What To Do After Passing FE Exam?

The most frequently asked question that we get from students who have passed the FE exam is:

What to do after passing the FE exam?

If you are one of them, then take a sigh of relief. Because we have brought to you this article that will cover all the steps necessary to be taken after passing the FE exam.

So, let’s start by looking at what passing the FE exam means. 

What Does Passing the FE Exam Mean?

If you have succeeded in passing the FE exam, then congratulations! Because it means you have achieved the milestone of becoming an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineering Intern (EI).

But still, there’s a long way to go to become a professional engineer.

If you have not passed the FE exam yet and are still waiting for the FE exam date, we recommend taking our online FE course for guaranteed results!

Passed the FE Exam! Now What?

Whether you have successfully passed the FE exam or are still standing in the queue to take the FE exam, let’s look at what to do after passing the FE exam.

Here is a step by step guide:

1. Get Your EIT (Engineer In Training) Certificate
2. Build a Resume
3. Look for an Entry-level Job & Gain Experience
4. Start Preparation for The PE Exam
5. Get PE Certified

1. Get Your EIT (Engineer In Training) Certificate From the State Board

Check Your State’s Requirements:

Check your state’s requirements where you want your certification before registering for the FE exam on the NCEES® website. Because every state has its specifications and some states require you to do some paperwork before taking the exam, make sure to do that earlier.

Register for the FE exam:

Register for the FE exam by heading over to the NCEES® website and creating a My NCEES® account. 

Pay the FE exam fee:

Pay the examination fees. The cost of the FE exam is $175, but some state boards require additional fee charges.

Pass the FE Exam:

Take the FE exam and pass it. Don’t forget to check our step-by-step guide to prepare for the FE exam.  It will help you make a better study schedule and solve many FE-styled questions.    

Apply to your state board to get your EIT certificate:

Submit an application to your state board and provide them with evidence that you have passed the FE exam. Pay the additional fee if required. You will then receive your Engineer in Training  (EIT) certificate in the mail.

2. Build a Resume

Building a resume is an essential step in acquiring the required engineering experience. But suppose you do not have much relevant work experience. In that case, you can focus more on the skills you have utilized in the other non-tech positions and put them on your resume. Make sure also to mention field and career-related courses in your resume.

Here are some sections that you must include in your engineering resume:

• Contact information (name, email, contact number)
• Objective (aims and goals)
• Skills (engineering-related skills such as maths skills, and problem-solving skills)
• Education (name of the school, courses, extracurricular activities)
• Certifications (name of engineering certificate and institute)
• Experience (work experience, internships, volunteer work)

3. Look for an Entry-level Job & Gain Experience

Start looking for entry-level engineering jobs as soon as you pass the FE exam and become an EIT. They will add the required experience to become a professional engineer under your belt. In most states, the PE exam requirements include gaining knowledge and four years of experience in engineering.

And as you are an EIT, you will have to attain experience by working under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer.

4. Start Preparation for The PE Exam

After you have earned all the required engineering experience, you must start preparing for the PE exam. For this, you will need to follow these steps:

• Buy the NCEES® PE reference handbook and get familiar with the key outlines.
• Purchase an online PE review course. You can also enroll in our online preparation course for the PE exam. It includes 100+ quizzes and lectures, detailed explanations, and many practice problems. 
• Make a proper study schedule.
• Cover every topic in detail.
• Practice problems as much as you can.

You can also read our comprehensive step-by-step guide about PE exam preparation for better understanding and preparation. 

5. Get PE Certified

Finally, get certified as a professional engineer after passing the PE exam and filing paperwork with your state board. There are many reasons why you should consider getting your PE (Professional Engineer) certification. For one, it can help improve your career prospects and earnings potential.

In addition, PE certification can also help you be more marketable to employers and clients, and give you a competitive edge when bidding on projects as an independent entity.

Why Get PE Certified If You Already Passed the FE Test

Even after you pass the FE exam, you need to get PE certified because:

The FE exam or the EIT certification doesn’t make you a licensed engineer and you won’t get any special privileges. It is just an indication for your employers that you have passed the FE exam and are now eligible for becoming a fully licensed professional engineer.

Whereas:

The PE Certification sets you apart from the crowd. You cannot put the title of ‘’engineer’’ before your name if you haven’t earned the PE license.

With the PE Certification, you can have the following benefits:

• Earn more money as compared to unlicensed engineers
• Gain engineering management positions of higher-level
• Legally stamp and seal drawings
• Own an engineering enterprise

How Soon You Can Give the PE Exam After Passing FE

As soon as you become an EIT after passing the FE exam and gaining four years of authorized engineering experience, you become eligible to give the PE exam. But it varies from state to state. Some states allow you to take the PE exam before attaining authorized engineering experience of four years.

However, it does not mean that experience is not a prerequisite in those states. It just means that it is not necessary for the PE exam.

Conclusion

Passing the FE exam is crucial for taking the PE exam and becoming a licensed professional engineer. Once you have passed the FE exam, all you need to do next is to get EIT certification, build a resume, gain experience under a licensed PE, prepare for and pass the PE exam, and finally become a certified PE.

After reading our in-depth article, we hope that you now know what to do after passing the FE exam. If you have any further queries regarding this topic, please let us know in the comments section.

Wasim Asghar – P.E, P.ENG, M.ENG

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.

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