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Reviewing for Professional Engineering Exams 110/16/07 Rev. 1.1

Professional Engineering Exam Review

Jeffrey J. Burchill, P.E.

Reviewing forFE (Fundamentals of Engineering)

PE (Principals and Practice)

Exams


Terms and Organizations• EIT – Engineer in Training• FE – Fundamentals of Engineering• PE – Professional Engineer• P&P – Principles and Practice

NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying)*

- Creates exam content

OP (Office of the Professionals for New York State)*

- Jurisdiction and Licensing of Professional Engineers

NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers)*

- Voice and advocate of Licensed Professional Engineers

PPI (Professional Publications Inc.)*

- Review materials* Contact information provided at end.


Application to New York StateForms

- Form 1 : Registration (All)- Form 2 : Certification of Professional Education (All)- Form 3 & 4 if needed for experience (FE)- Form 3 ,4, 4A : Report of Professional Experience (PE)

Deadlines- Must be postmarked by November 1st for April exams- Must be postmarked by May 1st for October exams

Fees to New York State- $75 (FE)- $345 (PE)

Additional fee to test administrator (Castle)Information and forms available on NYS OP website


CalculatorsWhat is the calculator policy? What calculators may I bringto the exam?Only models of calculators approved by NCEES are permitted in the examroom. No other models of calculators or variations of the models listed beloware permitted in the exam room. The following are the only calculators thatwill be permitted in the exam room for the 2007 exam administrations.Hewlett Packard – HP 33SCasio – FX 115MS or FX 115MSPlus (may have SR designation)Texas Instruments – TI 30X IISTexas Instruments – TI 36X SOLAR

Each year, NCEES will review and revise the approved calculator list andthen announce the updated list by November 15.


“The Pencil”“Only NCEES-supplied marking and erasing instruments are permitted for use in theexamination room. Mechanical pencils will be provided. Each pencil has an eraser and ispreloaded with three pieces of 0.7-mm HB lead. This is the only writing instrumentallowed. Candidates may NOT bring lead or erasers. If necessary, proctors will issueadditional pencils to examinees during the exam.” - NCEES


Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) ExamExam tests knowledge of subject matter covered inEAC/ABET accredited baccalaureate engineeringcurriculum.

Exam specifications on NCEES website:- Morning 4hrs.

Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Economics, etc.- Afternoon 4hrs.

Choice of General or Discipline specific exam- 180 multiple choice questions

120 questions in the morning 60 questions in the afternoon

- Closed book, only NCEES reference book is allowed.


Choice: General vs. Discipline Specific

FE Exam Choices:- Other/General Engineering exam: Similar subject matter

as morning exam, problems are more in-depth

- Discipline specific exam: review discipline subject matter Civil Chemical Mechanical Electrical Environmental Industrial


General vs. Discipline Specific (Afternoon)

Personal choice:- If you are recently out of school, general exam

may be easier- If you have been working, discipline specific exam

may be easier


Recommended Study Materials - FE

NCEES Reference Manualdownload .PDF or paperFE Review manual

Discipline - Specific (Afternoon)General Engineering (Afternoon)

Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical,Electrical, Industrial

NCEES Sample questions & solutions

NCEES Sample questions &solutions (discipline-specific)

Discipline-SpecificReview Manual

OR

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Principals and Practice (PE) ExamThe Principles and Practice exams test academicknowledge and knowledge gained in engineeringpractice.Exam specifications on NCEES website

- Morning exam 4hrs Breadth

- Afternoon exam 4hrs Depth: Subject choice for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical

disciplines- 80-100 questions multiple choice- Open book, check with local jurisdiction if in doubt

about what reference material is allowed


PE Exam Overview• Knowledge of codes/design standards is needed.

- Check exam specifications for codes/design standards- Check NCEES website for correct versions

• Not all questions require calculations.- Example: Why is A better than B ?

• Unnecessary information may be includedin the questions.

• Engineering judgment is needed.


Recommended Study Materials - PE

Practice Problems Sample Exam

Select appropriate discipline: Civil, Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial

NCEES Samplequestions & solutions

Reference Manual

Select appropriate Codes and Standards needed: Refer to NCEES website for details


Follow the review course schedule- Review before class, this can help to get more from the session.

Work as many problems as possible- “Work” the problem, don’t just read it.

Study as many subject areas as possible from the examspecifications, this will increase chances for success.

Use calculator of choice when working problems- There will not be time on the exam to become familiar with a calculator.

Take a timed practice exam

Exam Study Strategies


Study Strategies (Reference Material)Use NCEES reference manual when working problems

- This is the only reference allowed in the exam, become familiar with it.- A “fresh” copy will be provided at the exam.

Use reference materials when working problems- Organize and work with your references, codes and design standards- Have a good index to quickly look up subjects in your reference books

FE Reference Handbook

Applicable codes and standards Reference materials - reference

manual, text books, worked problems, etc.

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Exam StrategiesRead the problem carefully, what is being asked?Time:

- FE exam 2 minutes/problem (morning) 4 minutes/problem (afternoon)

- PE exam 6 minutes/problem

Watch your time- If the problem seems to be taking too much time, you may be

reading too deep into it or taking the wrong approach.

There is no penalty for guessing- If you cannot get a correct answer, guess, circle the question

and return to it if time permits.

Watch units and conversions- All answers may seem reasonable.


Scoring and Pass Rates• NCEES committee determines score to be minimally

competent• No set number to Pass or Fail the exam• 12 weeks to get results from New York State• PASS or FAIL grade is issued

- In the event of a FAIL grade a diagnostic report will be issued

37%51%PE Structural II

25%38%PE Structural I

100%89%PE Naval Architecture/Marine

30%64%PE Mechanical

35%73%PE Environmental

27%66%PE Electrical and Computer

34%67%PE Civil

27%81%PE Chemical

Repeat takersFirst-time takersExamination

29%77%General

33%80%Mechanical

26%61%Industrial

35%81%Environmental

19%69%Electrical

36%76%Civil

46%85%Chemical

Repeattakers

First-timetakers

ExaminationModule

FE Exam (April 2007) PE Exam (April 2007)

Exam Pass Rates


Summary• Paperwork and Deadlines for New York State• Determine what to study:

- FE exam, general or discipline specific?- PE exam, depth within discipline?

• Acquire study materials• Follow review course schedule• Study as many subject areas as possible• Use reference materials when studying• Take a timed practice exam

STUDY and you will be successful!

Questions?


Resources and Information

SUNY- ESFhttp://www.esf.edu/outreach/pd/2007/pe/

National Council of Examiners of Engineering and Surveyingwww.ncees.org

New York State Office of the Professionalshttp://www.op.nysed.gov/pe.htm

Professional Publications Inc. (Review materials for exams)http://ppi2pass.com/ppi/PPIShop

National Society of Professional Engineershttp://www.nspe.org

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