To be eligible for the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam, also widely known as the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, candidates must meet specific educational or work experience requirements. Eligibility primarily focuses on demonstrating a foundational background in engineering.
EIT Exam Eligibility Requirements
Candidates typically qualify for the EIT exam by fulfilling one of the following criteria:
| Eligibility Pathway | Description |
|---|---|
| Engineering Education | Possessing three years or more of postsecondary (college-level) engineering education. This typically refers to coursework completed towards an engineering degree from an accredited institution. |
| Engineering Work Experience | Accumulating three years or more of engineering-related work experience. This experience should involve tasks and responsibilities directly relevant to the practice of engineering, often gained under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer or in an engineering-focused role. |
| Combined Education & Experience | A combination of postsecondary (college-level) engineering education and engineering-related work experience totaling at least three years. For instance, a candidate with two years of engineering education and one year of engineering work experience would meet this combined requirement. This pathway offers flexibility for individuals with varied professional and academic backgrounds. |
Meeting these requirements is a crucial first step toward obtaining EIT certification, which is an important milestone on the path to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). The EIT certification verifies an individual's proficiency in fundamental engineering principles, often serving as a prerequisite for gaining the supervised work experience required for PE licensure.
For more detailed information regarding the FE exam, including exam specifications and registration processes, you can visit the NCEES website.
