If you think that industrial engineering is the right fit for you, talk to your high school counselor about your career ambitions. If possible, take advanced courses in mathematics, computer coding and the sciences. Look for relevant extracurricular activities, such as a science club or computer coding club, and pursue internships and job shadowing opportunities in your area.
To become an industrial engineer, you can generally expect to need a bachelor's degree in engineering. While a master's degree is not typically required, you may choose to pursue it later in your career. After college, you’ll need to earn your initial engineering certification and gain professional work experience before you’ll be qualified to pursue your professional engineering certification and state licensure.2
Earn Your Industrial Engineering Degree
After high school, the first step toward becoming an industrial engineering professional is to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Some aspiring industrial engineers choose a general engineering degree, while others may choose a concentration in mechanical or electrical engineering. However, the most relevant choice is an industrial engineering degree.2
If you enroll in an industrial engineering degree program, you’ll be taught a diverse spectrum of STEM competencies that are immediately applicable across a range of industries. The specific curriculum will vary from one school to the next.
Major topics and competencies in the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering are:
- Statistics and probability
- Optimization and processes
- Workplace design, including human factors and ergonomics
- Logistics operations for the global supply chain
- Manufacturing processes and methods
During your time as an undergrad, you may be required to complete one or more capstone projects. A capstone project is typically a research- and writing-intensive project that is intended to be the culmination of the competencies you’ve acquired during your time in school. If possible, choose a topic that reflects your professional interests, as you might discuss your capstone project during interviews with potential employers after graduation.
Earn Your FE Certification
Even after earning your industrial engineering degree, you won’t be qualified to officially call yourself an engineer just yet. You’ll be an apprentice for a while until you can earn your Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) certification and state licensure. But first, you’ll need to earn your Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) certification.2
You can sit for the FE examination after graduation or while still a student close to graduation. The test is administered year-round at approved testing centers. You’ll have just over five hours to answer 110 questions.3
You should plan on setting aside plenty of time to prepare for the exam. Review your class notes and study exam prep materials offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), the professional organization that certifies engineers.
On the industrial engineering FE exam, you can expect to answer questions related to the following:
- Modeling and quantitative analysis
- Probability and statistics
- Engineering economics
- Mathematics
- Engineering sciences
- Ethics and professional practice
- Work design
- Human factors, ergonomics and safety
Acquire Entry-Level Experience to Build Your Knowledge and Skills
Once you earn your FE certification, you can pursue entry-level work in the industrial engineering field.2 At this point in your career, you’ll officially be known as an engineer in training (EIT) or engineering intern (EI).
State requirements for licensure vary, but many require EITs to have several years of professional experience before pursuing state licensure. You’ll similarly need to meet work requirements to be eligible to sit for the PE exam.2
Earn Your PE Certification
Once you do meet the eligibility requirements, including professional work experience, you can sit for the PE exam. Unlike the FE test, the PE test is only administered once per year. This means you’ll need to plan well in advance to be ready to take the test once you meet the work requirements.
This 9.5-hour exam features 85 questions,4 and it covers a wide range of topics related to the industrial engineering field. It's crucial to prepare thoroughly for this exam, as passing it is essential to becoming a licensed professional engineer.2