The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam covers a wide range of engineering topics, including:
Mathematics: This includes topics such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. You will need to be able to apply these mathematical principles to solve engineering problems.
Computation: This includes topics such as basic computer programming and the use of computer software in engineering.
Probability and Statistics: You should be familiar with statistical analysis and probability theory, as well as how to apply these concepts to engineering problems.
Ethics and Professional Practice: The FE exam includes questions on professional and ethical responsibility, as well as the role of the engineer in society.
Engineering Economics: You should be able to perform economic analyses, such as cost-benefit analyses and present worth analyses, to evaluate engineering projects.
Engineering Mechanics: This includes topics such as statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials. You will need to be able to apply these principles to solve engineering problems.
Electrical Engineering: This includes topics such as electrical circuits, electromagnetism, and electronics.
Materials Science: You should be familiar with the properties and behavior of engineering materials, such as metals, ceramics, and polymers.
Chemical Engineering: You should be familiar with the principles of chemical engineering, including mass and energy balances, chemical reactions, and process design.
Industrial and Systems Engineering: This includes topics such as facility layout, production planning and control, and work measurement.
Civil Engineering: This includes topics such as construction materials, structural analysis, and geotechnical engineering.
Environmental Engineering: You should be familiar with the principles of environmental engineering, including water and air pollution control, solid and hazardous waste management, and environmental impact assessment.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering: You should be familiar with the principles of biological and agricultural engineering, including food and bioprocess engineering, and the design of agricultural systems and structures.
To prepare for the FE exam, you may also want to consider taking one of our guaranteed review courses to help you become familiar with the types of questions you will encounter on the exam.
Lastly, below is a more detailed look at each part of the Fundamentals of Engineering Syllabus.
Civil Engineering Syllabus
1. Mathematics and Statistics (8–12 questions)
A. Analytic geometry
B. Single-variable calculus
C. Vector operations
D. Statistics (e.g., distributions, mean, mode, standard deviation, confidence interval, regression and curve fitting)
2. Ethics and Professional Practice (4–6 questions)
A. Codes of ethics (professional and technical societies)
B. Professional liability
C. Licensure
D. Contracts and contract law
3. Engineering Economics (5–8 questions)
A. Time value of money (e.g., equivalence, present worth, equivalent annual worth, future worth, rate of return)
B. Cost (e.g., fixed, variable, direct and indirect labor, incremental, average, sunk)
C. Analyses (e.g., break-even, benefit-cost, life cycle, sustainability, renewable energy)
D. Uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk)
4. Statics (8–12 questions)
A. Resultants of force systems
B. Equivalent force systems
C. Equilibrium of rigid bodies
D. Frames and trusses
E. Centroid of area
F. Area moments of inertia
G. Static friction
5. Dynamics (4–6 questions)
A. Kinematics (e.g., particles, rigid bodies)
B. Mass moments of inertia
C. Force acceleration (e.g., particles, rigid bodies)
D. Work, energy, and power (e.g., particles, rigid bodies)
6. Mechanics of Materials (7–11 questions)
A. Shear and moment diagrams
B. Stresses and strains (e.g., diagrams, axial, torsion, bending, shear, thermal)
C. Deformations (e.g., axial, torsion, bending, thermal)
D. Combined stresses, principal stresses, and Mohr's circle
7. Materials (5–8 questions)
A. Mix design of concrete and asphalt
B. Test methods and specifications of metals, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, and wood
C. Physical and mechanical properties of metals, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, and wood
8. Fluid Mechanics 6–9
A. Flow measurement
B. Fluid properties
C. Fluid statics
D. Energy, impulse, and momentum of fluids
9. Surveying 6–9
A. Angles, distances, and trigonometry
B. Area computations
C. Earthwork and volume computations
D. Coordinate systems (e.g., state plane, latitude/longitude)
E. Leveling (e.g., differential, elevations, percent grades)
10. Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (10–15 questions)
A. Basic hydrology (e.g., infiltration, rainfall, runoff, watersheds)
B. Basic hydraulics (e.g., Manning equation, Bernoulli theorem, open-channel flow)
C. Pumps
D. Water distribution systems
E. Flood control (e.g., dams, routing, spillways)
F. Stormwater (e.g., detention, routing, quality)
G. Collection systems (e.g., wastewater, stormwater)
H. Groundwater (e.g., flow, wells, drawdown)
I. Water quality (e.g., ground and surface, basic water chemistry)
J. Testing and standards (e.g., water, wastewater, air, noise)
K. Water and wastewater treatment (e.g., biological processes, softening, drinking water treatment)
11. Structural Engineering (10–15 questions)
A. Analysis of statically determinant beams, columns, trusses, and frames
B. Deflection of statically determinant beams, trusses, and frames
C. Column analysis (e.g., buckling, boundary conditions)
D. Structural determinacy and stability analysis of beams, trusses, and frames
E. Elementary statically indeterminate structures
F. Loads, load combinations, and load paths (e.g., dead, live, lateral, influence lines and moving loads, tributary areas)
G. Design of steel components (e.g., codes and design philosophies, beams, columns, tension members, connections)
H. Design of reinforced concrete components (e.g., codes and design philosophies, beams, columns)
12. Geotechnical Engineering (10–15 questions)
A. Index properties and soil classifications
B. Phase relations
C. Laboratory and field tests
D. Effective stress
E. Stability of retaining structures (e.g., active/passive/at-rest pressure)
F. Shear strength
G. Bearing capacity
H. Foundation types (e.g., spread footings, deep foundations, wall footings, mats)
I. Consolidation and differential settlement
J. Slope stability (e.g., fills, embankments, cuts, dams) K. Soil stabilization (e.g., chemical additives, geosynthetics)
13. Transportation Engineering (9–14 questions)
A. Geometric design (e.g., streets, highways, intersections) B. Pavement system design (e.g., thickness, subgrade, drainage, rehabilitation)
C. Traffic capacity and flow theory
D. Traffic control devices E. Transportation planning (e.g., travel forecast modeling, safety, trip generation)
14. Construction Engineering (8–12 questions)
A. Project administration (e.g., documents, management, procurement, project delivery methods)
B. Construction operations and methods (e.g., safety, equipment, productivity analysis, temporary erosion control)
C. Project controls (e.g., earned value, scheduling, allocation of resources, activity relationships)
D. Construction Estimating
E. Interpretation of engineering drawings
All the questions will be asked relative to these subjects. For a more in-depth breakdown of the different disciplines, take a look at the NCEES official link. You can also see a full description of topics covered in each of these subjects in the Reference Handbook provided by NCEES. You can download it for free from:
http://ncees.org/exams/study-materials/download-fe-supplied-reference-handbook/
A hard copy of this FE exam preparation book is provided to all the examinees at the time of examination, but you are advised to download it or buy a hard copy prior to the exam and review it.