CERTIFICATIONS
I, Kathryn S. Head, certify that:
1.	I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of First Investors Equity Funds;
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include
a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment
Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d)
under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:
	(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this report is being prepared;
	(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
	(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
this report based on such evaluation; and
	(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by
this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent functions):
	(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
information; and
	(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting.
		By: /S/ KATHRYN S. HEAD
		Kathryn S. Head
		President and Principal Executive Officer
		Date: June 8, 2009

CERTIFICATIONS
I, Joseph I. Benedek, certify that:
1.	I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of First Investors Equity Funds;
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include
a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment
Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d)
under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:
	(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
this report is being prepared;
	(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
	(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
this report based on such evaluation; and
	(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by
this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent functions):
	(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
information; and
	(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting.
		By: /S/ JOSEPH I. BENEDEK
		Joseph I. Benedek
		Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
		Date: June 8, 2009