To get Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification, you need to meet your state’s education requirements, pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam through NCEES, and submit an application to your state licensing board. The FE exam costs $225, runs about five and a half hours, and covers 110 questions.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam Once your board approves your application, you receive an official EIT certificate and registration number.
Step 1: Confirm You Meet the Education Requirements
State boards look first at your degree. Graduating from an engineering program accredited by ABET is the standard qualification and is nearly universally accepted as the baseline for eligibility.2ABET. Licensure, Registration and Certification If you’re in your final year of an ABET-accredited program, most states let you sit for the FE before you graduate, so you can have your result ready when you start applying for jobs.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam
If Your Degree Isn’t ABET-Accredited
You can still pursue EIT certification with a non-accredited engineering degree, but expect a longer path. States that accept non-ABET graduates typically require additional verified engineering work experience, ranging from about two to eight years depending on the jurisdiction.2ABET. Licensure, Registration and Certification Your state board will review your transcripts to confirm your coursework covers the same technical breadth as an accredited curriculum. Contact your board early so you know exactly what they want.
If You Earned Your Degree Outside the United States
Foreign-educated engineers need a credentials evaluation through NCEES before a state board will process the application. The evaluation compares your education against the standard U.S. engineering curriculum.3NCEES. Credentials Evaluations You’ll submit official transcripts, diplomas, and course descriptions from every university you attended. Documents in a language other than English need certified translations.
The evaluation costs $400 and takes roughly 15 business days once NCEES has all your documents.3NCEES. Credentials Evaluations Start by creating a MyNCEES account, entering your education history, and sending an NCEES-generated verification form to each institution. Build this timeline into your planning, because the evaluation has to be complete before your state board will move on your application.
Step 2: Register For and Pass the FE Exam
You register through NCEES at ncees.org. Create a MyNCEES account, select your state board, and choose your exam discipline. The $225 fee is paid to NCEES at registration.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam Some state boards charge a separate application fee, so check yours before you budget.
NCEES offers seven FE disciplines: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Industrial and Systems, Mechanical, and Other Disciplines. The Other Disciplines option is a good fit if your degree doesn’t map cleanly to one of the six specialized tracks. Pick the discipline closest to your coursework and career direction, because the questions are tailored to that field.
Exam Format
The FE is a computer-based test delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers. Your appointment runs six hours: five hours and 20 minutes of actual exam time, plus a nondisclosure agreement, a short interface tutorial, and a scheduled 25-minute break.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam You’ll answer 110 multiple-choice questions in that window. Testing centers run year-round, but seats fill quickly during spring graduation season, so book early if you’re aiming for May or June.
NCEES provides a searchable digital reference handbook on the exam screen with charts, formulas, and tables. You can download a free copy from the NCEES website to study with, and printing it for personal use is allowed.4NCEES Knowledge Base. NCEES Exam Reference Handbooks Spending time with the handbook before test day pays off. Knowing where to find a formula quickly saves real minutes.
You can bring one NCEES-approved calculator into the room without its case. Approved models include Casio fx-115 and fx-991 series, HP 33s and 35s, and Texas Instruments TI-30X and TI-36X models. A TI-30XS is also available on screen if you’d rather not bring one.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam
Scoring and Results
Your score is based on total correct answers with no penalty for wrong guesses, so answer every question. NCEES converts raw scores to a scaled score compared against a minimum ability level set by subject-matter experts; there’s no fixed pass rate and no published cut score. Results typically post within 7 to 10 days, and you’ll get an email directing you to your pass/fail status in MyNCEES.5NCEES. Exam Scoring
If You Don’t Pass
NCEES sends every candidate who doesn’t pass a diagnostic report showing performance by knowledge area, benchmarked against average passing performance, so you can focus your study time.6NCEES. Sample Diagnostic Report for Computer-Based Exams You can attempt the exam once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12-month period.1National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FE Exam Some state boards set stricter limits. Each retake costs another $225.
Step 3: Apply to Your State Licensing Board
Passing the FE doesn’t automatically grant EIT certification. You still have to apply through your state’s licensing board. Most boards now run online portals where you upload documents, track status, and pay fees.
Plan to provide:
- Personal identification, including your Social Security number and legal name
- Official transcripts sent directly from your university to the board
- FE exam verification, which the board usually confirms with NCEES directly
- Character disclosures covering criminal history, disciplinary actions, or prior name changes if the board asks
State application fees run from about $15 to $100. A few states also require fingerprinting for a criminal background check, which adds cost and processing time. If yours does, start early, because state and federal database results can take several weeks.
Accuracy matters more than speed. Boards flag discrepancies between your application and their records, and resolving those delays your certification. If you’re asked about legal history, give complete details including dates, jurisdictions, and outcomes. A fully disclosed issue is far less likely to cause problems than one the board discovers on its own.
Step 4: Receive Your Certificate
Processing times vary, but plan for several weeks between submission and approval. During that stretch the board verifies your exam scores with NCEES and reviews your transcripts and disclosures.7NCEES. Records Program Incomplete applications and unresolved background checks are the most common sources of delay.
Once you’re approved, the board issues an official registration number by mail or email. Employers and the public can confirm your status through your board’s license lookup tool. Keep your contact information current so renewal notices reach you.
How Long the Certificate Lasts
Policies vary by state. Some boards issue EIT certificates that don’t expire; others set an expiration window of roughly eight to ten years. If yours expires before you earn a PE license, you’ll generally need to renew or reapply. Check your board’s rule, because letting the EIT lapse can complicate your later PE application.
What EIT Lets You Do
The EIT credential identifies you as someone who has passed the FE and is accumulating the experience needed for full licensure. It is not a Professional Engineer license. Using the title “Professional Engineer” or “P.E.” without one is illegal in every state and can carry criminal penalties. To reach that next stage, most states require four years of acceptable, progressive, and verifiable engineering work experience after the FE, typically supervised by a licensed PE, followed by the discipline-specific Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.8NCEES. Licensure EIT is the first step on that path.