NCEES
FE Civil
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil Exam
The discipline-specific FE exam for civil engineers, usually taken near graduation. Passing the FE is the required first step toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in the United States.
What's on the exam
FE Civil CBT Exam Specifications (effective July 2020)
Mathematics
7–11 questionsAnalytic geometry · Single-variable calculus · Vector operations · Differential equations
Probability and Statistics
4–6 questionsDistributions · Mean, mode, standard deviation · Confidence intervals · Regression and curve fitting
Computational Tools
4–6 questionsSpreadsheet computations · Structured programming concepts · Logic and flowcharts
Ethics and Professional Practice
4–6 questionsCodes of ethics · Professional liability · Licensure · Contracts and contract law
Engineering Economics
4–6 questionsTime value of money · Cost analyses · Benefit-cost and life-cycle analysis · Depreciation
Statics
7–11 questionsResultants of force systems · Equilibrium of rigid bodies · Frames and trusses · Centroids and moments of inertia
Dynamics
4–6 questionsKinematics · Kinetics · Work and energy · Mass moments of inertia
Mechanics of Materials
7–11 questionsStress and strain · Axial, shear, and bending stresses · Combined stresses · Deflection of beams
Materials
4–6 questionsConcrete mix design · Steel and aggregate properties · Asphalt · Material testing
Fluid Mechanics
4–6 questionsFluid properties and statics · Energy, impulse, and momentum · Pipe flow · Open-channel flow
Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems
8–12 questionsBasic hydrology and runoff · Manning equation and Bernoulli theorem · Water distribution systems · Stormwater and groundwater
Structural Analysis
6–9 questionsAnalysis of forces and deflections · Stability and determinacy · Loads and load paths · Influence lines
Structural Design
6–9 questionsReinforced concrete design · Structural steel design · Codes and standards · Member design
Geotechnical Engineering
9–14 questionsSoil classification and properties · Effective stress and consolidation · Bearing capacity · Slope stability · Foundations
Transportation Engineering
8–12 questionsGeometric design · Traffic analysis · Pavement design · Highway safety
Environmental Engineering
6–9 questionsWater and wastewater treatment · Air quality · Solid and hazardous waste · Water quality
Construction
4–6 questionsProject scheduling · Cost estimating · Construction safety · Earthwork and material handling
Surveying
4–6 questionsAngles, distances, and trigonometry · Area and volume computations · Coordinate systems · Leveling
Frequently asked questions
How much does the FE Civil cost?
The FE Civil costs $175. NCEES exam fee; some state boards add separate application fees.
How long is the FE Civil and how many questions does it have?
110 questions — 6 hours (includes tutorial and an optional scheduled break).
What do you need to pass the FE Civil?
Scaled pass/fail standard set by NCEES (no fixed percentage).
Can you retake the FE Civil?
Up to 3 attempts in a 12-month period.
What is the best way to study for the FE Civil?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Mathematics 7–11 questions, Probability and Statistics 4–6 questions, Computational Tools 4–6 questions, Ethics and Professional Practice 4–6 questions, Engineering Economics 4–6 questions, Statics 7–11 questions, Dynamics 4–6 questions, Mechanics of Materials 7–11 questions, Materials 4–6 questions, Fluid Mechanics 4–6 questions, Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems 8–12 questions, Structural Analysis 6–9 questions, Structural Design 6–9 questions, Geotechnical Engineering 9–14 questions, Transportation Engineering 8–12 questions, Environmental Engineering 6–9 questions, Construction 4–6 questions, Surveying 4–6 questions). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
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