Test Overview
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is
administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering
and Surveying and is the final requirement for becoming licensed
as a professional engineer. Admission to the PE exam
generally requires that most applicants already have passed the
FE exam and have four years of professional engineering
experience.
The Principles and Practice exams test academic knowledge and
knowledge gained in engineering or surveying practice and are
offered in the following disciplines:
What is the format of the exams?
Exams format vary for each exam. Exam length ranges from
6-8 hours long, with one 4-hour session in the morning and
another in the afternoon. During the morning session, all
examinees take a general exam common to all disciplines. During
the afternoon session, examinees can opt to take a general exam
or a discipline-specific (chemical, civil, electrical,
environmental, industrial, or mechanical) exam. Examinees
must participate in both sessions on the same day. Civil,
electrical, and mechanical engineers have a breadth exam in the
morning and the option of several different depth exams in the
afternoon.
Both exams are open book and you must bring your own copy of all
relevant references in hard-copy format. Units of
measurement used in the exam vary by discipline and rules vary
for each jurisdiction so contact your state licensing
board for more details.
The PE exam consists of 80 – 100
multiple-choice questions for all exams. The PE Structural
II also consists of 8 essay questions, of which you will need to
answer 4.
Your Score
Examinees must earn a scaled score of 70 or higher to pass the
PE exam. Scores arrive approximately 8 weeks after the exam
date however the schedule varies by state. Please contact
your state licensing
board for more details.
How to Register
For most, once you've received your ABET-accredited
engineering degree, passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
exam, and completed four years of progressive and verifiable
experience that is acceptable to your licensing board, you are
eligible to take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)
exam. Most licensing boards require that these four years of
experience be gained under the supervision of a licensed
professional engineer.
It is recommended that you take the exam in the state or U.S.
territory where you will conduct your engineering work. Each of
the licensing boards can offer information about
the specific requirements for your state or jurisdiction.
Contact your state licensing board or visit els-examreg.org for
rules and regulations and to register for an exam.
