What kind of exam or test do you have to take to become a civil engineer?
Asked by Gary ?
What exam or test must i take to become a licensed civil engineer? how any years does it take to become fully licensed? I am a student at CCNY in new york. Also is the exam hard? thanks

Best Answer:
http://www.ncees.org/licensure/licensure_for_engineers/ You first will need to get a civil engineering degree at an ABET accredited university. http://www.abet.org/the_basics.shtml This usually takes 4 to 5 years depending on the university and how many credits you take. Then usually in your last semester at school you take the FE exam (Fundamentals of Engineering exam) which is an eight hour beat down test with a 73% pass rate nationally. If you pass and graduate then you can be a licensed EI (Engineering Intern) that works under the direct supervisor of a licensed PE (Professional Engineer). You will work about 3 to 4 years under a PE until you get enough enough experience to take the PE exam which is another 8 hour beat down test with a 64% pass rate. If you pass then you can become a licensed Professional Engineer that can work without supervisor and are able to sign and sealed engineering plans. So it takes around 8 to 9 years to become a licensed Professional Engineer. The professional exams are hard and you need to start studying early because it covers a lot of information from Calculus to Structural Design. I started studying a month ahead of the exam studying Tuesday and Thursday nights with my study group. It is hard because you have regular school work you have to do on top of studying for the FE. It kind of sucks because Civil Engineers are the lowest paid type of engineers compared to Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, etc. Yet they carry the highest liability burden and other engineers really don't need a professional license to do work with the exception of Electrical Engineers. Chemical, Mechanical and Computer engineers can take the FE and not pass it but they are still able to find a job and they don't need to take the PE or get licensed and none of them have to pay for liability insurance to the amount Civil Engineers have to. It is a lot of work just to be saddled with a lot of liability and one of the lowest average salary out of the different engineering fields.