NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Mechanical Exam
The first step to a PE license in mechanical engineering — 110 computer-based questions across the whole ME curriculum, solved with the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.
About the exam
The FE Mechanical exam is the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam for mechanical engineering. Passing it — usually during or right after an ABET-accredited degree — earns Engineer Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) status in most states, the first step toward a Professional Engineer (PE) license.
It's a computer-based exam at Pearson VUE test centers: 110 questions in a 6-hour appointment that includes a nondisclosure agreement, a short tutorial, 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time and a 25-minute scheduled break. It's closed book — the only reference is the searchable electronic NCEES FE Reference Handbook on screen — and you may bring only an NCEES-approved calculator. Questions use both SI and U.S. customary units and include multiple-choice plus alternative item types such as numeric fill-in.
Our practice follows the 14 NCEES knowledge areas with every numeric answer worked from the givens — trusses and friction, vibrations and rigid-body dynamics, Mohr's circle and buckling, Rankine and refrigeration cycles, psychrometrics, pipe flow and pump laws, conduction and LMTD, control loops, shafts, springs, bolts and fits — with wrong answers built from the slips examinees actually make, plus flashcards, worked case walkthroughs, illustrated guides and full-length timed practice.
How we track your progress
Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:
- Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
- Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
- DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
- ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
- Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.
The exam blueprint
NCEES FE Mechanical CBT exam specifications, effective beginning with the July 2020 exams (14 knowledge areas, 110 questions) — the current posted specification as of October 2026. Uses the searchable NCEES FE Reference Handbook supplied on screen. — Mathematics, probability and statistics, ethics, engineering economics, electricity and magnetism, statics, dynamics and vibrations, mechanics of materials, materials and processing, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, measurements and controls, and mechanical design. Tap a domain to see its topics.
1 Mathematics 6–9 of 110 questions of the exam
27 practice questions in this domain so far
2 Probability and Statistics 4–6 of 110 questions of the exam
18 practice questions in this domain so far
3 Ethics and Professional Practice 4–6 of 110 questions of the exam
18 practice questions in this domain so far
4 Engineering Economics 4–6 of 110 questions of the exam
18 practice questions in this domain so far
5 Electricity and Magnetism 5–8 of 110 questions of the exam
23 practice questions in this domain so far
6 Statics 9–14 of 110 questions of the exam
41 practice questions in this domain so far
7 Dynamics, Kinematics and Vibrations 10–15 of 110 questions of the exam
44 practice questions in this domain so far
8 Mechanics of Materials 9–14 of 110 questions of the exam
41 practice questions in this domain so far
9 Material Properties and Processing 7–11 of 110 questions of the exam
32 practice questions in this domain so far
10 Fluid Mechanics 10–15 of 110 questions of the exam
44 practice questions in this domain so far
11 Thermodynamics 10–15 of 110 questions of the exam
44 practice questions in this domain so far
12 Heat Transfer 7–11 of 110 questions of the exam
32 practice questions in this domain so far
13 Measurements, Instrumentation and Controls 5–8 of 110 questions of the exam
24 practice questions in this domain so far
14 Mechanical Design and Analysis 10–15 of 110 questions of the exam
44 practice questions in this domain so far
What you get when you access this exam
Free with your QuizMe account.
Built on the NCEES specifications
Every question is tagged to one of the 14 FE Mechanical knowledge areas, weighted like the real exam's question ranges.
Hints that point to the Handbook
Reveal the equation or Handbook section to search for when you're stuck. Every numeric answer is worked step by step, and every distractor is a mistake worth recognizing.
Adaptive practice
Questions steer toward your weakest knowledge areas and get harder as you get stronger.
Full-length timed practice
110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes — the real FE pace — with a pacing indicator and full review.
Drawn problems
Beams, trusses, free-body diagrams, cycles, pipe systems and control loops drawn the way FE problems present them.
Progress in every area
Each knowledge area moves from Not started to Exam ready, so you know exactly what to study next.
Test at home or at a center
Create a MyNCEES account, choose FE Mechanical, pay the fee and schedule at a Pearson VUE test center. Check your state board's rules too — some boards require a separate application for EI/EIT certification after you pass.
At a Pearson VUE test center
- Computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE centers.
- Bring valid, unexpired government-issued ID that matches your MyNCEES name.
- Only NCEES-approved calculator models are allowed; a reusable notepad and marker are provided.
- The FE Reference Handbook is on screen — practice searching the same PDF beforehand.
Before test day
- Download the free FE Reference Handbook from MyNCEES and do practice problems with it, not a textbook.
- Practice with your exact calculator model — speed matters at about three minutes a question.
- Know the retake rules: one attempt per testing window and no more than three in any 12-month period.
- Confirm what your state board needs for EI/EIT status after you pass.
Exam-day game plan
How to walk in ready — and how to pace 110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes.
Pacing checkpoints
Our timed test runs 110 questions in 320 minutes — the real FE exam time. The real appointment adds a nondisclosure agreement, a short tutorial and a 25-minute scheduled break, and the Reference Handbook is on screen beside each question.
The week before
- Take one full timed practice exam using the Handbook PDF, then review every miss.
- You can't bring notes, so practice Ctrl+F search terms for the formulas you use most (Mohr, Darcy, Rankine, LMTD, Goodman).
- Rehearse steam-table and psychrometric-chart lookups — interpolation eats time.
- Confirm your Pearson VUE appointment, ID and calculator model.
During the test
- Answer the quick conceptual questions first and flag long calculations.
- Search the Handbook by keyword, then check the variable definitions and units beside the equation.
- Write units on every number — lbm vs lbf, kPa vs Pa and °C vs K cause most wrong choices.
- Take the scheduled break; the second half is just as long.
- Never leave a question blank — there's no penalty for guessing.
Keep your head
- You don't need a perfect score — the cut score is set well below 100%.
- If a problem stalls past five minutes, flag it and move on.
- Change an answer only when you find a specific error in your first solution.
After you pass
- Results are pass/fail and usually post to MyNCEES within about 7–10 business days; failing examinees get a diagnostic report by topic.
- Apply to your state board for Engineer Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification if your board requires it.
- Next comes qualifying experience (typically four years) and a PE Mechanical exam — HVAC and Refrigeration, Machine Design and Materials, or Thermal and Fluid Systems.
- FE results don't expire with NCEES; check your state board's rules.
Official sources and further reading
- NCEES — FE exam ↗Official exam overview, appointment timing, fee, retake rules, registration and the Reference Handbook (via MyNCEES).
- NCEES FE Mechanical CBT exam specifications (PDF copy) ↗The 14 knowledge areas and question ranges, effective with the July 2020 exams; the current version is also linked from the NCEES FE exam page.
- NCEES — Calculator policy ↗The approved calculator models.
Ready to start?
450 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.
FE® and NCEES® are registered trademarks of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by NCEES. All questions are original. Details are summarized from NCEES's FE exam pages and the FE Mechanical specifications; fees and policies change — always confirm at ncees.org and with your state board.