Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
OTHER DISCIPLINES CBT Exam Specifications
Effective Beginning with the July 2020 Examinations•The FE exam is a computer-based test (CBT). It is closed book with an electronic reference.

•Examinees have 6 hours to complete the exam, which contains 110 questions. The 6-hour time also
includes a tutorial and an optional scheduled break.

•The FE exam uses both the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System(USCS).

Knowledge

Number of Questions

1.

Mathematics
A. Analytic geometry and trigonometry
B. Differential equations
C. Numerical methods (e.g., algebraic equations, roots of equations,approximations, precision limits, convergence)
D. Linear algebra (e.g., matrix operations)
E. Single-variable calculus

8–12

2.

Probability and Statistics
A. Estimation (e.g., point, confidence intervals)
B. Expected value and expected error in decision making
C. Sample distributions and sizes (e.g., significance, hypothesis testing,non-normal distributions)
D. Goodness of fit (e.g., correlation coefficient, standard errors, R 2)

6–9

3.

Chemistry
A. Oxidation and reduction (e.g., reactions, corrosion control)
B. Acids and bases (e.g., pH, buffers)
C. Chemical reactions (e.g., stoichiometry, equilibrium, bioconversion)

5–8

4.

Instrumentation and Controls
A. Sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure, motion, pH, chemical constituents)
B. Data acquisition (e.g., logging, sampling rate, sampling range, filtering,amplification, signal interface, signal processing, analog/digital [A/D],digital/analog [D/A], digital)
C. Logic diagrams

4–6

5.

Engineering Ethics and Societal Impacts
A. Codes of ethics (e.g., identifying and solving ethical dilemmas)
B. Public protection issues (e.g., licensing boards)
C. Societal impacts (e.g., economic, sustainability, life-cycle analysis,
environmental, public safety)

5–816.

Safety, Health, and Environment
A. Industrial hygiene (e.g., carcinogens, toxicology, exposure limits, radiation
exposure, biohazards, half-life)
B. Basic safety equipment (e.g., pressure-relief valves, emergency shutoffs,
fire prevention and control, personal protective equipment)
C. Gas detection and monitoring (e.g., O2, CO, CO2, CH4, H2S, radon)
D. Electrical safety
E. Confined space entry and ventilation rates
F. Hazard communications (e.g., SDS, proper labeling, concentrations, fireratings, safety equipment)

6–9

7.

Engineering Economics
A. Time value of money (e.g., present worth, annual worth, future worth,rate of return)B. Cost analysis (e.g., incremental, average, sunk, estimating)
C. Economic analyses (e.g., break-even, benefit-cost, optimal economic life)
D. Uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk)
E. Project selection (e.g., comparison of projects with unequal lives,lease/buy/make, depreciation, discounted cash flow, decision trees)

6–9

8.

Statics
A. Vector analysis
B. Force systems (e.g., resultants, concurrent, distributed)
C. Force couple systems
D. Equilibrium of rigid bodies (e.g., support reactions)
E. Internal forces in rigid bodies (e.g., trusses, frames, machines)
F. Area properties (e.g., centroids, moments of inertia, radius of gyration,parallel axis theorem)
G. Static friction
H. Free-body diagrams
I. Weight and mass computations (e.g., slug, lbm, lbf, kg, N, ton, dyne, g, gc)

9–14

9.

Dynamics
A. Particle and rigid-body kinematics
B. Linear motion (e.g., force, mass, acceleration)
C. Angular motion (e.g., torque, inertia, acceleration)
D. Mass moment of inertia
E. Impulse and momentum (e.g., linear, angular)
F. Work, energy, and power
G. Dynamic friction
H. Vibrations (e.g., natural frequency)

9–14

10.

Strength of Materials
A. Stress types (e.g., normal, shear)
B. Combined loading–principle of superposition
C. Stress and strain caused by axial loads, bending loads, torsion, ortransverse shear forces
D. Shear and moment diagrams
E. Analysis of beams, trusses, frames, and columns
F. Loads and deformations (e.g., axial-extension, torque-angle of twist,moment-rotation)

9–14

2

G. Stress transformation and principal stresses, including stress-based
yielding and fracture criteria (e.g., Mohr's circle, maximum normal
stress, Tresca, von Mises)
H. Material failure (e.g., Euler buckling, creep, fatigue, brittle fracture,stress concentration factors, factor of safety, and allowable stress)
11.

Materials
A. Physical (phase diagrams) properties of materials (e.g., alloy phase diagrams,phase equilibrium, and phase change)
B. Mechanical properties of materials
C. Chemical properties of materials
D. Thermal properties of materials
E. Electrical properties of materials
F. Material selection

12.

Fluid Mechanics
A. Fluid properties (e.g., Newtonian, non-Newtonian, liquids and gases)
B. Dimensionless numbers (e.g., Reynolds number, Froude number,
Mach number)
C. Laminar and turbulent flow
D. Fluid statics (e.g., hydrostatic head)
E. Energy, impulse, and momentum equations (e.g., Bernoulli equation)
F. Pipe and duct flow and friction losses (e.g., pipes, valves, fittings, laminar,transitional and turbulent flow)
G. Open-channel flow (e.g., Manning's equation, drag)H. Fluid transport systems (e.g., series and parallel operations)
I. Flow measurement (e.g., pitot tube, venturi meter, weir)
J. Turbomachinery (e.g., pumps, turbines, fans, compressors)
K. Ideal gas law (e.g., mixtures of nonreactive gases)
L. Real gas law (e.g., z factor)

12–18

13.

Basic Electrical Engineering
A. Electrical fundamentals (e.g., charge, current, voltage, resistance, power,energy)
B. Current and voltage laws (e.g., Kirchhoff, Ohm)
C. AC and DC circuits (e.g., real and imaginary components, complex
numbers, power factor, reactance and impedance, series, parallel,
capacitance and inductance, RLC circuits)
D. Measuring devices (e.g., voltmeter, ammeter, wattmeter)
E. Three-phase power (e.g., motor efficiency, balanced loads, power equation)

6–9

14.

Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
9–14
A. Thermodynamic laws (e.g., first law, second law)
B. Thermodynamic equilibrium
C. Thermodynamic properties (e.g., entropy, enthalpy, heat capacity)
D. Thermodynamic processes (e.g., isothermal, adiabatic, reversible, irreversible)
E. Heat transfer (e.g., conduction, convection, radiation)
F. Mass and energy balances
G. Property and phase diagrams (e.g., T-s, P-h, P-v)
H. Combustion and combustion products (e.g., CO, CO2, NOX, ash, particulates)
I. Psychrometrics (e.g., relative humidity, wet bulb)
3

6–9