When are the two dates for the FE exam.

Thanks.

1/9/2006 2:24:52 PM

GOOGLE

USE IT

http://www.ncbels.org/forms/ENGINF.pdf

I only post it b/c I was getting it myself

1/9/2006 2:39:23 PM

go to the NE review class (E490 i think it is). Don't bother registering there are plenty of seats.

at the beginning of each class you get a handout with a few questions on the topic being covered. if you already know how to do it, take it home and do it. if you don't, then stick around and ask questions.

most FE questions are pretty simple. the review class can help you identify problems from other fields (for instance i didn't know much about circuits since i'm a nuclear engineer) that are really simple.

the book for the course is pretty useful too. i took the pretests from a few of the chapters i was weak in and used the questions i got wrong to create a list of concepts i need to remember. (i.e. fluid statics: the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces). the questions on the actual test were easier than the ones in the review book, IMO.

i only did a fair amount of studying and i finished each section in less than 2 hours. if you can solve the problems in the review book with pretty good accuracy (~75%), the test will be a breeze.

1/9/2006 4:56:31 PM

Still may have room somewhere - but around 220 people attended already on Monday night.

1/10/2006 10:40:28 AM

^and that's the most you'll see in there all semester (with the possible exception of right before the exam).

1/10/2006 11:13:28 AM

so was anything important discussed on the first day?

1/10/2006 2:11:20 PM

if it's like it was back in the day.. how, where, and when to register for the exam...

1/10/2006 3:54:10 PM

What is the best calculator to use on this exam???

1/15/2006 8:06:30 PM

I used the casio thats allowed. it was pretty decent. had 2 line display that was a plus. it could do some stuff that might have been useful but I didn't really sit down and learn it before the test

1/15/2006 8:12:22 PM

can i take the exam without doing any class this semseter? I think i might try that.

1/15/2006 9:01:23 PM

yes

http://courses.ncsu.edu/e490/lec/001/FE%20Exam%20Registration.pdf

thats all you really need to know. however if you get a schedule and head to the sessions on topics you've never seen then you'd be doing pretty good. alot of the questions in the morning session are pretty easy if you've seen some of the stuff before

[Edited on January 15, 2006 at 10:35 PM. Reason : added info]

1/15/2006 10:20:29 PM

i heard the best calculator for the exam is the HP one. i used a TI-36X Solar manufactured in 1997. it was my SAT calculator so i didn't go buy a new one. turns out the new version of the 36X solar is actually more than a classic scientific calculator.

mine just does + - / * sin cos tan (and inverses) logs hyperbolics and exponentials; and it works in the manner of a 4 function calculator (no command history, 1-line display)

if anyone wants a cheapass calculator that's exam approved you can PM me. it doesn't look like the picture that the proctor will compare it to at the exam but they'll let you use it because the model # is approved.

1/16/2006 1:07:32 AM

ha, thanks for the info.

1/19/2006 4:51:12 PM

What was covered in the class tonight, E 490?

1/23/2006 9:34:08 PM

Mathematics

1st part of the book

1/23/2006 10:00:39 PM

i think tommorow is the last date to lock into taking the exam.


yeah... i'm probably not gona do it.

1/26/2006 10:44:06 PM

yeah, i believe its tomorrow... don't forget those signatures

1/26/2006 10:47:12 PM

ha! signatures, that's probably why i won't get it. I could go and get the form by 9, get 3 signatures before 10, get a notrary repbulic by 11, take a photo of myself now and print it out on a color printer by 12 tommorow and get it to whoever it needs to be gotten to by 4 (the deadline) and take the exam.

but i've about decided not to.

1/26/2006 11:02:28 PM

you can print the form

in fact, i think you're supposed to type at least part of it

[Edited on January 26, 2006 at 11:33 PM. Reason : edit]

1/26/2006 11:33:03 PM

^^if getting signatures is the reason you're not taking it, you probably ought to know it's not that big a deal...just go knocking on professors' offices. pretty much any of them will sign for you.

1/26/2006 11:35:28 PM

if you've already graduated then how do you sign up for the FE exam?

1/26/2006 11:53:25 PM

yeah, signatures aren't too big of a deal. and if i had done it the begining of the week it would have been about a non-issue. But one way or another, i think i'm gona fall in the "not taking it" category. I hope i still get a job someday...

1/27/2006 12:09:59 AM

haha, if you didn't do it because of signatures, then you made a mistake. There were three engineering profs there that would sign all of them for you, no matter if they knew you or not. I went in there without one sig, and got them all filled out

FE here I come

1/27/2006 9:09:27 AM

^because no one would sign it or because you're lazy as fuck?

Signatures weren't hard

1/27/2006 9:54:03 AM

lazy actually

1/28/2006 4:57:26 PM

Whats the point of taking the FE exam?

1/28/2006 8:50:12 PM

^it sets you up for getting a professional engineering license

1/28/2006 9:09:51 PM

^ and what does that get you?

1/28/2006 10:46:59 PM

you ppl have fun with that lol

1/28/2006 10:58:29 PM

^^what you do with a PE license depends partially on your discipline and partially on who you work for.

as i understand it, contractors are more likely to use their stamp on the work they do...says the work is good and is certified by a professional engineer.

other places, it might be more of a status thing, maybe give you a little extra pay. my dad's a mechanical engineer and has never used his stamp. neither has my uncle (an electrical)

1/28/2006 11:03:46 PM

or it could be like my company that doesn't want me to get the PE b/c I become a liabilty if i get it.

I work for a control valve, regulators, etc sales company. I design control systems based on the specs that companies send me so if my final design as a PE then I'm saying that I guarantee that it will work and if it doesn't then it falls back on the company

1/28/2006 11:31:06 PM

^i'm pretty sure that's only the case if you actually stamp off on the work as a PE. i don't think you are obligated to use the stamp, even if you do have it

[Edited on January 28, 2006 at 11:41 PM. Reason : but admittedly, i could be wrong about that]

1/28/2006 11:41:07 PM

well yeah. but it's really no point in getting the PE if the company doesn't want you and you don't need it b/c then I'd be taking vacation to attend the required classes each year to keep the PE licence

1/28/2006 11:42:55 PM

yeah, if the company isn't going to let you get professional development except on your own time, i can see your point.

but personally, i'll try to get my PE, even if the company doesn't cooperate: it'd be possible to end up working for a company that appreciates licensed engineers

1/28/2006 11:47:05 PM

I am going to go for my PE too. One of my professors that signed showed me some statistics that say on average PE's get $15000 more per year than people who decide not to go for it.

1/29/2006 8:54:12 AM