Short answer
It depends on the discipline. The PE Civil exam has 80 questions in 8 hours of exam time within a 9-hour appointment.
PE Exam Disciplines and Format
NCEES offers PE exams in many disciplines, including Civil (with depth areas such as structural, geotechnical, transportation, water resources and construction), Mechanical, Electrical and Computer, Chemical, Environmental, Industrial and Systems, and more. Most are computer-based with multiple-choice and alternative item types. PE Civil has 80 questions in an 8-hour exam session.
Good to know
Check the NCEES exam specification for your discipline. Question counts and topics differ, and some exams (such as Structural) have their own formats.
USA PE Exam: Quick Facts
- Administered by
- NCEES (licenses by state boards)
- PE Civil format
- 80 questions, 8 hours of exam time
- Appointment
- 9 hours including a scheduled break
- Fee (PE Civil)
- $400 to NCEES
- Delivery
- Computer-based, year-round
- Reference
- Discipline-specific NCEES handbook on screen
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Disclaimer: This guide is for general information. Rules, fees and procedures can change. Confirm the current requirements with the official agency listed in the sources. Read our editorial policy.