Top 10 FEA Engineer Certifications

Certifications for a FEA engineer are important in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and knowledge that employers are looking for. They provide proof that an engineer has the necessary training and skills to effectively perform their job duties. Certifications also show employers that an engineer is committed to their field and willing to invest in their professional development. By having certifications, FEA engineers can become more competitive in the job market and have better chances of landing a high-paying position.

The article reviews the top certifications for FEA Engineers and explains how these certifications can help further their career.

What are FEA Engineer Certifications?

Fea Engineer Certification is a certification program designed to recognize engineers who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of finite element analysis (FEA). FEA is a computer-based simulation technique used to analyze complex structural systems and components. It can be used to simulate the behavior of a system under different conditions, such as loading, temperature, or vibration. This technology is widely used in engineering design and product development, particularly in the aerospace, automotive, medical device, and energy industries. The certification program provides engineers with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of FEA principles and practices.

The Fea Engineer Certification program evaluates an engineer's knowledge of FEA theory, software applications, and practical application. Engineers must pass a comprehensive written exam that covers topics ranging from basic FEA principles to advanced analysis techniques. Passing this exam demonstrates that the engineer has acquired the necessary skills needed to perform effective FEA simulations. Additionally, certified engineers must participate in continued professional education activities related to FEA on an annual basis.

The Fea Engineer Certification can help engineers stand out from their peers by demonstrating their proficiency in this important field. It also allows employers to identify qualified individuals who are best suited for specific positions within their organizations. Furthermore, it offers recognition for those engineers who have taken the time and effort to develop their skills in this highly specialized area of engineering.

Pro Tip: When pursuing a FEA engineer certification, make sure to research the requirements for each program and the type of knowledge and experience you need to be successful. Additionally, consider taking continuing education courses to stay up-to-date on the latest technology and engineering principles.

Related: What does an FEA Engineer do?

Top 10 FEA Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to FEA Engineers today.

1. Certified Professional Structural Engineer (CPSE)

Certified Professional Structural Engineer (CPSE) is a professional certification program that recognizes and rewards the achievements of structural engineers who demonstrate a high level of expertise in the field. The program is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

It takes between 3-5 years to get certified, depending on your experience and qualifications. To become certified, you must meet certain educational requirements, pass an exam administered by NCEES, and submit an application with supporting documents. The cost of the application fee is $250, plus any additional fees associated with taking the exam.

To become certified, you must have a minimum of four years' experience in structural engineering or related fields. You must also have completed at least 30 semester hours of college-level coursework in engineering topics such as statics, dynamics, strength of materials, design of structures, and construction materials. In addition, you must have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam administered by NCEES.

Once you meet all these requirements and submit your application to NCEES along with supporting documents such as transcripts and letters of recommendation from employers or colleagues attesting to your qualifications, you will be eligible to take the Principles & Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in Structural Engineering. After passing this exam with a score of 70% or higher, you will be awarded CPSE certification.

2. Certified Professional Mechanical Engineer (CPME)

Certified Professional Mechanical Engineer (CPME) is a professional certification that recognizes the knowledge and experience of a mechanical engineer in the field. It is offered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The CPME certification is designed to demonstrate an individual’s technical proficiency and commitment to ethical practice in the profession.

To be eligible for CPME, applicants must have at least four years of professional engineering experience and must pass an exam administered by ASME. The exam covers topics such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials science, design principles, manufacturing processes, and other related topics.

The process of obtaining CPME certification typically takes about six months from start to finish. During this time, applicants must complete an application form, submit references from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to their qualifications and experience, and then take the written exam. Once all requirements are met, applicants will receive their certificate within two weeks after passing the exam.

The cost of obtaining CPME certification varies depending on where you live and how much experience you have. Generally speaking, it can range anywhere from $500-$2000 USD.

3. Certified Professional Civil Engineer (CPCe)

Certified Professional Civil Engineer (CPCe) is a professional certification program that recognizes the expertise of civil engineers who have demonstrated their knowledge and experience in the field. It is offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). The CPCe certification is designed to ensure that certified professionals possess the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to practice civil engineering effectively.

To become a Certified Professional Civil Engineer, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, including:

• Have an accredited bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field
• Have at least four years of professional work experience in civil engineering
• Pass two exams: Principles & Practice of Engineering (PE) exam and Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Submit an application with supporting documentation
• Pay a fee for each exam taken as well as an application fee.

The PE exam takes 8 hours to complete, while the FE exam takes 4 hours. Both exams are administered twice a year by NCEES. The cost for each exam varies depending on where you take it; however, on average it costs around $400-$500 per exam. Additionally, there is an application fee of $50 due when submitting your application.

4. Certified Finite Element Analysis Professional (CFAP)

Certified Finite Element Analysis Professional (CFAP) is a professional certification offered by the International Association for Computational Mechanics (IACM). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in finite element analysis (FEA). The certification is based on an assessment of knowledge, skills, and experience in FEA.

To become certified, applicants must pass an online exam that covers topics such as numerical methods, finite elements, mesh generation, and post-processing. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work demonstrating their experience with FEA.

The cost of the CFAP certification is $500 USD. This fee covers the cost of the online exam and review of the applicant’s portfolio. Once certified, individuals must renew their certification every five years by passing a recertification exam or submitting another portfolio demonstrating their continued proficiency in FEA.

5. Certified SolidWorks Simulation Professional (CSWSP)

Certified SolidWorks Simulation Professional (CSWSP) is a certification program offered by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation. It is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully use the SolidWorks Simulation software for finite element analysis (FEA). The CSWSP certification validates that the individual has a comprehensive understanding of FEA principles, as well as the ability to apply them in practical design scenarios.

The CSWSP certification consists of two parts: an online exam and a hands-on lab. The online exam tests your knowledge of FEA principles and their application in SolidWorks Simulation. The hands-on lab requires you to complete a series of tasks using the software, such as setting up models, running analyses, interpreting results, and creating reports.

It typically takes approximately 10 hours to complete both parts of the certification process. To get certified, you must first register for the exam on the SolidWorks website and pay a fee of $150 USD. Once you have passed both parts of the certification process, you will receive your CSWSP certificate from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.

6. ANSYS Certification Program

ANSYS Certification Program is a comprehensive program designed to help professionals demonstrate their expertise in using ANSYS software. The program consists of three levels: Associate, Professional and Expert. Each level requires the successful completion of an exam and is valid for two years.

To become certified at the Associate level, candidates must pass a basic-level exam that covers topics such as pre-processing, post-processing, modeling and analysis. This exam typically takes about two hours to complete and costs $150 USD.

To become certified at the Professional level, candidates must pass an intermediate-level exam that covers topics such as advanced modeling techniques, advanced analysis methods and optimization strategies. This exam typically takes about four hours to complete and costs $300 USD.

To become certified at the Expert level, candidates must pass an advanced-level exam that covers topics such as complex modeling techniques, advanced optimization strategies and customized scripting solutions. This exam typically takes about eight hours to complete and costs $500 USD.

Once all exams have been successfully completed, candidates will receive a certificate from ANSYS recognizing their achievement in becoming an ANSYS Certified User.

7. ABAQUS Certification Program

ABAQUS Certification Program is a professional certification program that recognizes the knowledge and skills of experienced ABAQUS users. The program is offered by Dassault Systèmes, the makers of the ABAQUS software suite. It is designed to validate an individual’s expertise in using the software for finite element analysis (FEA) and computer-aided engineering (CAE).

The ABAQUS Certification Program consists of three levels: Associate, Professional, and Expert. To become certified at any level, applicants must pass a written exam. The Associate level exam covers basic concepts related to FEA and CAE, while the Professional and Expert levels focus on more advanced topics.

The length of time it takes to get certified depends on the individual's experience with ABAQUS. Those who are new to the software may need several months or even years of practice before they are ready to take the exams. Experienced users can usually complete all three exams within one year.

To get certified, applicants must register for an exam through Dassault Systèmes' website or through a local training center. Once registered, applicants will receive instructions on how to prepare for the exam and access study materials such as practice tests and tutorials. Applicants can also attend classes or workshops offered by Dassault Systèmes or its partners to gain additional knowledge prior to taking the exams.

The cost of getting certified varies depending on which level you are trying to achieve and where you take your exams. Generally speaking, it costs between $200-$400 USD per exam plus any additional fees associated with taking them at a local training center or attending classes/workshops offered by Dassault Systèmes or its partners.

8. Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Certification

Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Certification is a professional certification program that validates the knowledge and skills of engineers in the use of Autodesk Simulation Mechanical software. It is designed to recognize professionals who have demonstrated their proficiency in using Autodesk Simulation Mechanical for design analysis and optimization.

The certification process involves passing an online exam. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, which are designed to assess the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the Autodesk Simulation Mechanical software. The exam typically takes around 60 minutes to complete.

In order to obtain the Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Certification, candidates must first register with Autodesk and purchase an exam voucher from a participating training center or online reseller. The cost of the voucher varies depending on where it is purchased from, but typically ranges from $100-$150 USD.

Once a candidate has purchased their voucher, they can then schedule their exam at any authorized testing center or through Pearson VUE’s online proctoring service. Once the exam has been completed successfully, the candidate will receive their official Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Certification badge via email within 7-10 business days.

9. Autodesk Simulation CFD Certification

Autodesk Simulation CFD Certification is a professional certification program offered by Autodesk that validates your knowledge and skills in the use of Autodesk Simulation CFD software. The certification is designed to help you demonstrate your proficiency with Autodesk Simulation CFD and provide employers with an objective measure of your skill level.

The certification program consists of two exams: a written exam and a hands-on lab exam. The written exam tests your knowledge of the fundamentals of Autodesk Simulation CFD, including topics such as fluid dynamics, heat transfer, turbulence modeling, meshing techniques, and post-processing. The hands-on lab exam requires you to complete several tasks using the Autodesk Simulation CFD software.

It typically takes about 6 months to complete the certification process if you are studying for both exams on your own. You can reduce this time if you take an instructor-led course or online training program from an authorized Autodesk Training Center.

To get certified, you must pass both the written and hands-on lab exams with a score of 80% or higher. You can register for the exams through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers worldwide.

The cost of the certification varies depending on where you take the exams and whether or not you are taking any courses or training programs to prepare for them. Generally speaking, it will cost around $300-$400 USD for both exams combined.

10. Autodesk Inventor FEA Certification

Autodesk Inventor FEA Certification is a professional certification program that verifies your knowledge and skills in using Autodesk Inventor software for Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The certification consists of two parts: an online exam and a hands-on project.

The online exam tests your understanding of the basic concepts, principles, and techniques of FEA as well as your ability to use Autodesk Inventor to create and analyze FEA models. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the exam.

The hands-on project requires you to demonstrate your ability to use Autodesk Inventor for FEA by completing a real-world project. You must submit the completed project within 30 days of taking the online exam.

Getting certified requires passing both parts of the certification process. The cost for getting certified varies depending on where you purchase the certification package, but typically ranges from $250-$500 USD.

Do You Really Need a FEA Engineer Certificate?

The short answer is that no, you do not need an FEA engineer certificate in order to work as an FEA engineer. However, having a certificate can be beneficial for those looking to pursue a career in the field.

A certificate in FEA engineering may provide you with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the profession. It can also help demonstrate your commitment to the profession and your ability to stay current on new technologies. Additionally, many employers prefer applicants who have a certificate or other type of professional qualification. Having a certificate may make you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting hired or promoted.

In addition to providing technical knowledge and enhancing your resume, completing a course or program related to FEA engineering may also give you access to networking opportunities with professionals in the field. This could lead to job offers or valuable contacts down the line. Furthermore, having an FEA engineer certificate may open up new career opportunities that would otherwise not be available without it.

In conclusion, while having an FEA engineer certificate is not absolutely necessary for working as an FEA engineer, it can certainly be beneficial for those looking to pursue a career in this field.

Related: FEA Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About FEA Engineer Certifications

1. What is a FEA Engineer Certification?

Answer: FEA engineer certification is a professional certification that demonstrates mastery of the fundamentals of finite element analysis (FEA). It shows employers that you are knowledgeable and skilled in the use of computer-aided engineering design and analysis tools.

2. How do I become certified as a FEA Engineer?

Answer: To become certified as an FEA engineer, you must pass the Professional Engineering Exam (PE) administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Additionally, most states require applicants to have at least two years of work experience in engineering, or related fields before they can take the exam.

3. What is covered on the FEA Engineer Certification Exam?

Answer: The exam covers topics such as computer modeling, mechanics and strength of materials, finite element methods, numerical methods, and optimization techniques. You will also be tested on your knowledge of software applications used to perform FEA simulations such as ANSYS and ABAQUS.

4. Is there any additional training required for FEA Engineer Certification?

Answer: Yes, many states require applicants to attend an approved training program in order to qualify for certification. This training typically includes courses in mathematics, physics, materials science, structural analysis, numerical methods, optimization techniques and computer programming. Additionally, some states may require applicants to complete a supervised internship prior to taking the exam.

5. What is the cost associated with obtaining a FEA Engineer Certification?

Answer: The cost varies depending on where you take the exam and what type of review courses or other services you choose to purchase for preparation. Generally speaking however, it can range anywhere from $300-$800 dollars depending on how much preparation you need or want to do before taking the actual exam itself.