The PE Civil exam tests whether an engineer has a minimum level of competency in a civil engineering discipline. NCEES designs it for engineers with at least four years of post-college work experience in their chosen discipline. For firm owners, that makes exam planning part of staff development and project scheduling. The exam is offered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers.
Exam format and cost
The exam has 80 questions and is computer-based. The appointment lasts 9 hours, including a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, the 8-hour exam, and a scheduled 50-minute break. Examinees work all questions. The exam includes multiple-choice questions and alternative item types, so staff should prepare for more than standard multiple-choice formats.
The NCEES exam fee is $400, payable directly to NCEES. Some licensing boards may require a separate application and fee to approve an examinee for a seat. Board requirements vary, so staff should check the relevant licensing board’s registration procedures before registering.
Five depth modules
Each PE Civil examinee selects one depth module. The five options are:
- Construction
- Geotechnical
- Structural
- Transportation
- Water Resources and Environmental
Owners can help staff choose a module that fits their engineering discipline and work experience. The exam specifications describe the topics and applicable design standards for each module. NCEES posts specifications and design standards six months before their effective date. Exam specifications change every 5 to 7 years, while design standards change more frequently.
References supplied during the exam
NCEES supplies an electronic PE Civil Reference Handbook and the design standards listed in the applicable exam specifications. These are the only reference materials examinees may use. Personal copies are not allowed in the exam room. The handbook and standards are searchable PDF files with linked chapters. NCEES says standards are provided as individual chapters, with one chapter available to open and search at a time. Both the handbook and standards remain available throughout the exam.
NCEES does not sell printed copies of the handbook or provide the design standards. The handbook is available through MyNCEES. Standards are available from their publishers, typically in electronic and printed formats. Owners can account for this when setting up study access and helping staff practice with the same electronic references they will use in the exam.
Design standards change in April 2027
NCEES lists separate PE Civil specifications and design standards for exams effective before April 2027 and those effective beginning in April 2027. The April 2027 materials are identified as updated design standards. Because answers that reference a standard are scored against the listed standard and revision year, staff should confirm which set applies to their exam date. For the applicable standards and revisions, use the specifications for the selected depth module.
Example: Structural topics
The Structural specification effective beginning in April 2024 gives a sample of the breadth of topics an examinee may encounter. It includes structural loads and their application, such as dead, live, construction, wind, seismic, moving, snow, rain, ice, impact, and earth pressure loads. It also covers load paths and combinations.
Other listed areas include forces and load effects, such as shear and moment diagrams, axial force, shear, flexure, combined stresses, deflection, torsion, buckling, fatigue, and bearing. Temporary structures and related topics include formwork, scaffolding, shoring, bracing, special inspections, submittals, and construction impacts on adjacent facilities.
Design and detailing topics include soil properties and material properties for concrete, steel, timber, and masonry. Component design covers beams, slabs, columns, shear walls, trusses, frames, connections, shallow and deep foundations, and retaining walls. The specification says its examples are not exhaustive. Owners can use the full specification for the chosen module to guide study planning.
Plan study support and billing coverage
Owners can make exam preparation easier to manage by agreeing on a study schedule with each examinee and accounting for it in project assignments. Set expectations for when study time will happen, how employees will coordinate it with project deadlines, and who will cover client work during study periods and the exam appointment. Since the appointment is 9 hours, plan coverage around that full block.
For billing, decide how study time and exam-related absence will be recorded under the firm’s policies and client agreements. Assign backup staff for active work, review deadlines, and client questions before the examinee’s planned study periods or exam date. These are firm planning decisions, not NCEES requirements. NCEES directs examinees to review the specifications, fees, requirements, reference materials, scoring information, and pass rates as they prepare.
