Earning a graduate degree is one way to bolster your resume and make you a more desirable job candidate. However, it’s not the only one. You can also pursue licensure.
For the engineering profession, licensure requirements are established by the individual states. However, they generally rely on the exams administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Obtaining a professional engineering (PE) license requires passing two standardized exams: FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam and PE (Professional Engineer) exam.
The Fundamentals of Engineering exam can be taken by recent graduates and undergrad students who are nearing their graduation date. The FE exam is offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing sites. It’s a six-hour exam (including an optional break time) that features 110 questions. Here’s a quick look at a few of the topic areas covered on the exam:
- Mathematics, including algebra, complex numbers, calculus and vector analysis
- Probability and statistics
- Ethics and professional practice
- Engineering economics
- Properties of electrical materials
- Circuit analysis
- Signal processing
Once you’ve passed the FE exam and gained at least four years of full-time work experience in engineering, you’ll be qualified to take the PE exam. As you might expect, the PE exam is more rigorous than the FE exam. Depending on your specific career choices within your field, you can take one of the following PE exams:
- PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering
- PE Electrical and Computer: Electronics, Controls and Communications
- PE Electrical and Computer: Power
The “Power” exam is the only PE exam that is offered year-round; the rest are only offered one day per year, so plan accordingly. The PE exams range between nine and 9.5 hours in length with optional scheduled break times. A passing score means that you are officially a licensed Professional Engineer.
Since all exams administered by the NCEES are academically challenging, it’s strongly recommended that exam candidates prepare thoroughly ahead of their test dates. Exam preparation materials are available from the NCEES. Exam candidates should also take the time to review the NCEES’ guide to exam policies and procedures.
In addition to earning a graduate degree and/or licensure, another way to enhance your job qualifications is to join a professional organization. Some examples include the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).
Many professional organizations connect their members to continuing education opportunities. Continuous advances in technology mean that this profession is constantly evolving. It’s essential for these professionals to commit to lifelong learning and to stay on top of the latest trends and breakthroughs.