to manage time and solve FE-styled questions.
3. Register For the FE Exam
To take the FE exam, you will first need to register for it by creating a MyNCEES® account. After you sign up, you will have to pay $175 as an FE exam fee. Then, you will get access to their dashboard, where you may obtain the required test materials, register, and schedule the date for the FE exam.
Make sure to check out your state board’s requirements, as some states require you to fulfill specific needs, such as paperwork, before you register for the FE exam. In case you need help registering, check out our guide on how to register for the FE exam.
4. Give FE Exam
The next step is to give the FE test, administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES®), via each state’s licensing body.
The FE test comprises 110 questions and requires at least six hours to be completed. That time is split into four parts:
- 2 minutes for signing a non-disclosure agreement
- 8 minutes for the exam tutorial
- 5 hours and 20 minutes for the actual test
- 25 minutes for a scheduled break
We have a complete guide on what is on the FE exam. We highly recommend checking it out.
5. Get Your EIT/EI Certificate
Gaining an engineering intern license is necessary to obtain a Professional Engineer license.
You can fill out and submit your EI or EIT certification application on the NCEES® website, where you can also access your test results, including the EIT. Test scores, completion dates, and verification of a degree or diploma in your engineering field are among the prerequisites that vary from state to state. The NCEES® confirms you once you are approved and then mails you your EI certification.
What Next After Getting an Engineer in Training Certificate?
You’re on your path to becoming a professional engineer after earning your EI or EIT certification. Consider the following steps to expand your engineering training and study after passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and acquiring your EI certification:
- Earn a minimum of four years of experience as an engineer before applying for the PE exam.
- Head over to your state licensing board’s website to find out what requirements you must fulfill before you start studying for the PE exam.
- Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, designed to ensure that the candidates have a basic understanding of one specific engineering discipline.
- Apply for full-time field-specific engineering positions after becoming a licensed professional engineer.
Conclusion
EIT and EI certification shows that the person has passed the FE exam but requires sufficient work experience to become a licensed professional engineer (PE).
You can get your EI certification by earning a degree from an ABET-accredited school, taking and passing the FE exam, and submitting an application to your state board.
We hope this article clarifies the difference between EIT and EI certification and how to get one.
Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas (PE), Florida (PE) and Ontario (P. Eng) with consulting experience in design, commissioning and plant engineering for clients in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure.