FE Exam Specifications - Electrical & Computer Exam

Current (Paper Based)

Indicates topic that was removed from specifications Indicates topic that was moved

Beginning Jan. 2014 (CBT)

Indicates topic that was added to specifications Indicates topic that was moved Portion AM/PM Portion of Exam

AM 120 Questions, PM 60 Questions. Each part weighted 50%. AM I. Mathematics

A. Analytic geometry B. Integral calculus C. Matrix operations D. Roots of equations E. Vector analysis F. Differential equations G. Differential calculus

15%

7.5%

Knowledge (Number of Questions) 110 questions total 1. Mathematics (1117)

A. Algebra and trigonometry B. Complex Numbers - moved from IX. C. Discrete mathematics D. Analytic geometry E. Calculus F. Differential Equations G. Linear Algebra H. Vector Analysis

Change

11%

3.5%

AM II. Engineering Probability and Statistics

A. Measures of central tendencies and dispersions (e.g., mean, mode, standard deviation) B. Probability distributions (e.g., discrete, continuous, normal, binomial) C. Conditional probabilities D. Estimation (e.g., point, confidence intervals) for a single mean E. Regression and curve fitting F. Expected value (weighted average) in decision-making G. Hypothesis testing

7%

3.5%

2. Probability and Statistics (46)

A. Measures of central tendencies and dispersions (e.g., mean, mode, variance, standard deviation) B. Probability distributions (e.g., discrete, continuous, normal, binomial) C. Expected value (weighted average) in decision making D. Estimation for a single mean (e.g. point, confidence intervals, conditional probability)

4%

0.5%

AM III. Chemistry
A. Nomenclature B. Oxidation and reduction C. Periodic table D. States of matter E. Acids and bases F. Equations (e.g., stoichiometry) G. Equilibrium H. Metals and nonmetals

9%

4.5%

Chemistry eliminated from specifications

-4.5%

AM IV. Computers
A. Terminology (e.g., memory types, CPU, baud rates, Internet) B. Spreadsheets (e.g., addresses, interpretation, what if, copying formulas) C. Structured programming (e.g., assignment statements, loops and branches, function calls)

7%

3.5%

See specification 17.

0%

-3.5%

AM V. Ethics and Business Practices

A. Code of ethics (professional and technical societies) B. Agreements and contracts C. Ethical versus legal D. Professional liability E. Public protection issues (e.g., licensing boards)

7%

3.5%

3. Ethics and Professional Practice (3-5)

A. Codes of ethics (professional and technical societies) B. NCEES Model Law and Model Rules C. Intellectual property (e.g. copyright, trade secrets, patents)

3%

-0.5%

AM VI. Engineering Economics

A. Discounted cash flow (e.g., equivalence, PW, equivalent annual , FW, rate of return) B. Cost (e.g., incremental, average, sunk, estimating) C. Analyses (e.g., breakeven, benefit-cost) D. Uncertainty (e.g., expected value and risk)

8%

4.0%

4. Engineering Economics (3-5)

A. Time value of money (e.g. present value, future value, annuities) B. Cost estimation C. Risk identification D. Analysis (e.g. cost-benefit, trade-off, breakeven)

3%

-1.0%

AM VII. Engineering Mechanics (Statics and Dynamics) A. Statics

1. Resultants of force systems 2. Concurrent force systems 3. Equilibrium of rigid bodies 4. Frames and trusses 5. Centroid of area

10%

5.0%

Engineering Mechanics eliminated from specifications

0%

-5.0%

6. Area moments of inertia 7. Friction

B. Dynamics
1. Linear motion (e.g., force, mass, acceleration, momentum) 2. Angular motion (e.g., torque, inertia, acceleration, momentum) 3. Mass moments of inertia 4. Impulse and momentum applied to: a. particles b. rigid bodies 5. Work, energy, and power as applied to: a. particles b. rigid bodies 6. Friction

AM VIII. Strength of Materials

A. Shear and moment diagrams B. Stress types (e.g., normal, shear, bending, torsion) C. Stress strain caused by: 1. axial loads 2. bending loads 3. torsion 4. shear D. Deformations (e.g., axial, bending, torsion) E. Combined stresses F. Columns G. Indeterminant analysis H. Plastic versus elastic deformation

7%

3.5%

Strength of Materials eliminated from specifications

0%

-3.5%

AM IX. Material Properties

A. Properties 1. chemical 2. electrical 3. mechanical 4. physical B. Corrosion mechanisms and control C. Materials 1. engineered materials 2. ferrous metals 3. nonferrous metals

7%

3.5%

5. Properties of Electrical Materials (4-6)

A. Chemical (e.g. corrosion, ions, diffusion) B. Electrical (e.g. conductivity, resistivity, permittivity, magnetic permeability) C. Mechanical (e.g. piezoelectric, strength) D. Thermal (e.g. conductivity, expansion)

4%

0.5%

AM X. Fluid Mechanics
A. Flow measurement B. Fluid properties C. Fluid statics D. Energy, impulse, and momentum equations E. Pipe and other internal flow

7%

3.5%

Fluid Mechanics eliminated from specifications

0%

-3.5%

AM XI. Electricity and Magnetism

A. Charge, energy, current, voltage, power B. Work done in moving a charge in an electric field (relationship between voltage and work) C. Force between charges D. Current and voltage laws (Kirchhoff, Ohm) - moved to new specifications 7. E. Equivalent circuits (series, parallel) - moved to new specifications 7. F. Capacitance and inductance G. Reactance and impedance, susceptance and admittance moved to new specifications 7. H. AC circuits - moved to new specifications 7. I. Basic complex algebra - moved to new specifications 1.

9%

4.5%

6. Engineering Sciences (6-9)

A. Work, energy, power, heat B. Charge, energy, current, voltage, power C. Forces (e.g. between charges, on conductors) D. Work done in moving a charge in an electric field (relationship between voltage and work) E. Capacitance F. Inductance

6%

1.5%

AM XII. Thermodynamics
A. Thermodynamic laws (e.g., 1st Law, 2nd Law) B. Energy, heat, and work C. Availability and reversibility D. Cycles E. Ideal gases

7%

3.5%

Thermodynamics eliminated from specifications

0%

-3.5%

F. Mixture of gases G. Phase changes H. Heat transfer - moved to new specifications 5. I. Properties of: 1. enthalpy 2. entropy

PM I. Circuits
A. KCL, KVL B. Series/parallel equivalent circuits C. Node and loop analysis D. Thevenin/Norton theorems E. Impedance F. Transfer Functions - moved to new specifications 8. G. Frequency/transient response - moved to new specifications 8. H. Resonance - moved to new specifications 8. I. Laplace transforms - moved to new specifications 8. J. 2-port theory - moved to new specifications 8. K. Filters (simple passive) - moved to new specifications 9.

16%

8.0%

7. Circuit Analysis (DC and AC Steady State) (10-15)

A. KCL, KVL B. Series/parallel equivalent circuits C. Thevenin and Norton theorems D. Node and loop analysis E. Waveform analysis (e.g. RMS, average, freqency, phase, wavelength) F. Phasors - moved from PM II. G. Impedance

10%

2.0%

8. Linear Systems (5-8)

A. Frequency/transient response - moved from PM I. B. Resonance - moved from PM I. C. Laplace transforms - moved from PM I. D. Transfer Functions - moved from PM I. E. 2-port theory - moved from PM I.

5%

5.0%

PM II. Power
A. 3-phase B. Transmission lines C. Voltage regulation D. Delta and wye E. Phasors - moved to new specifications 7. F. Motors G. Power electronics - moved to new specifications 10. H. Power factor (pf) I. Transformers

13%

6.5%

11. Power (8-12)

A. Single phase and three phase B. Transmission and distribution C. Voltage regulation D. Transformers E. Motors and generators F. Power factor (pf)

8%

1.5%

PM III. Electromagnetics
A. Electrostatics/magnetostatics (e.g. measurement of spatial relationships, vector analysis) B. Wave propagation C. Transmission lines (high frequency)

7%

3.5%

12. Electromagnetics (5-8)

A. Maxwell equations B. Electrostatics/magnetostatics (e.g. measurement of spatial relationships, vector analysis) C. Wave propagation D. Transmission lines (high frequency) E. Electromagnetic compatibility

5%

1.5%

PM IV. Control Systems

A. Block diagrams (feed forward, feedback) B. Bode plots C. Controller performance (gain, PID), steady-state errors D. Root locus E. Stability

10%

5.0%

13. Control Systems (6-9)

A. Block diagrams (feed forward, feedback) B. Bode plots C. Closed-loop and open-loop response D. Controller performance (gain, PID), steady-state errors E. Root locus F. Stability G. State variables

6%

1.0%

PM V. Communications
A. Basic modulation/demodulation concepts (e.g. AM, FM, PCM) B. Fourier transforms/Fourier series C. Sampling theorem - moved to new specifications 9. D. Computer networks, including OSI model - moved to new specifications 15. E. Multiplexing

9%

4.5%

14. Communications (5-8)

A. Basic modulation/demodulation concepts (e.g. AM, FM, PCM) B. Fourier transforms/Fourier series C. Multiplexing D. Digital communications

5%

0.5%

15. Computer Networks (3-5)

A. Routing and switching

3%

3.0%

B. Network topologies/frameworks/models C. Local area networks

PM VI. Signal Processing

A. Analog/digital conversion B. Convolution (continuous and discrete) C. Difference equations D. Z-transforms

8%

4.0%

9. Signal Processing (5-8)

A. Convolution (continuous and discrete) B. Difference equations C. Z-transforms D. Sampling (e.g. aliasing, Nyquist theorem) E. Analog filters F. Digital filters

5%

1.0%

PM VII. Electronics
A. Solid-state fundamentals (tunneling, diffusion/drift current, energy bands, doping bands, p-n theory) B. Bias circuits C. Differential amplifiers D. Discrete devices (diodes, transistors, BJT, CMOS) and models and their performance E. Operational amplifiers F. Filters (active) - moved to new specifications 9. G. Instrumentation (measurements, data acquisition, transducers)

15%

7.5%

10. Electronics (7-11)

A. Solid-state fundamentals (tunneling, diffusion/drift current, energy bands, doping bands, p-n theory) B. Discrete devices (diodes, transistors, BJT, CMOS) and models and their performance C. Bias circuits D. Amplifiers (e.g. single-stage/common emitter, differential) E. Operational amplifiers (ideal, non-ideal) F. Instrumentation (e.g. measurements, data acquisition, transducers) G. Power electronics - moved from PM II.

7%

-0.5%

PM VIII. Digital Systems

A. Numbering Systems B. Data path/control system design C. Boolean logic D. Counters E. Flip-flops F. Programmable logic devices and gate arrays G. Logic gates and circuits H. Logic minimization (SOP, POS, Karnaugh maps) I. State tables/diagrams J. Timing diagrams

12%

6.0%

16. Digital Systems (7-11)

A. Number systems B. Boolean logic C. Logic gates and circuits D. Logic minimization (e.g. SOP, POS, Karnaugh maps) E. Flip-flops and counters F. Programmable logic devices and gate arrays G. State machine design H. Data path/controller design I. Timing (diagrams, asynchronous inputs, races, hazards)

7%

1.0%

PM IX. Computer Systems

A. Architecture (e.g. pipelining, cache memory) B. Interfacing C. Microprocessors D. Memory technology and systems E. Software design methods (structured, top-down, bottom-up, object-oriented design) - moved to new specifications 18. F. Software implementation (structured programming, algorithms, data structures) - moved to new specifications 18.

10%

5.0%

17. Computer Systems (4-6)

A. Architecture (e.g. pipelining, cache memory) B. Microprocessors C. Memory technology and systems D. Interfacing

4%

-1.0%

18. Software Development (4-6)

A. Algorithms - moved from PM IX. B. Data Structures - moved from PM IX. C. Software design methods (structured, object-oriented design) moved from PM IX. D. Software implementation (e.g. procedural, scripting languages) - moved from PM IX. E. Software testing

4%

4.0%

Total

100%

100%

0%