Want to Become A Professional Engineer? Take the FE Exam!
Upon reaching senior year of study in a university level engineering program, students are eligible to sit and take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam). Usually abbreviated as the FE exam, it is the initial step of the process to obtain a professional engineering (PE) license. Becoming a professional engineer is a worthwhile accomplishment and credential engineers should strive for, however many young engineers delay when they have to take the FE exam. That is a big mistake. If you are an undergraduate engineering student, here are a few reasons why you should take the exam now.
Since you are still in engineering school, you are already learning the very equations and types of problems that will be asked of you on the FE Exam. You are also not far removed from studying certain subjects. For example, you likely have seen basic engineering physics or linear algebra not more than 1 or 2 years ago. It is much harder to remember how to do those types of problems if you are several years removed from studying it. No matter how much you study later, you will never be more prepared to tackle the exam material than you are now.
As a current engineering student, you are already used to studying and sitting for long exams. Think about it. If you are working at a full time technical job, are you really going to want to review FE exam study guides and practice solving problems? In addition, you won’t be in the “academic” mode. As you will find out, working in the “real world” is a completely different mindset than being in school. Thus you might as well take the exam when you’re still in school.
College is a great time in a person’s life as you haven’t faced real world issues yet. You likely aren’t worried about the pressures of a high end job, stressing over your mortgage payment, or chasing around your small children. These things can dramatically get in your way if you decide to take the FE exam later in life. Thus it will be a lot easier to focus and prepare for the FE exam when you don’t have to worry about these issues.
Sitting to take the FE exam doesn’t automatically require you to continue on to become a certified professional engineer. First off you are assuming that you actually pass the exam (it’s not just a walk in the park).The FE exam is also just the first step on the ladder toward licensure. There are additional steps you still have to take like gaining real engineering work experience as well as successfully completing the Professional Engineering Exam. You are also not required in any way to continue on to performing these actions. So whether or not you decide that getting a PE license is a valuable thing to pursue, you will at least have options.
To wrap up, the FE exam will be the easiest when you are still in undergraduate engineering school. Waiting to take the exam makes it more difficult to pass, thus get it out of the way as soon as possible. You may or may not have intentions of getting your PE license at this time, but you don’t want to create obstacles for yourself in the future if you do decide to go that route. You just don’t know what turns your career will take you on, thus it is in your best interest to take the FE exam.
Looking for more on being a professional engineer? Then take the FE Exam, and visit FE Exam Review.
June 8, 2011 | Posted by Bill Bert
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