FAQs

The FE Civil exam is a 6-hour, computer-based exam given in two consecutive sessions separated by a scheduled break, with 110 questions split evenly between sessions. Questions are multiple-choice or alternative item types. You register on the NCEES website, and NCEES partners with Pearson VUE to administer the exam at test centers. You may need to plan for possible travel to your nearest test center location.
For most civil engineers, yes. The FE is the first step to the PE license, and PE licensure is common (and often required) in civil engineering for signing/sealing public-infrastructure work and for promotions. While not every employer mandates it, the majority of civil career paths expect an EIT/PE credential.
The FE Civil exam is demanding but very passable with preparation. It is the highest-volume FE exam (roughly 25,000 examinees a year). Examinees who take it near graduation pass at higher rates. Consistent practice with exam-like problems is the strongest predictor of success.
They test overlapping fundamentals, but the FE Civil exam is tailored to civil topics (surveying, structural, geotechnical, transportation, water resources, construction), while FE Other Disciplines is broader and more general. Most civil candidates find FE Civil a better fit because the questions mirror their coursework and daily work. Choose FE Civil if you're pursuing civil or structural licensure.
Plan for 2–4 months of consistent study if you're a recent graduate, and 3+ months if you've been out of school for several years. Many civil engineering undergraduate programs run their own FE review, so recent grads often need only to shore up weak topics. Focus your time on the highest-weighted areas and work as many exam-like practice problems as possible.
PPI's FE Civil practice questions are built to mirror the real exam: they reference the correct NCEES FE Reference Handbook sections, match the exam's length and multiple-choice format, and cover a realistic difficulty range. Materials are updated through continuous improvement whenever NCEES revises the specifications or Handbook.
The most effective FE Civil prep combines three things: mastering the NCEES FE Reference Handbook so you can find equations fast, working topic-by-topic practice problems weighted to the exam specifications, and taking full-length timed practice exams to build pace. PPI's FE Civil Review and Practice, plus the study plans in the PPI Learning Hub, structure all three for you.
NCEES does not publish a fixed passing score. The exam is scored with a scaled, psychometric method, so the exact number varies by administration. In practice, examinees typically need roughly 60% of questions correct to pass. PPI recommends aiming for 75% on practice exams to build a comfortable buffer; our quizzes benchmark you against that 75% target.
The FE Civil exam is a closed-book, computer-based test (CBT) of 110 questions delivered in two sessions over a 6-hour appointment. You cannot bring reference books. The only reference is the searchable electronic NCEES FE Reference Handbook provided on-screen. Questions are multiple-choice and alternative item types, and a knowledge area never spans both sessions.
The FE Civil exam covers: Mathematics & Statistics; Ethics & Professional Practice; Engineering Economics; Statics; Dynamics; Mechanics of Materials; Materials; Fluid Mechanics; Surveying; Water Resources & Environmental Engineering; Structural Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Transportation Engineering; and Construction Engineering. Each area carries a set number of questions, so weight your study time accordingly: PPI's study plans do this automatically.
The NCEES FE Exam is a 6-hour-long, computer-based exam given over two consecutive sessions separated by a break. There are 110 questions total, split evenly between the two sessions. Questions will be multiple choice or AITs (Alternative Item Types). Questions with the same exam-specified knowledge area may not be grouped together, but no knowledge area will span both sessions.  

You will have to register to take the exam beforehand on the NCEES website at NCEES.org. NCEES partners with Pearson VUE to administer their exams at their test centers. You may have to travel a long distance away from where you live to arrive at the closest one to you. In that case, it is recommended you get a hotel nearby. It is also highly recommended that you visit the testing center before exam day to ensure that day goes smoothly.

The exam includes a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, a 25-minute break between the two sessions, and a brief survey at the conclusion of the exam. You will have 5 hours and 20 minutes to actually answer the questions, working out to approximately 3 minutes per question. You may work through the problems in any sequence, and may return to questions within the same session. Once the session is submitted, you will not be able to return to those questions.

PPI’s FE Learning Hub is designed to mimic the exam-day experience and prepare you for the computer-based test format, so we recommend utilizing that resource before your exam day. 

For more information about what to expect, see this article from our Resource Center.

What Our Customers Say

Sharker
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FE Customer
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FE Customer
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FE Customer
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Peter
"As an engineer with a 30-year hiatus between undergraduate degree and taking the exam, I found the course to be a great review and overview of all the necessary engineering concepts and an excellent preparation for the FE Exam.”
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FE Mechanical Customer
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FE Electrical Customer
“I passed right after taking this course! The course is set up to make you accountable for the homework and quizzes, and gives you the structure you need. Thanks PPI!"
Joey
"This course helped me tremendously! It’s hard for me to make and follow my own study schedule. The structure of the class was what I needed, and it was very beneficial to me. If you’ve been out of school for a few years, this is the course to take.”
Will
"The review course does an excellent job of providing many different problems for you to solve. Here's the catch: you still need to put in the effort and solve the problems. I don't normally like online format courses, but this one was better than most. The instructors are super responsive."
Phillip
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