Becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer
Start by taking the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
An Option You Should Take
The FE exam is not required to graduate from Duke.
However, we strongly encourage each Duke CEE undergraduate to take it in the Fourth Year, regardless of intended career path.
The FE exam is the next step to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.
Taking the FE Exam
The FE is the same in all US states and valid everywhere in the United States. There are multiple testing dates each year. On exam day, you’ll have about five hours to answer 110 questions.
Find a Testing Center
You’ll take the exam on a computer at an official test center. There’s at least one in most US cities. The location in Durham, North Carolina, is less than 10 miles from the Duke campus.
Fall Date May Be Preferable to Spring
You may find it wiser to sit for the FE in the fall of your fourth year. In the spring, you’ll be busy preparing for graduation.
Be Aware of Deadlines and Testing Dates
Our advice: start early.
Be forewarned that the application deadline for the fall sitting may be in the summer before your senior year begins.
Becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer
Here’s the bottom line: Being a PE is a big deal. Licensure assures the public and your clients that you are well-prepared and highly competent.
It’s also a credential that can accelerate your career.
In North Carolina
Licensing is overseen by the NC Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.
Prerequisites to licensure include passing the FE exam and having four years of working experience.
Across the United States
Licensing procedures vary by state. Contact your state’s engineering licensing board for details.
