The principles and Practice of Engineering exam, referred to as the PE exam, is among the toughest certification exams in the United States. Conducted by the NCEES, the PE exam certifies aspiring engineers as professional engineers of the country. It is mandatory to pass the NCEES PE exam to obtain the Professional Engineering (PE) license.
Examination Details
The PE exam tests an engineer's level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. It challenges engineers to think creatively and apply their minds to solve complex problems. Once you pass the exam, you are certified by the NCEES as a professional engineer. This certificate is certainly the gateway to be a licensed engineer. Most private and government firms in the United States prefer PE engineers over regular engineers, as PE engineers guarantee quality and experience. These certified engineers are trained to deliver state-of-the-art solutions.
To be eligible to sit for the NCEES PE exam a candidate must:
- Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam- It is essentially the first step in obtaining a PE license. You can appear for it only during your senior years in college. However, the restrictions on eligibility criteria vary from state to state.
- Clearing the FE exam can be a daunting task but passing it will not assure you a PE certification.
- Once clear the FE exam, you need to work with a licensed PE engineer for a minimum of four years.
Once you complete your training under a PE professional, you can appear for the Principle and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.
So now you can see that qualifying in the NCEES PE exam is not that easy. To get certified by the NCEES, you will have to undergo months of practice and dedicated study. But once you get your Professional Engineering (PE) licensure, your career prospects will take a turn in the positive direction.
Exam Pattern
PE Exams are administered twice a year, once in April and once in October, and are discipline-specific. PE exams are offered for the following engineering disciplines:
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Chemical
- Civil
- Control Systems
- Electrical and Computer
- Environmental
- Fire Protection
- Industrial and Systems
- Mechanical
- Metallurgical and Materials
- Mining and Mineral Processing
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Nuclear
- Petroleum
- Structural
NCEES PE exam is for a single day and continues for eight hours long except for structural engineering. The 8-hour-long exam is split into two sessions, and each session follows a short time interval in between. There are 40 MCQs in each session. While the morning session tests the general concepts of engineering, the afternoon session focuses on the detailed prospects of the subject.
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Some Useful Tips
Clearing the NCEES PE exam in the first attempt is a herculean task. To ease your preparation process, get your hands on the NCEES reference handbooks and familiarize yourself with the formulas, charts, graphs, and other information.
Online courses can also come in handy while preparing for the exam and help you understand complex concepts with ease.
Take up as many practice tests as possible to brush up on your knowledge and improve your calculation speed.
Also, keep a note of the following factors to have a hassle-free experience:
- Examination environment.
- Things allowed inside.
- Approved materials such as reference books, calculators, pens, etc.
- Break timings.
- Reporting on irregularities.
Conclusion
Earning a PE license makes you stand out from the rest of the engineers. Obtaining the PE licensure opens up an array of career opportunities and assures job security in the future. Do not take the NCEES PE exam lightly if you want to make great strides in your field. Prepare for the exam with the aid of handbooks and online classes. Learn about the PE exam from experts and take up the online mock test, which is the best way to prepare for the exam.
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