PE exam

The PE exam tests your ability to practice competently in a particular engineering discipline. It is designed for engineers who have gained at least four years’ post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline. The PE exam is typically the last step in the process of becoming a licensed P.E.

Each PE exam lasts 8 hours and is split into a morning and an afternoon session.

Scheduled exam administrations

PE exam specifications and design standards

Agricultural
Architectural
Chemical
Civil: Construction
Civil: Geotechnical
Civil: Structural
Civil: Transportation
Civil: Water Resources and Environmental
Control Systems
Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering
Electrical and Computer: Electrical and Electronics
Electrical and Computer: Power
Environmental
Fire Protection
Industrial
Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration
Mechanical: Mechanical Systems and Materials
Mechanical: Thermal and Fluids Systems
Metallurgical and Materials
Mining and Mineral Processing
Naval Architecture and Marine
Nuclear
Petroleum
Structural I (through October 2010)
Structural II (through October 2010)

Structural (16-hour exam, beginning April 2011)

Friday morning breadth—vertical forces
Friday afternoon depth—vertical forces
Saturday morning breadth—lateral forces
Saturday afternoon depth—lateral forces

Upcoming changes to the PE exam

(Changes effective October 2010)

Agricultural

TheAgricultural exam specification has been revised. An updated study guide will be available from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in the summer of 2010.

Structural I and II

The new 16-hour Structural exam will be offered starting with the April 2011 administration. The current Structural I and Structural II exams will be offered for the last time in October 2010.Learn more about the transition to the new structural exam.

Mechanical

The PM exam book for the PE Mechanical exam will be split into three individual books. Examinees taking this exam will have to choose their PM module when registering with NCEES. On exam day, PE Mechanical examinees will receive only the PM module they selected when registering.

Civil

The PM exam book for the PE Civil exam will be split into five individual books. Examinees taking this exam will have to choose their PM module when registering with NCEES. On exam day, PE Civil examinees will receive only the PM module they selected when registering.

(Changes effective April 2011)

Chemical

Beginning with the April 2011 administration, the PE Chemical exam will have revised specifications. The new specification will be posted on ncees.org after the October 2010 administration.

Environmental

Beginning with the April 2011 administration, the PE Environmental exam will have revised specifications. The new specification will be posted on ncees.org after the October 2010 administration.

16-Hour Structural

The 16-hour Structural exam will be offered for the first time in April 2011.Learn more about the transition to the new exam.

Reference materials

The PE exam is an open-book exam. You are allowed to bring reference materials to the exam, provided they are bound and remain bound during the exam. Loose paper may be bound with ring binders, brads, plastic snap binders, spiral-bound notebooks, and screw posts—but not with staples. Sticky notes and flags are permitted only when they remain attached to book pages.

Scoring and reporting

Exam results are typically released to the licensing boards 8–10 weeks after the exam. Depending on your state, you will be notified of your exam result online through your My NCEES account or via postal mail from your state licensing board.

Learn more about how NCEES exams are scored.

PE pass rates

Pass rates are from the April 2010 exam administration, except where otherwise noted.