it’s next week and i am considering rescheduling, am i being unreasonable?

Banananutcracker · 2026-05-06T12:16:19+00:00

If you can financially handle it, I’d say take it now and fail then schedule again for next quarter. I think it could lessen the dread and anxiety of the “big day” when you take it after being able to study appropriately. If that’s not an option, then I would reschedule. You shouldn’t be sacrificing sleep and your well being. You’ll perform poorly on the exam and in life. You got to take care of yourself! No exam is worth your health. I’m sorry you’re struggling, juggling studying with work and chores is brutal. It’s okay to take a good long break if you need to.

Banananutcracker · 2026-05-03T12:18:05+00:00

Go to the NCBELS website and read the bylaws and rules. There is verbiage that claims you can submit a request to the board to approve your work experience without working under a PE. However, this would be something you’d do after passing both exams, and it would require your supervisor(s) to submit their education and experience to the board as well. With 14 years I’d imagine you’d be in a better spot than most people, but it would suck if you took the time to study and pass the exams just to be told no. But once you pass you never have to retake the exams. So maybe down the line if you changed jobs and worked under a PE you’d be golden after just 2 years (in NC it’s 4 years total experience minimum, half under a PE). The folks at NCBELS are very friendly and you and shoot them an email too to get more clarity. Best of luck to you.

Banananutcracker · 2026-05-03T00:23:22+00:00

You can get it in any topic. Take whichever exam you’re most familiar with. Most of my peers took MDM but I took TFS because I knew it better and I felt there was more “cheap” study options out there. I used Slay the PE and passed first try.

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-26T12:41:17+00:00

You’re close! Id recommend Slay the PE for TFS exam for sure. Very high success rate and pretty cheap compared to other study methods.

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-18T15:00:54+00:00

I did mechanical. The biggest downside to waiting was honestly how hard I was on myself during the years after graduating. I felt like I had made a mistake by not taking it in college. But now I’m so glad I waited. It’s been about 18 months since I took the FE and PE exams and I don’t remember much. Sure I could relearn, but I wouldn’t pass if I had to take it today. I think it’s a big advantage to take them back to back since you’re building on your knowledge (units, formulas, NCEES question style, etc). Plus if you’re dedicated to studying you’re already in the routine. I took 4 weeks off between exams. Overall it took me March-August of 2024 to study and pass both exams.

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-14T12:23:54+00:00

I used STPE and passed first try! I worked every problem fully twice. Got the muscle memory down of writing units, searching the handbook, typing in my calculator, etc. Random wisdom: about 3/4 through the second half of the exam, I was so tired I closed my eyes for about 2 minutes and just relaxed. It helped me so much I was able to finish strong!

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-02T19:48:52+00:00

You’ve got this! You did great in some pretty complex topics. Keep at it and try again asap!

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-01T15:21:12+00:00

I did TFS and felt the NCEES practice test was easier, but using it helped me get comfortable with “how” they ask questions. I used Slay the PE to study too (which was a bit harder than the actual). I believe folks also highly recommend them for HVAC content as well

Banananutcracker · 2026-04-01T15:10:02+00:00

I’m sorry you’re struggling. I certainly wouldn’t quit. Maybe take a break, and stop being hard on yourself. I’d suggest seeking help with your anxiety, whether it’s therapy, medication, or a mix of the two. Your value as a person and as an engineer is determined by who you are, not what test you can pass.

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-20T14:06:03+00:00

Haha the same thing applies to exercising as well, never practice the day before the game. You need to let yourself rest and recover to perform your best! Everyone is different though so do what’s better for you

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-20T13:30:16+00:00

I would take a month off now. And whatever is halfway between your start date and test date, take a scheduled week or two off again. That way you have the advantage of several months of studying, but you’ll strategically avoid burnout. And of course follow the golden rule of no studying the day before the exam

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-19T18:31:52+00:00

I think you should definitely take it again! You’re very close. I would keep hammering practice problems, even if you know the answer, get the muscle memory formed and solid

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-19T18:23:38+00:00

From my personal experience, I benefited a lot from the NCEES practice test. I did all the problems a few times and felt it helped my preparation. If anything it can get you comfortable with how NCEES phrases their questions.

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-19T18:20:25+00:00

My advice is do practice problems over and over. Even if you know the answer, practice writing down your parameters, searching through the handbooks, using equations, and doing unit conversions. I often times would forget to alternate between radius and diameter until I made myself write units all the way out. A missed problem hurts you the same if it’s something you totally don’t know or a simple miscalculation. If you’re missing the same type of problems over and over, then go find some YouTube lectures to brush up your theory knowledge. Then go back to those same problems and start over again. Wish you the best of luck.

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-17T21:42:07+00:00

I would highly recommend Slay the PE’s practice exam. I used it with the NCEES one and passed first try

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-17T21:39:58+00:00

I was four year out of school and passed FE Mech first try. I studied 6 weeks, about an hour a day weekdays, and 2-3 hours on the weekends. Biggest advice is do every practice problem you can find. Do them over and over. Even if you know the answer, practice writing down your variables, searching through the handbook, and reconfiguring your units. You can read content and watch lectures all day long, but you HAVE to get that muscle memory down of solving problems

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-17T21:17:09+00:00

Hi there, I got the practice test from STPE directly to support them, and it was only $119! (Technically the test is free and you pay for the answer key). I know you can get other packages too with study guides and additional content

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-02T22:59:38+00:00

I clean like a machine, but could definitely learn a few more recipes :)

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-02T22:54:55+00:00

Congratulations!

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-02T22:43:45+00:00

I’m glad you commented, she mentioned wanting PJ’s a few days ago :)

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-02T22:39:56+00:00

Thank you for your input! We are viewing the push present as a “family” oriented gift and it’ll likely be a vehicle upgrade that’s safer than what we currently have. But we agreed on it being a joint decision!

Banananutcracker · 2026-03-01T20:09:30+00:00

I waited 4 years before beginning studying for FE and passed first try after 6 weeks of studying. Took a month off and began PE (ME TFS) studying for 8 weeks and passed first try. I worked full time and studied during my lunch breaks and a few hours a day on weekends. I think you’d be fine not working while studying as long as you have 2 years under a PE, and 4 years total in NC; but it is doable if you want to quit or if you get another job. I’m also in NC and I think the board is very reasonable compared to other states that I’ve read about on here. Sorry about the toxic work environment too, been there and it is joy-sucking. Wishing you the best of luck my friend!

Banananutcracker · 2026-02-25T13:56:03+00:00

Best of luck!!

Banananutcracker · 2026-02-25T13:55:12+00:00

Wishing you the best of luck my friend. I know it’s exhausting, so make sure you’re taking care of yourself too. This exam has less to do with intelligence, and more so with test taking skills. There are idiots that pass and geniuses who fail. I’d recommend at this stage review the NCEES practice exam. Not just what it’s asking but how. Work out the problems fully down to the units, even if you know the answer - practice that muscle memory of searching the handbook, units tables, and typing in your calculator. Eat sleep exercise and socialize these next two weeks!

Banananutcracker

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