When Should You Take The FE Exam?
When it comes to taking the FE exam, there is a lot of debate about the best time to take it. Some people say that you should take it in your junior or senior year of college, while others recommend waiting until you have more experience in the field. In this blog, we will explore the variables to consider, and I share my thoughts on when you should take the FE exam based on my personal experience.
Before or After Graduating?
As an engineering student, the FE exam is not a requirement for graduation. Still, many students choose to take it in school to begin the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE) sooner. But is taking it in school the best option?
I’d suggest taking it after graduating with an engineering degree, so you have all the basic concepts you need from your classes. Think about it; if you take it your junior year in college, you will miss several senior year subjects such as soil mechanics, foundation, hydraulics, concrete, and steel. These classes are essential to know for the FE because you get a lot of exam questions on these topics.
The FE Takes Time
Another thing to consider before taking the FE in college is the amount of time and studying that it brings. It is stressful going through school and maintaining your grades on top of studying for the FE exam. I recommend that students study at least 20 hours a week. But, that isn’t easy to do when you are also studying for your college classes, maybe working, and juggling friends and family.
So, don’t take the FE exam until you complete all your engineering classes but don’t wait too long after you graduate. The sooner you take it after graduating, the better, so all the information is fresh in your mind.
FE Exam Tools
And remember, just because you’re a recent engineering graduate doesn’t mean studying for the FE exam will be a breeze. Make sure that you have a study plan that you can stick to. If you’re looking for tools to kickstart your FE exam journey, start with our free FE Cheat Sheet. It gives you the most important equations and concepts you need to know to pass your FE exam faster and excel in your career.
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