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PE Civil Reference Manual

Attention: this is our legacy title for the PE Civil Structural, Transportation, Water, and Construction exams pre-2024. This title is still applicable for Geotechnical. For an up-to-date review, check out the following discipline-specific titles:

Available in Print or eTextbook

Michael R. Lindeburg, PE’s PE Civil Reference Manual, 16th Edition (CERM16) is a comprehensive manual that follows the NCEES exam specifications and addresses complex topics by parsing them into condensed, understandable, readable sections. Offering a complete review, this reference manual employs instructional design to enable comprehensive understanding that builds exam confidence. The PE Civil exam is a 9-hour, closed-book computer-based test (CBT) that is now offered year-round at approved Pearson Vue testing centers.

For the PE Civil Geotechnical Exam:

The PE Civil Reference Manual offers a comprehensive foundational study for the PE Civil Geotechnical exam. Geotechnical topics include:

  • Soil Properties and Testing
  • Special Soil Topics
  • Excavations
  • Construction Earthwork
  • Construction and Job Site Safety
  • Plane Surveying
  • Rigid Pavement Design
  • Groundwater
  • Rigid Retaining Walls
  • Piles and Deep Foundations
  • Shallow Foundations
  • Structural Steel

Add on the PE Civil Companion for the 16th Edition as a convenient side-by-side companion offering a comprehensive index with thousands of entries covering all topics, over 100 appendices, and over 550 common civil engineering definitions.

Pair this reference manual with PE Civil Practice Problems for a comprehensive review, and PE Civil Study Guide to maximize your problem-solving efficiency and build exam-day readiness.

Features include:

  • Complete exam review for the Breadth portion of the PE Civil exam
  • Brief overview of each afternoon Depth exam
  • Up-to-date codes including: AASHTO, HCM, IBC, ACI and more
  • Recommendations for a study schedule to keep you on track
  • Exam tips for exam-day readiness

*eTextbook access benefits include:

  • One year of access
  • Ability to download the entire eTextbook to multiple devices, so you can study even without internet access
  • An auto sync feature across all your devices for a seamless experience on or offline
  • Unique study tools such as highlighting in six different colors to tailor your study experience
  • Features like read aloud for complete hands-free review

After you pass

PE Civil Reference Manual, 16th Edition will serve as an invaluable reference throughout your civil engineering career.

Sample PDFs

PE Civil Reference Manual, 16th Edition
$315.00
PUB YEAR
2018
FORMAT
Hardcover or eTextbook
PRINT ISBN
9781591265702
PID# 579315

FAQs

Due to copyright, PPI VitalSource etextbooks cannot be printed. Most PPI books are also available in printed format as an add-on option on our website. 

Some states require a BS degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program to sit for the PE exam. Other states allow you to take the PE exam with a degree in engineering technology, physics, math, or chemistry—or without any degree—as long as you’ve met the required work experience. Check your state requirements to see if you can take the PE exam without an engineering degree.

You should prioritize your engineering interests and professional background when determining which PE exam to take. The difficulty level of each discipline is also important to consider. Reach out to licensed engineers in your network for additional perspectives, too.
You can take most PE exams once per three-month testing window and no more than three times per year. Certain PE exams are only offered once per year in October. Some licensing boards are more restrictive, so check your state licensing board to confirm how often you can retake the exam.

Most states allow you to take the PE exam after passing your FE exam and gaining at least four years of post-college work experience. However, some states now allow examinees to sit for the PE exam before completing their work experience. Check your state requirements to see when you’re qualified to sit for the exam.

Our exam practice questions are exam-like, which means they reference the appropriate NCEES Handbook, they are a similar length to the real exam, and they use multiple-choice questions like the exam. Some questions may be a little easier or a little harder than the actual exam, but they are all designed to bring you success on exam day.
We recommend 200 to 300 hours of study time in order to prepare for the PE exam. If you have a full time job, that would be five to seven months spending 10 to 15 hours per week studying. Six months is a good starting point.

The PE exams are not considered easy to pass, but the exam will become easier if the content reflects topics that you're familiar with from your current line of work. Think about your career goals when considering the PE exam. Are you seeking a promotion in your current role? You should select the exam that best supports your current career. Are you trying to switch industries? Choose the exam that will set you up for success in your new field. Rather than seek out the easiest PE exam, select the one that will support your goals. 

It is an 8-hour exam. It contains 80 total questions: 40 multiple-choice questions in the 4-hour AM session, and 40 multiple-choice questions in the 4-hour PM session.
The PE structural exam is the only open-book exam remaining. All other PE exams are now closed-book computer-based exams, commonly referred to as CBT.
The PE exam can be difficult. The exam tests your competency in all aspects of engineering and should not be taken lightly. You should plan on taking several weeks to prepare and study before sitting for the exam. Here are the most recently updated PE exam pass rates.
The PE exam tests for a minimum level of competency in engineering. You need a minimum of four years of post-college work experience to be able to sit for the exam.

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