The PE exams, explained
The Principles and Practice of Engineering exams, run by NCEES, are the licensing exams for professional engineers and come in many disciplines. Most are computer-based with 80 questions and cost $400 to NCEES. First-time pass rates for the large year-round disciplines ranged from 55% to 73% in NCEES’s July 2026 update. Licensing rules differ by state: most now let you take the PE before finishing your experience, but some still don’t.
Last checked October 2026. Based on NCEES discipline pages and all 51 state licensing boards.
Start here
All 51 jurisdictions: early PE, board approval and fees.
→Education, FE, experience and the PE itself.
→What the exam is and how the disciplines differ.
→School of PE, PPI2Pass and Civil Engineering Academy ranked.
→Exam details
The $400 fee and board application fees.
→Questions, timing and how the exam is scored.
→NCEES first-time and repeat rates by discipline.
→Year-round and once-a-year disciplines.
→When results come out.
→From NCEES account to exam booking.
→What to bring and what to expect at Pearson VUE.
→New PE Civil standards in 2027 and state rule changes.
→Prepare for the PE
Head-to-head comparisons of the top PE courses.
→Lower-cost ways to prepare.
→Current discounts and sale prices.
→Free practice and study materials.
→Common questions
Do I need the FE first?
Usually, yes: NCEES requires a passing FE score to register for the PE without board approval. Some states waive the FE for engineers with long experience (for example 12 years in Rhode Island or 20 in North Carolina), with board approval first.
Can I take the PE before I have four years of experience?
In most states, yes. Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, Connecticut, Alaska and New York still expect experience first, and a few states haven’t made it clear. See the state-by-state table.
Will another state accept a PE I took early?
Usually, but not always. Massachusetts accepts early PE scores only from engineers already licensed elsewhere, and Ohio may require a retake. Check the state you plan to work in before deciding when to sit.