There are engineering certification tests (for example Professional Engineer) and so it’s not impossible; and anyhow being unable to use book formulas properly should be a sure disqualifier. It won’t eliminate all the dunces but at least the duller ones will not be able to ruin it for the rest.
I’m aware of the EIT, I took it and passed it the first time through without having to study. I worked full time while going to college (boy, that sucked more than I care to think about). My grades were “average”, I’m sure that they would have been much, much higher if I was afforded the time to study and do my homework. But, alas I’m just a poor farm boy from the middle of no-where.
We were required to take the EIT prior to graduation, so I grabbed my CRC book, and went in prepared to bomb it. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I passed it with an overall score of 84%. I think my Professors were more shocked than I was.
I thought you were referring to a battery of tests for the Freshman/Sophmore years of engineering; to assertain competency.