The FE exam costs $225 per attempt, paid directly to NCEES when you register. The price is the same for all seven exam disciplines. Your real total can climb once you add a state board fee, an approved calculator, practice exams, or a reschedule.
This guide breaks down every official fee, with sources from NCEES and state licensing boards. It also covers the calculator rules, retakes, the exam format, and the Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate that comes after you pass.
The NCEES fee for each FE exam attempt
the same price for all seven FE disciplines
What Does the FE Exam Cost in Total?
The NCEES registration fee is the only cost every examinee pays. The others depend on your state, your study plan, and how well your schedule holds. The table below lists each official fee we could verify.
Breakdown
Official FE Exam Fees in 2026
| Fee | Paid to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| FE exam registration, per attempt | NCEES | $225 |
| Reschedule or cancel an appointment | Pearson | $50 |
| Cancel a registration (kept from refund) | NCEES | $50 |
| Interactive practice exam, per volume | NCEES | $50 |
| FE Reference Handbook | NCEES | Free |
| Board approval for non-ABET applicants (Minnesota) | State board | $25 |
| EIT certificate (Texas to California) | State board | $15–$100 |
Fees published by NCEES, the NCEES Examinee Guide, and state licensing boards, checked Oct 5, 2026. Calculator prices vary by retailer and are not included. Full references in the Sources section.
The NCEES Registration Fee
NCEES has charged $225 for the FE exam since January 1, 2024. You pay it online by card during registration in your MyNCEES account. Each new attempt requires the full fee again.
Once your licensing board approves you, you have 12 months to take the exam. If you cancel an unscheduled registration, NCEES refunds the fee minus a $50 administrative fee. If you neither test nor cancel within those 12 months, you forfeit the fee.
Rescheduling and Cancellation Fees
Pearson runs the test centers and charges $50 to reschedule or cancel an appointment. You must make the change at least 48 hours before your appointment time. Documented emergencies, such as a car accident, military duty, or jury duty, can waive the fee.
State Board and EIT Fees
Some licensing boards add their own fee before you can register. Minnesota, for example, charges $25 to approve applicants who did not study in an EAC/ABET-accredited program. Students and graduates of accredited programs there can register with NCEES directly.
A second state fee usually comes after you pass. Texas charges $15 to certify you as an Engineer in Training. California’s EIT application costs $100 from July 1, 2026, and EIT certification there is optional.
Eligibility rules and fees vary by state. Read your board’s requirements on the NCEES FE exam page before you register, so you only pay for an exam you can sit.
Which Calculators Are Allowed on the FE Exam?
NCEES accepts only three calculator families on the FE exam. It reviews the list every year, and these are the only models approved for 2026 exams.
- Casio: any model with “fx-115” or “fx-991” in its model name.
- Hewlett Packard: the HP 33s and HP 35s, and no other models.
- Texas Instruments: any model with “TI-30X” or “TI-36X” in its model name.
Prices vary by model and retailer, so compare a few before you buy. Whichever approved model you choose, practice with it for weeks before test day. Knowing its menus by heart saves time on long calculations.
How Much Do FE Exam Study Materials Cost?
Your study budget can start at zero. NCEES offers a free copy of the FE Reference Handbook through your MyNCEES account. It is the same handbook you see onscreen, as a searchable PDF, during the exam.
NCEES also sells official interactive practice exams for $50 each. Every discipline has two volumes, and you can take each one as many times as you like. They offer a timed mode and immediate solution review.
Commercial review books and courses cost more, and their prices vary widely. A private engineering tutor is another option if you want feedback on the topics you find hardest.
What Is the FE Exam?
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is generally the first step toward a professional engineer (P.E.) license. NCEES designs it for recent graduates and for students close to finishing an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree. You take it on a computer at a Pearson test center, and it runs year-round.
The exam comes in seven discipline-specific versions:
- Chemical
- Civil
- Electrical and Computer
- Environmental
- Industrial and Systems
- Mechanical
- Other Disciplines, for fields that don’t match the six above
Timing matters as much as the fee. One civil engineer profiled by NCEES suggests sitting the exam while your coursework is still fresh.
My best advice for taking the FE is to take it before graduating. The material is freshest, and you are still in the studying and exam mindset.
Danielle Yoon, P.E., civil engineer at Fishbeck
What Question Formats Does the FE Exam Use?
Most FE questions are traditional multiple choice with a single correct answer. The exam also mixes in a few alternative item types:
- Multiple correct: more than one option can be right.
- Point and click: you click on part of a graphic to answer.
- Drag and drop: you match, sort, rank, or label items.
- Fill in the blank: you type a numerical answer.
How to Find an Engineering Tutor for FE Exam Prep
A tutor can turn the NCEES exam specifications into a plan built around your weaker topics. These checks help you choose one who fits your goals and your schedule.
- Decide whether you prefer in-person or online sessions.
- Look for recent experience with the computer-based FE exam in your discipline.
- Verify the tutor’s engineering credentials and teaching experience.
- Ask how they handle difficult concepts and gaps in your knowledge.
- Confirm they build a personal study plan rather than reuse generic content.
- Ask whether practice problems come with detailed worked solutions.
- Book a short trial lesson before you commit to a full program.
Sources
- "FE Exam," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/exams/fe-exam/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "NCEES Examinee Guide," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, 2026. Available at: https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NCEESExamGuide_May-2026-1.pdf. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Calculator Policy," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/exams/calculator/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Exam Preparation Materials," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/exams/exam-preparation-materials/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "NCEES Publishes New Version of FE Reference Handbook," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/ncees-publishes-new-version-of-fe-reference-handbook/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Exam Scoring," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/exams/exam-scoring/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Danielle Yoon, P.E.," National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Available at: https://ncees.org/success-story/danielle-yoon/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "TBPELS Fees," Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Available at: https://pels.texas.gov/fees.htm. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Certification of Engineer in Training (EIT)," Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Available at: https://pels.texas.gov/lic_eit_exinfo.htm. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "Fee Schedule," California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, 2026. Available at: https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/application_fees.shtml. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
- "EIT/LSIT Certification: Information and Application," California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. Available at: https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/eit_lsitapp.shtml. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.
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