Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first major milestone toward full licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE). This accomplishment confirms your foundational technical knowledge and demonstrates a commitment to the engineering profession’s standards. Passing the FE is the required initial step toward becoming a licensed PE, which unlocks the ability to seal engineering documents, offer services directly to the public, and take full legal responsibility for professional work.
Formalizing Your Status as an Engineer in Training
Passing the FE exam does not automatically confer the status of Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI). After receiving your FE results, you must formally apply to your state’s licensing board for the EIT or EI designation. This certification formally recognizes that you have met the educational and initial examination requirements for licensure.
The EIT status is important because it officially begins the accrual period for your qualifying professional experience, a mandatory step before the final PE exam. This state-specific application often involves submitting transcripts to verify your accredited engineering degree, along with official FE exam results managed through NCEES records.
Understanding the Qualifying Experience Requirement
The next major requirement is a mandatory period of progressive, supervised engineering work experience separating the FE and PE exams. Most jurisdictions require a minimum of four years of experience after receiving an accredited undergraduate degree before an applicant is eligible for PE licensure. This experience must be progressive, demonstrating an increasing level of responsibility and complexity over the four-year period.
The work must be performed under the direct supervision of a currently licensed Professional Engineer (PE). This supervisor will ultimately attest to the quality and nature of your work. Direct supervision ensures the developing engineer applies theoretical knowledge in a practical and responsible setting under the guidance of a legally accountable professional. Experience that does not involve the meaningful application of engineering principles under a licensed PE may not count toward the required duration.
Strategically Gaining Supervised Engineering Experience
Securing employment that provides genuine engineering responsibility and supervision is a strategic undertaking during this period. Actively seek roles where a licensed PE is directly involved in reviewing and approving your calculations, designs, and reports. The quality and depth of this experience will be scrutinized by the state board during the final application review.
Meticulous documentation of your work is necessary for a successful PE application. Maintain a detailed log of projects, specific responsibilities, engineering principles applied, and hours spent under the supervision of each licensed PE. This documentation must demonstrate a progression of engineering competencies, moving from basic tasks to more complex problem-solving. Establishing a strong professional relationship with a PE mentor is advisable, as these references must confirm the duration and nature of your supervised experience for final licensure approval.
Preparing for the Professional Engineer Exam
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is the final testing hurdle, designed for engineers who have accumulated sufficient professional experience. Unlike the FE exam, the PE exam is discipline-specific, requiring selection from specializations like Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical engineering. This selection should align with the majority of your qualifying work experience and your long-term career path.
Preparation for this eight-hour, depth-focused examination should begin well in advance of your eligibility date. Utilizing official NCEES practice exams is recommended to become familiar with the format and complexity of the questions. Many candidates benefit from joining formal study groups or enrolling in structured review courses specific to their chosen discipline. A study plan spanning six to nine months is often necessary to ensure mastery of the advanced technical content.
Navigating the PE Application and Licensure Process
Once the required work experience is complete, the final administrative phase involves submitting a comprehensive application package to the state board. This package typically includes official academic transcripts, detailed summaries of your work experience, and documentation proving the duration of time spent under PE supervision. The application often requires a fee and may take several weeks or months for the state board to process.
A central component of the application is securing professional references from currently licensed PEs who have directly overseen your work. These references must verify the progressive nature of your experience. The board uses these references to validate the claims made in your work history. In some states, you may be approved to sit for the PE exam before this application is finalized. In others, the full application and experience verification must be approved before you receive authorization to test.
Maintaining Your Professional Engineering License
Achieving the Professional Engineer license carries an ongoing professional responsibility. Once licensed, PEs must adhere to mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or Professional Development Hours (PDH) requirements to keep the license current. These requirements ensure that licensed engineers maintain competency and stay informed of technological and regulatory changes within the profession.
The typical requirement is 24 to 30 PDH units over a biennial (two-year) renewal cycle, though this varies by state. Many jurisdictions mandate a minimum number of hours dedicated to ethics, professional conduct, or state-specific statutes and rules. Licenses must be periodically renewed, and failure to meet the required PDH can result in the license being suspended or revoked.