HPU School of Engineering Earns 100% Pass Rate on Licensure Exam
Emily Lattanzio was one of High Point University’s first computer engineering graduates in May of 2023 and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. She is pictured standing to the right of Dr. Claire McCullough, professor and chair of HPU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 10, 2024 – High Point University’s Webb School of Engineering received a 100% pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, well above the national pass rate for first-time test takers.
Engineering students typically take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam during their senior year of college. It is required as the first step in a professional engineer getting licensed. The test covers most of the undergraduate engineering curriculum, including math, probability and statistics, and ethics and professional practice.
The Webb School of Engineering was established in 2018. Its first two computer engineering graduates in 2023 passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, and another computer engineering graduate and the university’s first two electrical engineering graduates aced the test last spring.
The most recent data from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, which oversees the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, determined the pass rate for electrical and computer engineers taking the test for the first time is 69%.
“Any time a new program is started, there is always a question about the quality of the program and whether it meets the needs of the students for their future careers,” said Dr. Claire McCullough, professor and chair of HPU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “The flawless performance of our first electrical and computer engineering graduates on the Fundamentals of Engineering exam validates our curricula and shows that HPU engineers have all the skills they need for the future and are able to compete on a national stage. We are so proud of all our students.”
While not all engineering jobs require an engineering license, the license is important for any job involving public safety. In addition, many companies pay licensed engineers more than those engineers who are not licensed.
Students in HPU’s engineering school have access to stellar facilities, including a state-of-art cybersecurity lab and a highly equipped makerspace. These facilities enable students to build and test systems so they will be up to speed on the latest tools.
Global leaders also mentor students in the field through HPU’s Access to Innovators program, including Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence and member of the school’s advisory board, and Sean Suggs, president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing in North Carolina and HPU’s Technology Executive in Residence.
The Webb School of Engineering is the latest HPU school to achieve a perfect pass rate on a post-graduate licensure exam.
In April, HPU’s Stout School of Education earned a 100% pass rate on the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment for a third consecutive year. The national average for the multi-part assessment, which is required for teacher licensure, is 72%.
The first graduating class of HPU’s Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing achieved a perfect pass rate on the NCLEX, the national licensing exam for registered nurses.