Environmental PE Exam FAQs

About the Environmental PE Exam

Suggested Resources
Exam Dates
Passing Rates

The Environmental PE exam is an 8-hour open-book exam. It is administered in two four-hour sections, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. There are a total of 100 multiple-choice problems (50 during the morning, and 50 during the afternoon), and examinees must solve every problem to receive full credit.

The exam uses both the International System (SI) and the U.S. Customary System (USCS) of units.

Exam Topics, with approximate percentage of questions on each topic

Water (32% of overall exam)

• Basic Principles.....4%
  
  1. Hydraulics/fluid mechanics
  2. Chemistry
  3. Biology/microbiology
  4. Fate and transport
  5. Sampling and measurement methods
  6. Hydrology/hydrogeology
• Wastewater.....10%
  
  1. Sources of pollution and minimization/prevention
  2. Treatment technologies and management
  3. Collection systems
  4. Residuals management (solid, liquid, and gas)
  5. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
• Stormwater.....4%
  
  1. Sources of pollution
  2. Treatment technologies and management
  3. Collection systems
  4. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
• Potable Water.....10%
  
  1. Treatment technologies and management
  2. Distribution systems
  3. Residuals management (solid, liquid, and gas)
  4. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
• Water Resources.....4%
  1. Sources of pollution
  2. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
  3. Watershed management and planning
  4. Source supply and protection

Solid Waste (18% of overall exam)

• Basic Principles.....3%
  
  1. Chemistry
  2. Fate and transport
  3. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
  4. Risk assessment
  5. Sampling and measurement methods
  6. Minimization, reduction, and recycling
  7. Thermodynamics
  8. Hydrology/hydrogeology
  9. Geology
• Municipal and Industrial Solid Waste.....6%
  1. Storage, collection, and transportation systems
  2. Treatment and disposal technologies and management
• Hazardous Waste.....6%
  1. Storage, collection, and transportation systems
  2. Treatment and disposal technologies and management
• Medical, Radioactive, and Other Waste.....3%
  1. Storage, collection, and transportation systems
  2. Treatment and disposal technologies and management

Air (23% of overall exam)

• Basic Principles.....7%
  
  1. Sampling and measurement methods
  2. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
  3. Chemistry
  4. Thermodynamics
  5. Fate and transport
  6. Atmospheric science and meteorology
• Pollution Control.....16%
  1. Source categories
  2. Emissions inventory
  3. Treatment technologies
  4. Pollution minimization and prevention

Site Assessment and Remediation (12% of overall exam)

• Basic Principles.....5%
  
  1. Codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
  2. Chemistry and microbiology
  3. Hydrology/hydrogeology
  4. Sampling and measurement methods
  5. Risk assessment
  6. Fate and transport
  7. Pollution characterization
• Site Assessment.....3%
  
  1. Site characterization
  2. Historical considerations and land-use practices
  3. Remediation alternative identification
• Remediation.....4%
  
  1. Minimization/prevention
  2. Remediation technologies and management
  3. Remediation alternative identification

Environmental Health and Safety (8% of overall exam)

• Industrial Hygiene, Health, and Safety
• Security, Emergency Preparedness, and Incident Response Procedures
• Exposure Assessments
• Radiation Protection/Health Physics
• Vector Control, Sanitation, and Biohazards
• Noise Pollution
• Indoor Air Quality
• Codes, Standards, Regulations, and Guidelines

Associated Engineering Principles (7% of overall exam)

• Mathematics and Statistics
• Economics and Project Management
• Sustainable Design
• Mass and Energy Balance

TOTAL = 100%

The knowledge areas listed above are not exclusive or exhaustive categories.

Study materials for this exam are available in the Environmental PE Exam section of our website.