What happens if you fail the FE exam?

If you fail the FE exam, you receive a "diagnostic report" from NCEES highlighting your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus retake studies, and you can retake the exam up to three times within 12 months, though you must wait for the next testing window and check your state board's specific rules for retake frequency and approval. The key steps are to analyze the report, immediately register for a retake to maintain momentum, and focus on mastering weak areas using the NCEES reference handbook and approved calculator.

Do you have to pay again if you fail the FE exam?

Retake Fees: In the unfortunate chance that a candidate does not pass the FE exam on their first attempt, they are able to retake it, but they will need to pay the registration fee again for each subsequent attempt.

What happens if you fail FE?

If you failed the FE exam, you can retake it once every two months and up to three times per year. Analyzing your diagnostic report can assist you to know your strengths and weaknesses.

How many times can I retake the FE exam?

NCEES's policy is that examinees may take the exam once per testing window, up to three times per 12-month period. However, you should check with your state board to see whether it imposes any restrictions on the number and frequency of retakes. What units are used on the FE exam?

How many people fail the FE exam?

Our students are built to make an impact. first step towards gaining a professional engineering license. The national first-time pass rate for the FE is 59% and 70% for Civil and Environmental, respectively.

Failed The FE Exam? 5 Tips To Overcome Failure And Pass!

What is the hardest FE exam to pass?

Probability and Statistics

Probability and Statistics are considered the hardest FE exam topic by students for a variety of reasons. First, probability is a fundamental concept in statistics, and many students find it difficult to understand.

Can you make $500,000 as an electrical engineer?

Yes, some electrical engineers can make $500k, but it's rare and typically requires high specialization in lucrative fields like top-tier tech (AI, silicon design) or critical infrastructure, often involving significant stock/bonuses in total compensation rather than just base salary, with many reaching this level through technical leadership or starting their own successful ventures.
 

Is passing the fe a big deal?

Yes, passing the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam is a big deal because it's the crucial first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), opens significant career doors, differentiates you in a competitive job market, and is often required for advancement, especially in fields like civil engineering. It proves your foundational engineering knowledge and shows employers you're serious about your career, often allowing you to earn the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation. 

Is the Fe or MCAT harder?

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is generally considered significantly harder than the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) Exam, as the MCAT tests complex scientific reasoning for medical school, while the FE assesses foundational engineering knowledge for licensure, often feeling easier for recent grads, though still challenging with tough questions. The FE is a broad, pass/fail exam covering many engineering topics, whereas the MCAT requires deep conceptual understanding and critical thinking across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) for a competitive score. 

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The three toughest exams globally often cited for their extreme difficulty, low pass rates, and high stakes are China's Gaokao (National College Entrance Exam) for its sheer scale and competitiveness, India's UPSC Civil Services Exam for its life-altering potential and minuscule selection, and India's IIT-JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Exam) for its rigorous engineering entrance criteria, alongside prestigious UK fellowships like the All Souls Prize Exam, with difficulty varying by individual and goals. 

Can you only get 40% on a resit?

If you are being given an opportunity to resit an assessment or partially repeat a year, marks for those assessment attempts are usually capped at 40% for undergraduate modules and at 50% for postgraduate modules. This is noted on your results letter as Capped under Next attempt.

What jobs require passing the FE exam?

Engineer fe exam passed jobs

• Bridge Engineer. Often responds within 2 days. ...
• Structural Design Engineer - EIT. Often responds within 2 days. ...
• Infrastructure Engineer (All levels) Ursus, Inc. ...
• Electrical Engineer. Often responds within 1 day. ...
• Structural Engineer. ...
• Create a profile on Indeed. ...
• Mechanical Engineer. ...
• Electrical Engineer.

Is it bad to fail the FE exam?

Don't let the fact that you have already attempted the FE CBT Civil Exam and failed hold you back or make you question your love for Civil Engineering. Failure means nothing – your response to failure does.

Is it better to pass, fail, or withdraw?

Yes, for protecting your GPA, Pass/Fail (P/F) is generally better than a failing grade (F) because P/F doesn't hurt your GPA, while a "W" (Withdrawal) is also better than an "F" as it avoids GPA damage, but too many W's can raise flags for financial aid or grad school; the best choice depends on your situation, but an "F" is almost always the worst outcome. 

Which is the easiest FE exam to pass?

There's no single "easiest" FE exam, as it depends on your background, but FE Environmental and FE Industrial & Systems often have higher pass rates, while FE Other Disciplines can be misleadingly perceived as easier, leading to lower success if unprepared for its broad content. The best choice is usually the one most aligned with your engineering major, like FE Civil for civil engineers, because it leverages existing knowledge, even if discipline-specific rates vary. 

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar exam?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first attempt; she failed the Illinois bar exam the first time she took it but passed on her second try after graduating from Harvard Law School, later working as a lawyer before becoming First Lady.
 

Is 2 months enough to study for FE?

Yes, two months can be enough for the FE Exam, especially for recent graduates with strong fundamentals, but it requires intense focus (10-15+ hrs/week) on core concepts, heavy practice problems, and mastering the reference handbook, while those further from graduation or with weaker foundations might need 3-6 months for adequate preparation. Success hinges on a disciplined schedule, consistent effort in reviewing math/ethics, and extensive practice tests to identify weak areas. 

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?

No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in her most recent attempt (July 2025), though she shared that she came very close and vowed to keep studying, sharing her disappointment and determination to pass in future attempts on her show and social media, as revealed in late 2025. She stated she's "not a lawyer yet" but is dedicated to her law journey, viewing the setback as motivation, per reports from November 2025.
 

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Engineers making $500k/year are typically highly specialized, experienced professionals, most commonly in Software Engineering, especially in AI, distributed systems, or finance/trading, working at top tech firms or successful startups where total compensation (base + significant stock/bonus) reaches this level. Other potential fields include Electrical Engineering in specialized areas like power/utilities or high-level Project Management roles. 

Can you make $250,000 as an engineer?

Yes, many engineers, especially in tech, AI, and senior or specialized roles, can earn $250k or more annually, often through total compensation (base + bonus + equity), though it usually requires significant experience (5-10+ years) or working for top companies in high-cost areas like Silicon Valley, with software and AI roles offering the most direct paths to this income level. 

Can you be an engineer without the FE exam?

The short answer is no - you do not have to pass the FE exam before beginning your engineering career. However, there are several good reasons to take and pass the exam as early as possible.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Engineers earning $300k/year are typically in senior, specialized, or leadership roles, especially in Software/Tech (AI, DevOps, Embedded Systems, MLOps), Hardware, and niche fields like Autonomous Driving or Defense, often at top companies or high-growth startups, combining base pay with significant bonuses and equity, and requiring strong system design/algorithm skills. Roles like VP of Engineering, Tech Fellow, or Director level are also common paths to this income bracket. 

What tech jobs pay $400,000 a year?

Tech jobs paying $400k+ usually involve senior, specialized roles in high-demand fields like AI/ML, Cybersecurity, Cloud, and Data Science, often at large companies (like Netflix, OpenAI) or in leadership positions (Director, Principal Engineer, CTO), with compensation frequently including substantial stock options alongside high base salaries. Roles include Staff/Principal Engineers, Solutions Architects, Data Scientists, Security Engineers, and Engineering Managers, requiring deep expertise, leadership, and strategic impact. 

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Engineers making $200k+ annually are typically in high-demand tech fields (Software, AI, Data), specialized areas like Petroleum, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering, and often hold senior, lead, or management roles at large tech companies or in finance, requiring significant experience and advanced skills. Roles include Senior Software Engineer, Data Engineer, AI Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, and leadership positions like Director of Engineering or VP of Engineering.