What is changing on the PE Environmental exam?

The PE Environmental exam is changing on April 1, 2026. Here is what you need to know to decide whether to take your exam before or after the exam change:

Overview of the 2026 PE Environmental exam changes

Beginning April 1, 2026, the NCEES PE Environmental CBT Exam Specifications will be updated to better reflect modern environmental engineering practices. These changes emphasize applied knowledge, sustainability, and the integration of real-world problem-solving skills over theoretical principles. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing on the PE Environmental exam:

New focus on Sustainability

The most notable update is the addition of Sustainability as a dedicated topic area. Previously treated as a minor subtopic, Sustainability will now include 7-11 questions on the exam.

This section will test your understanding of:

• Infrastructure resilience and vulnerability
• Climate-related impacts and redundancy
• Life-cycle analysis and sustainable design practices

This change reflects NCEES’s effort to align the exam with evolving environmental priorities and industry standards.

Shift toward application-based content

The 2026 revision places a strong emphasis on engineering applications rather than general engineering theory. Key updates include:

• Reorganizing topic areas to focus on real-world environmental systems
• Moving project management concepts out of their standalone category and integrating them into other relevant sections

This new structure encourages test takers to demonstrate their ability to apply core principles within practical scenarios. 

Eliminated and consolidated topics

To accommodate new material, several older categories are being retired and integrated into broader sections. 

The following stand-alone topics will be removed from the updated exam:

• Statistics 
• Engineering Economics
• General Data Management
• Industrial Hygiene
• Indoor Air Quality

Concepts from these areas may still appear within context-specific questions, but they will no longer be tested as independent subjects.

Updated exam weighting

With the addition of the new Sustainability topic and the removal of certain general engineering principles, the distribution of questions across exam topics has been adjusted. 

The PE Environmental exam will still include 80 questions completed over a 9-hour session, which consists of:

• 8 hours for answering questions
• 1 hour of the tutorial, setup (10 minutes), and option break time (50 minutes)

Changes to topic weighting include:

• Water: Reduced from 21-35 questions to 19-29 questions to make room for the new Sustainability topic.
• Air: Reduced from 14-22 questions to 13-20 questions, reflecting the shift in exam focus.

Why the PE Environmental exam is changing

The NCEES PE Environmental exam is being updated to ensure it reflects the current practices, technologies, and challenges faced by modern environmental engineers. These revisions are designed to make the exam more relevant, practical, and aligned with today’s industry standards.

Key reasons for the update include:

• Modernizing Exam Content: The new specifications incorporate topics like sustainability and climate resilience to reflect emerging priorities in the profession. 
• Focusing on Applied Knowledge: The revised format centers on real-world applications of environmental engineering principles rather than general theory.
• Improving Exam Balance: Removing outdated or overlapping subjects allows for a clearer focus on areas that represent the core responsibilities of licensed engineers.
• Protecting Public Welfare: NCEES aims to uphold the highest standards of public health, safety, and environmental protection through a more practical assessment of engineering competence.

Which version of the PE Environmental exam should you take?

Deciding which version of the PE Environmental exam to take depends on your experience, comfort with the material, and how soon you plan to test. Both versions measure your ability to apply environmental engineering principles, but the updated exam places greater emphasis on sustainability and practical field-based application.

Here are a few factors to help you decide:

• Your familiarity with the content. If you’re confident in sustainability topics like climate resilience, life-cycle analysis, or infrastructure vulnerability, you may prefer the new exam. If your expertise leans more toward water or air quality principles, the current version may be a better fit, since those topics make up a larger portion of the existing format.
• The exam specifications. Review the official NCEES PE Environmental exam specifications for both versions. Choose the one that aligns best with your background and work experience–the more overlap there is, the easier it will be to prepare effectively.
• Your study timeline. Most examinees spend four to six months studying for the PE Environmental exam. If you’re just beginning your prep, consider the timing of your study plan and whether the new format will be in effect by your target test date. 
  

Ultimately, the best choice is the one that fits your strengths and schedule. Understanding where your knowledge is strongest and how much time you have to prepare will help you approach the exam with clarity and focus. 

How PPI can help you prepare for the PE Environmental exam

No matter which version of the PE Environmental exam you plan to take, PPI provides trusted, industry-leading resources to help you study with confidence. From in-depth review materials to new content updates, PPI gives engineers the tools they need to succeed on exam day.

Here’s how PPI supports your preparation:

• Comprehensive Study Materials: Explore PPI’s full library of PE Environmental exam prep materials, including online courses, practice problems, and timed practice exams. Each option is built around the latest NCEES exam specifications to help you strengthen your technical knowledge and prepare effectively for exam day.
• New Sustainability Supplement: Starting in January 2026, PPI will release a full Sustainability Content Guide and supplemental materials that cover new topics like resilience, climate impacts, and life-cycle analysis–helping you get a head start on the revised exam format. 
• Flexible Prep Options: Whether you prefer self-paced study or guided learning, PPI offers flexible courses and materials that fit your schedule and learning style. 
  

For over 50 years, PPI has helped engineers reach their professional goals with trusted study resources, expert guidance, and proven learning tools. Start your journey toward PE licensure today with PPI’s PE Environmental exam prep solutions and take the next step in your engineering career.