PE license requirements by state
Every state uses the same NCEES PE exam ($400 for most disciplines), but the path differs: in most states you can now take the PE before finishing your four years of experience, and many let you register directly with NCEES. A few, including Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, Connecticut and New York, still want experience first. Choose your state for its board, fees and steps.
Sources: each state’s licensing board, checked October 2026. “Check” means the board’s own pages didn’t settle the question; confirm with the board.
State-by-state comparison
| State | PE before experience? | Board approval before NCEES? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Check | Yes |
| Alaska | No | Yes |
| Arizona | Yes | Auto with ABET degree |
| Arkansas | Yes (confirm) | Yes |
| California | Yes | No |
| Colorado | Check | Yes |
| Connecticut | No | Yes |
| Delaware | Check | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Check | Yes |
| Florida | Yes | No |
| Georgia | Yes (since 2025) | Check |
| Hawaii | Check | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes | No |
| Illinois | Yes | No |
| Indiana | Yes (since 2026) | No with ABET degree |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | No |
| Louisiana | Yes | Check |
| Maine | Yes | No |
| Maryland | No (under review) | Yes |
| Massachusetts | No | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes | No |
| Minnesota | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes | No |
| Missouri | Yes | No |
| Montana | Check | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes (free) |
| Nevada | Yes | Check |
| New Hampshire | Check | Check |
| New Jersey | Yes | No |
| New Mexico | Yes | Check |
| New York | No (credits first) | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes | No |
| North Dakota | Check | Check |
| Ohio | No | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Yes | No |
| Oregon | Yes | No |
| Pennsylvania | Check | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes | No |
| South Carolina | Yes (Early PE route) | Yes |
| South Dakota | Check | Yes |
| Tennessee | Check | Yes |
| Texas | Yes (Texas EITs) | Auto for EITs |
| Utah | Yes | No |
| Vermont | Check | Yes |
| Virginia | Check | No |
| Washington | Yes (since Aug 2026) | No |
| West Virginia | Yes | No |
| Wisconsin | Yes | No |
| Wyoming | Yes | No |
Things that catch people out
Taking the PE early in one state doesn’t guarantee another state will accept it: Massachusetts accepts early PE scores only from engineers already licensed elsewhere, and Ohio may require a retake. Illinois no longer accepts the PE Civil: Structural exam toward the PE license. And in states that approve candidates first, registering with NCEES before approval can cost you the exam fee.