EIT Exam

[Trapper John]

Anyone taken the EIT/Fundamentals of Engineering exam later in life?

When I graduated 20+ years ago, there wasn't a lot of emphasis on taking it if you weren't going to be sealing drawings. But now, with the economy the way it is, I was thinking it might be a good idea...


Trapper John

 

[wsuffa]

Anyone taken the EIT/Fundamentals of Engineering exam later in life?

When I graduated 20+ years ago, there wasn't a lot of emphasis on taking it if you weren't going to be sealing drawings. But now, with the economy the way it is, I was thinking it might be a good idea...


Trapper John

Yes, if 30-ish was "later in life". I think the exam was harder than the PE (which I took a year later) because it covers all disciplines. I've maintained the registration ever since because "you never know".

I took a review course, which was well worth the money. A lot of community colleges and private outfits run the review courses.

What I didn't do (and should have done) was to sign up for the national clearinghouse that makes getting reciprocity a lot easier.

IIRC, I scored something like a 92 on the EIT and about the same on the PE.

 

[Trapper John]

Thanks for the info! I think it's going to be a challenge after all this time...


Trapper John

 

[wsuffa]

Thanks for the info! I think it's going to be a challenge after all this time...


Trapper John

Take a good review course - ask about the success rate of attendees. IIRC, the course I took met once a week for 4-5 months at 3 hours per class.

I will tell you this: the test would have been just as hard right out of school because it draws on such a wide range of coursework (what would you have remembered about 2nd year Thermo at the end of your 4th year?). After taking it, I knew I would have needed the review class right out of school.

The review course hit on the key topics on the exam and skipped stuff that wasn't important. Having life experience will make it a bit easier to take the test if you can refresh your memory on the stuff you haven't used in years.

Good luck....

 

[Rob Schaffer]

A freind of mine took it this last cycle and used the review course offered at the local community college and the FE review book. Since it is breadth coverage of a lot of material, the review course is the best way to go.

Good Luck!

Rob Schaffer, PE (Structural)

 

[Ghery]

Later in life? I'm glad I took it the spring I graduated from college (a long time ago). I really wouldn't want to have to come back up to speed on all that stuff after 33 years, no way.

Good luck.

 

[Trapper John]

A freind of mine took it this last cycle and used the review course offered at the local community college and the FE review book. Since it is breadth coverage of a lot of material, the review course is the best way to go.

Good Luck!

Rob Schaffer, PE (Structural)

Thanks, Rob. I think the next exam is in April - it will be a real push to get ready by that time. I hope I don't have to wait until October.


Trapper John

 

[Trapper John]

Take a good review course - ask about the success rate of attendees. IIRC, the course I took met once a week for 4-5 months at 3 hours per class.

I will tell you this: the test would have been just as hard right out of school because it draws on such a wide range of coursework (what would you have remembered about 2nd year Thermo at the end of your 4th year?). After taking it, I knew I would have needed the review class right out of school.

The review course hit on the key topics on the exam and skipped stuff that wasn't important. Having life experience will make it a bit easier to take the test if you can refresh your memory on the stuff you haven't used in years.

Good luck....

I just hope I don't end up being the George Pilmpton paper tiger in the review class! I'd like to be a curve-buster but not on the left end of the curve.


Trapper John

 

[wsuffa]

I just hope I don't end up being the George Pilmpton paper tiger in the review class! I'd like to be a curve-buster but not on the left end of the curve.


Trapper John

The nice thing about the review class is that you get the chance to practice and assess your skills before taking the EIT. It's lots of hours, but worth it (IMHO). My advice: if you've got the creditable experience, sit for the PE as soon after the EIT as you can.

(I see that there are a couple of online courses - I do better in a classroom, so I have no idea how they compare....)

 

[Graueradler]

I took it at age 35 without having gone to college, just Navy technical schools and a couple of courses at Clemson (statics and fluid flow). I did self study from the NCEE books. I don't remember my score but I passed. It was 1975 when I took the test so no idea whether or not today's test resembles what I took. It was multiple choice and I realized from the NCEE books that, if you understood the subject, many of the answers could be eliminated without actually doing the problem and the right answer might be obvious. Unfortunately, I forgot that when I actually took the test and took the time to work all of the problems out. I actually took the EIT and the PE on the same weekend and passed both. I finally finished a degree (BSME) after I retired in 2002. In the Navy, I was an electronics tech and nulear propulsion person.

 

[Ghery]

I took it at age 35 without having gone to college, just Navy technical schools and a couple of courses at Clemson (statics and fluid flow). I did self study from the NCEE books. I don't remember my score but I passed. It was 1975 when I took the test so no idea whether or not today's test resembles what I took. It was multiple choice and I realized from the NCEE books that, if you understood the subject, many of the answers could be eliminated without actually doing the problem and the right answer might be obvious. Unfortunately, I forgot that when I actually took the test and took the time to work all of the problems out. I actually took the EIT and the PE on the same weekend and passed both. I finally finished a degree (BSME) after I retired in 2002. In the Navy, I was an electronics tech and nulear propulsion person.

Same year I took it. The morning had 150 multiple-guess questions covering all areas. Answer any 100. No more as the computer quit grading after seeing 100 answers. In the afternoon there were a bunch of problems to choose from in various areas. 10 questions per problem. Do 5 problems, no more than 2 in any area, and no more than one in engineering economics.

I don't know my score, either, but I passed.

Oh, and I worked in Code 2330, Nuclear Controls Engineering Division at Mare Island Naval Shipyard my first year out of college. Transferred to NAVELEX Vallejo after that. That was a long time ago...