Professional Registration

Engineers must have a professional engineering license (obtained after passing two examinations and also having 12 combined years of suitable education and experience) to practice engineering in each state of the U.S. Your undergraduate degree at Cornell will provide 8 years of credit! While not required for all Biological Engineering or Environmental Engineering jobs, licensure is important for environmental engineers because they are responsible for public safety in much of their work. Most states and communities require that a registered engineer give final approval to all plans and specifications for engineering projects. 

Students can take the first step towards obtaining their Professional Engineering (PE) license while still a senior at Cornell. Students are eligible while at Cornell to take the first nationwide examination, the “Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination.” Successful completion earns the title " Engineer-in-Training" (EIT) (often also called “Intern Engineer”). Because the FE Exam emphasizes fundamental knowledge gained in engineering distribution courses and core courses, there is a comparative advantage in taking this exam during your last term, while this material is still relatively “fresh” in your memory. Please be sure to let BEE or CEE know about your exam results so we receive the feedback we need to document the success of our graduates. Success or failure in this examination has no bearing on your academic standing at Cornell.

Students can sign up to take the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) exam held throughout the year. Students sign up directly with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) (see www.ncees.org). Exams are taken at Pearson testing centers (similar to GRE exam or SAT’s); in NY, the closest exam sites are: 421-423 E. Main Street, Endicott, NY, and 6700 Kirkville Rd, E. Syracuse, NY. There are fees paid to both NCEES and NY State associated with the EIT registration (total ~$295). Once the nationally conducted FE exam is passed, it is valid forever and is valid in any state for Professional Engineering registration (requires an additional 4 years of experience under another registered engineer). More details on New York licensure can be found at the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. NYS ED Office of the Professions – Engineering. http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/.

The second exam, the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, may be taken after four years of suitable engineering experience. The exam focuses on your career path with over 20 different possible exams in engineering topics such as Environmental or Agricultural and Biological Engineering (see www.ncees.org). Successful completion of the PE Exam will give you the title "Professional Engineer" in the state where you register. With some exceptions, registration in other states may be obtained by the comity rather than taking another exam.

BEE/ENGRC 5330, Engineering Professionalism, prepares the student for the general national FE Examination.  FE topic quizzes parallels FE exam preparation.  Students complete a formal comprehensive review of engineering subjects associated with the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.