NCEES FE Mechanical Exam Exam Guide

The exam draws from 14 knowledge areas defined in the official NCEES specifications, with each area assigned a range of questions. The heaviest-weighted areas are:

• Dynamics, Kinematics, and Vibrations — 10-15 questions
• Fluid Mechanics — 10-15 questions
• Thermodynamics — 10-15 questions
• Mechanical Design and Analysis — 10-15 questions
• Mechanics of Materials — 9-14 questions
• Statics — 9-14 questions
• Heat Transfer — 7-11 questions
• Material Properties and Processing — 7-11 questions
• Mathematics — 6-9 questions
• Electricity and Magnetism — 5-8 questions
• Measurements, Instrumentation, and Controls — 5-8 questions
• Engineering Economics — 4-6 questions
• Ethics and Professional Practice — 4-6 questions
• Probability and Statistics — 4-6 questions

Questions may use both the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System (USCS).

The FE Mechanical exam fee is $225, payable directly to NCEES. Examinees approved to test through a foreign entity are assessed an additional nonrefundable $25 international scheduling fee. For any region-specific or updated pricing, check the official NCEES fee schedule directly.

The exam is delivered as a computer-based test with 110 questions total, inside a 6-hour appointment that also covers a nondisclosure agreement, a short tutorial, and a scheduled break. Results are reported as pass/fail — NCEES scores only correct answers, applies no penalty for wrong answers, and does not publish the passing score. Results are typically available 7-10 business days after the exam, and examinees who don't pass receive a diagnostic report of their relative strengths and weaknesses by topic.