How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the

FE Civil Discipline-Specific Exam
The following table lists all 18 knowledge areas (KAs) of the FE Civil Discipline-Specific Exam and for each
identifies related content in the FE Review Manual (FERM3), Civil Discipline-Specific Review (DSCE3), and
other products developed by PPI and found on www.ppi2pass.com and www.feprep.com.

Subjects to Review Materials for

(approximate number of problems on exam) percent of exam Review and Practice

General Exam Overview ▪ FERM3 Introduction and How to Use

This Book for the CBT Exam
▪  FE Civil Assessment 1

KA: mathematics ▪  FERM3 Chap. 1–5, 7–9 and Diagnostic

(7–11 problems) 7% Exam for Math
analytic geometry; calculus; roots of equations; vector analysis ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Math KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Math KA

KA: probability and statistics ▪ FERM3 Chap. 6

(4–6 problems) 4% ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Probability and
measures of central tendencies and dispersions (e.g., mean, Statistics KA
mode, standard deviation); estimation for a single mean (e.g., ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Probability and
point, confidence intervals); hypothesis testing; regression and Statistics KA
curve fitting; expected value (weighted average) in decision
making

KA: computational tools ▪ FERM3 Chap. 48

(4–6 problems) 4% ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Computational
spreadsheet computations; structured programming (e.g., if- Tools KA
then, loops, macros) ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Computational
Tools KA

KA: ethics and professional practice
(4–6 problems) 4%
code of ethics (professional and technical societies);
professional liability; licensure; sustainability and sustainable
design; professional skills (e.g., public policy, management,
and business); contracts and contract law
▪ FERM3 Front Matter section titled
“Engineering Registration in the United
States”, Chap. 54, and Diagnostic Exam for
Ethics
▪ FE Civil Flashcard Ethics and
Professional Practice KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Ethics and
Professional Practice KA

How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the FE Civil Discipline‐Specific Exam  1 
  
 

KA: engineering economics ▪  FERM3 Chap. 51–53 and Diagnostic

(4–6 problems) 4% Exam for Engineering Economics
discounted cash flow (e.g., equivalence, PW, equivalent annual ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Engineering
worth, FW, rate of return); cost (e.g., incremental, average, Economics KA
sunk, estimating); analyses (e.g., breakeven, benefit-cost, life ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Engineering
cycle); uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk) Economics KA

KA: statics ▪  FERM3 Chap. 10–13 and Diagnostic

(7–11 problems) 7% Exam for Statics
resultants of force systems; equivalent force systems; ▪ DSCE3*
equilibrium of rigid bodies; frames and trusses; centroid of o PP 39–43
area; area moments of inertia static friction o E1 44–45
o E2 43–44
▪ FE Civil Flashcard Statics KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Statics KA

KA: dynamics ▪  FERM3 Chap. 14–17 and Diagnostic

(4–6 problems) 4% Exam for Dynamics
kinematics (e.g., particles and rigid bodies); mass moments of ▪ DSCE3
inertia; force acceleration (e.g., particles and rigid bodies); o PP 43
impulse momentum (e.g., particles and rigid bodies); work, o E1 41
energy, and power (e.g., particles and rigid bodies) o E2 35-36, 43
▪ FE Civil Flashcard Dynamics KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Dynamics KA

KA: mechanics of materials ▪  FERM3 Chap. 18–21 and Diagnostic

(7–11 problems) 7% Exam for Mechanics of Materials
shear and moment diagrams; stresses and strains (e.g., axial, ▪ DSCE3
torsion, bending, shear, thermal); deformations (e.g., axial, o PP 43, 45, 59–61
torsion, bending, thermal); combined stresses; principal o E1 40–41, 58–59
stresses; Mohr’s circle; column analysis (e.g., buckling, o E2 43, 45–46, 59–60
boundary conditions); composite sections; elastic and plastic ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Mechanics of
deformations; stress-strain diagrams Materials KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Mechanics of
Materials KA

KA: materials ▪  FERM3 Chap. 40–42 and Diagnostic

(4–6 problems) 4% Exam for Materials Science/Structure of
mix design (e.g., concrete and asphalt); test methods and Matter
specifications (e.g., steel, concrete, aggregates, asphalt, wood); ▪ DSCE3
physical and mechanical properties of concrete, ferrous and o PP 59–61
nonferrous metals, masonry, wood, engineered materials (e.g., o E1 58–59
FRP, laminated lumber, wood/plastic composites), and asphalt o E2 59–60
▪ FE Civil Flashcard Materials KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Materials KA

How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the FE Civil Discipline‐Specific Exam  2 
  
 

KA: fluid mechanics ▪  FERM3 Chap. 22–25 and Diagnostic

(4–6 problems) 4% Exam for Fluid Mechanics
flow measurement; fluid properties; fluid statics; energy, ▪ DSCE3
impulse, and momentum equations o PP 7, 10
o E1 10–11
o E2 13, 29
▪ FE Civil Flashcard Fluid Mechanics KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Fluid Mechanics KA

KA: hydraulics and hydrologic systems ▪  FERM3 Chap. 24

(8–12 problems) 8% ▪ DSCE3
basic hydrology (e.g., infiltration, rainfall, runoff, detention, o PP 7–15
flood flows, watersheds); basic hydraulics (e.g., Manning o E1 8–15, 17–18
equation, Bernoulli theorem, open-channel flow, pipe flow); o E2 8–17
pumping systems (water and wastewater); water distribution ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Hydraulics and
systems reservoirs (e.g., dams, routing, spillways); Hydrologic Systems KA
groundwater (e.g., flow, wells, drawdown); storm sewer ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Hydraulics and
collection systems Hydrologic Systems KA

KAs: structural analysis ▪  FERM3 Chap. 10, 11, 20, 21

(6–9 problems) 6% ▪ DSCE3
analysis of forces in statically determinant beams, trusses, and o PP 38–45
frames; deflection of statically determinant beams, trusses, and o E1 40–45
frames; structural determinacy and stability analysis of beams, o E2 41–46
trusses, and frames; loads and load paths (e.g., dead, lives, ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Structural Analysis
lateral, influence lines and moving loads, tributary areas); KA
elementary statically indeterminate structures ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Structural Analysis
KA

KAs: structural design ▪  FERM3 Chap. 10, 11, 20, 21

(6–9 problems) 6% ▪ DSCE3
design of steel components (e.g., codes and design o PP 46–51
philosophies, beams, columns, beam-columns, tension o E1 46–51
members, connections); design of reinforced concrete o E2 47–52
components (e.g., codes and design philosophies, beams, slabs, ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Structural Design KA
columns, walls, footings) ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Structural Design
KA

How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the FE Civil Discipline‐Specific Exam  3 
  
 

KA: geotechnical engineering ▪ DSCE3

(9–14 problems) 9% o PP 16–24
geology; index properties and soil classifications; phase o E1 16, 19–25
relations (air-water-solid); laboratory and field tests; effective o E2 18–28
stress (buoyancy); stability of retaining walls (e.g., active ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Geotechnical
pressure/passive pressure); shear strength; bearing capacity Engineering KA
(cohesive and noncohesive); foundation types (e.g., spread ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Geotechnical
footings, deep foundations, wall footings, mats); consolidation Engineering KA
and differential settlement; seepage/flow nets; slope stability
(e.g., fills, embankments, cuts, dams); soil stabilization (e.g.,
chemical additives, geosynthetics); drainage systems; erosion
control

KA: transportation engineering ▪ DSCE3

(8–12 problems) 8% o PP 3–5, 31–37
geometric design of streets and highways; geometric design of o E1 33–39, 60
intersections; pavement system design (e.g., thickness, o E2 7, 33–40
subgrade, drainage, rehabilitation); traffic safety; traffic ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Transportation
capacity; traffic flow theory; traffic control devices; Engineering KA
transportation planning (e.g., travel forecast modeling) ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Transportation
Engineering KA

KA: environmental engineering ▪ DSCE3

(6–9 problems) 6% o PP 25–30
water quality (ground and surface); basic tests (e.g., water, o E1 26–32
wastewater, air); environmental regulations; water supply and o E2 29–32
treatment; wastewater collection and treatment ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Environmental
Engineering KA
▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Environmental
Engineering KA

KA: construction ▪ DSCE3

(4–6 problems) 4% o PP 52–58
construction documents; procurement methods (e.g., o E1 52–57
competitive bid, qualifications-based); project delivery o E2 53–58
methods (e.g., design-bid-build, design build, construction ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Construction KA
management, multiple prime); construction operations and ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Construction KA
methods (e.g., lifting, rigging, dewatering and pumping,
equipment production, productivity analysis and improvement,
temporary erosion control); project scheduling (e.g., CPM,
allocation of resources); project management (e.g.,
owner/contractor/client relations); construction safety;
construction estimating

How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the FE Civil Discipline‐Specific Exam  4 
  
 

KA: surveying ▪ DSCE3

(4–6 problems) 4% o PP 1–6
angles, distances, and trigonometry; area computations; o E1 1–7, 23
earthwork and volume computations; closure; coordinate o E2 1–6, 33–34
systems (e.g., state plane, latitude/longitude); leveling (e.g., ▪ FE Civil Flashcard Surveying KA
differential, elevations, percent grades) ▪ FE Civil Quiz Bank Surveying KA

* DSCE3 contains three sections. The table abbreviates these as follows: PP = Practice Problems; E1 = Exam 1; and
E2 = Exam 2.

How to Use FERM3 to Prepare for the FE Civil Discipline‐Specific Exam  5