To apply for EIT certification, you need an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and an approved application filed with your state’s engineering licensing board. Those three pieces are the core of every application; the specific forms, fees, and processing times depend on the state where you file.1NCEES. NCEES Model Law
Confirm You Meet the Education Requirement
Boards look for a bachelor’s degree or higher from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.2ABET. Licensure, Registration and Certification That accreditation is the board’s assurance that your coursework covered the fundamentals the profession considers essential.
A non-ABET degree isn’t an automatic bar, but the path is longer. States that permit non-ABET graduates to pursue licensure typically require four to eight additional years of work experience on top of the standard requirements.2ABET. Licensure, Registration and Certification
If your degree comes from an international program, you can have it evaluated against the NCEES Engineering Education Standard through the NCEES credentials evaluation service. The evaluation costs $400 and is typically completed within 15 business days. You’ll need official transcripts, diplomas, course descriptions, and certified English translations of any documents not originally in English.3NCEES. Credentials Evaluations
Still finishing your degree? Many jurisdictions let students in their final year of an ABET-accredited program sit for the FE exam before graduating. The threshold varies by board, with some requiring senior standing and others specifying a credit-hour cutoff, so check yours before registering.4NCEES. FE Exam
Register For and Pass the FE Exam
The FE exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers, and scheduled through your MyNCEES account. The exam fee is $225, paid directly to NCEES. Some states also charge a separate board application fee before approving you to sit for the exam, so confirm the order with your board before you register.4NCEES. FE Exam
Pick a Discipline
NCEES offers seven discipline-specific versions of the FE:
- FE Chemical
- FE Civil
- FE Electrical and Computer
- FE Environmental
- FE Industrial and Systems
- FE Mechanical
- FE Other Disciplines (architectural, biological, general engineering, naval architecture, and marine engineering)
Pick the one that best matches your degree and career direction. Your choice doesn’t lock you into a particular PE discipline later; it only determines the subject areas on test day.4NCEES. FE Exam
Format and Scoring
Every FE discipline exam has 110 questions and runs six hours, including a tutorial and an optional scheduled break.5NCEES. FE Civil CBT Exam Specifications An electronic reference handbook is available during the exam; download it beforehand so you’re familiar with its layout. No other reference materials are permitted.
Results are reported as pass or fail. NCEES converts your raw score to a scaled score that accounts for difficulty differences across forms, then compares it against a minimum ability level set by subject-matter experts.6NCEES. Exam Scoring Results typically post to your MyNCEES account within 7 to 10 business days. A failing report includes a diagnostic showing your strengths and weaknesses by topic, which is useful for targeting your next attempt.4NCEES. FE Exam
You can attempt the FE once per testing window (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December) and no more than three times in any 12-month period.7NCEES. NCEES Examinee Guide Some state boards impose stricter limits.
Gather the Documents Your Board Wants
Passing the FE doesn’t automatically make you an EIT. You still have to apply to your state’s engineering licensing board, and most boards want the same core set of materials:
- Your MyNCEES account information, which links your FE results to your identity. When results are released to your board (typically 8 to 10 weeks after the exam), NCEES emails you a confirmation.4NCEES. FE Exam
- Official transcripts sent directly from your institution to either NCEES or the licensing board. Some boards accept secure electronic delivery; others still require a sealed envelope from the registrar.
- Degree details: the exact name of your ABET-accredited program, the degree awarded, and your graduation date. Make sure the name on your academic records matches the name on your NCEES account, because mismatches are one of the most common causes of processing delays.
- A background disclosure covering any criminal history or prior disciplinary action. Boards weigh factors like the nature of the offense and how much time has passed, so a past issue doesn’t necessarily disqualify you. Failing to disclose one almost certainly will.
Submit the Application and Pay the Fee
Depending on the state, you’ll either file through an online portal or mail a physical packet. Online systems have you upload PDF versions of completed forms along with any supporting documents not being sent separately by third parties, then apply a digital signature. For paper filings, use a traceable mailing method to the address your board specifies.
EIT application fees vary widely, generally falling somewhere between $15 and $100. Online portals accept credit cards; paper applications often require a check or money order. Fees are typically nonrefundable regardless of the outcome. You should receive a receipt or confirmation within a few business days of submitting; if you don’t, check your email and your online account.
What Happens During Board Review
Board staff verify your transcript, confirm your FE score against NCEES records, and review your background disclosure. Most applicants hear back within four to eight weeks, and many boards let you track status through their portal.
Missing or mismatched documentation is the usual cause of delay. If your transcript hasn’t arrived from your university, or the name on your NCEES account doesn’t match your application, the board will pause and request clarification. Responding quickly keeps things moving.
Once everything checks out, the board issues your EIT certification number and adds you to the state’s registry. Some states publish a searchable database; others send a certificate or letter you can share with employers. That number is what you’ll cite on resumes and, later, on your PE application.
Keeping Your EIT Active
EIT rules on duration and renewal are not uniform. Some states issue certificates that never expire. Others set a fixed validity period, commonly eight to ten years, after which the certification lapses if you haven’t moved on to PE licensure. A smaller number of states require periodic renewal with a fee. Continuing education requirements are rare at the EIT stage and far more common after you become a PE.
Check your board’s rules shortly after you’re certified. If your EIT can expire, letting it lapse can complicate your PE application later, because most boards want an active EIT or proof of equivalent standing before processing your PE exam approval.
Moving From EIT to PE
The standard path from EIT to Professional Engineer involves four years of qualifying engineering work experience after your degree, then passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.8NCEES. PE Exam The experience should be performed under the supervision of a licensed PE and needs to involve genuine engineering judgment; routine tasks anyone could perform don’t count.
Start documenting from day one. The NCEES Records program lets you build a verified file of transcripts, exam results, employment history, and professional references that you can transmit directly to any state board when you apply for PE licensure or seek comity in another jurisdiction.9NCEES. Records Program Each experience entry should describe the complexity and engineering nature of what you personally did, not just your title. Where possible, name a supervisor who held a PE license during the time you worked together as your verifier.10NCEES. Work Experience FAQs Keeping detailed records as you go is far easier than reconstructing four years of project descriptions from memory when you’re ready to apply.