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Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Mechanical Exam
The FE Mechanical exam is the NCEES discipline-specific Fundamentals of Engineering examination for mechanical engineering graduates and seniors, generally the first step toward licensure as a Professional Engineer.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
Questions110 questions
Testing time6-hour appointment: 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time, plus 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, 8-minute tutorial, and 25-minute scheduled break
ScoringPass/fail only — no numeric score published; failing examinees receive a diagnostic report showing performance by major topic
Exam feeUSD 225 payable directly to NCEES (USD 250 at international administration sites)
Prep options
Study resources for FE Mechanical
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- NCEES
- Category
- Engineering Licensure
- Current version
- FE Mechanical CBT exam specifications effective beginning with the July 2020 examinations
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE (NCEES-approved Pearson test centers)
- Format
- Computer-based test (CBT), closed book with an electronic reference (FE Reference Handbook supplied on screen); SI and U.S. Customary units
- Availability
- Administered year-round by appointment at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers
- Results
- Results typically available within 7–10 business days, notified by email and viewable in MyNCEES
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
110 questions across 14 knowledge areas with published ranges: Mathematics (6–9), Probability and Statistics (4–6), Ethics and Professional Practice (4–6), Engineering Economics (4–6), Electricity and Magnetism (5–8), Statics (9–14), Dynamics, Kinematics, and Vibrations (10–15), Mechanics of Materials (9–14), Material Properties and Processing (7–11), Fluid Mechanics (10–15), Thermodynamics (10–15), Heat Transfer (7–11), Measurements, Instrumentation, and Controls (5–8), and Mechanical Design and Analysis (10–15).
Where rules vary
The FE exam is the uniform nationwide first step in U.S. professional engineer licensure, required by U.S. state and territorial licensing boards (the FE page lists every U.S. board); NCEES also administers it at international sites under agreements with local associations for candidates pursuing U.S. licensure.
Eligibility
Designed for recent graduates and students close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program; state licensing boards set final eligibility
Retake policy
One attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in a 12-month period