Tips and Tricks for Passing the FE Exam

Passing the FE Exam will be an important step in the career of a FE Engineer. Writing and clearing the FE Exam will be the first step in obtaining a PE license. You need to be aware of the various nuances of the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam to appear and prepare confidently for the exam. Let us look at a few guidelines for passing the FE Exam.

Who is the FE Exam meant for?

FE Exam is for graduates who are doing their final year engineering degree or who have just completed their engineering degree.

What type of Exam is the FE Exam?

The FE Exam is a computer-based exam, that can be taken at any Pearson VUE authorised test centre.

Multiple-Choice Exam Format

The FE Exam has 110 multiple-choice questions. The exam will be for 6 hours long. You have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. There will be a tutorial for eight minutes. The actual exam is for five hours and 20 minutes. There is a break for 25 mins. You also need to take a brief survey. The FE Review prepares you to face the multiple-choice format.

Mastering FE Exam Syllabus

The syllabus for the FE Exams is listed in the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) website. The syllabus for the respective engineering disciplines are listed separately for the FE Exam and PE Exam. You can look up the syllabus pdf and prepare well for the exam. The FE Exam Review helps you to master the FE Exam Syllabus.

Joining a Prep Program

By joining a prep program, you can become aware of the important topics for the exam. Experienced instructors with both industrial and academic knowledge will be able to guide you towards exam success. Joining a prep program like a FE Review Course helps you to prepare well for the FE Exam.

Buying the Right Books

Purchasing the right books to prepare for the exam will be helpful. The FE Review Manual, 3rd Edition by Michael R. Lindeburg, P.E.will be a useful book for any engineer preparing for the FE Exam. FE Exam Review Course will recommend the correct books to prepare for the FE Exam.

Watch YouTube and Vimeo Videos

There are lots of interesting and educative subject videos on video sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. The engineers can view these videos to get a good idea of the subjects or any specific theory or practical topic.

Do a Group Study

Group study will allow you to collaborate with other students and get a share of their knowledge. Other students may have a skill or expertise that you may not have. So, collaborating helps to share knowledge.

Visit Libraries

Visiting Libraries will help you get access to lots of books and journals that will help you to prepare well for the exam. The variety of books in a library will keep you engaged. The quiet atmosphere at the library will help you to concentrate on your studies.

Connecting with Groups in Social Media

You can connect with engineering groups in Social Media that freely discuss their knowledge. This type of Social Learning will help in synergizing the knowledge of people from around the world. You can ask doubts and get answers from many people in the group. You can post pictures and videos to share your knowledge or doubts. You can initiate a long discussion thread. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Review Course helps the students connecting with groups in Social Media.

Hope these guidelines and tips help you to prepare well for the FE Exam. 

Various PE Prep Courses Conducted by School of PE

The School of PE has been conducting PE Exam Prep Courses right from the year 2004. They have been offering specialized coaching in various streams of PE courses.

The various PE Courses taken by School of PE are:

1. PE Civil

2. PE Electrical

3. PE Environmental

4. PE Mechanical

5. PE Chemical

The School of PE adheres to the syllabus prescribed by the NCEES for training students for the PE Exam. The syllabus forms the basis of all types of classes at School of PE. Questions in the final exam will be based on this syllabus.

PE Civil: The PE Civil Course gives extensive training for an Engineer who wants to take the PE Civil Exam. The syllabus covered under PE Civil - Construction include project planning, means and methods, soil mechanics, structural mechanics, hydraulics and hydrology, geometrics, material, site development, earthwork construction and layout, estimating quantities and costs, construction operation and methods, scheduling, material quality control and production, temporary structures, health and safety.

There are other topics included for PE Civil – Geotechnical. The topics include earthquake engineering and dynamic loads, earth structures, groundwater and seepage, problematic soil and rock conditions, earth retaining structures, shallow and deep foundations.

The other topics for PE Civil – Structural are Analysis of structures, design and details of structures, codes and construction.

The Civil – Transportation covers topics such as Traffic Engineering (Capacity Analysis and Transportation Planning), Horizontal Design, Vertical Design, Intersection geometry, roadside and cross-section design, signal design, traffic control design, geotechnical and pavement, drainage, and alternative analysis. Adhering to the PE syllabus is a good part of the PE Review course.

PE Electrical: PE Electrical Engineering include subjects such as General Power Engineering, Circuit Analysis, Rotating Machines and Electromagnetic Devices, and Transmission and Distribution (High, Medium, and low Voltage). The PE Electrical is taken by an engineer after completing the FE Electrical exam. So, the PE Review Course for PE Electrical follows the syllabus of NCEES.

PE Environmental: The syllabus for the PE Environmental includes water, solid waste, air, site assessment and remediation, environmental health and safety, associated engineering principles. Those engineers who have completed the FE Environmental will help in passing the PE Environmental exam. The PE Exam Review of the PE Environmental course sticks to the NCEES syllabus.

PE Mechanical: The PE Mechanical syllabus includes basic engineering practice, mechanical systems and materials, hydraulics and fluids, Energy/Power systems, HVAC Refrigeration – principles and applications. If an engineer has taken the FE Mechanical Exam then he/she will be familiar with the fundamental syllabus for Professional Engineer Exam.

PE Chemical: The PE Chemical syllabus covered by School of PE includes Mass/Energy balances and thermodynamics, heat transfer, kinetics, fluids, mass transfer, plant design and operation. If an engineer has passed the FE Chemical exam, then he/she will have a good knowledge of the basic PE syllabus. The PE Exam Review Course of PE Chemical follows the NCEES syllabus.

The syllabus listed by NCEES is conducted by experienced instructors at School of PE. These instructors have both academic and industry experience. The syllabus is covered either in the online or ondemand modes. The School of PE recommends the Reference Manual written by Michael R. Lindeburg, P.E. as an aid for preparing for the exam.

How to design and build a temporary structure to help the proposed project at the construction site?

During the time of building construction, there are certain structures which are created to aid the proposed structure. Even though given the temporary nature of these structure, the requirement for its safety level is high. But it suffice to say that these structures should follow certain rules and regulations for meeting their temporary requirement. 

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is a national nonprofit organization which develops, administers and scores the NCEES FE Exam and NCEES PE Exam for professional licensure for engineers and surveyors. A Professional Civil Engineer having passed this exam is aware of standards and codes for constructing a safe temporary structure within budget. A professional engineer ensures the following steps are followed in the building of these temporary structures.

Listing all the needed temporary structures: Find out the various temporary structures that would be required to assist for constructing the proposed structure according to the approved plans. 

Define the purpose of the structures: Be clear about the need for these structures and their presence justify the construction needs.

Designing the temporary structures: Design the temporary structure for safe load carrying capacity within the budget. Some of these structures don’t come under project lump sum cost and they are to be managed by the construction company. 

Clearly list the required accessories for temporary structures: Have a clear list of the various materials that would be used for constructing temporary structures in order to support the project for early completion.

Temporary structure should be integrated with the building dimensions: Design the temporary structure in such a way that they aid in the building process. 

Structural design approved by the professional engineer: Structural design of the temporary structure must be approved by the professional engineer before beginning to build it. 

Structures meet OSHA regulation and project specifications: Make sure to build a temporary structure that should satisfy OSHA Regulations and project specifications. 

Dismantle temporary structures after successful project completion: It is usually the construction company’s responsibility to dismantle any temporary structures build for aiding the proposed project. 

In Conclusion: It could be said that the temporary structures play a vital role in creating complex construction projects. A Professional Civil Engineer must be able to design safe and economical temporary structures to support the project construction. NCEES Exam test the design skills of a professional civil engineer related to the temporary structures. 

How to choose right asphalt mix design for highway projects

The highways have been connecting the entire country with its every advancement in pavement techniques. The quality highways are not only durable with less maintenance. There are two main asphalt mix procedures – Marshall and Hveem.  To achieve proper pavement surface it requires the right mixture of bitumen and mineral aggregates based on traffic volume. An engineer taking a PE Exam brushes up the basic information about asphalt pavements in transportation engineering. While constructing the highway/road, following steps should be considered for effective pavement construction. 

Limiting permeability: While constructing asphalt pavement, it is important to ensure that the paved surface is compacted as per the required density as per specification. 

Capacity to carry traffic loads: The designed mix for the road should be able to handle more traffic and traffic loads during peak hours. A PE Review Course refreshes topics related to traffic volumes and pavement design topics in PE Civil Transportation Engineering class.

Resistance to permanent deformation: With time, weather and environmental condition the mix should be able to withstand any form of disintegration. The design mix should be capable of withstanding against environmental factors. A PE Exam Review brushes upon various asphalt design mix procedures and their usage.  

Sufficient layer thickness: It is important that there is an adequate layer thickness of each course of material while constructing the roadways. When the layer thickness is not appropriate then the pavement is likely to break, crack and ravel. To prevent such type of failures, it is important to ensure that the right layer thickness is to be maintained.

In Conclusion: While constructing a highway it is very important to ensure that the above steps are taken into consideration. The design mix created for the highway should prevent the failures caused by various factors. A Professional Engineer Exam Review Course helps the aspirants to refresh their basics of transportation engineering for passing the PE Civil Exam.

How to avoid electrical hazards while repairing equipment using OSHA safety precautions

Shock caused by electrical accident could range from mere tingle to death due to electrocution. Electricity has become a part of our daily life that we take it for granted. Simple precaution will greatly help in preventing fatal incidents due to electrocution. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, otherwise known as OSHA, has brought out a publication on “Controlling Electrical Hazards” which provides precautionary steps to take during electrical work. 

The three factors that cause electrical accidents are:

1. Equipment that are unsafe for use
2. Electrical accident prone work environment
3. Work practices without any precaution

OSHA discusses about the various protection steps that are to be taken to safe-guard from electrical hazards. While repairing a faulty high voltage consuming electrical equipment. Professional Engineer Exam Review skims through OSHA safety topics in your refresher class.

Make sure to switch off the power source: The main power source for the equipment should be switched off even if it is a low voltage power supply. This makes sure that there are no electrical accidents while doing maintenance work.

Check for insulations: Make sure that there are no faulty insulation errors in the electrical wiring. Please ensure all insulation tapes correctly adhered to electrical wire splicing.

Check if Insulation on conductors are properly color coded: The grounding conductors are solid green or green with yellow stripes. Make sure the wires that are conductors and non-conductors of electricity are properly differentiated as per their color code such as black or red for “hot wires” and green white or gray for grounding wires. Professional Engineering Exam Review Course gives the aspirant exam takers a quick scan of safety issues related to electrical hazards and ways to prevent those. 

Check for exposed electrical devices are guarded: Make sure to cover up the exposed electrical equipment parts with protective covers to prevent incidents in project site.  

Check for grounding of Electrical equipment: Make sure proper grounding is provided to reduce the risk of electrical hazards. When equipment are well grounded this creates a low-resistance path which connects it to the earth. Earth is a non-conductor thus limits the risk of electric hazards. PE Exam Review gives an overview of how grounding reduces electrical risk. 

Check for proper circuit protection devices: It would be helpful to use circuit protection devices such as fuses, circuit breakers, ground-fault circuit interrupters and arc-fault circuit interrupters. These devices on event of too much current flow would break the circuit. These devices are designed to protect the conductors and equipment.  

In Conclusion: While doing maintenance work with high voltage equipment, it is important to follow the above steps to ensure a safe maintenance work. By knowing the OSHA safety regulations we can prevent electrical incidents on project sites. PE Exam Review Course helps aspirants to get ready for the PE Exam by providing a review on all important topics. 

How to select a right Professional Cost Estimator for a building construction project

It is common knowledge that Corporates involved in the construction industry to perform a cost estimation on a building they intend to build. They also have to make sure that the building is completed within the estimated time and budget. A Civil Engineer with the intention to sit for the PE Exam should be aware of the role of cost estimation in a construction project. A PE Review quickly brushes up various vital and important numerical problems that appear in the PE Civil Exam for successfully passing PE Exam.

Here are few steps on how a Cost Estimator is selected and how an estimation is arrived at for a building construction project.

Pick the Right Cost Estimator for the Project

There are many ways a Cost Estimator can be engaged to perform the building cost estimation. They could be contractual, an individual selected from among the construction team, or externally employed short term Estimator or project-specific estimator.

Clear Guidelines for Cost Estimation Fair Practices

Construction companies wishing to bid for a construction contract will make sure that Cost Estimator is well aware of all the common and fair practice traits of cost estimation. The cost estimation should be ethical with integrity, of sound judgment, right professional attitude, and accurate. A PE Review Course is a quick recap of various topics that NCEES has marked in its Professional Engineering Exam specifications as pertinent topics for an engineer to be aware of to become a Professional Practice Engineer. The topic cost estimating forms a part of the initial steps involved in Construction Project Plan. 

Cost Estimation Involves Multiple Levels

There are nearly 5 levels of Cost Estimation. At each level the Cost Estimator gathers the required historical, current and future data to draw up the cost estimation for the building. This ensures that project does not run into budget crisis for unpredicted production costs.  

Rudiments of Cost Estimate

The Cost Estimate is based on the following basic items such as Quantity Takeoffs, the expected number of labor hours, the expected labor rates for project completion, Cost of raw and other required relevant materials for the building, and equipment costs. In case, if the company is subcontracting a task in the project, then, it should also include quotes from the subcontractors for the relevant tasks. 

Advantage in Knowing about Emerging Trends

It is an added advantage to be well-versed in the emerging trends such as use of computers and specialized application for performing complex cost estimation on the building. A well-done cost estimation stands a higher chance of being accepted by the Organization placing a bid for the construction project. A Civil Engineer taking the PE Exam Review can take it up as an interest to become aware of current trends in the cost estimation procedures. 

Proper Units and Unit Prices

A Cost Estimator should make sure that proper units and unit prices are followed while performing the cost estimation of the construction project. A well-planned and structured estimate is capable of ensuring a successful project within budget. 

Reasons to get a Professional Engineer Exam License for Career Success

In any profession just a basic degree is not sufficient. Companies who give a job and clients who give a project look out for engineers who hold a PE License. Getting a PE License tests the engineer on key subject areas and skills.

There are many advantages of having a PE. There is a prestige that PE are treated in par with licensed professionals in other disciplines. Colleagues and peers also respect a person with a PE Exam. Engineers with a PE are viewed as being a member of an elite group of professionals.

License also shows that you are committed to the profession. And it also shows good leadership and management skills in the engineer. Companies and seniors will promote an engineer who has shown promise by getting a PE license.

Only licensed engineers have the authority to sign and seal engineering drawings. Licensure has also become very popular among government organizations and educational institutions. You can start your own business if you have a PE license. Or you can channelize and focus on a specific branch of engineering that you want to master. If the industry you are working in is cost cutting by reducing the number of staff then you will be saved because you hold a PE license. Engineers with a PE license earn more than their counterparts. They are also placed higher up in the organizational ladder.

As the Professional Engineer Exam is a very tough exam with lot of rules and regulations, those who pass the PE Exam are regarded with much respect. If the engineer is involved in building a structure for public use, then having a PE license is a legal requirement.

According to a 2010 survey by National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), those with a PE license earn an annual median salary of $99,000. Those without a license earn $94,000 a year. As per a 2012 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, those with a PE license earn a median salary of $100,000. Those without a PE license earn $95,500.

The path taken by an engineer with PE license is commendable and shows their commitment. First, they complete an engineering program for four years that is ABET accredited. After completing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is an eight-hour exam that tests the engineer on engineering basics, the engineer is called Ëngineer-in-Training or Engineering intern. Some graduates take FE Exam while doing graduation, and others take it after finishing graduation. Some states allow the engineer to take the FE Exam during graduation and other allow only after graduation. An EIT has to work under a PE for four years to learn all the ropes of engineering.

Because of this rigorous training, education, and path which the engineer takes up, the engineer with a PE certification is highly valued. So, it is very important to get a PE license for career and professional success.  

The various methods of preparing for a FE Exam

Passing the FE Exam is an important milestone in the career of an engineer who wants to perform well professionally and also have a stable career. The FE exam is the foundation or starting point for writing the PE Exam. An engineer has to pass the FE Exam, then work for two or four years under a PE, and then write the PE Exam.

But how does one prepare for the FE Exam. There are several ways by which an engineer can prepare for the FE Exam. First of all, an engineer can do self-study. There are several engineering subject books in the market that focus on helping an engineer prepare for the FE Exam. One can select a book for FE Exam Prep for a specific discipline and study.

If self-study works for some, others may be successful if they do a group study. One person in the group may be strong in one subject area. Another person may be weak in another subject area. So, doing group study helps each other to learn from another person who is more knowledgeable in the subject.

Another method to prepare for the FE Exam will be by enrolling in a FE Exam Prep Course. An FE Exam Prep Course usually comes with various benefits. The training institutes such as School of PE have experienced instructors who come equipped with both industry and academic experience. They deliver excellent lectures and also prepare informative course material that is very helpful to tackle the exams.

There are also free calculator and fundamental of math training videos. These calculator videos train the engineers on how to use NCEES approved calculators. The Math videos help the engineers to brush up their knowledge of math fundamentals.

There are also social learning opportunities. There is a Question to Instructor section where students can ask about their doubts to their instructors. This section helps the student to face the exam confidently as their doubts are cleared. There is also a Discussion Forum where students can discuss the subject topics with fellow students.

The courses are also offered in different modes to suit the different learning styles and time constraints of the students. For example, the live online course can be taken on fixed dates and timings. The ondemand course is taken based on individual timing needs and free time available.

One can also apply a combination of all these methods of study and reap the benefits of each mode. So a student can enroll for a prep course, study independently, and also read from a book simultaneously. This will help the student to get the best of all worlds and methods of learning.

If you want a very cost-effective mode then self-study will be best. But there is no guarantee of a pass. But if you enroll in a training institute for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Prep, then their focused coaching leads to a pass with high scores. So, setting proper priority will help you to decide the right method to prepare for the FE Exam.  

Why FE Exam Prep Course is important for an Engineer

Engineers appearing for the FE Exam may need some focused refresher sessions to take up the FE Exam. FE Prep Course will help the engineer to prepare well for the FE Exam. This is because self- study may not help the engineer to focus on the important aspects of the exam. Enrolling at a training institute that helps to prepare for an FE Prep Course will lead to a focused preparation for the FE Exam.

School of PE is a training institute that offers FE Exam Prep Courses. Engineers may have lost touch with Math Fundamentals. So, a prep course will have a video on maths fundamentals. This free video is for two hours. This math video covers all the important math topics as prescribed by NCEES Exam.

School of PE also offers a free calculator training. The calculator training deals with how to work and operate with NCEES approved calculator. This free calculator training is also for two hours.

Training institutes such as School of PE also have experienced instructors who have both industry and academic experience. Such instructors are able to conduct classes efficiently and also develop excellent courseware that are given as handouts to students.

There is also lot of facilities for Social Learning. There is a “Discussion Forum” where the students can discuss their doubts with other students. There is also a “Question to Instructor” section through which the students can send their doubts to the instructors. These doubts which the students may get as and when they study the course material are cleared by the Instructors. The students can also view a free online demo of how the course will be before taking up the actual course.

If a student was doing self-study, they may get distracted. Or they will not be able to get all the preparation needed at a single point. There will not be an advantage of peer groups. It will also be difficult to independently access experts who have good knowledge about the engineering subjects.

When there is a group of students preparing along with you for the exams, you are more motivated by the peer group to prepare for the exams. If you are studying alone, then this motivation level maybe low as when compared with studying with others.

Similarly, having an instructor who will clear doubts is a big asset. Because, being blank about a subject area where you have a doubt is not good for exam preparation.

Moreover, in a training institute, the courses may cover different disciplines of engineering. So the student can easily get access to whichever branch of engineering they want to prepare for in the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

A training institute will also spend time in teaching you practice questions that are frequently asked in the exams. Studying by yourself with a book will not help you prepare for the important practice questions. Moreover, all content in a book may not be important for an exam. So, enrolling with a training institute that offers FE Exam Prep courses will help you to channelize your energy for fruitful preparation for the exam.  

An Overview of the FE Exam Process

The FE Exam is a computer-based exam that is conducted by NCEES. When you start preparing to write the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, you have to first check if you are eligible to take up the exam. The eligibility criteria varies from one state to another territory and depends on the licensing boards.

You need to have a MyNCEES account to register for the exam. Make sure you provide proper first and last names while registering and these names must match the government ID you will use during the exam. Taking the FE Review will give you guidance about the exam process of NCEES.

After creating the MyNCEES account, you need to login and Register for the exam. You have to agree with NCEES on using electronic transactions for registration and subsequent procedures. You must also acknowledge that you have read the rules and regulations of the NCEES Exam and agree to comply by that.

After paying the exam fees, you will get a mail stating that you can schedule your exam. You have to use the Schedule button and schedule your exam atleast 24 hours before the actual exam date.

The FE Exams can be taken in the months of January-February, April-May, July-August, and October-November. Exams do not happen in the months of September, March, June, and December. You can schedule the exams upto 12 months from the date of registration. So take care to schedule your exams before your registration fee period expires. The FE Exam Review helps you to prepare for any schedule of exams.

Once you have successfully completed the registration and scheduling, you will get a confirmation letter from Pearson VUE. Sometimes you may need to reschedule your exams. So, NCEES and Pearson VUE have an option whereby you can reschedule your exams. There are also provisions for canceling and getting a refund. You can change your exam discipline or select a different licensing board.

On the day of the exam, you can bring any one of the ID cards. It can be an ID issued by the government or international travel passport or a US military ID. Engineers taking the FE Review Course must be aware of the various IDs that can be taken during the exam.

Only certain items can be taken inside the testing hall. Apart from the ID, you can carry a calculator that is approved by NCEES. The key to your test center locker, and reusable booklet and marker given by Pearson VUE can also be carried. Sweater, Eyeglasses, and items included in the Pearson VUE Comfort Aid List can also be taken.

Using a 24-inch monitor, a NCEES reference handbook is displayed at all times. In order to provide a very safe testing environment, you will always be monitored and audio and video recordings will be done.

There will be 110 questions that have to be completed in 5 hours and 20 minutes. Once you complete 55 questions, then you can take a 25-minute scheduled break. Engineers who appear for the FE Exam Review Course must be aware of the question format of the NCEES FE Exam.

Knowing the various procedures, steps, and precautions to be taken while appearing and writing the FE Exam, helps the candidate to come out with flying colors.  

How to Register and Prepare for a NCEES PE Exam

NCEES is the authorized agency for conducting the PE Exams. If you take PE Exam through NCEES it involves a lot of steps. Let us look at them one by one.

Registering for a Paper-and-Pencil Exam: The first step will be to find out your eligibility criteria to sit for the NCEES exams. Criteria may vary from one state to another. Contact the State Licensing Board and apply for licensure to be eligible to take the PE Exam. You can now create NCEES account to register for the exam by visiting the account. When you register, you must make sure that the first and last names you use must match the ones you will give as Government approved ID card. Every engineer who takes the Professional Engineer Exam Prep has to register for the Pencil-and-Paper based PE Exam.

Once you create an account, you can then use NCEES account and use the REGISTER button and follow the instructions to register for the NCEES exam. All transactions with NCEES will be done electronically. When you register, you may have to pay for the exam. You will receive a notification from NCEES to schedule the exam. Once you schedule the exam, you will receive an Exam authorization confirmation from NCEES about the exam schedule and the exam dates.

Items that can be taken on Exam Date: Every engineer taking the Professional Engineer Exam Prep Course will have to know about the items that they can take on the exam date. You can carry snacks, ruler, watches, eyeglasses without a case, and magnifying glass.

There are certain items that cannot be taken inside the exam hall. They are:

• Cellphones
• Purses
• Wallets
• Hats
• Bags
• Notes
• Food
• Tobacco products
• Personal chairs

Reference Materials for Exam: You can bring only reference material that is bound. You cannot carry papers that are not tied. Loose papers have to be strung together using ring binders or screw posts. Avoid using staples. Avoid taking writing tablets and legal pads with you. Sticky notes can be used. An engineer taking the Professional Engineering Exam has to be sure of what reference materials to use. An engineer who appears for the NCEES PE Exam must go through the NCEES examinee guidelines and know the various procedures and rules for applying and taking the exam.

Rules for Exam Day: You will not be allowed to enter the exam hall once the proctor begins to read the exam instructions. You have to use only the NCEES pencil and eraser during the exam. You will be dismissed from the exam if you use a non-NCEES instrument for erasing or marking. When you take the Professional Engineer Exam, you need to be aware of the various rules of the exam day.

Alternately, Get in Touch with NCEES: You can easily get-in-touch with NCEES to clarify various queries in the procedures to take the PE exam. You can enquire about what forms of identification will be needed on the exam date. You can also find out about accommodation facilities and registration procedures for the exam.

You can also inquire in-depth to find out how marks are awarded and know about the procedure for scoring. You can get information about the licensing procedures that need to be followed to become a Professional Engineer (P.E)

An engineer who appears for the NCEES PE Exam must go through the NCEES examinee guidelines and know the various procedures and rules for applying and taking the exam.  

Wear and Tear Preventive Bearing for FE Exam Study

Bearing are mechanical structures that are used to move the machine in the desired direction. Bearings are used to reduce friction while the machines move. Many rotating equipment functions smoothly because of the bearings. If the bearings were not there, parts will keep getting worn out due to friction and we will keep replacing those parts. The bearing is designed to facilitate free movement. It also helps in freely rotating around a fixed pole. An engineer taking the FE Exam will know the purpose of bearings.

You can understand the concept of bearings better if you think of how your car works. Your car moves smoothly over the road for many years because of the bearing shaped wheels. Instead, imagine that your cars had skiing wheels instead of rounded tires. Then the lifetime and functioning of the smooth travel through cars become limited. This is because the friction is greater in a sliding motion and is lesser in a rolling over motion.

There are two types of load on a bearing. The loads are radial and thrust. The loads can be a combination of radial and thrust. An engineer preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Prep will be aware of the different types of loads on a bearing.

Bearings are classified based on how they operate, the type of movements they can make, or by the way the load operates. The many types of bearings are Ball Bearings, Roller Bearings, Ball Thrust Bearings, Roller Thrust Bearings, and Tapered Roller Bearings. An engineer taking the FE Exam Preparation will be aware of the different type of bearings.

Ball Bearings: The most common category of bearing is the ball bearing. Ball bearings are found in hard drives and also skating equipment. Ball bearings can handle both thrust as well as radial loads. But ball bearings usually handle only small loads.

Roller Bearings: Roller Bearings are used in places where heavy radial loads are used. The roller here is in the form of a cylinder. There is another type of this roller bearing known as a needle bearing. Here the cylinders come in very small diameters and so the bearings can be used in tight places. Roller bearings are not compatible with thrust loads.

Ball Thrust Bearing: Ball Thrust Bearings are used in low-speed applications and work well with thrust loads. The FE Prep Course helps an engineer to know about Ball Thrust Bearings with relevant illustrations.

Roller Thrust Bearings: Roller Thrust Bearings work with large thrust loads. They are usually found in rotating and housing shafts. The helical gears have angled teeth, and so can use a thrust load that relies on a bearing.

Magnetic Bearings: These are special bearings that have a special type of use. The advanced flywheel energy storage systems are high-speed devices that use magnet bearings. The bearings create a magnetic field and the flywheel can float on this magnetic field.

Giant Roller Bearings: Earthquake proof buildings use giant bearings. Giant roller bearings are used to move around heavy and complex structures like pyramid stones.

An engineer taking the FE Exam Prep Course will know the various uses of bearings. He also understands the role of each bearing that ensures in the prevention of wear and tear of moving machinery.   

How to Improve Efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines

The efficiency of internal combustion engines is an important factor for mechanical engineers. Engineers have been devised various methods such as direct fuel injection, VIT, turbo-charging, cam-less engines, and regenerative braking to improve the efficiency of engines. There are several factors that reduce the efficiency of engines. Let us look at the various ways to improve efficiency.

What exactly is the efficiency of an internal combustion engine? There is fuel that is supplied per unit time for carrying out the work. The efficiency is calculated to check if the output of the engine shaft is equivalent to the initial energy supplied after deducting all losses.

The calorific value and mass of the fuel is used to determine the fuel’s input power. A brake dynamometer can be used to measure the shaft output. So, efficiency is nothing but the ratio of output to input. An Internal Combustion Engine on an average has an efficiency ranging between 20% and 30%. This efficiency is very low and has to be improved. An Engineer-in-training or EIT will be able to understand the impact of efficiency of internal combustion engines.

The Internal Combustion Engine’s efficiency can be improved using the below given methods.

Regenerative Braking: Whenever you apply brakes on an automobile like a car, there is a loss of heat and so a loss of kinetic energy. Using regenerative braking you can prevent this loss whenever you apply the brakes while moving in a downward direction. This is a type of electromagnetic braking where small motors absorb the wasted energy and converts that energy into battery power. Taking the PE Exam will help to learn about various energy saving measures.

Variable Injection Timing: Maritime Engines make use of Variable Injection Timing. For maintaining mean effective pressure, the injection is improved when the load is low and speed is also lesser. The engine efficiency improves, because the scavenge pressure is maintained. The quantity of burning fuel may be of a lesser quality. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam will help you to focus and find ways of improving engine efficiency.

Variable Valve Timing: The opening and closing time of the inlet and exhaust valves can be changed from time to time. This change in the opening and closing times increases the efficiency of the engine by 4% to 5%.

Cutting off Cylinders: While cruising or going downhill, if the engine is large, half of the cylinders can be cut off resulting in reduced fuel demand. But this cutting of cylinders cannot be done on small engines as the engines will become rough, though it is useful for large engines.

Turbochargers: Combustion can be optimized as a turbocharger uses an exhaust gas recovery device that helps to boost up air pressure. The efficiency of the engine is increased by 7% to 8%. The FE Exam Prep Certification guides you in knowing the various ways to improve efficiency of internal combustion engine.

Direct Fuel Injection: In engines, usually the fuel will be injected only after mixing with air. But nowadays the fuel is directly sent to the combustion chamber and the mixing takes place automatically. This automatically mixing of air with fuel increases the engine efficiency by 11 % to 13%. 

Viscosity of Oils: The lubricating oils must have the correct viscosity. If the viscosity of lubricating oils is not proper then there are energy losses due to friction.

The topic of combustion is covered in the Mechanical FE Exam syllabus of NCEES under the heading of Thermodynamics.  

Noise Pollution – Sources and Methods of Prevention for PE Exam Prep

Noise Pollution occurs when the sound level is not bearable by human beings. An engineer taking the PE Exam will be aware of the various sources of noise. The World Health Organization (WHO) has specified that 45dB is the acceptable sound level of human beings. Beyond that prescribed limit any sound is considered to be noise. Sound levels may increase due to increase in sound from traffic, television inside a home, and even pet making too much noise. When the noise affects you to a certain extent where you are physically and mentally not able to bear the sound anymore, then it is termed as noise pollution.

If the cities are not well planned then noise levels increase for residents. The buildings in a town, may be very close to each other and the parking spaces may be very small leading to congested parking. Very big families may be living in very small houses. Such living scenarios are more prone to noise.

Noise is also prevalent in social spaces such as party halls. People may play loud music that is hard on the ears of people in the surroundings. Construction of buildings may employ large machines for cutting and grinding that leads to a lot of noise. Road transport also causes noise pollution with the constant honking of horns. The PE Exam Prep covers the different types of noise that exist in society.

Factories are a major source of noise. There are various types of heavy machines in a factory such as generators, motors, and exhaust fans lead to a lot of noise. In order to manage this noise, workers at the factory usually use earplugs. With so many sources of noise, we need to look for ways to reduce and eliminate noise.

Ways to Reduce Noise Pollution

Soundproof rooms can be constructed in industry as well as homes that will filter the sound from the inmates or residents. There must be separate rooms for placing noisy machines and the rooms must be away from the living and working areas. If you have an air-conditioner in the room that is making too much of noise, then switch off the air-conditioner. The Professional Engineer Exam Prep Course helps in knowing the various methods of preventing noise pollution.

There must be a method of banning and controlling vehicles on the road that make too much noise. Noise making facilities such as factories, airports, and railway stations must be far away from residential areas. Planting trees helps in reducing the noise levels to a certain extent.

If a community hall or any other public facility is producing too much of noise, then check the local laws to find out how to handle the noise makers. Appropriate legal action can be taken if the noise makers make noise well beyond the stipulated time in a region.

There are some personal precautions that can be taken to keep noise at low levels. You can service your car regularly so that your car does not make too much of the noise. You can keep down your own music listening volumes, meditate, and bring in the quiet hours in your lifestyle. The PE Exam Prep Course guides an engineer to know about noise and its management. The PE Environmental syllabus laid down by NCEES has noise pollution as one of the topics. 

How to Prepare with the Online Civil FE Exam Review Course

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Prep is made very simple as you can take our online course from anywhere at scheduled time. There are several steps to take the FE Civil course in an orderly manner from School of PE. Let us take a look at the steps.

Viewing the Course Demo: You can view the 30-minute demo of the course before you actually enroll for the course. The demo will help you decide if you really want to enroll for the course.

Getting Class notes: One week before the actual class starts, students will be able to access their course notes from their login page. These notes are prepared by experienced instructors who are subject matter experts. These notes will be available till the last day of the course. The 3^rd edition of the book “FE Review Manual”, by Michael. R. Lindberg PE can be bought at $75, which is comparatively lower than the market price of $89.

You can also download an electronic copy of NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Reference Handbook by NCEES.

Free Calculator Training: Only certain calculators are approved by NCEES for the exam. The School of PE has a two-hour long video that explains how to use the approved calculator. One of the approved calculators that is shown in the video is fx-115ES. This calculator training video will be available in the student login page at least ten days before the start of the program. Knowing how to use the calculator is very important for Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

Free Math Training: Engineers who take the FE Exam may have forgotten math fundamentals. In order to refresh the knowledge of engineers, a free math training is provided. This math training video is for a duration of two hours. Before ten days of the actual class starting, the free math training video can be viewed. Free handouts will also be given.

Accessing Discussion Forum: Discussion Forum can be accessed by the students to gather more information on subject topics with fellow students. This feature also can be accessed from the login page. This opportunity to interact with another student, comes at no extra cost. Discussing various topics with other students will help in understanding the Fundamentals of Engineering better.

Questions to Instructors: The instructors of School of PE have more than 30 plus years of experience in industry and academics. The students can interact with School of PE instructors, using the Questions to Instructors page. That helps you to clarify all the topic based questions in your mind.

Viewing the Online Course: Viewing the live online course, does not need any special software. You can view the online course using a basic software. As it is an online course, you can view the course from anywhere at a scheduled time. If you have missed any of the review class, there is an option to view the recorded class to stay up-to-date with the course.

The School of PE has helped thousands of students to prepare for the Civil FE Exam Prep and pass the exam in flying colors.  

Sensors and its Applications for Professional Engineer Exam

Sensors are used to monitor a physical quantity and transfer the output as electrical signals. An engineer preparing for the professional engineer exam can handle all types of sensors. The input to the sensor is a physical parameter and the output is an electrical signal. These physical parameters can be temperature, pressure, moisture/water and more. Any changes in these physical parameters are monitored by these sensors and a corresponding analog or digital output is produced. These analogs or digital signals are in turn used to modify other signals. An engineer preparing for the Professional Engineer Exam can handle all types of sensors.

There are a wide variety of sensors in the market. They are:

Sound
Electric signals
Moisture/Humidity
Light
Pressure
Fluid Velocity
Position/Angle/Displacement
Force
Heat
Proximity
Chemical
Radiations from Ions

Sensors are used to detect moisture content in irrigated lands. The capability of the soil to conduct electricity is more when the water content is more. Sensors are used to measure this dielectric constant of the soil. Based on the moisture content the water supply to the fields is switched on or off. An engineer who has done the Professional Engineering Exam Prep will know to work with a variety of sensors and monitor their outputs.

Heat sensors will be used in air-conditioning and building automation systems to adjust the amount of cooling air entering the rooms. Heat sensors are used to detect any congestion in retail stores. The heat sensors are usually installed near the doors to detect congestion.

Pressure sensors are used in floor mats to send a signal when an intruder walks in the restricted area. Pressure sensors are also used to detect if the vacuum pressure on packaged goods is sufficient to keep the food fresh for a long time. Movement sensors are also used to detect any intruder.

These days, human beings make use of wearable sensors. Senior citizens make use of wearable sensors. If they trip and fall or if there is any change in the pattern of their regular lifestyle, their caretakers are informed. According to a Gartner Survey, sensors that can be worn on the wrist have sold a whopping 70 million pieces. The Outputs from these wearable sensors also trigger corresponding apps that will help in managing the situation. Because a lot of data is collected and transmitted by these wearable sensors, the manufacturers and app developers have to ensure data security and safety. The Professional Engineer Exam Prep Course helps in identifying different sensors for different applications.

Sensors are also used in robotics. Sensors are used in places where humans and robots work together. These sensors prevent any physical harm that may happen to humans when robots and sensors work together in close proximity. When robots work together, the process of moving from one process to another is known as interlocking. Sensors are used to detect when one process ends and the next process starts.

The army is planning to use plastic sensors that are flexible and can detect troop movements. Most of the army attacks are by the sudden arrival of the enemy. This scenario can be prevented by using sensors.

These days there is a vast reduction in the size of sensors. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies are used to produce miniature sensors. MEMS devices range from 20 micrometers to 1 millimeter. The Professional Engineer Exam will equip an engineer to work with different type of sensors.  

Features of a NCEES Exam Prep Courses at School of PE

School of PE has been conducting NCEES Exam prep courses since 2004. The School of PE offers PE prep courses in PE Civil, PE Electrical, PE Environmental, PE Mechanical, and PE Chemical. The various disciplines in which training for FE Exam is given are FE Civil, FE Electrical, FE Mechanical, and FE Environmental.

The School of PE Prep Course has a lot of interesting features and benefits. For example, the instructors at School of PE have both academic and industry experience of more than 30 years. They also prepare excellent course content that is given out as student handouts and videos.

Keeping up with the latest learning trends, there are many Social Learning features such as “Questions to Instructors” and “Discussion Forums”. Suppose a student has a doubt, they can send these questions to the instructors. Or they can interact with other students through the “Discussion Forum” to discuss. This type of Social Learning helps you to prepare well for the NCEES PE Exam.

NCEES has specified certain calculators that can be used at the exam. School of PE has a two-hour long video that explains how the calculator can be used. Once the student watches this video, he/she can use the calculators well for the NCEES FE Exam.

There is also a Free Math Training. School of PE has a two-hour long video that is used to train the students on basic maths. If you want to refresh your knowledge about Basic maths, you can watch this video. When the students watch and learn from the free math training video, he/she can tackle the maths problems at the NCEES Exams.

Class Notes help the students to prepare well for the exams. These class notes are prepared by the experienced instructors. Other standard reference handbooks and reference manuals for the students are prescribed.

Every student looks out for some discount in the courses they take up. Keeping this in mind, School of PE offers many discounts. For all the courses, appropriate discounts are offered if the student registers early for the course. Special discounts are also given for the first 15 registrants. You can always register early for the course and then pay later.

Sometimes, students may need to get a feel of how the course videos look like. A demo of the courses is given to get a good understanding of how the actual course will look like. These demos can be seen on days mentioned in the website.

With all the above said features, it is no wonder that the School of PE pass rates are well above the national average. The School of PE pass rates range from 90% to 98%.

So, School of PE is a preferred training provider to help you prepare well for the FE Exams and PE Exams conducted by NCEES. Enroll at School of PE and come out with flying colors at the NCEES Exams.

How to Maintain Computer Security

Computers with internet connections has opened up the entire world and dissolved the boundaries. While it is possible to be connected with the entire world, it is equally opens up more instances of malware malfunctions from any location. So certain precautions must be taken in configuring and maintaining computers. Let us look at the various steps to be taken to safeguard computers.

Use Latest Operating Systems– Operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME are outdated and insecure. Using your computers with these old OS can put your computer at risk. You need to upgrade your computer with the latest OS like Windows 10. Or you can buy a new computer with the latest operating system installed. A new OS Windows Vista can also be used. Engineers who have passed the FE Exam by taking an EIT Exam Review Course will know the importance of updating a computers vital operating system software.

Frequently Update Microsoft Windows – Even if you have the latest version of the Windows OS, you may need to keep adding new patches to the existing software. But before installing critical updates you need to make sure that you backup your system data.

Use Antivirus Software – You should protect your system with suitable anti-virus software. Even if you have anti-virus software, you should periodically check the hard disk for any lapse in security. Engineers taking the FE Exam Prep for Electrical FE Exam should be well-versed in the use of antivirus software for effective computer system protection.

Spyware – Install spyware protection software in your computer. Hackers may install spyware in your system and later hack your system. So, periodically update your spyware protection.

Use Legal Application Software – When you install application software make sure it is a legal version and not pirated one. Having a legal software allows you have clean and above board system. The FE Exam Preparation for the FE Exam involves knowing all the fair and legal steps that should be followed in keeping a computer device safe and protected from malpractices.

Use a Firewall – A firewall is important to protect your computer. A firewall prevents outsiders from entering or using your computer. When you purchase a router/firewall, you should make sure that you reset the default password. Otherwise is like leaving your house unprotected from theft. Firewalls also protect your computers from hackers.

Use Complex Passwords: Use passwords that are greater than eight characters. You should change your passwords every three months and make sure you do not reuse the previously used passwords. Do not use the same password at your home computer as well as workplace computers. If one password is compromised then the other is also lost.

Use Personal Biometric Devices: Instead of using passwords, you can think of using bio-metric devices to login to computer and banking systems. The FE Exam Prep Course will help you to know the use of safety using biometric devices.

Backup your Important Data: Several devices are available to backup your data like CD-RW drive, DVD recordable drives, USB and External hard drives are available for backup.

Get the Support of Experts: Don’t hesitate to contact experts who can help you to secure your computer. The FE Exam Prep Course provides the right insight into the various methods of ensuring protection for your sensitive data.

Encrypt Your Network Connection: Make sure to protect your computer by ensuring that you browse for websites and other Internet locations by using HTTPS option. This ensure that the website can be accessed using secured communication network.

Disable Images in E-mail – Allow rich HTML content only from trusted sources. Opt for a Plain Text content for unfamiliar sources. This ensure that your virtual and local spaces are well protected from malwares.

The above points will ensure that the user’s computer and their internet spaces are clean and well protected from all forms of malicious external activities. The above points will ensure that the user’s computer and their internet spaces are clean and well protected from all forms of malicious external activities. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam helps an engineer to know the value of Computer Systems.