Frequently Asked Questions
FE Exam (Fundaments of Engineering Exam)
Q1. What is the EIT or FE exam?
EIT = Engineer in Training
FE = Fundamentals of Engineering
Passing both these exams is necessary if a student wishes to obtain a professional engineering license. The EIT exam is typically taken just prior to graduation, and is a very broad exam covering a wide range of engineering subject matter. Those who pass the EIT exam are eligible to take the FE exam after they have been a practicing engineer for a couple of years. The FE exam is focused on a specific engineering discipline (e.g. civil, electrical, mechanical engineering etc). At this point in time there is not an FE exam for biomedical engineers. BMEs would have to take one of the other discipline's FE exam.
Q2. Should I take the EIT Exam?
In certain engineering occupations, like civil engineering, a professional engineering license is often required to practice. This is not true in biomedical engineering. That being said, a number of BME majors across the country will take and pass the EIT exam because they believe it will improve their job prospects. Their thinking is that having passed the exam will help dispel the misconception that some in industry have that BME is not a rigorous engineering discipline. This is an individual choice and a recommendation either way by the BME department.
