PE Exam (Professional Engineer) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the PE Exam (Professional Engineer), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$375
Provider
NCEES
Validity
Lifetime (state license renewal varies)
Available
USA
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific 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.
Number of 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.
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.
Question Format
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
Passing Requirement
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.
How It Is Delivered
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.
Languages Offered
English (NCEES requires registration information in English and does not list other exam languages)
Visit the official NCEES certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the PE Exam (Professional Engineer)?
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..
How much does the PE Exam (Professional Engineer) cost?
The PE Exam (Professional Engineer) exam costs $375. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the PE Exam (Professional Engineer)?
Visit the official NCEES certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the PE Exam (Professional Engineer)?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for PE Exam (Professional Engineer)?
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