FE exam format, disciplines and pass rates

The FE exam is computer-based, with 110 multiple-choice questions and 5 hours 20 minutes of testing in a roughly six-hour appointment at a Pearson VUE center. You choose one of seven discipline exams, you can use only the searchable NCEES FE Reference Handbook, and the result is pass or fail.

Last checked October 2026. Based on a state board document and 2026 guides summarizing NCEES. Pass-rate figures come from older and newer guides that do not match exactly, so see NCEES for current data.

The exam day

• Appointment of about six hours: a short nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 5 hours 20 minutes of testing, and a 25-minute scheduled break.
• Reference handbook. The exam is open only to the NCEES FE Reference Handbook, shown as a searchable PDF beside the questions. NCEES-approved calculators are allowed.
• No guessing penalty. A blank and a wrong answer score the same, so answer every question.
• Pass or fail. A guide says the passing standard is set by difficulty and candidate performance, not a fixed percentage.

The seven disciplines

Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Industrial and Systems, Mechanical, and Other Disciplines. Pick the one that matches your degree and your target PE exam.

Pass rates

A September 2026 guide says first-time pass rates typically fall between 60% and 70% across disciplines, and that candidates who have finished their bachelor’s degree pass at higher rates than those still enrolled. NCEES data from January 2026, as published by PPI, show first-time rates from 61% (Civil and Other Disciplines) to 69% (Mechanical). See our FE pass rates page.

Common questions