To be licensed as a professional engineer in New York State, you must pass:
- The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and
- The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.
Examinations are developed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and administered by Pearson VUE Testing Centers.
All exam applicants are required to read the "NCEES Examinee Guide" prior to being allowed to register for the exam. Use this link to access the "NCEES Examinee Guide" at: https://ncees.org/exams/examinee-guide/
Applicants Applying for the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam
This exam is delivered year round via a computer-based testing service. For additional information see the NCEES website at www.ncees.org.
Applicants from a Baccalaureate level EAC/ABET Accredited Program in Engineering:
If you are within 20 credits of graduating from, or have already graduated from a baccalaureate level EAC/ABET accredited program, you are eligible to apply directly to NCEES to take the Fundamentals (FE) exam.
- To find out if your program is EAC/ABET Accredited go to the ABET website here.
Applicants from a Baccalaureate level ETAC/ABET Accredited Program in Engineering Technology:
If you have graduated and earned a baccalaureate degree from an ETAC/ABET accredited program, you are eligible to apply directly to NCEES to take the Fundamentals (FE) exam.
- To find out if your program is ETAC Accredited go to the ABET website here.
Applicants NOT from a Baccalaureate level ABET Accredited Program:
If you have not graduated from either an EAC or ETAC/ABET accredited program with a baccalaureate degree, you must complete and submit the following forms:
- Form 1 and $70 fee, and either
- Form 2 - Send a form 2 to each post-secondary educational institution that has granted you a degree. Ask them to complete the form and send it directly to NYSED at the address on the bottom of the form. The educational institution should also send an official transcript for any degrees you wish to submit for evaluation. Be sure to pay any fees for the transcript required by the educational institution. The Office of the Professions will not accept this form if submitted by the applicant.
OR
- Request that NCEES transmits your NCEES Education Credentials Evaluation Record
Once the forms and fee are received, your qualifications will be reviewed for approval by the Department. Once approved, you will be made eligible to sit for the Fundamentals (FE) exam via a letter sent to you from the Department that will include instructions for how to schedule the exam and pay the examination fee(s) with NCEES.
Applicants Applying for the NCEES Principles and Practice (PE) Exam
NCEES is in the process of converting all exams from paper and pencil to a computer-based format. With this ongoing conversion, the NYS exam application deadline has been eliminated, and some of the exams may be offered year round. The exams that are still offered in paper and pencil format continue to be offered twice per year. If you are taking a paper and pencil exam, we strongly encourage you to submit your NYS application at the earliest possible date. For information on the PE examination conversion schedule, visit NCEES.
In order to be eligible to sit for this exam, you must complete and submit the following forms:
- Form 1 and $377 fee
- Request that NCEES transfers your NCEES Record to New York State. The Department will not accept professional experience endorsed by the applicant. Make sure to check your NCEES Record before requesting it be to be transmitted.
Or
- Form 1 and $377 fee
- Form 2 - Send a form 2 to each post-secondary educational institution that has granted you a degree. Ask them to complete the form and send it directly to NYSED at the address on the bottom of the form. The educational institution should also send an official transcript for any degrees you wish to submit for evaluation. See our website for details regarding electronic education documentation. Be sure to pay any fees for the transcript required by the educational institution. The Office of the Professions will not accept this form if submitted by the applicant.
- Form 3 - Use this form to verify that you passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination This form must be submitted directly by the licensing authority.
- Form 4 - List each endorser to whom you will send a request for endorsement of your work experience. The Department will not accept professional experience endorsed by the applicant. See instructions for additional information to document your engineering experience.
- Form 4A -Describe your work experience in detail and then send to your endorser. The endorser is to read, complete, sign and date the endorsement form and send it directly back to the Office of the Professions at the address at the end of the form or electronically to dplsexperience@nysed.gov. This form must be submitted by the endorser. It will not be accepted if submitted by the applicant. Note: The Department will not accept professional experience endorsed by the applicant. A separate form 4A must be submitted by each endorser you list on Form 4. See instructions for additional information to document your engineering experience.
Applications will be reviewed in the order received. After your licensure/examination application with experience documentation has been reviewed and approved by the Department, you will be sent an eligibility letter via email. This letter will include instructions on how to schedule and pay for the exams.
Other Information About the Exams
NCEES limits calculators allowed in examination room.
NCEES policy prohibits calculators that communicate or that may compromise the security of the examination. NCEES publishes a list of the calculators that are acceptable for both Part A - The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, and Part B - the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination. Only the models listed on the NCEES website will be permitted in the examination room.
Accommodations
Individuals with Disabilities/Sabbath Observers/Military
The process to request a reasonable accommodation or alternate test date will be part of the registration/scheduling process with NCEES and Meazure Learning through their online system. If you are requesting accommodations, we suggest you begin the process as soon as the NCEES registration process opens for the exam you plan to take, as this will assist in the timely processing of your request.