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Planning on taking the FE Exam in South Dakota?
Great, this guide will give you all the ins and outs.
From eligibility requirements to finding the best FE Exam program to study with, we have you covered.
Let’s get into it.
Taking the FE Exam in South Dakota
The South Dakota Board of Technical Professions (SDBTP) is charged with licensing and regulating the professional practice of engineering services for the purpose of safeguarding public health, safety and welfare in the State of South Dakota.
Due to its lengthy name, we will refer to the board as the South Dakota Board of Professional Engineers in this resource.
All individuals on the path to becoming a licensed Professional Engineer in South Dakota must pass two NCEES-administered examinations and one state specific exam, which are:
- Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam)
- Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE Exam)
- South Dakota exam on laws and rules
The FE Exam and PE Exam are standardized tests written and scored by the NCEES and adopted by the South Dakota Board of Registration for Professional Engineers as a valid means of qualifying the competence of aspiring engineers.
Once licensed, the board ensures that high professional standards are maintained by individuals and/or firms who wish to practice professional engineering in the State of South Dakota and delivers disciplinary action against those who violate the statutes, rules and standards governing engineering.
All current South Dakota Laws and Rules relating to Professional Engineers can be referenced here.
What is the FE Exam?
Though there may be additional state-specific exams required, the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam) is one of two exams that an aspiring engineer will take in becoming a licensed Professional Engineer.
This standardized exam is administered and graded by the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying).
The exam itself is 5 hours and 20 minutes long with 110 questions spanning a wide range of foundational engineering concepts.
Each question is developed to confirm the level of competency of the individual in the fundamentals of engineering.
The FE Exam is a computer-based test (CBT) and closed book, though, each examinee is supplied with an NCEES reference handbook containing commonly used formulas and other useful information related to the material that is covered.
The FE Exam has 7 different exam specifications to choose from.
You may also hear the FE Exam referred to as the EIT Exam (Engineer In Training Exam) or the EI Exam (Engineering Intern Exam), all of which are the same exam.
Here’s a resource outlining all that you need to know about taking and passing the FE Exam now:
The FE Exam: What is it and why you need to take it now
When can I take the FE exam?
This section is currently being updated to include the most up-to-date information in regards to taking the FE Exam in South Dakota.
The South Dakota Board of Professional Engineers requires that you submit an application for approval prior to taking the FE Exam.
So regardless of whether you are a graduate of an ABET accredited engineering program or seeking to take the exam without a degree, the South Dakota Board of Professional Engineers has a process in place that requires you to gain approval.
The Administrative Rules of South Dakota 20:38:32:03, found here, currently states that:
- An applicant who has satisfied the engineering education requirement or who is a senior within two semesters of graduating from an ABET-accredited engineering program approved by the board may apply for admission to the FE exam
More details in regards to the educational requirements can be found here.
Once you pass the FE, you will need to submit an application to receive your EIT Certification and be enrolled as an engineer-in-training (EIT) or an engineering intern (EI).
As these paths are unique to South Dakota, it’s recommended that you review the current regulations as they relate to Professional Engineers, specifically ARSD 20:38:32:03 found here.
Can I take the FE exam without a degree?
Eligibility requirements are set state by state and typically have a series of eligibility scenarios that include both non-ABET accredited degrees and progressive engineering work experience.
But what if you don’t have a degree at all, can you take the FE exam in South Dakota?
Since you must submit an application to the board and be approved to take the FE Exam, the short answer is maybe.
Currently, Administrative Rules of South Dakota 20:38:32:03, found here, states that:
- An applicant who has satisfied the engineering education requirement or who is a senior within two semesters of graduating from an ABET-accredited engineering program approved by the board may apply for admission to the FE exam
So as that is read, if you are currently a Senior in an ABET-accredited engineering program then you would be eligible to take the FE Exam without having already graduated.
We will continue to update this section to ensure we have the most accurate and detailed information for you to use.
We will also be adding information as it relates to obtaining a waiver of the FE Exam if you are able to offer sufficient evidence of your qualifications in the absence of an engineering degree.
What months can you take the FE exam?
The FE Exam is offered to eligible students year-round in four different testing windows, they are:
- January – March
- April – June
- July – September
- October – December
You are allowed to take the FE Exam once per testing window, but not more than 3 times in a 12-month period starting from the date of your first attempt.
Can I take the FE exam online?
You can not.
The FE Exam will be administered at a local Pearson Vue testing center in your region.
Once you register and are approved by the NCEES to take the exam, you will receive an email giving you the next steps in scheduling your exam appointment.
Through this process, you will be given options for a number of testing centers as well as what dates and times are available at those locations.
You can reference a current list of locations approved by the South Dakota Board of Registration for Professional Engineers to take the FE Exam here:
Approved FE Exam locations in South Dakota
It’s important to schedule your exam as far in advance as possible for the best scheduling availability.
Each Pearson Vue testing center is limited in capacity, so seats are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Though it’s never ideal and highly unlikely that there are open seats, you are able to schedule an appointment with as little as one business day before taking the exam.
What is the passing score for the FE Exam?
Any individual who is about to take on a major goal in life is going to want to know where the goalpost of success lies.
I get it.
But if you find yourself floating around the interwebs trying to get some clarity on this question, then you are sure of one thing…
Confusion – and oh, a lot of wasted time.
When it comes down to knowing the passing score for the FE Exam in South Dakota, there is only one right answer and it’s this –
Nobody knows.
Definitely, a letdown I know, but knowing that this is as much clarity as you will get will allow you to move on to putting in time on something that can actually make an impact come exam day.
We dive deep into this question and add a bit more context around the whole scoring process in this post:
What is the FE Exam passing score?
Knowing how the exam is going to be scored can be a huge advantage and give you confidence in the areas that you can control.
What is the FE Exam pass rate in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not release individual statistics for how many individuals are passing or failing the FE Exam in any given period of time.
However, the NCEES keeps a tally of these statistics for a single testing period for the population as a whole.
Currently, the FE Exam pass rate ranges from 35% to 83% depending on the exam discipline taken.
This is a huge range, and honestly, can’t really be relied on for a number of reasons.
These statistics account only for:
- Those who took the FE exam for the first time.
- Those who attended an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program.
- Those who took the FE exam within 12 months of graduation.
I can tell you this much –
Of 100 students that come into our program at Prepineer, 95% fall outside one (or more) of these criteria.
The moral of the story, these stats reflect a population of individuals who meet the ideal testing characteristics of a candidate, not the mean characteristics as a whole.
Use them with a grain of salt.
How do I create an FE Exam schedule?
Getting your FE Exam study plan dialed in from the start is of the utmost importance in ensuring that you see this journey through.
But let’s be real.
We are on record for being horrible estimators of our time.
But it’s not any one of us individually, those big shot estimators who are supposedly “educated” in the realm of scheduling fall right there beside us in falling short.
Think about all those highly funded construction projects that go far past the scheduled finish date.
So with that, how can I best guide you in developing your study plan for your upcoming FE Exam in South Dakota?
We have spent a lot of time developing resources in the realm of FE Exam scheduling, here are a few to start with:
- Your FE Exam Study Schedule Sucks
- Here’s how to actually get started…with confidence – The 80/20 Abbreviated Study Plan
How many hours should I study for the FE Exam?
Determining how many hours a student should be putting in each day is one of the hardest things to do for a coach.
However, after over a decade of helping engineers just like you prepare for and pass the FE Exam, I can give you a general guideline as a starting point.
So whether you are taking the FE Exam in South Dakota or Michigan, start with this.
Over the years, we have seen students spend somewhere between 150-350 hours preparing for the FE Exam.
The lower end of this spectrum is typically those that are recent graduates or within a few years of graduation.
The upper end is typically those that graduated 20+ years ago and haven’t picked up a book in just as long.
Wherever the student feels they will fall, at Prepineer, we encourage them to spread this time over a period of at least 90 days – but prefer to see them give themselves closer to 110-120 days to be prepared.
This historically has played out to be much more realistic in the context of real-life, day-to-day responsibilities.
To help you go deeper in this area, we developed the ultimate guide in determining how long you should study for the FE Exam.
Down to what it all looks like from a daily, hourly effort.
You can access the guide here:
How long should I study for the FE Exam?
In running through this guide, you will have a much better understanding of what the landscape ahead looks like.
It will allow you to reveal many landmines upfront so you can put in measures to avoid them.
It will help you understand the real effort and reinforce your confidence that you are doing things right when you do inevitably hit those unforeseen obstacles.
It’s the best you can do when it comes to determining how many hours you should study for the FE Exam.
Where is the best place for FE Exam practice?
As you learn more about the FE Exam in South Dakota, you will realize just how much needs to get done and how important preparing for it the right way is.
I am confident in saying that you can get this done…
But truth is, most won’t pursue the FE Exam because they will tell themselves that they can’t, for one reason or another.
At Prepineer, we have put together a proven system of coaching and curriculum that has helped even the most challenged individuals pass the FE Exam in South Dakota.
Learn more about how Prepineer is the best way to study for the FE Exam and get started for free.
In Prepineer you will:
- Get a real coach who knows how to get you to the finish line, despite how impossible you may think it is.
- A custom study plan that breaks down exactly where you should be spending your efforts.
- Proven curriculum that has helped even the most challenged find success.
Use Prepineer for 7 days free, with no obligations.
How much is the FE Exam in South Dakota?
Some state licensing boards require that examinees file a separate application and pay an additional application fee as part of their approval process in order to be qualified for taking the FE.
If you are taking the FE Exam in South Dakota, then you will need to submit an application for approval prior to registering with the NCEES.
Currently, there is no additional fee to apply for the FE Exam with South Dakota.
Once approved, you will take the next step and register directly through the NCEES to take the exam.
The current cost to take the FE Exam is $175 and can be paid directly to the NCEES at the time of registering.
The whole registration process can be started through your myNCEES account here.
We will be updating this section further if we determine that additional fees will be required at any point through the FE Exam process.
What are the FE Exam Requirements?
As mentioned, eligibility is not set uniformly across the board by the NCEES, but rather, by each state’s engineering board.
With this, the eligibility requirements to sit for the exam in Tennessee may differ from when one can sit for the exam in Maine.
To take the FE Exam in South Dakota, there are a two requirements:
- You actually want to take the exam and
- You submit an application for approval to the South Dakota Board of Professional Engineers prior to registering with the NCEES
The currently Administrative Rules of South Dakota 20:38:32:03, found here, states that:
- An applicant who has satisfied the engineering education requirement or who is a senior within two semesters of graduating from an ABET-accredited engineering program approved by the board may apply for admission to the FE exam
The ABET accredited degree is the creme de la creme when it comes to fulfilling South Dakota’s educational requirements, but it’s not the only route.
What if you don’t have an ABET-accredited degree?
Looking further into the educational requirements as defined in ARSD 20:38:30:02, it states those which are acceptable as:
- A bachelor level degree from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) or its equivalent as evaluated by NCEES Credentials Evaluation Service
- A bachelor level degree from a program accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of ABET or its equivalent as evaluated by NCEES Credentials Evaluation Service
- A bachelor level degree from a program accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB)
- A degree satisfying a foreign degree evaluation by the NCEES Credentials Evaluation Service
- A degree satisfying a domestic degree evaluation by the NCEES Credentials Evaluation Service
And with that said, instead of sifting through all the current laws and rules, I suggest you give a call directly to the South Dakota Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and they will give you the most direct route to understanding the next step for you.
Who should I contact if I have more questions about the FE Exam in South Dakota?
It has been said a number of times, but it’s worth mentioning again.
Eligibility requirements are constantly in flux, and what is mentioned in this resource may not answer all of your questions.
If this is the case, the South Dakota Board of Registration for Professional Engineers can provide you with the latest details concerning the FE Exam in South Dakota.
They can be contacted at:
- Website: http://dlr.sd.gov/btp
- Contact: Kathryn Patterson
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (605) 394-2510
- Fax: (605) 394-2509
- Address: 2525 West Main Street, Suite 211, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702
Final Thoughts on taking the FE Exam in South Dakota
I hope that this resource has brought you clarity on taking the FE Exam in South Dakota.
But I know, just as many answers I have given, there may have been just as many new questions in how you can get it done.
But passing the FE Exam shouldn’t be a mystery.
Sadly though, many will doubt that they can get it done, and in turn, give up on themselves and their careers.
I don’t want that to be you.
If I offered to show you a system that has worked for thousands in your same shoes pass the FE, would you take it? Click here to start your trial and learn the exact framework that will help you pass the FE Exam in South Dakota.
