FE exam pass rates
First-time pass rates run from 61% (FE Other Disciplines) to 73% (FE Mechanical). Repeat takers pass at about half that rate.
| Exam | Examinees | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| FE Chemical | 743 | 68% |
| FE Civil | 6,247 | 66% |
| FE Electrical and Computer | 1,782 | 70% |
| FE Environmental | 1,063 | 71% |
| FE Industrial and Systems | 259 | 67% |
| FE Mechanical | 5,153 | 73% |
| FE Other Disciplines | 921 | 61% |
NCEES, updated July 2026: first-time takers from EAC/ABET programs within 12 months of graduation.
FE Other Disciplines, by degree
| Degree | Examinees | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural | 156 | 55% |
| Biological (not biomedical) | 159 | 68% |
| Engineering Physics/Engineering Science | 34 | 62% |
| General Engineering | 143 | 65% |
| Materials | 33 | 67% |
| Mechanical | 70 | 60% |
| Mining/Mineral | 46 | 41% |
| Naval Architecture and Marine | 48 | 83% |
| Nuclear | 55 | 65% |
NCEES, updated July 2026: first-time takers from EAC/ABET programs within 12 months of graduation.
First-time and repeat takers
| Exam | First-time takers | Pass | Repeat takers | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FE Chemical | 1,873 | 68% | 316 | 35% |
| FE Civil | 16,639 | 61% | 9,863 | 32% |
| FE Electrical and Computer | 5,882 | 64% | 2,020 | 31% |
| FE Environmental | 2,543 | 67% | 1,092 | 37% |
| FE Industrial and Systems | 547 | 62% | 118 | 25% |
| FE Mechanical | 11,552 | 69% | 2,120 | 37% |
| FE Other Disciplines | 2,386 | 61% | 951 | 29% |
NCEES Squared 2025: every examinee, 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.
What the numbers mean
NCEES's headline figures count examinees who took the FE for the first time, attended an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program and took the exam within 12 months of graduation. NCEES updates them each January and July.
The FE is pass or fail. NCEES does not publish a passing score: results are scaled so that different forms of the exam are held to the same standard.
Why repeat takers pass less often
Across the 2024-25 exam year, first-time takers passed FE Civil at 61% and repeat takers at 32%. A candidate who does not pass gets a diagnostic report showing performance in each knowledge area, which is where a retake should start.
Next step
Questions people ask
What is the FE exam pass rate?
It depends on the exam. For first-time takers from EAC/ABET-accredited programs within 12 months of graduation (NCEES, updated July 2026): FE Mechanical 73%, FE Environmental 71%, FE Electrical and Computer 70%, FE Chemical 68%, FE Industrial and Systems 67%, FE Civil 66% and FE Other Disciplines 61%.
What is the FE Civil pass rate?
66% for first-time takers from EAC/ABET-accredited programs within 12 months of graduation (NCEES, updated July 2026). Counting every examinee in the 2024-25 exam year, 61% of first-time takers and 32% of repeat takers passed.
What score do you need to pass the FE exam?
NCEES does not publish a passing score. Results are reported as pass or fail, from a scaled score that adjusts for small differences in difficulty between forms of the exam.
How many times can you take the FE exam?
NCEES allows one attempt in each testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12 months. Your state licensing board may set its own limits.