The PE exam, explained
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is the second of two NCEES exams for engineering licensure, after the FE. It tests minimum competency in one discipline and is designed for engineers with about four years of experience. NCEES offers PE exams in more than 20 disciplines, all computer-based; PE Civil alone is split into five separate exams.
Source: NCEES, checked October 11, 2026.
Disciplines
| Group | Exams |
|---|---|
| Civil | Construction; Geotechnical; Structural; Transportation; Water Resources and Environmental |
| Mechanical | HVAC and Refrigeration; Machine Design and Materials; Thermal and Fluid Systems |
| Electrical and Computer | Power; Computer Engineering; Electronics, Controls, and Communications |
| Structural (SE) | Separate PE Structural exam in breadth and depth sections |
| Others | Agricultural and Biological; Architectural; Chemical; Control Systems; Environmental; Fire Protection; Industrial and Systems; Metallurgical and Materials; Mining and Mineral Processing; Naval Architecture and Marine; Nuclear; Petroleum |
Source: NCEES.
PE Civil: Structural vs PE Structural
These are different exams. PE Civil: Structural is one 80-question PE Civil exam ($400). PE Structural (often called the SE) is a separate, longer exam taken in breadth and depth sections ($350 each), required in some states for engineers designing significant structures.
Official source & community discussion
NCEES: PE exam (official) →
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