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• Acronyms
• About NCEES
FAQs

Summary — Below are commonly asked questions regarding the content of this Web site:

• Introduction
• Licensure
• Exams
• Records Program


Introduction
About NCEES
• What products and services does NCEES provide?
• Does NCEES have engineering and surveying licensing laws and ethics guidelines?
• Does NCEES have guidelines for continuing education?
• What is the purpose and mission of NCEES?
• How does NCEES operate?
• How do I contact NCEES staff?
• What is the NCEES Web site user agreement and privacy statement?


Licensure

Engineers
• How do I become licensed?
• Are there any special requirements for foreign applicants?
Surveyors
• Surveying licensure - what is it?
• How do I get licensed?
Licensing requirements See results of the 2007 NCEES survey of U.S. engineering and surveying licensing boards. The survey contains information about licensing requirements for individuals and firms who practice or offer to practice engineering or surveying to the public in the United States and its territories.
Licensure Exchange
• What topics are usually covered in Licensure Exchange?
• What articles are in the current issue of Licensure Exchange?
• Recent issues
• May I reprint articles published in Licensure Exchange?


Exams
Fundamentals (FE/FS)
• Why take a Fundamentals (FE/FS) exam?
• Who is eligible to take a Fundamentals exam?
• What material is covered in the exams?
• What is the format of the Fundamentals exams?
• What can I bring to the exam room?
• After I pass a Fundamentals exam, what's next?
• How do the Fundamentals exams differ from the Principles and Practice exams?
Principles and Practice (PE/PS)
• Why take a Principles and Practice (PE/PS) exam?
• Who is eligible to take a Principles and Practice exam?
• What material is covered in the exams?
• What is the format of the exams?
• What can I bring to the exam room?
• After I pass a Principles and Practice exam, what's next?
• How do the Principles and Practice exams differ from the Fundamentals exams?
• What is the difference between the Structural I exam and the Structural II exam?

Design standards:
• What are the current design standards? How do I purchase them?
• Which PE exams refer to the design standards?
• Am I responsible for bringing my own copy of all relevant standards (publications) to the exam room?
• What happens if, in answering an exam question, I refer to a standard not specified on this Web site?
• Why are the exams not based on the very latest edition of the standards?
Study materials
• What kinds of study materials are available?
• Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
• Fundamentals of Surveying (FS)
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Chemical
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Civil
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Electrical and Computer
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Environmental
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Mechanical
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Structural I
• Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) - Structural II
• Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS)
• Sponsoring societies

• How do I order NCEES study materials?
• Where can I get information about exam preparation courses?
• What reference materials do you recommend?
• Do you provide errata for your publications?
Exam schedule
• What is the schedule of exams for the next 10 years?
• Which exams are held in April and/or October?
Exam registration See information at ELS-EXAMREG.org.
Calculator policy
1. What is the calculator policy? What calculators may I bring
to the exam? (last updated: 11-16-2009)
2. What are examples of specific calculator models allowed in the exam room? (last updated: 5-16-2009)
3. What other items are prohibited from the exam room? (last updated: 11-15-2005)

4. What calculators am I not allowed to bring to the exam? (last updated: 11-15-2007)
5. What if a calculator not shown on the approved list has similar capabilities as those on the list? Is it allowed in the exam room? (last updated: 11-15-2005)
6. May I use a data collector on NCEES examinations? (last updated: 11-15-2005)
7. What will happen if I bring an unapproved calculator into the exam room? (last updated: 11-15-2005)
8. Why does NCEES have a calculator policy? Why can't I bring any kind of calculator I want to? (last updated: 11-15-2005)
9. Where can I buy calculators on the NCEES-approved list? (last updated: 11-15-2005)
Special testing accommodations
• How do I make arrangements for religious accommodations?
• How do I make arrangements for ADA accommodations?
Pass rates
• What are the FE exam pass rates for October 2008?
• What are the FS exam pass rates for October 2008?
• What are the PE exam pass rates for April 2008 and October 2008?
• What are the PS exam pass rates for October 2008?
Exam scoring Passing score:
Scoring method:
• How is the passing score determined?
•
• Are the exams graded on a curve? Is there a target pass rate?
• Are the exam answer sheets machine-graded or hand-graded, or both?

Exam Results:
• How and when will I be notified of my exam results?
• Why does it take so long for NCEES to release scores?
• Is it possible to access my exam results electronically or online?
• How should I use the information furnished on the diagnostic report sent to failing candidates?
• May I review my exam and appeal my results?
Exam formats
• What are the formats for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE), Fundamentals of Surveying (FS), Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE), and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exams?
Become a volunteer
• What do NCEES exam development volunteers do?
• Who typically becomes a volunteer?
• How do volunteers participate in the exam development process?
• How often and where do the volunteers meet?
• Do volunteers earn professional development hours (PDHs)?
• If I become a volunteer, will my costs be reimbursed?
• How do I become an exam development volunteer?


Records Program
Establishing a record
Record application
Record transmittal
Record renewal