FE exam after 8 yrs. out of school

[kilgojo]

Does anyone have any study tips or strategy to prepare for the FE exam after several years out of school? I work in a non-engineering job and pretty much have lost all of my problem solving skills. It may be more efficient to re-take several subjects at a local college to re-learn the material than to start from scratch.

 

[GregTirevold]

Well the standard answer is

http://ppi2pass.com/ppi/PPI_pg_ppihome.html

as they make all the study manuals that *most* people use.

Question though, why bother with it after that much time?

Since you haven't been doing engineering work then you don't have the experience to sit for the PE either which means several more years of waiting, working under a PE (in some states), etc. Just curious since it is going to be a tough row to hoe after that much time.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtirevold

 

[zdas04]

People's reason for taking the FE or the PE are their own and pretty much none of anyone's business (and there is a good chance that the reason wouldn't make much sense to anyone else).

I waited 12 years, mostly working in non-engineering jobs. I bought Lindbergh's FE study guide, followed his recommended study routine. Worked a practice exam about half way through my study cycle and worked another a week before the test. Passed the first time. One important point that I don't think Lindbergh emphasizes enough is that the only things you can take in is an approved calculator, and the only reference material allowed is the official book that they pass out. Buy the recommended calculator and use it for your studies. Download the reference book and use it for everything until you can find anything in it instantly. He recommends taking the "general" afternoon session to minimize the amount of esoterica you have to memorize. I did that and am glad. Others here took the specific afternoon exam and recommend that. Whichever way you go, decide early and stick with it.

Good Luck

David

 

[GregTirevold]

Also you could look into the open MIT OpenCourseWare site.

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/

It is videos of the class lectures, online textbooks, homework problems, exams, etc. A good way to brush up on a subject at your own pace for free.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtirevold

 

[kilgojo]

Thanks for the help. I'll buy the books and get started! I guess i want to take the test just to see if I can do it. It may or may not help me down the road, but it'll be a challenge and I figure it'll help my critical thinking skills just studying for it even if I don't pass.

 

[steellion]

The good thing about the FE exam is that you know that the equations that you need to solve the problems are in the Reference Manual, somewhere. Of course, you still need to know how and when to apply them. Get your hands on a Reference Manual and become familiar with the layout. You can't bring your own, but the one they provide you will be identical.

Are your math skills (algebra, geometry, trig) still sharp? If so, you should be just fine with some serious studying. Make sure to always include units in your solution, if the units do not cancel properly, that is a red flag that you've done something wrong.

Good luck!

 

[moon161]

12 years out of school, 6-7 years of non-engineering jobs, ~2-300 hours w/ PPI's FERM. Passed first try w/ time to check & review all answers and revisit a headscratcher or two. If you learned it well, it's forgotten but not lost. Apply now for April, get the book and get into it. I just bought a used copy of the FERM, and found no need for any other reference besides my old books and the NCEES handbook.

 

[henri2]

I took the EIT/FE exam 9 years after I obtained my undergraduate degree from the UK. I took a review course and thought it was going to be a piece of cake. Instead it was a nightmare- did not complete the exam...had to switch from US fps units to SI units half way through. How I passed, beats me.

The PE exam was much easier. Perhaps this was because they were essay type questions and not multiple choice as was the case with the EIT/FE. I completed the PE exam in less than half the time allocated and was confident that I knew all the questions I selected plus more.

So my advice is, take a review course. Take nothing for granted.

 

[JStephen]

I took the exams several years after being out of school. I got all the sample questions and stuff that the NCEES had available, and still had all my old textbooks, so it wasn't too bad.

 

[ShaggyPE]

Another good source for info is:

http://www.engineerboards.com

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[Richard63]

I also highly recommend buying the Lindeburg book, and then working all the way through the book.

I took the test after being out of school 10 years, but had been working as an engineer. I bought the Michael Lindeburg study books. Studied every morning before work for a few months. Worked all the way through the book. Passed the 1st try.

Richard

http://www.led-inc.com