United States Engineering Licensure:

A Path of Opportunity

Offered in Egypt by

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, USA

In Collaboration With

The American University in Cairo – Engineering and Science Services

US Engineering Licensure: What is it and what are the Steps for Achieving it?
What is licensure?

Licensure is a recognized authorization to practice a particular profession. Doctors, accountants, lawyers, and
engineers are examples. Licensure of engineers in the United States provides assurance that an individual is
competent to practice in a particular field. There are about 500,000 licensed professional engineers (P.E.) with
current registration in the US.

Engineering licensure also provides a credential that the individual carries for life and is not tied to a particular
company’s training or qualification program. It’s a license that is nationally recognized in the US and is legally
required in order to work as an engineering consultant or to offer engineering services to the public. The US
engineering license is also recognized in various parts of the world. Many international employers and US
government agencies require licensure for advancement to senior engineering positions.

In the current tight job market, US engineering licensure provides a credential that sets an individual apart and
offers opportunities that would not otherwise be available. Licensed professional engineers (P.E.) typically hold
positions of higher authority and are paid more than unlicensed engineers.

Recently engineers in Japan, Korea and Canada were given the opportunity to pursue US engineering licensure
and now Egyptian engineers are also being afforded this opportunity.

Steps of achieving US engineering licensure

The following steps are required to become a licensed professional engineer (P.E.):

1. Graduation from an engineering program which is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology (ABET) or an Egyptian engineering program recognized by the Supreme Council of Universities
which has been determined to be equivalent to a EAC/ABET degree.

2. Passing the “Fundamental of Engineering” (FE) exam. It is recommended that this exam be taken during the
final year as an engineering student or soon after graduation. On passing the FE exam a candidate is
designated EIT (Engineer in Training) or EI (Engineering Intern).

3. Four years of progressive engineering experience as EIT/EI.

4. Passing the “Principles and Practice of Engineering” (PE) exam.

5. Submitting an application and all required documentation to a U.S. state board of engineering licensure (A
license as a Professional Engineer can only be issued by a state board of engineering licensure)

After satisfactory completion of the above steps, and with the approval of a state board of engineering licensure,
an individual will be recognized in that jurisdiction as a professional engineer (P.E.) Once licensed by a state
board, a PE can apply for licensure in other U.S. jurisdictions by comity provisions.
US Engineering Licensure: Who Sets the Standards and Who Administers Examinations?

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

NCEES was founded in 1920 and is a coalition of licensing boards from 50 states and 5 US territories whose
primary purpose is to develop and administer the licensing process. These Member Boards are subdivided into
four zones: Western, Central, Southern, and Northeastern. NCEES is the organization responsible for the
coordination and development of the FE and PE exams. NCEES also develops model guidelines to help states in
putting licensure laws into practice.

The vision of NCEES today is to provide leadership in the professional licensure of engineers and land surveyors
and to help shape its future. This will be achieved through excellence in uniform laws, licensing standards, and
rules of professional ethics as administered by the Member Boards for the protection of the health, safety and
welfare of the public.

The mission of NCEES is to assist Member Boards in the promotion and promulgation of regulatory processes for
engineering and land surveying licensure that demonstrate high standards of knowledge, professional
development, and ethics; provide to Member Boards services that promote uniform licensing procedures that
emphasize quality education, examination, progressive qualifying experience, and continuing professional
competency; and coordinate with domestic and international organizations to promote licensure of all engineers
and land surveyors.

The American University in Cairo – Engineering and Science Services (AUC–ESS)

The AUC-ESS was established in 1983 to strengthen the relationship between AUC and the industrial community
in Egypt and the Middle East. More than 600 public and private sector companies, offices, banks and
governmental agencies are now regular clients of ESS.

The mission of ESS is to provide high-quality training and service to the industrial community in Egypt and the
Middle East. In fulfillment of its mission, ESS offers a wide variety of programs and services, including: intensive
courses, professional certificate programs, distance education, tailor-made training, collaborative programs with
international agencies, and technical assistance and applied research to help the local industry meet the
challenges of the international market.

Collaboration between NCEES and AUC-ESS

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), through its member boards, is
responsible for developing and administering the licensing process in the US and other parts of the world. In
Egypt, the American University in Cairo - Engineering and Science Services (AUC–ESS) will help individuals
interested in pursuing licensure as a professional engineer (P.E.) by offering orientation sessions, preparation
courses, reference material, and practice exams in addition to providing administrative support for registering in
exams, vetting of credentials, and delivering exam results.
US Engineering Licensure: Examinations

Procedures and Security

The primary role of the Council is to prepare the engineering and land surveying examinations through its
committee on Examinations for Professional Engineers (EPE) and Committee on Examinations for Professional
Surveyors (EPS). Examinations are administered twice a year in April and October.

Engineering examination committees are composed of professionals from different engineering disciplines in
industry, consulting, and universities. They carefully compile, review edit, and categorize examination questions
and solutions according to specifications developed from the professional activities and knowledge studies.
Questions are checked for the level of difficulty, required response time, and clarity.

Once content is approved by the examination committees, the Council distributes the examinations to Member
Boards for administration to applicants. The boards return the completed examinations to the NCEES for scoring.

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam

In the US, more than 41,000 examinees take the FE exam every year - about 65% of these are students.

The FE is an 8-hour, closed-book exam divided into 2 sessions, morning and afternoon. Those who take the FE
exam in their final year as engineering students have a higher pass rate than those who take the exam one or two
years after graduation. Examinees use a reference handbook supplied by NCEES to assist them. Only the
handbook and approved calculators are allowed in the examination room. Upon registering for the FE exams,
candidates will be provided materials and information on how to prepare for the exam.

Morning Session

There are 120 multiple-choice problems in the morning session generally intended to cover the first two years of
an engineering program (Freshman and Sophomore years) and is common to all disciplines of engineering. This
session covers the following 4 areas:

Science: General chemistry and general physics. Life science, earth science, advanced chemistry, and physics may
also be included.

Mathematics: Differential and integral calculus and differential equations. Probability and statistics, linear
algebra, numerical analysis and advanced calculus may also be included.

Engineering science: Creative applications of science and mathematics. Mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical
and electronic circuits, material science, and transport phenomena may also be included.

Ethics: Professionalism and ethics.

Afternoon Session

There are 60 multiple-choice questions in the afternoon session. These questions test primarily the last two years
of an engineering program, junior/senior-level courses in the specific disciplines of chemical, civil, electrical,
environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering. Examinees may choose to be tested in one of these
disciplines, or they can work the general examination testing science, mathematics, and engineering science
written at a junior/senior level of difficulty.
Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) Exam

The PE is also an 8-hour exam divided into 2 sessions, morning and afternoon. PE is a practice oriented exam, as
opposed to the academically oriented FE exam. About 26,000 examinees sit for this exam. The number of
questions in the PE exam range from 80 to 100 depending on the discipline.

The PE is offered in two formats: “no choice” and “breadth and depth.” In the “no choice”, everyone takes the
same set of questions on any one discipline. The “no choice” exam is given in agricultural, architectural, chemical,
control systems, electrical/computer, environmental, fire protection, industrial, metallurgical, mining and mineral,
naval architecture and marine, nuclear, petroleum, and structural engineering.

The “breadth and depth” is more like the FE exam. There is a common morning session for everyone, but in the
afternoon session the examinee will need to choose from a number of different discipline modules, which
include: civil (environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources), mechanical (HVAC
and refrigeration, machine design, and thermal and fluid systems).

Registration, Fees and Deadlines for Examinations

NCEES will provide oversight of the examination administration, which include supervision of the administration
of FE and PE exams to eligible candidates, provide all test materials, provide chief proctor for the exams, score the
FE and PE exams and provide verification of scores to state boards.

The AUC-ESS will be assisting in the testing process for the FE exam by receiving applications from candidates and
establishing their eligibility, preparing and administering preparation courses for FE, and delivering the exam
results to candidates.

The total fee for the FE exam is US$600, or its equivalent in Egyptian Pounds. The fee covers: registration for the
exam and vetting of credentials, participation in preparation courses, sitting for the FE exam, and receiving the
exam results.

The AUC-ESS will be assisting in the testing process for the PE exam by receiving applications from candidates and
establishing their eligibility for PE exam, and delivering the exam results to candidates.

The total fee for the PE exam is US$925, or its equivalent in Egyptian Pounds. The fee covers: registration for the
exam and vetting of credentials, sitting for the PE exam, and receiving the exam results.

Deadline for registration for the October, 2010 FE and PE exams at AUC is July 31, 2010. Preparation courses will
be organized during June, July, September and October, 2010.

More information
AUC: The American University in Cairo, P.O. Box 2511, Cairo 11511, Egypt,

tel: 20.2.2797.5321 / 20.2.797.5628

fax: 20.2.2792.3352 / 20.2.2795.7565

email: engsrv@aucegypt.edu

Website: www.aucegypt.edu/engsrv
NCEES: National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, P.O. Box 1686, Clemson, SC 29633 – 1686,
USA.

Tel: 864.654.6824 / 800.250.3196

Fax: 864.654.6033

Website: www.engineeringlicense.com