Principles and Practice of Engineering exam
The Principles and Practice of Engineering exam is the examination required for one to become a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States. It is the second exam required, coming after the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
| Acronym | PE |
|---|---|
| Type | Pencil-and-paper exam; Computer-based exam (Select exams only) |
| Developer / administrator | National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Analytical reasoning, quantitative reasoning, discipline-specific subjects |
| Purpose | Professional licensure |
| Year started | 1966 |
| Duration | 8 hours |
| Score / grade range | Pass/Fail |
| Offered | Twice annually (April and October); Year-round (Select exams only) |
| Countries / regions | United States |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | Varies per state; generally the examinee must have passed Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and have four years of professional experience. |
| Fee | Varies per state |
| Scores / grades used by | Professional state licensing boards |
| Website | ncees |
Upon passing the PE exam and meeting other eligibility requirements, that vary by state, such as education and experience, an engineer can then become registered in their State to stamp and sign engineering drawings and calculations as a PE.
While the PE itself is sufficient for most engineering fields, some states require a further certification for structural engineers. These require the passing of the Structural I exam and/or the Structural II exam.
The PE Exam is created and scored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). NCEES is a national non-profit organization composed of engineering and surveying licensing boards representing all states and U.S. territories.