NCEES data · Checked September 30, 2026
FE exam pass rates by discipline
The latest NCEES update for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, the exam most states require for EIT or EI certification, is July 2026. FE Civil has a 66% pass rate, Mechanical 73%, and Other Disciplines 61% in the reported first-time group. All seven disciplines are shown below.
These January–June 2026 figures cover first-time examinees from EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs who took the exam within 12 months of graduation. They do not include all FE candidates or repeat attempts. Source: NCEES FE exam page.
Download the July 2026 table (CSV) or download the fiscal-year 2025 first-time and repeat table (CSV). Each row includes its period, cohort, volume unit and official source. Percentages are rounded source figures; the files do not estimate exact numbers of passes.
Latest FE pass rates: July 2026 update
| FE discipline | 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% |
What is the FE Chemical pass rate?
The July 2026 NCEES update reports a 68% FE Chemical pass rate for 743 first-time examinees from EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs who tested within 12 months of graduation.
The broader fiscal year 2025 report separately records 1,873 first-time Chemical attempts at 68% and 316 repeat attempts at 35%. The periods and candidate groups differ, so these figures do not establish a year-over-year change or an individual's probability of passing.
Use your own Chemical practice evidence next
A population pass rate does not show which of the 17 Chemical knowledge areas you need to repair. Start with 17 free worked FE Chemical problems, one per area, or download the 18-page printable sample with no account.
For a full independent sitting, Chemical Practice Exam Form A contains 110 original four-choice problems, complete worked solutions, an area score sheet, and 105 pages for USD 29. It uses the July 2020 specification, current as of August 2026. A practice result is not an NCEES score conversion or pass guarantee.
What is the FE Electrical and Computer pass rate?
The July 2026 NCEES update reports a 70% FE Electrical and Computer pass rate for 1,782 first-time examinees from EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs who tested within 12 months of graduation. NCEES FE exam page.
The broader fiscal year 2025 report separately records 5,882 first-time Electrical and Computer attempts at 64% and 2,020 repeat attempts at 31%. These periods and candidate groups differ, so 70% is not a year-over-year change, an individual probability, or a passing-score cutoff. NCEES Squared 2025, page 15.
Measure your own Electrical and Computer knowledge areas
A population pass rate does not show whether circuits, power, controls, communications, digital systems, or software is your limiting area. Start with 17 free worked FE Electrical and Computer problems, one per knowledge area, or download the 22-page printable sample with no account.
For a full independent sitting, each Electrical and Computer practice exam form contains 110 original four-choice problems, complete worked solutions, and a knowledge-area score sheet: Form A, 131 pages; Form B, 102 pages, USD 29 each. A practice result is not an NCEES score conversion or pass guarantee.
See the page previews of each form. Each is an independent printable PDF; official NCEES practice products cover the computer-based interface and alternative item types.
Which FE exam has the highest pass rate?
Mechanical is highest in this July 2026 table at 73%; Other Disciplines is lowest at 61%. This is a comparison of candidate groups, not a controlled comparison of exam difficulty. Switching to Mechanical makes little sense if its subjects are further from your training.
If your degree spans several disciplines, compare the official topic lists before choosing. Our FE Other Disciplines study guide identifies the mechanics and breadth subjects you would need to cover.
First-time and repeat pass rates: fiscal year 2025
For repeat candidates, the annual NCEES Squared report supplies a separate breakdown. It records 57,902 attempts from October 2024 through September 2025: 41,422 first-time and 16,480 repeat attempts. This is an older, broader population than the table above; the two tables cannot establish a year-over-year improvement.
NCEES Squared 2025, page 15. Historical transcription verified August 31, 2026. Percentages are rounded by NCEES.
| Discipline | First-time attempts | Pass rate | Repeat attempts | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Attempt volume | 41,422 | — | 16,480 | — |
Four questions before interpreting a rate
- Is this the first-time or repeat cohort?
- How many attempts sit behind the percentage?
- Which reporting period does the table cover?
- Does the proposed inference describe a cohort, or one person?
What the table does not establish
These rows do not rank discipline difficulty. Candidate education, preparation, time since coursework, and discipline selection differ, so the table cannot isolate a cause. It also cannot assign an individual a 61%, 69%, or 25% probability of passing.
First-time and repeat examinees are scored to the same standard. The NCEES scoring explanation says there is no predetermined percentage that must pass or fail. A lower repeat-cohort rate is an observed group result, not evidence that a retake is made harder.
Use candidate-level evidence next
A repeat candidate has a diagnostic report that is more specific than this population table. The diagnostic-to-retake guide shows how to rank areas without converting the 0–15 scale into guessed raw scores. FE Civil candidates can then record a full independent form on the 14-area FE Civil scorecard.
EngineerProof practice PDFs use original questions and do not reproduce the Pearson VUE interface or official NCEES items. A practice result is not a conversion to an NCEES result.
Sources and corrections
NCEES publishes the underlying statistics. EngineerProof is responsible for this transcription, arithmetic, visualization, and interpretation. Report a suspected error through the contact details on the EngineerProof about page.