PE exam cost: $400 to NCEES, plus your board’s fees

Most PE exams cost $400, paid directly to NCEES. The exception is PE Structural, which costs $350 for each breadth and depth section you take. Many state boards charge their own application and license fees too, so your total licensure cost is higher than the exam fee.

Source: NCEES discipline pages, checked October 11, 2026. Board fees vary by state; see your state’s page.

Most PE exams

$400

Paid to NCEES

PE Structural

$350

Per breadth or depth section

Board fees

Varies

Where required

Results

7-10 days

Computer-based exams

What to budget for

Exam fee: $400 to NCEES ($350 per PE Structural section).
Board application and license fees: separate, where your state requires them.
Design standards: provided on screen during the exam, but you buy your own copies to study with.
Prep: NCEES practice exams (paid) and third-party courses.
Retakes: you pay the exam fee again.

Common questions

Do I need to pass the FE first?

Usually, yes: NCEES’s PE pages describe it as the next step after the FE, but some states allow alternatives for very experienced engineers. Check your board.

Is $400 my total cost?

No. It’s only NCEES’s exam fee; your state board may charge application and licensing fees on top.

PE format and scoring

PE requirements

Official source & community discussion

NCEES: PE exam (official) → See related questions on Quora →