Earning an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification takes two steps: pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, then apply to your state licensing board with your transcripts and application fee. The FE exam itself costs $225, and most state boards charge somewhere between $25 and $75 on top of that to issue the certificate.1NCEES. NCEES Examinee Guide The credential is the first formal step toward a Professional Engineer (PE) license, but the specific rules, fees, and expiration policies depend on the state where you apply.
Who Qualifies
The baseline requirement in most states is a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET accreditation signals that your coursework met standardized benchmarks in math, science, and engineering design. A degree from a non-ABET program or a foreign university isn’t an automatic disqualifier, but it adds steps. Foreign transcripts generally need an English translation and a credential evaluation from a recognized service, and some boards ask applicants with non-accredited degrees to show extra engineering coursework or work experience before they can sit for the exam.
Students can usually take the FE during their final year of an undergraduate engineering program, though exactly when varies. Some states authorize the exam at senior standing; others want you within a certain number of credits of graduation. NCEES itself sets no universal cutoff.
Most boards also ask about criminal convictions and prior disciplinary history. A conviction doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but failing to disclose one on the application can.
The FE Exam
The FE is the single hurdle every future EIT must clear. It’s a computer-based test administered year-round at Pearson test centers. Your appointment runs six hours and covers a short tutorial, a 25-minute scheduled break, and five hours and 20 minutes of actual testing across 110 questions.2NCEES. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam
Picking a Discipline
NCEES offers the FE in more than 20 discipline-specific versions, including Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer, Chemical, Environmental, Industrial, Nuclear, and Petroleum, with sub-specialties available in several of these.2NCEES. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Every version covers mathematics, ethics, and engineering economics, but the weight of the other questions tracks your chosen field.3NCEES. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Other Disciplines CBT Exam Specifications Pick the version closest to your degree and the work you expect to do.
What You Can Bring
The FE is closed-book. You can’t bring notes, textbooks, or your own calculator into the room. NCEES provides a searchable electronic reference handbook on your screen during the test, and getting comfortable with that handbook before exam day pays off, because speed in finding the right formula is a real factor under the time limit.
Scoring and Retakes
NCEES uses scaled scoring and reports a straight pass or fail rather than a numerical score.4NCEES. Exam Scoring If you don’t pass, you can try again, but not immediately. You’re limited to one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.2NCEES. Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Each attempt requires a new $225 fee.1NCEES. NCEES Examinee Guide There’s no lifetime cap on attempts.
Applying to Your State Board
Passing the FE does not, by itself, make you an EIT. You still have to apply to your state licensing board, which is a separate process from exam registration. Most boards run their applications through online portals; a few still accept paper.
The core documents are:
- Official transcripts, sent directly from your university to the board. Boards won’t accept transcripts you handle yourself, because the point is to verify your degree without any opportunity for alteration.
- Your FE exam results. Most boards pull these directly from NCEES, though some want your NCEES examinee ID so they can match your scores to your application.
- The completed application form, with personal information, educational history, and the engineering discipline you’re applying under. Every name and date should match your government-issued ID exactly.
Budget roughly $250 to $350 all in, combining the $225 exam fee with the state’s application fee.1NCEES. NCEES Examinee Guide Processing times vary. Some boards issue a certificate number within a few weeks of a complete application; others take longer. Most delays come from missing documents or transcripts that haven’t arrived yet, so check your portal regularly and answer any requests for additional information quickly.
EIT and Engineer Intern Are the Same Credential
Some states use “Engineer-in-Training,” others use “Engineer Intern.” The distinction is terminological. Both titles mean you passed the FE and your state board certified you. Which one appears on your certificate depends on where you applied.
The EIT does not let you practice engineering independently. You can’t sign or seal engineering drawings, and in most states you can’t hold yourself out to the public as a Professional Engineer. The certificate confirms foundational knowledge and starts the clock on the experience you need for a PE license.
Does Your EIT Expire
This is where states diverge sharply, and it’s worth checking your own board directly. Many jurisdictions treat EIT certification as permanent: once issued, it stays active indefinitely whether or not you ever pursue a PE. Other states impose an expiration, typically somewhere in the range of 8 to 10 years from issuance, with the intent of pushing certificate holders to finish the PE process within a reasonable window.
In expiration states, the consequences of a lapse also vary. Some boards let you reinstate with a form and an administrative fee. Others effectively require you to start over. Boards are generally under no obligation to remind you a deadline is approaching, so the responsibility sits with you. Most state boards maintain a public verification database where you can look up your record by name or certificate number if you aren’t sure where you stand.
Using Your EIT in Another State
Because the FE is a national exam administered by NCEES, your results travel. If you relocate during the EIT phase, you generally don’t retake the exam. You may, however, need to apply to the new state’s board under its rules, which can mean submitting transcripts again and paying another application fee. Boards verify FE results directly through NCEES, so the mechanics are usually straightforward.
If you expect to work across several states over your career, NCEES offers a Records program that stores exam results, transcripts, employment verifications, and references in one transmittable file. It’s built mainly for licensed PEs seeking comity licensure, but creating a record is free; you only pay when you transmit it to a board.5NCEES. Records Brochure
Moving From EIT to PE
The point of the EIT is to position you for a PE license, which is what lets you practice engineering independently, sign and seal plans, and offer services to the public. The NCEES Model Law, which most states follow as a template, sets out the standard path.6NCEES. Model Law
The typical requirement is four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed PE after your qualifying degree is conferred. Graduate degrees can shorten the timeline:
- A master’s degree in engineering reduces the requirement to three years of post-degree experience.
- A doctoral degree in engineering, with the FE passed, reduces it to two years.
After logging enough experience, you sit for the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in your discipline. Passing that exam and meeting your state’s remaining requirements earns you the PE license.6NCEES. Model Law
Mistakes That Slow Applications Down
A handful of problems come up again and again. The most frequent one is transcripts. Applicants assume they ordered official transcripts, but the university sent them to the wrong address, or the board received them before the application arrived and couldn’t match them to a file. Order transcripts after you submit your application and keep the confirmation receipt.
The second common issue is name mismatches. If your diploma reads “Robert” and your driver’s license reads “Rob,” some boards flag it. Use the exact name on your government-issued ID across every document.
Third, applicants in states with EIT expiration dates sometimes assume the credential is permanent because they heard it is somewhere else. Rules vary by jurisdiction, and the only reliable source is your own board’s website or a direct call to its office. Five minutes once a year prevents an unpleasant surprise when you’re ready to apply for the PE.