The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. It is designed for engineers who have gained a minimum of four years’ post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline. Each PE exam lasts 8 hours and is split into a morning and an afternoon session. Prepare for the PE exam by

• Reviewing the PE exam specifications and design standards
• Reading the reference materials
• Understanding scoring and reporting
• Viewing the most up-to-date PE exam pass rates

Familiarize yourself with your state licensing board’s unique registration procedures before registering for a PE exam. Special accommodations are available for examinees who meet certain eligibility criteria and sufficiently document their request.

Exam specifications and design standards

PE exam specifications and design standards are posted 6 months before the exam administration. Updates for the April exams are posted in November, and updates for the October exams are posted in May. Find your engineering discipline below.

• Agricultural and Biological Engineering (PDF)
• Architectural Engineering (PDF; new specifications for the 2018 exam)
• Chemical
• Civil: Construction (PDF; with design standards for the 2017 exams)
• Civil: Geotechnical (PDF; with design standards)
• Civil: Structural (PDF; with design standards for the October 2017 exam)
• Civil: Transportation (PDF; with design standards for the October 2017 exam)
• Civil: Water Resources and Environmental (PDF)
• Control Systems (PDF)
• Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering (PDF)
• Electrical and Computer: Electrical and Electronics (PDF)
• Electrical and Computer: Power (PDF)
• Environmental (PDF)
• Fire Protection (PDF)
• Industrial and Systems (PDF)
• Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration (PDF; new specifications for the 2017 exams)
• Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials (PDF; new specifications for the 2017 exams)
• Mechanical: Thermal and Fluids Systems (PDF; new specifications for the 2017 exams)
• Metallurgical and Materials (PDF)
• Mining and Mineral Processing (PDF)
• Naval Architecture and Marine (PDF)
• Nuclear (PDF)
• Petroleum (PDF)
• Software (PDF)
• Structural

Are you taking the PE Civil exam?

If you are taking either the PE Civil exam, you will be asked to select an afternoon module during registration. Your answer sheet will be scored based on the module you selected when registering.

Exam fees

The cost to take the PE exam varies from state to state (or foreign location). Depending on where you register, fees may be paid directly to NCEES, a state licensing board, or a designee of the board. Visit the engineering licensure section, and select your exam location for more information about your registration fees and payees. You may be prompted to contact your state licensing board (or foreign entity) directly.

Reference materials

The PE exam is an open-book exam. You are allowed to bring bound reference materials, but they must remain bound during the exam. Loose paper may be bound with

• ring binders,
• brads,
• plastic snap binders,
• spiral-bound notebooks,
• and screw posts.

No staples will be permitted. Sticky notes and flags are permitted only when attached to bound materials. More information is available in the NCEES Examinee Guide.

Scoring and reporting

PE exam results are generally released to the licensing boards 8-10 weeks after the exam. Depending on your state, you will be notified of your exam results online through your MyNCEES account or via postal mail from your state licensing board.

Learn more about the engineering exam scoring process.

Pass rates

PE exam pass rates are from the April 2017 exam administration, except where otherwise noted.

Resources

NCEES Examinee Guide
Exam schedule
Exam prep materials
Exam-day policies
Exam scoring