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FE Exam - Should I Take It?

FE Exam - Should I Take It?

FE Exam - Should I Take It?

(OP)
I should note that I don't intend to stay in my current state after graduation.  And that I intend on going into Flight Test Engineering.

The story so far:
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Take it.  It will never hurt you.  It will be easiest to take it now when you are at this level of education.  You think that you will never need it, but trust me, plans change.  

What do you have to loose?  One 8 hr day?  What else are you going to do that day which will have any influence on the rest of your life?  Watch movies? Play video games?   

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

You never know where your career will take you. I didnt not take mine right after school... but needed to take it for a job I had. It is alot easier right out of school.

Right now I dont NEED my PE... but I am sitting for the exam because I can (the main reason) and my boss will give me a pay some raise because my company pays good money to have a PE firm do simple stuff that I do everyday anyway but some customers/municipalities require a PE stamp.

Good luck.

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Take it.  Get the sample tests and practice manuals, work thru a bunch of sample problems; its not that hard when stuff is relatively fresh.

You might want to be an independent consultant someday like some of us other crazy types, and you will need a PE in order to have a consulting business; even if no one in the entire aerospace industry cares one hoot about a PE, the state license boards can be picky and shut you down.

Trust me from personally experience, you do not want to have to relearn a bunch of forgotten, unused topics at age 40 just to be able to pass a silly test.

 

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

(OP)
Doesn't it depend on which state you take it in, like the BAR? As I said, I won't be in the same state after I graduate.

Quote:

Watch movies? Play video games?

Five senior level engineering courses... I wish I could watch movies or play games :(

The story so far:
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

As someone from an aerospace background (now in 'machine designn') I agree that PE probably wont be necessary or even particularly useful if you stay in the field.

However, it may be worth taking the FE at this time, if nothing else you don't know what the future holds, you've already paid for it and really, 8 hrs isn't that much time to devote to it - just skip watching the next 2 Super Bowls or somethingwinky smile.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

I took the FE in Wisconsin and the PE in Illinois.  All I had to do is pay Wi $5.00 to mail me a certified letter stating that I had passed the FE on this date in this location.  I included this with my application and it was accepted.  The state of Illinois instructed me to do this.

So based on my experience, it does not matter.  However all states are different.  But, I know that Illinois has some of the most restrictive requirements.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Take it... you will kick yourself in the face if you don't and later decide that you want to.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

(OP)
Alrighty, guess I'll bite the bullet, thanks guys.

The story so far:
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

It does not matter what state you take the FE exam in. It does matter somewhat the state that you take the PE exam in.  But that's 4+ years down the road before you need to worry about it.
 

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Now that you have decided to take it here are some tips.  don't study too much for it.  Just brush up on some subjects that you haven't visited in a year or so.  For me it was thermo.  Get familiar with the formula book that NCEES provides because you will get a new one on the test day (at least that is how it was back in ought-one)... and that is the only reference you can have.  For more info on FE test prep go to www.engineerboards.com

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Here is another tip.  When I was reviewing/studying for the exam, I got together with some other students who were studying different subjects within my major (as a structural I got together with some enviromental).  There are a number of questions that are as easy as picking an answer out of a table.  Nothing else to it.  So, I showed the "easy" structural questions and they showed me the "easy" enviro questions.  And I do have to say, I probably got an extra 5 questions correct because of this.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

stkyle,
Your Senior year or immediately thereafter is the best time to take the F.E. And you have nothing to loose (since your grade is only predicated on signing up) but potentially much to gain if you pass.

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

I know personally of at least a couple guys whose college didn't emphasize the EIT, so they didn't take the exam. When they got out and tried to take it, they failed multiple times. There's a whole infrastructure assembled to help you take the test when you're a senior in college. This all goes away when you're in the real world. Plus you have to deal with a built in time lag (you get a job, move somewhere, then you have to apply, wait to have the exam, etc.) which ends up taking a couple of years, making the memories of all that academic stuff fade away.
You'll never know that college crapola any better than the day you get out.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

As a flight test engineer, I would recommend taking it.

While a PE license is not needed for my 9-to-5 job, I do engineering consulting on the side for extra money, which is a nice bonus. And it  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

YES

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

I can't think of a reason to NOT take the FE.

As many have said, you never know where life will take you or what may happen in industry.

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

It's easy.

It doesn't hurt.

Take it.

Future life lesson: you can never have too many letters after your name on your business card.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

When I was younger and fresh out of school?  Sure.  And I know a lot of people who did, as well.   

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

A lot of young "almost" engineers add FE or EIT to their business cards.  Shows they are trying!!

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

(OP)
Hey, thought I should let you guys know: I took the exam and it was a horrible, horrible day.  But to be fair most of the bad occurred after the exam.  I did notice that there was a good deal of content in the Mechanical Engineering exam not covered in Aero courses.  Mostly HVAC stuff.

But I passed, therefore, worth it :D

Also, engineering econ?!? I became an engineer to avoid stuff like that, come on!

Anyways, thanks for everyone's support.

The story so far:
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Yes....do it.

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

Ooooh, you got your FE results back? That's exciting, I'm waiting for my PE results still. Does anyone know how long it typically takes to get them? I know for the PE they have to go to the board first (I'm in Michigan), but I can't remember how it was for the FE.

Also, congratulations! And to anyone considering the FE or PE in the future, if your state allows it, my recommendation is to bring Payday bars (protein & sugar) and some caffeinated soda (caffeine & sugar); I did this for the FE and PE, and it kept me alert and capable of critical thinking for the entire 8 hours. And avoid a large lunch during the break.  

RE: FE Exam - Should I Take It?

OK..you did it!  Congrats on passing.  The PE will be a piece of cake by comparison...assuming you get reasonable experience.

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