15 FE Exam Waiver

[EHP]

Has anyone ever used the 15 year experience FE Waiver for taking the PE Exam?  I currently have 13.5 years experience and am wondering if it's worthwhile to wait until I have 15 years work experience as a waiver for the FE exam and use this time to just study extra for the NJ state PE Exam.  

 

[Jbone27 PE]

I'd say if you were already at 15 years that may be an option. With a year and half before eligibility I would just go ahead and take the FE. It will give you a good way to brush up on the basics and get you accustomed to studying again. Plus it would eliminate the need to provide back up data or whatever they require to prove that experience.  They can be pretty strict on SERs which I assume this would be similar to.

 

[EHP]

That's a great point!  Providing the experience for the past 15 years is quite a task.

 

[EHP]

Although saving the time and money on fees/books/study courses in order to pass the FE sounds attractive.

 

[RBHeadge PE]

It may also matter in the future if your try to get a license in a different state, via a license in NJ. The requirements for taking the PE vary by state, and are often proscribed by legislation. Not every state has a waiver for FE, so it can be difficult to get a license via comity or reciprocity later without retaking one or more tests.

For instance Pennsylvania has a hard requirement in law that a PE applicant have passed the FE exam. P.L. 913, No. 367 Cl. 63  4.2(a) and (c)(1). The latter even requires four years of experience after obtaining the EIT. I don't think 4.2(a) can be waived, and I know (c)(1) can't be waived because so many people have complained about it.

I have no idea about NYS' requirements.

 

[KOKOMO777]

There's a couple of states that do waive the FE. Texas is one of them base minimum/education on work experience.

 

[NY-Computer-Engineer]

Has anyone ever used the 15 year experience FE Waiver for taking the PE Exam?  I currently have 13.5 years experience and am wondering if it's worthwhile to wait until I have 15 years work experience as a waiver for the FE exam and use this time to just study extra for the NJ state PE Exam.  

I tried doing that in New York, since they have the same clause in the law, however it turned out to be a waste of time - costing me about a year in earning my license.  I eventually just focused on the FE exam topics using the PPI study guide and I passed it in the first attempt.

 

[KOKOMO777]

Yes, I was granted the FE waiver from the Texas Board. I will be re-taking the PE exam this October.

 

[John QPE]

NJ offers an FE Waiver?

Are you sure about that? NJ is one of the biggest pains in the ass to get licensed in.

 

[Elyuh]

Hi Komoto777.  I'm in Houston, TX and looking to apply for the FE waiver.  Can you give me an insight on the proccess?  Any info would be very helpful.  My email is [email protected]

 

[SacMe24]

Hello folks... I am in California, a state that DOES allow the FE exam waiver provided you can document 15 years of experience relevant to your discipline and have an accredited engineering BS degree. A pre-requisite for the PE license is to have 6 years of professional experience which you can prove through "engagement records",  a minimum of 4 is required.  So to request a waiver all you have to do is check a box on the application and document the additional 11 years by adding more engagement records. I applied for one and had no trouble getting it.

If you have been out of school for a while and and are not intending on getting a multi-state PE license, I'd strongly recommend you spend your time on prepping for the PE exam and get a waiver for the FE. They are two different exams and although some of the FE exam principles will help you prepare for the PE, I'd focus my energy on "the real deal."

 

[sparkyelec99]

I need help with F.E Waiver in California

I have MSEE & +20years experience in A/E industry. I checked the flow chart & checked the box seeking F.E waiver, uploaded MS degree certificate. I applied on bpelsg.ca.gov to take the exam in April, 2020. Few weeks back they informed me that until I won't be eligible to take the exam since I haven't sent in the paperwork. I have spent a great deal of time on CA board trying to find the necessary paperwork for F.E waiver. Can someone please post the link where these forms are located? They sent me the link to paperwork for licensure. Am I supposed to do this paperwork before taking the P.E exam?

Can someone post the link to F.E waiver in California please? 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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[Mo84]

I recommend against skipping the FE exam. If you have or can borrow the FE Review Manual by Lindeburg and a bit of time ( 1.5 hr/day for few months ) don't skip it. I never felt I wasted my time studying for the FE as it provided a natural refresher course for the PE morning portion. Being out of school for a while should be the reason to take this exam rather than skip it. 

 

[SacMe24]

I need help with F.E Waiver in California

I have MSEE & +20years experience in A/E industry. I checked the flow chart & checked the box seeking F.E waiver, uploaded MS degree certificate. I applied on bpelsg.ca.gov to take the exam in April, 2020. Few weeks back they informed me that until I won't be eligible to take the exam since I haven't sent in the paperwork. I have spent a great deal of time on CA board trying to find the necessary paperwork for F.E waiver. Can someone please post the link where these forms are located? They sent me the link to paperwork for licensure. Am I supposed to do this paperwork before taking the P.E exam?

Can someone post the link to F.E waiver in California please? 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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@sparkyelec99

I applied for the FE waiver in 2016 and had to submit the ENTIRE application package as part of the process, including accompanying "engagement record" forms and fingerprints. This is how you document your years of experience which will serve as proof to waive the FE requirement, in your case, 14 years of experience since you have a Master's degree. There is no separate waiver request form, you simply check a box on the PE license application form in section 1, item 6 (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/peapp.pdf). If granted, you will then take the NCEES exam and when you get your passing result, send BPELSG a completed "notice of successful national examination" form (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/board_notification_form.pdf) so they can continue processing the original PE application, there's no need to re-apply.

I hope this helps.

 

[CAPLS]

@sparkyelec99

I applied for the FE waiver in 2016 and had to submit the ENTIRE application package as part of the process, including accompanying "engagement record" forms and fingerprints. This is how you document your years of experience which will serve as proof to waive the FE requirement, in your case, 14 years of experience since you have a Master's degree. There is no separate waiver request form, you simply check a box on the PE license application form in section 1, item 6 (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/peapp.pdf). If granted, you will then take the NCEES exam and when you get your passing result, send BPELSG a completed "notice of successful national examination" form (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/board_notification_form.pdf) so they can continue processing the original PE application, there's no need to re-apply.

I hope this helps.

Sparkyelec99 pretty much answered your questions.  Unlike candidates that have passed the FE exam, those seeking a waiver of FE exam in California need to submit the full application package and obtain approval of the waiver prior to sitting for the PE exam.  Or you can just pass the FE exam first.

 

[sparkyelec99]

@sparkyelec99

I applied for the FE waiver in 2016 and had to submit the ENTIRE application package as part of the process, including accompanying "engagement record" forms and fingerprints. This is how you document your years of experience which will serve as proof to waive the FE requirement, in your case, 14 years of experience since you have a Master's degree. There is no separate waiver request form, you simply check a box on the PE license application form in section 1, item 6 (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/peapp.pdf). If granted, you will then take the NCEES exam and when you get your passing result, send BPELSG a completed "notice of successful national examination" form (https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/board_notification_form.pdf) so they can continue processing the original PE application, there's no need to re-apply.

I hope this helps.

Thank you SacMe24. You have been very helpful.

 

[Transengineer]

Hello folks... I am in California, a state that DOES allow the FE exam waiver provided you can document 15 years of experience relevant to your discipline and have an accredited engineering BS degree. A pre-requisite for the PE license is to have 6 years of professional experience which you can prove through "engagement records",  a minimum of 4 is required.  So to request a waiver all you have to do is check a box on the application and document the additional 11 years by adding more engagement records. I applied for one and had no trouble getting it.

If you have been out of school for a while and and are not intending on getting a multi-state PE license, I'd strongly recommend you spend your time on prepping for the PE exam and get a waiver for the FE. They are two different exams and although some of the FE exam principles will help you prepare for the PE, I'd focus my energy on "the real deal."

Hi,

I have Masters with 12 years of experience. 
do I qualify for EIT waiver? Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Roberto Marin]

I have 32 years of experience  this conversation has help me a lot. 

 

[CAPLS]

Hi,

I have Masters with 12 years of experience. 
do I qualify for EIT waiver? Your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

Look at Section 438 of the California Board Rules here https://bpelsg.ca.gov/laws/boardrules.pdf

 

[martiansoldier]

I recently received my PE in TX after being approved for the FE exam waiver. I have 17 years of experience with a graduate degree. The process to request waiver and receive approval to sit for the PE was quite straight forward and the TBPE was super efficient. I received approval to sit for the PE exam in about 8 weeks, by which time I had already begun my preparation. From the day I started the process to when I received my PE license including preparing and passing the exam was approximately 5 months.