PE Exam (Professional Engineer)
NCEES
Complete guide to passing the PE Exam (Professional Engineer) exam on your first attempt.
$375
55-65% (varies by discipline)
Lifetime (state license renewal varies)
USA
NCEES
$90k-$150k
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Complete Overview
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is the second licensure exam administered by NCEES, and it tests minimum competency in a specific engineering discipline. NCEES charges a $400 exam fee payable directly to NCEES, and the exam is designed for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience in the discipline they select. State licensing boards may charge a separate application fee on top of that.
NCEES offers more than 20 PE exams. The high-volume ones, including Civil in its five sub-disciplines, Mechanical in three, Electrical and Computer: Power, Chemical and Environmental, run year-round at Pearson test centers. Smaller-population exams such as Nuclear, Petroleum, Fire Protection and Mining are administered on a single day in April or October each year. Seats at every test center are reserved first-come, first-served, and NCEES advises scheduling as far in advance as you can.
The year-round exams, which take the great majority of examinees, are 80 questions in a 9-hour appointment: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 8 hours of exam time and a 50-minute scheduled break. The once-a-year exams add 30 minutes of exam time and five questions. The exam splits into two sections. You get the whole exam clock at the start with no individually timed sections, and after roughly half the questions you are prompted to review and submit them, at which point you lose access to that half and can take the scheduled break. Questions are mostly traditional multiple choice, mixed with alternative item types: multiple correct options, point and click, drag and drop, and fill in the blank. Every item is scored correct or incorrect with no partial credit and no deduction for wrong answers.
The exam is closed book with electronic references. NCEES supplies the discipline reference handbook on screen as a searchable PDF alongside every design standard listed on the last page of the exam specifications, and you may not bring personal copies of anything. You test on a 24-inch monitor so the question and the handbook fit side by side, and Ctrl+F does not work; you use the search box built into the reference pane.
NCEES does not publish the passing score. Your correct answers convert to a scaled score that is compared against an ability level set by subject-matter experts through psychometric methods, and NCEES states the cut varies slightly with form difficulty. There is no predetermined pass percentage, and first-time and repeat takers are held to the same standard. Results are reported as pass or fail only, typically 7 to 10 days after you test.
Pass rates are published per exam and refreshed each January and July. Across the current table, first-time pass rates run from 48 percent on Nuclear to 91 percent on Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Among the year-round exams updated in July 2026 the spread is narrower, 55 percent on Chemical to 73 percent on Environmental, with the five Civil exams between 60 and 71 percent. Repeat takers sit well below first-timers in almost every discipline, mostly between 29 and 55 percent.
Why Get PE Exam (Professional Engineer) Certified?
Passing the PE and obtaining a state licence is what lets you seal and stamp engineering drawings and take legal responsibility for engineering work. No other credential substitutes for it in the United States.
NCEES publishes first-time and repeat pass rates by discipline twice a year. The year-round civil and mechanical exams sat between 60 and 71 percent for first-time takers in the July 2026 update, so you can calibrate against real numbers instead of folklore.
The registration mechanics are predictable and published: once your board approves you, you hold a 12-month window to sit, you may attempt an exam once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12-month period, and cancelling an unscheduled registration returns the fee less a $50 administrative charge.
Most disciplines are now year-round computer-based testing at Pearson test centers, so you pick a date that fits your project schedule rather than waiting for an April or October sitting.
NCEES supplies the reference handbook and every required design standard on screen, so the exam tests engineering judgment and navigation speed rather than the size of the book cart you can wheel in.
Failing returns information as well as costing money: NCEES gives every failing examinee a diagnostic report showing performance by major topic so you know which knowledge areas to rebuild.
Licensure through NCEES exams is recognised by every US state board, and the NCEES Records service makes comity licensure in additional states substantially faster once you hold the first one.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
9-hour appointment for the year-round exams: 2 minutes for the nondisclosure agreement, 8-minute tutorial, 8 hours of exam time and a 50-minute scheduled break. The exams offered on one day per year run a 9.5-hour appointment with 8.5 hours of exam time and the same 50-minute break. PE Structural is built differently again: its breadth components run 6 hours and its depth components 6.5 hours.
Questions
80 questions for the year-round exams, namely all five PE Civil sub-disciplines, the three PE Mechanical exams and PE Electrical and Computer: Power. The exams administered on a single day each year, from Agricultural and Biological through Petroleum, have 85 questions. PE Structural is separate: 55 questions in each breadth component and 60 in each depth component.
Passing Score
Not published by NCEES. Correct answers convert to a scaled score compared against an ability level set by subject-matter experts through psychometric methods, and NCEES states the passing score varies slightly with form difficulty. Results are reported as pass or fail only.
Question Types
- Traditional multiple choice with a single correct answer
- Multiple correct options
- Point and click on part of a graphic
- Drag and drop to match, sort, rank or label
- Fill in the blank with a numerical response
Delivery Method
Computer-based testing at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers in Canada, the United States and US territories. Year-round for high-volume disciplines; single-day April or October administration for smaller-population exams.
Exam Domains & Topics
NCEES specifies 12 to 18 of the 80 questions on this area for the PE Civil: Structural exam. It covers the identification and application of every load type a structure carries, how those loads travel through tributary areas and load paths, and how they are combined. Load combination errors propagate through an entire question, so this is high-value study.
Key Topics to Master:
- Dead loads, live loads and construction loads
- Wind loads and seismic loads
- Moving loads including vehicular and crane loads
- Snow, rain and ice loads
- Impact loads
- Earth pressure and surcharge loads
- Tributary areas and lateral and vertical load paths
- Load combinations
NCEES specifies 17 to 26 questions, the second largest block. It covers the internal force and deformation response of members: shear and moment diagrams, axial tension and compression, flexure, combined stresses and deflection, plus the special topics that appear once or twice per exam and are easy to lose if you have not revised them.
Key Topics to Master:
- Shear and moment diagrams
- Axial tension and compression
- Shear and flexure
- Combined stresses
- Deflection calculations
- Torsion and buckling
- Fatigue and progressive collapse
- Thermal deformation and bearing
NCEES specifies 5 to 8 questions on the construction-phase side of structural practice: special inspections, submittals, and the temporary works that hold a permanent structure up while it is being built. Safety questions here draw on the OSHA subparts listed in the exam design standards, which are supplied on screen.
Key Topics to Master:
- Special inspections
- Submittals and shop drawing review
- Formwork, falsework and scaffolding
- Shoring, reshoring, bracing and anchorage
- Impact of construction on adjacent facilities
- Construction, roadside and work zone safety
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 provisions supplied with the exam, including scaffolding, fall protection, concrete and masonry construction and steel erection
NCEES specifies 10 to 15 questions covering the properties of the materials a structural engineer designs with, plus soil classification and properties. Test methods and specification conformance appear here, so questions can ask what a given test measures and whether a result meets a standard rather than asking for a design calculation.
Key Topics to Master:
- Soil classification and soil properties: strength, permeability, compressibility, phase relationships
- Concrete: unreinforced, reinforced, cast-in-place, precast, pre-tensioned and post-tensioned
- Structural and cold-formed steel
- Timber, with wood design examined using the Allowable Stress Design method only
- Masonry including brick veneer and CMU
- Material test methods and specification conformance for concrete, steel, masonry and timber
NCEES specifies 26 to 39 questions, making this the largest area on the PE Civil: Structural exam by a wide margin. It spans horizontal and vertical members, structural systems, connections of every type, and both shallow and deep foundations. Design here draws directly on AISC, ACI 318, TMS 402/602 and the AWC wood package supplied in the exam.
Key Topics to Master:
- Horizontal members: beams, slabs, diaphragms and struts
- Vertical members: columns, bearing walls and shear walls
- Systems: trusses, braces, frames and composite construction
- Connections: bolted, welded, bearing, embedded, anchored and post-installed anchors
- Shallow foundations: footings, combined footings, slabs and mats
- Deep foundations: piers, piles, caissons and drilled shafts
- Retaining walls
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Check your state licensing board's requirements, since boards set the experience and education rules while NCEES only administers the exam
- 2Create or log in to your MyNCEES account and register, remembering that once approved you have 12 months to take the exam or forfeit the fee
- 3Download the exam specifications for your exact discipline and sub-discipline from the NCEES exam page
- 4Read the last page of the specifications and list every design standard supplied on screen, because solutions based on other standards receive no credit
- 5Download the NCEES reference handbook for your discipline from your MyNCEES dashboard and use only that version while studying
- 1Practise searching the NCEES handbook using its built-in search box, since Ctrl+F is disabled in the exam software
- 2Work through the supplied design standards chapter by chapter, noting that only one chapter can be opened and searched at a time
- 3Time yourself locating 20 specific equations and tables; target under 30 seconds each
- 4Set up a two-window desktop layout that mimics the 24-inch exam monitor with question and handbook side by side
- 5Watch the NCEES YouTube videos on searching the handbook and on alternative item types
- 1Work through dead, live, construction, wind, seismic, snow, rain, ice and impact loads against the code supplied in your exam
- 2Practise tributary area problems until load path tracing is automatic for both lateral and vertical systems
- 3Drill load combinations from the governing standard and build a one-page decision map for which combination governs when
- 4Solve 30 problems restricted to this knowledge area, which NCEES weights at 12 to 18 of 80 questions
- 5Log every problem where you reached for the wrong reference and fix your navigation as well as the answer
- 1Rebuild shear and moment diagram fluency for determinate and common indeterminate cases
- 2Work axial, shear, flexure and combined stress problems under timed conditions
- 3Practise deflection calculations by the methods your handbook supports rather than the ones your textbook taught
- 4Cover the special topics explicitly: torsion, buckling, fatigue, progressive collapse, thermal deformation and bearing
- 5Solve 40 problems in this area, the second heaviest at 17 to 26 questions
- 1Study soil classification and phase relationships, then practise reading a boring log
- 2Work concrete problems across unreinforced, reinforced, precast, pre-tensioned and post-tensioned cases
- 3Cover structural and cold-formed steel properties and the relevant AISC tables
- 4Learn timber design using the Allowable Stress Design method only, which is what NCEES specifies
- 5Practise masonry problems against TMS 402/602 as supplied in the exam
- 1Design horizontal members: beams, slabs, diaphragms and struts, working from the supplied standards rather than memory
- 2Design vertical members: columns, bearing walls and shear walls
- 3Work truss, braced frame, moment frame and composite construction problems
- 4Build a lookup index of the tables you use most in AISC and ACI 318 so you find them in one search
- 5Solve 40 problems restricted to member and system design
- 1Work bolted, welded, bearing, embedded, anchored and post-installed anchor connections
- 2Design shallow foundations: footings, combined footings, slabs and mats
- 3Design deep foundations: piers, piles, caissons and drilled shafts
- 4Work retaining wall problems including stability checks and earth pressure
- 5Solve 40 more problems, since this combined area is 26 to 39 of the 80 questions
- 1Study formwork, falsework, scaffolding, shoring and reshoring, bracing and anchorage
- 2Read the OSHA subparts supplied with your exam, particularly scaffolding, fall protection, concrete and masonry construction and steel erection
- 3Cover special inspections and submittal requirements
- 4Work problems on the impact of construction on adjacent facilities
- 5Solve 20 problems in this area, which NCEES weights at 5 to 8 questions
- 1Practise every alternative item type: multiple correct options, point and click, drag and drop, and fill in the blank
- 2Remember that all items score correct or incorrect with no partial credit, so a multiple correct options item needs every choice right
- 3Drill your NCEES-approved calculator until unit conversions and statistical functions are muscle memory
- 4Practise switching between SI and US Customary units, since the exam uses both
- 5Sit a half-length timed set to test pacing against roughly 6 minutes per question
- 1Sit the NCEES practice exam for your discipline under full conditions, using only the electronic handbook and supplied standards
- 2Simulate the section structure: work half the questions, submit them, take a 50-minute break, then work the rest without going back
- 3Score by knowledge area and compare against the NCEES question ranges for your specification
- 4Rebuild the two weakest knowledge areas from the handbook rather than from a review course
- 5Confirm your calculator model appears on the current NCEES approved list
- 1Sit a second full-length exam from a commercial provider such as PPI or School of PE
- 2Convert every miss into a handbook page reference so the fix is a navigation habit, not a memorised answer
- 3Practise the questions you skipped first time under a strict two-minute abandon rule
- 4Review unit consistency errors, the most common avoidable loss on calculation-heavy exams
- 5Schedule or confirm your Pearson appointment, remembering you must schedule at least one business day in advance
- 1Do light review only: reread your handbook index and your load combination decision map
- 2Check that your physical photo ID is current, carries an expiration date, name, date of birth, photo and signature, and matches your appointment confirmation exactly
- 3Print your appointment confirmation letter to speed up check-in
- 4Plan to arrive at the Pearson test center 30 minutes before your appointment
- 5Pack only what is allowed: your ID, one approved calculator without its cover, eyeglasses without the case and a light non-outerwear sweater
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Best Study Resources
NCEES PE exam page
Official vendor pageThe list of PE disciplines, the four-year experience guidance, the discipline pages carrying the $400 fee, appointment structure and question count, and the state-by-state map linking to each licensing board.
Free
PE exam specifications for your discipline
Official blueprint (PDF)The knowledge areas with the number of questions NCEES allocates to each, plus the list of design standards supplied on screen with the exact revision year that solutions are scored against. Specifications are posted six months before their effective date.
Free
NCEES reference handbook for your discipline
Official referenceThe only handbook you can use in the exam, supplied on screen as a searchable PDF. NCEES does not sell printed copies. Download it from your MyNCEES dashboard and study exclusively from that version.
Free through MyNCEES
NCEES Examinee Guide
Official policy documentThe rules for registration, scheduling, ID, prohibited items, palm vein scanning, comfort aids, the two-section exam structure, scoring and the diagnostic report. Read it before you register, not the night before.
Free
NCEES calculator policy
Official policy pageThe annually reviewed list of permitted calculators. For 2026 that is all Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, the HP 33s and HP 35s, and all Texas Instruments TI-30X and TI-36X models. Nothing else is admitted.
Free
NCEES PE practice exam
Official practice materialWritten by the same subject-matter experts who develop the exam, and the closest available match to real item style and difficulty, including alternative item types.
Paid, through the NCEES store
PE exam pass rates
Official statisticsFirst-time and repeat pass rates and examinee volumes by discipline, updated in January and July. Useful for calibrating expectations: repeat pass rates run well below first-time rates in nearly every discipline.
Free
School of PE review courses
Commercial review courseStructured live-online and on-demand review courses organised by discipline, widely used by candidates who want a scheduled classroom rhythm rather than self-study.
Paid
PPI (PPI2Pass) PE materials
Commercial prep publisherReference manuals, practice problems and full-length practice exams by discipline. Check the edition matches the current NCEES specification, since specifications change every five to seven years and design standards change more often.
Paid
Your state licensing board
Regulatory authorityThe board sets your education and experience requirements, approves you to sit, may charge its own application fee and may impose a retake policy more restrictive than the NCEES one. NCEES links to every board from the PE exam page map.
Varies by state
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Studying from a personal reference library instead of the NCEES handbook.
The PE exam is closed book with electronic references. You cannot bring personal copies of anything into the room. Every hour spent learning where things live in your own textbooks is an hour not spent learning the NCEES handbook, which is the only reference you will have.
Using the wrong edition of a design standard.
The last page of your exam specifications lists each standard with its revision year, and NCEES states that solutions based on other standards will not receive credit. Match the year exactly, because a 2016 and a 2022 edition of the same code can give different answers to the same question.
Expecting Ctrl+F to work in the exam.
The Ctrl+F search feature is disabled. You search using the box on the left side of the supplied reference material, and design standards are provided as individual chapters with only one openable at a time. Practise that exact workflow rather than a desktop PDF workflow.
Bringing a calculator that is not on the current NCEES list.
For 2026 NCEES permits only Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, the HP 33s and HP 35s, and Texas Instruments TI-30X and TI-36X models. The list is reviewed annually. Buy an approved model early and learn it, and note the cover must come off before you enter the room.
Assuming you can return to the first half of the exam after the break.
The exam is delivered in two sections. After roughly half the questions you are prompted to review and submit, and you lose access to them permanently. Finish your review of the first half before you submit, because the 50-minute break sits after that point of no return.
Leaving questions blank.
NCEES scores on the total number of correct answers with no deductions for wrong answers. If time expires before you submit, any answers you have marked are still submitted and scored. Mark something on every item.
Treating alternative item types as ordinary multiple choice.
PE exams mix in multiple correct options, point and click, drag and drop and fill in the blank items, and all of them score correct or incorrect with no partial credit. A multiple correct options question where you get three of four selections right earns nothing.
Letting the 12-month authorisation window lapse.
Once your board approves you, you have 12 months to take the exam or you forfeit the registration fee. Cancelling an unscheduled registration returns the fee less a $50 administrative charge, and cancelling a scheduled appointment costs a separate $50 payable to Pearson at least 48 hours in advance.
Registering for a discipline without checking your board's rules first.
NCEES administers the exam, but your state board decides your eligibility, may require a separate application and fee, and may impose a retake policy stricter than NCEES's one attempt per testing window and three per 12 months. Changing discipline or board after registering means cancelling and re-registering, less the $50 administrative fee.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Arrive at the Pearson test center 30 minutes before your appointment, and bring a printed copy of your appointment confirmation letter to speed up check-in.
- 2
Bring a physical government-issued photo ID that is current, shows an expiration date, your name, date of birth, a recognisable photo and your signature. Digital IDs and student IDs are not accepted, and the first and last name must match your confirmation letter.
- 3
Only these items enter the testing room: your ID, one NCEES-approved calculator with the cover removed, your locker key, the reusable booklets and markers Pearson supplies, eyeglasses without the case, a light non-outerwear sweater, approved comfort aids and approved accommodation items.
- 4
Watches, phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wallets, bags, hats, notes, pens, food and drink all stay in the locker. NCEES applies a zero tolerance policy: an unauthorised electronic device found after the self-pat-down begins means you leave and forfeit the fee.
- 5
Expect a digital photo, a palm vein scan and a security scan with infrared and metal detection wands. You provide a palm vein scan and pass the security scan every time you enter or leave the testing room.
- 6
You get 2 reusable booklets and 3 markers for scratch work, and you can swap a full booklet at any time by raising your hand. The proctor takes the old one before issuing a new one.
- 7
You get the full exam clock at the start with no individually timed sections, so pace yourself. For an 80-question, 8-hour exam that is roughly 6 minutes per question.
- 8
Take the 50-minute scheduled break after you submit the first section. Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the testing room, so the break is your only chance to refuel.
- 9
Earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones and tissues come from the Pearson Comfort Aid List and need no preapproval. Braces, hearing aids, eye drops and mobility devices are allowed after visual inspection. Anything else must be approved as an accommodation before you schedule.
- 10
Give any comment about the test center to Pearson before you leave, and any comment about the exam itself to NCEES through your MyNCEES account within 48 hours. You will receive a verification-of-testing letter before you go.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Licensed professional engineer (P.E.)
Seals and stamps engineering drawings and takes legal responsibility for the work. Licensure is the legal precondition for offering engineering services to the public in the United States.
Varies by state, sector and seniority; NCEES publishes no salary figure
Project manager, engineering consultancy
Runs design projects, signs off deliverables and manages client relationships. Most consultancies require the P.E. before an engineer can own project delivery or serve as engineer of record.
Above the staff engineer band in most consultancies
Structural engineer
Designs buildings and bridges against AISC, ACI, ASCE 7 and AASHTO. The PE Civil: Structural exam maps directly onto this practice, and some jurisdictions additionally require the separate PE Structural licence for certain structures.
Varies by market and by whether the role carries engineer-of-record responsibility
Municipal or public works engineer
Reviews and approves designs for a city, county or state agency. Public sector roles frequently list the P.E. as a hard requirement rather than a preference.
Set by public pay scales, which vary by jurisdiction and seniority
Principal or firm owner
Owning or leading an engineering firm generally requires a licensed engineer in responsible charge. The PE is the entry condition for that structure in most states.
Tied to firm equity rather than to a salary band
Forensic or expert witness engineer
Investigates failures and testifies on engineering standards of care. Courts and insurers expect licensure as the baseline qualification.
Day-rate work rather than a salary band
Prerequisites & Requirements
- NCEES designs the PE exam for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience in the discipline they select.
- In almost all jurisdictions you must first pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which NCEES describes as the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer.
- Your state licensing board sets the actual education and experience requirements, approves your registration and may require a separate application and fee.
- You must be approved by your licensing board before NCEES issues the authorisation notice that lets you schedule with Pearson.
- Once approved, you have 12 months to take the exam or you forfeit the registration fee.
- Some boards impose retake restrictions stricter than the NCEES policy of one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the PE exam cost?
NCEES lists a $400 exam fee payable directly to NCEES on its discipline pages, including PE Civil, PE Mechanical and PE Electrical and Computer. Some licensing boards require a separate application and fee on top of that, so your total depends on the state you register through.
What is the passing score on the PE exam?
NCEES does not publish it. Your correct answers convert to a scaled score, which is compared to an ability level determined by subject-matter experts through psychometric methods, and NCEES states the passing score varies slightly with the difficulty of the exam form. There is no predetermined percentage of examinees who pass, and first-time and repeat takers are held to the same standard.
How many questions are on the PE exam?
The year-round exams have 80 questions in a 9-hour appointment with 8 hours of exam time: all five PE Civil sub-disciplines, the three PE Mechanical exams, Electrical and Computer: Power, Chemical and Environmental. The exams offered on a single day each year have 85 questions in a 9.5-hour appointment with 8.5 hours of exam time. PE Structural runs to its own format, with 55-question breadth components and 60-question depth components.
Is the PE exam open book?
No. It is closed book with electronic references. NCEES supplies the discipline reference handbook on screen as a searchable PDF, along with every design standard listed on the last page of your exam specifications, and you may not bring personal copies of any material into the exam room.
What calculator can I bring to the PE exam?
For 2026 NCEES permits only these models: all Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, the Hewlett Packard HP 33s and HP 35s, and all Texas Instruments TI-30X and TI-36X models. You bring one approved calculator with the cover removed, spare calculators stay in your locker, and a TI-30XS is also available on screen. The list is reviewed annually.
What happens if I fail the PE exam?
You receive a diagnostic report showing your performance across each major topic on the exam, which is designed to point you at the knowledge areas to rebuild before retaking. Results are pass or fail only, NCEES does not do manual answer verification for computer-based exams, and it will not release your questions or answers.
How soon can I retake the PE exam?
NCEES policy allows one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. Year-round exams run in four windows: January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. Some licensing boards impose a more restrictive policy, so check the board you registered through.
How long do PE exam results take?
Computer-based exam results are typically available 7 to 10 days after you test, and NCEES emails you with instructions to view them in your MyNCEES account. PE Structural depth exams are the exception; those require standard-setting evaluations and take 10 to 13 weeks.
Do I need to pass the FE exam first?
In practice yes. NCEES describes the Fundamentals of Engineering exam as generally the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer, and state boards set the actual sequence. Check your board, because the PE exam registration is approved by the board, not by NCEES alone.
How much experience do I need before taking the PE exam?
NCEES states the exam is designed for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience in their chosen discipline. The binding requirement is set by your state licensing board, which may define acceptable experience, supervision and documentation differently.
Which PE disciplines are offered year-round?
NCEES runs the higher-volume exams year-round at Pearson test centers, including all five PE Civil sub-disciplines, the three PE Mechanical exams, Electrical and Computer: Power, Chemical and Environmental. Smaller-population exams such as Nuclear, Petroleum, Fire Protection, Mining and Naval Architecture are administered on a single day in April or October. Seats are reserved first-come, first-served, so schedule as early as your board approval allows.
What are the PE exam pass rates?
NCEES publishes them by discipline and updates them in January and July. In the July 2026 update, first-time pass rates included Civil: Construction at 60 percent, Civil: Structural at 62 percent, Civil: Transportation at 61 percent, Civil: Water Resources and Environmental at 71 percent, Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration at 71 percent and Electrical and Computer: Power at 62 percent. Across every discipline in the table the first-time range is wider than that: 48 percent on Nuclear at the bottom and 91 percent on Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the top. Repeat-taker rates run substantially lower, mostly between 29 and 55 percent.
What identification do I need on exam day?
One physical government-issued photo ID, an international travel passport in roman characters, or a US military ID. It must be current, show an expiration date, your name, date of birth, a recognisable photo and your signature. Digital IDs and student IDs are refused, and the first and last name must match your appointment confirmation letter.
Can I take a break during the PE exam?
Yes, there is a 50-minute scheduled break built into the 9-hour appointment. It comes after you review and submit the first section of questions, and you cannot return to those questions afterwards. Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the testing room, so the break is when you eat.
Are accommodations available for the PE exam?
Yes. NCEES states it is committed to complying with applicable law for individuals needing reasonable accommodations, and requests are managed through its test service provider Pearson. Any comfort item not on the Pearson Comfort Aid List must be requested as an accommodation during registration and approved before you schedule your appointment.
What does it cost to cancel or reschedule?
Cancelling an unscheduled registration through MyNCEES refunds the NCEES fee less a $50 administrative charge. Cancelling a scheduled appointment costs $50 payable directly to Pearson and must be done at least 48 hours before the appointment time; if you have paid Pearson a cancellation fee, NCEES waives its $50 administrative fee.
How does the PE exam differ from the PE Structural (SE) exam?
The PE Structural exam is a separate credential with breadth and depth components covering Vertical Forces and Lateral Forces, and examinees choose either the Buildings or the Bridges section and must work the same section in both components. Its breadth exams use only traditional multiple choice while its depth exams use only alternative item types, and depth results take 10 to 13 weeks rather than 7 to 10 days.
How long is a PE licence valid?
The PE exam result does not expire in the way a certification does; licensure is granted and renewed by your state board. Renewal periods and continuing professional development requirements are set state by state, so check your board's rules rather than assuming a national standard.
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