Study Scheduler/FE/Civil
Fundamentals of Engineering

FE Civil study schedule.

FE Civil is the broadest FE discipline by topic count — 18 subjects spanning structural, geotechnical, transportation, environmental, and construction engineering, plus surveying. Geotechnical Engineering and Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems carry both the highest question counts and the highest difficulty rating, which makes them the two topics worth building the most review time around, whichever sub-field of civil engineering you end up practicing.

Build my Civil plan →All FE disciplines
Questions

100–152, across 18 topics

Spec version

Effective January 2014

Exam format

6-hour appointment (5 hr 20 min of testing time)

Where to put your time first.

Ranked by question count weighted against the spec's own difficulty rating — not question count alone, since a smaller topic rated harder can be worth more study time than a bigger, easier one.

1Geotechnical Engineering9–14q

Geology · Index properties and soil classifications · Phase relations · Laboratory and field tests

2Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems8–12q

Basic hydrology · Basic hydraulics · Pumping systems · Water distribution systems

3Mechanics of Materials7–11q

Shear and moment diagrams · Stresses and strains · Deformations · Combined stresses

Full Civil topic breakdown.

Every topic in the official NCEES spec, with its question range and share of the exam. Study Scheduler allocates your study hours in this same proportion automatically.

Mathematics~7% of exam7–11q
  • Analytic geometry
  • Calculus
  • Roots of equations
  • Vector analysis
Probability & Statistics~4% of exam4–6q
  • Measures of central tendencies and dispersions
  • Estimation for a single mean
  • Regression and curve fitting
  • Expected value in decision making
Computational Tools~4% of exam4–6q
  • Spreadsheet computations
  • Structured programming
Ethics & Professional Practice~4% of exam4–6q
  • Codes of ethics
  • Professional liability
  • Licensure
  • Sustainability and sustainable design
  • Professional skills
  • Contracts and contract law
Engineering Economics~4% of exam4–6q
  • Discounted cash flow
  • Cost
  • Analyses
  • Uncertainty
Statics~7% of exam7–11q
  • Resultants of force systems
  • Equivalent force systems
  • Equilibrium of rigid bodies
  • Frames and trusses
  • Centroid of area
  • Area moments of inertia
  • Static friction
Dynamics~4% of exam4–6q
  • Kinematics
  • Mass moments of inertia
  • Force acceleration
  • Impulse momentum
  • Work, energy, and power
Mechanics of Materials~7% of exam7–11q
  • Shear and moment diagrams
  • Stresses and strains
  • Deformations
  • Combined stresses
  • Principal stresses
  • Mohr's circle
  • Column analysis
  • Composite sections
  • Elastic and plastic deformations
  • Stress-strain diagrams
Materials~4% of exam4–6q
  • Mix design
  • Test methods and specifications
  • Physical and mechanical properties
Fluid Mechanics~4% of exam4–6q
  • Flow measurement
  • Fluid properties
  • Fluid statics
  • Energy, impulse, and momentum equations
Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems~8% of exam8–12q
  • Basic hydrology
  • Basic hydraulics
  • Pumping systems
  • Water distribution systems
  • Reservoirs
  • Groundwater
  • Storm sewer collection systems
Structural Analysis~6% of exam6–9q
  • Analysis of forces in statically determinant structures
  • Deflection of statically determinant structures
  • Structural determinacy and stability analysis
  • Loads and load paths
  • Elementary statically indeterminate structures
Structural Design~6% of exam6–9q
  • Design of steel components
  • Design of reinforced concrete components
Geotechnical Engineering~9% of exam9–14q
  • Geology
  • Index properties and soil classifications
  • Phase relations
  • Laboratory and field tests
  • Effective stress
  • Stability of retaining walls
  • Shear strength
  • Bearing capacity
  • Foundation types
  • Consolidation and differential settlement
  • Seepage/flow nets
  • Slope stability
  • Soil stabilization
  • Drainage systems
  • Erosion control
Transportation Engineering~8% of exam8–12q
  • Geometric design of streets and highways
  • Geometric design of intersections
  • Pavement system design
  • Traffic safety
  • Traffic capacity
  • Traffic flow theory
  • Traffic control devices
  • Transportation planning
Environmental Engineering~6% of exam6–9q
  • Water quality
  • Basic tests
  • Environmental regulations
  • Water supply and treatment
  • Wastewater collection and treatment
Construction~4% of exam4–6q
  • Construction documents
  • Procurement methods
  • Project delivery methods
  • Construction operations and methods
  • Project scheduling
  • Project management
  • Construction safety
  • Construction estimating
Surveying~4% of exam4–6q
  • Angles, distances, and trigonometry
  • Area computations
  • Earthwork and volume computations
  • Closure
  • Coordinate systems
  • Leveling

Frequently asked about Civil.

How many topics are on the FE Civil exam?

18, more than any other FE discipline — a byproduct of civil engineering covering structural, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, environmental, and construction practice in one exam.

What's the hardest part of FE Civil?

Geotechnical Engineering and Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems are both rated the highest difficulty in the spec and carry 8–14 questions apiece, so they are the two areas most FE Civil study plans should weight heaviest.

For how many hours to budget, week-by-week study plans, and how Study Scheduler weights your plan — see the full FE study guide.

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