Passing the PE is a pivotal step in an engineer’s career. A PE license is mandatory for consulting, owning a firm, stamping and sealing designs, and other activities. Choose your exam FAQ below to find essential information about your exam. If you have additional questions about the PE exam or would like to work with our Customer Support team, just contact us.
PE Exam General FAQs
The PE exams are not considered easy to pass, but the exam will become easier if the content reflects topics that you're familiar with from your current line of work. Think about your career goals when considering the PE exam. Are you seeking a promotion in your current role? You should select the exam that best supports your current career. Are you trying to switch industries? Choose the exam that will set you up for success in your new field. Rather than seek out the easiest PE exam, select the one that will support your goals.
PE Civil Exam General FAQs
The PE Civil Reference Handbook should be used as a reference. You should know the content of it well enough that you can easily find what you're looking for during the exam, saving you time and avoiding additional stress. However, don't rely too heavily on it. If a topic is in the exam specs, you should study it in-depth regardless of whether or not it's in the Handbook. Learn more in our Ultimate Guide to the PE Civil Exam.
The PE Civil exam is an 8-hour closed-book CBT exam split into the AM—Breadth and PM—Depth sessions. It contains 80 total questions: 40 multiple-choice questions in the 4-hour AM session, and 40 multiple-choice questions in the 4-hour PM session.
The recommended amount of study time for the PE Civil CBT exam is approximately 300 hours. To make sure that you are covering the right content during your study time, think about enrolling in a PE Civil exam prep course designed specifically for the CBT exam. PPI offers three different prep options for the PE Civil exam to suit the amount of prep you need and the format that works best for you:
Live Online Course Bundle: This option is best for examinees who want an all-in-one solution to preparing for the PE Civil CBT exam and would like to attend scheduled class sessions. The Live Online course bundle will prepare you for both the depth and breadth portions of the exam.
OnDemand Course Bundle: The OnDemand course bundle is a great option for students or professionals with busy schedules who want to study on the go or at inconsistent times. You'll receive access to pre-recorded lectures, problem-solving demonstrations, and exam strategy sessions from licensed engineers, as well as homework assignments and reference materials.
Self Study - Learning Hub and Print Bundle: Students or professionals who need a refresher before they take the PE Civil Exam, but may not need a full review course, might find that the Learning Hub and Print option is for them. With this option, you’ll get access to the PE Learning Hub and printed review and practice materials.
The PE Civil exam can be difficult. The exam tests your competency in all aspects of civil engineering and should not be taken lightly. You should plan on taking several weeks to prepare and study before sitting for the exam. The average pass rate for first-time test takers during the last exam was about 63%.
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
The PE Civil exam is a closed-book CBT exam that tests for a minimum level of competency in civil engineering. You need a minimum of four years of post-college work experience to be able to sit for the exam.
The latest pass rates released by NCEES for the PE Civil exam were:
- First-time test takers: 63%
- Repeat test takers: 40%
This depends on your exam. The civil exam is a breadth and depth exam. So all of the breadth topics will be similar on each exam, but the depth topics differ by exam. For more information on specifications for your exam, please visit NCEES here.
Can't decide which PE Civil depth section to take? Choosing a depth section is a big decision, particularly if you're unsure of the best route to take. Isaac Oakeson, PE, of Civil Engineering Academy, put together this video explaining how to best choose a depth section when you're not sure what direction is best for you.
PE Civil Construction Exam FAQs
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
Pass rates for the last PE Civil Construction exam were:
- First-time test takers: 61%
- Repeat test takers: 35%
- Earthwork Construction and Layout
- Estimating Quantities and Costs
- Construction Operations and Methods
- Scheduling
- Material Quality Control and Production
- Temporary Structures
- Health and Safety
PE Civil Geotechnical Exam FAQs
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
- Site Characterization
- Soil Mechanics, Laboratory Testing, and Analysis
- Field Materials Testing, Methods, and Safety
- Earthquake Engineering and Dynamic Loads
- Earth Structures
- Groundwater and Seepage
- Problematic Soil and Rock Conditions
- Earth Retaining Structures (ASD or LRFD)
- Shallow Foundations (ASD or LRFD)
- Deep Foundations (ASD or LRFD)
PE Civil Structural Exam FAQs
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
- First-time test takers: 65%
- Repeat test takers: 44%
- Analysis of Structures
- Design and Details of Structures
- Codes and Construction
PE Civil Transportation Exam FAQs
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
- First-time test takers: 70%
- Repeat test takers: 39%
- Traffic Engineering (Capacity Analysis and Transportation Planning)
- Horizontal Design
- Vertical Design
- Intersection Geometry
- Roadside and Cross-Section Design
- Signal Design
- Traffic Control Design
- Geotechnical and Pavement
- Drainage
- Alternatives Analysis
PE Civil Water Resources Exam FAQs
No, the PE Civil exam is now a closed-book CBT exam. October 2021 was the last exam in the open-book format. In 2022, the exam transitioned to a closed book Computer-Based Test (CBT) that is available to take year-round. You will not be able to bring any books into the exam. Your only reference will be an electronic reference supplied by NCEES.
- First-time test takers: 71%
- Repeat test takers: 46%
- Analysis and Design
- Hydraulics–Closed Conduit
- Hydraulics–Open Channel
- Hydrology
- Groundwater and Wells
- Wastewater Collection and Treatment
- Water Quality
- Drinking Water Distribution and Treatment
- Engineering Economics Analysis
PE CA Civil Seismic Exam FAQs
PE CA Civil Surveying Exam FAQs
PE Mechanical Exam General FAQs
- First-time test takers: 68%
- Repeat test takers: 37%
PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 75%
- Repeat test takers: 58%
- Thermodynamics
- Psychometrics
- Heat Transfer
- Fluid Mechanics
- Energy/Mass Balances
- Heating/Cooling Loads
- Equipment and Components
- Systems and Components
PE Mechanical Machine Design & Materials Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 75%
- Repeat test takers: 39%
- Basic Engineering Practice
- Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Material Properties
- Strength of Materials
- Vibration
- Mechanical Components
- Joints and Fasteners
- Supportive Knowledge
PE Mechanical Thermal & Fluid Systems Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 69%
- Repeat test takers: 48%
- Basic Engineering Practice
- Fluid Mechanics
- Heat Transfer Principles
- Mass Balance Principles
- Thermodynamics
- Supportive Knowledge
- Hydraulic and Fluid Applications
- Energy/Power System Applications
PE Electrical & Computer General Exam FAQs
PE Electrical & Computer Power Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 58%
- Repeat test takers: 39%
- General Power Engineering
- Circuits
- Rotating Machines and Electrical Power Devices
- Transmission and Distribution (High, Medium, and Low Voltage)
PE Electrical Electronics, Controls, & Communications Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 62%
- Repeat test takers: 22%
- General Electrical Engineering Knowledge
- Digital Systems
- Electromagnetics
- Electronics
- Control Systems
- Communications
PE Chemical Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 68%
- Repeat test takers: 32%
- Mass/Energy Balances
- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
- Chemical Reaction Engineering
- Fluids
- Mass Transfer
- Plant Design and Operation
PE Environmental Exam FAQs
- First-time test takers: 65%
- Repeat test takers: None
- Water
- Air
- Solid and Hazardous Waste
- Site Assessment and Remediation
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Associated Engineering Principles
PE Control Systems FAQs
- Measurement
- Control Systems
- Final Control Elements
- Signals, Transmission, and Networking
- Safety Systems
PE Metallurgical and Materials FAQs
- Structure
- Properties
- Processing
- Performance
PE Industrial FAQs
- Systems Engineering
- Facilities Engineering and Planning
- Operations Engineering
- Work Design
- Quality Engineering
PE Nuclear FAQs
- Nuclear Power Systems
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- Interaction of Radiation with Matter
- Nuclear Criticality/Kinetics/Neutronics
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