FE Reference Handbook 10.0.1– In this post, I am going to discuss the latest version of the FE Reference Handbook 10.0.1, the only reference material that can be used during the FE exam, and WHY is it so important for you to familiarize yourself with it prior to the exam.
Before I do that, let me remind you that the FE EXAM or Fundamentals of Engineering is the first step to getting your Professional Engineering license. Through the videos on our YouTube channel, you will learn not only how to properly prepare for the exam, but how to ensure you PASS THE FE EXAM!
Firstly, please note that Version 10.0.1 of the FE Reference Handbook applies to FE exams starting from July 1, 2020 on. Before you begin the actual FE Exam on exam day, you will be provided with an electronic version of the FE Reference Handbook. I strongly recommend that before you start preparing for the FE exam. You either purchase a hard copy of it or download a free electronic version so that you can become intimately familiar with every aspect of this book. Essentially you should live with, eat with and sleep with this book until exam day! I am kidding, of course, but hopefully you get the point.
WARNING >> You will not be permitted to bring your personal copy of the FE Reference Handbook into the exam room. However, as I mentioned, the computer-based exam (also known as the CBT) will provide a PDF version of the Handbook for your use during the exam. This PDF version will be very similar, if not identical, to the printed version.
After reading above, you may be saying to yourself, “Okay, so I have everything I need to ace this exam in the handbook right?” Not necessarily. The FE Reference Handbook does not contain ALL of the information needed to answer every question on the exam. Some basic theories, formulas, conversion, and definitions, are not included. And in some cases, if special material or equations are required for a question, they will be provided with the question itself.
Although I am not allowed to distribute any materials from NCEES in this post, I will walk through an outline of what the book contains. Again, this is from the official NCEES Reference FE Handbook version 10.0.1 which you can download, free of charge, on the NCEES website.
Here’s an outline of what the handbook contains. And just a disclaimer here. This is a reference handbook meaning that it provides equations and basic information related to the topics listed below. It is not an FE Review Book or Study Guide with sample problems.
Here’s What the Handbook Contains:
- Units and Conversion Factors such as distinguishing pound-force from pound mass
- Ethics and Professional Practice, covering topics such as rules of professional conduct, model law definitions, requirements for Licensure and Grounds for Disciplinary Action . (Please note: this is a very underrated component of being a licensed professional engineer and is one you should pay a lot of attention to beyond just this exam.)
- Safety, such as Job Safety Analysis, Hazard Assessment, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), Signal Word, Flammability and risk assessment information.
- Mathematics – What engineering student doesn’t love math? The Math section features everything you should know about basic math equations, from straight line and quadratic equations to Algebra of Complex Numbers and Trigonometry, and much more. Keep the math coming for me!
- Engineering Probability and Statistics, such as Dispersion, Mean, Median, and Mode Values, Permutations and Combinations, Linear Regression And Goodness of Fit
- The Chemistry and Biology section which covers items such as Photosynthesis, Electrochemistry, Cellular biology and composite materials.
- More Statistics – The handbook covers a wide variety of facts on Statistics, such as centroids of Masses, Areas, Lengths and Volumes.
- The Dynamics section with information related to Common Nomenclature, Particle Kinematics, Impulse and Momentum and more.
- The Mechanics of Materials section covering items such as the Uniaxial Stress-Strain, Columns, and Elastic Strain Energy.
- Thermodynamics with reference information related to the properties of single-component systems, the First Law of Thermodynamics, and Basic Cycles and Psychometrics, as well as Refrigeration and HVAC.
- Fluid Mechanics which covers the characteristics of static liquid, principles of one-dimensional fluid flow, characteristics of selected flow configurations, and the Impulse-momentum principle
- There is also a specific Heat Transfer Section which focuses on conduction, convection and radiation modes,
- The Instrumentation, Measurement, and Control section which focuses on temperature sensors, strain transducers and control systems.
- Engineering Economics including Non-Annual Compounding, Depreciation and interest tables
- The Chemical Engineering section where you can learn about chemical reaction engineering, Mass Transfer, and Transport Phenomena-Momentum as well as Solids Handling and Processing.
- The Civil Engineering section is very intense and covers Geotechnical phase relationships, Structural Analysis, Structural Design, the Design of Steel Components, Hydrology and Water Resources, Transportation, Vertical and Horizontal Curves and Construction modules. Wow that sounds like multiple engineering degrees in one section of the book.
- The Environmental Engineering section covers items related to Air Pollution, Landfill, Compaction, Radiation, Water Treatment Technologies, and Energy sources.
- Electrical and Computer Engineering which covers electrostatics, electrodynamic fields, different circuits, amplifiers and number systems and codes. Also, computer networking communication methodologies and computer systems, as well as Software Engineering.
- There is also a section covering Industrial and Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
There is your breakdown of the FE Reference Handbook version 10.0.1. You can download your free copy here.
We publish videos weekly on our Pass the FE Exam YouTube Channel. Be sure to visit our page here and click the subscribe button as you’ll get expert tips and tricks each week – to ensure your best success – that you can’t get anywhere else. Believe me, you won’t want to miss a single video.
Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of the videos or here on this page and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.
I’ll see you next week…
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
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