PE Exam Day Guide: What to Bring & What to Expect

Passing the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, or PE exam, is required to become a Professional Engineer in the U.S. The PE exam is offered in 27 disciplines, and PE exam requirements vary by state. Understanding what to expect on PE exam day will reduce test anxiety and set you up for success. This PE exam day guide answers frequently asked questions and includes a checklist of what to bring to the PE exam, including ID requirements and what is not allowed in the testing room. We’ll also walk you through how you should spend your week leading up to PE exam day so you feel confident and prepared to pass the PE exam.

PE Exam Day FAQs

• When should I arrive for the PE exam? The NCEES recommends you arrive at the Pearson VUE test center 30 minutes before your scheduled test time. This gives you plenty of time to get situated before the exam.

• How long is the PE exam? Each PE exam is eight hours long. The PE exam is split into a morning and afternoon session each lasting four hours, containing a total of 80 questions.
  

• Is the PE exam hard? Passing the PE exam is a huge accomplishment, demonstrating your level of competence in a particular engineering discipline. The exam is also a test of endurance as you’ll need to be able to focus for eight hours in an exam room. PE exam pass rates tend to be higher for first time test-takers versus repeat test-takers, so we recommend waiting to take the exam until you feel prepared.
  

• Is the PE exam open-book? The PE Structural exam is the only remaining open-book exam; however, this will be changing in 2024 when the exam becomes computer-based. All other PE exams are closed-book, computer-based tests (CBTs).
  

• Do you get a break during the PE exam? Yes, there is a fifty-minute scheduled break that you will take in between the morning and afternoon session of each PE exam.

• Can you bring food and water to the PE exam? Food and beverages are not allowed in the testing room. However, be sure to pack water and a lunch or snack for the 50-minute break. Most test centers will have lockers or other storage to keep your personal effects in while you are taking the exam.
  

• How long does it take to get PE exam results? You will not receive your exam results the day of the PE exam. Typically, examinees can expect to receive the results of their licensing boards about 8-10 weeks after taking the PE exam.

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Preparing for the PE exam? Test your skills with a free sample quiz. Choose your discipline: PE Civil, PE Electrical, or PE Mechanical.

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What to Bring to the PE Exam

A quick list of things you need to bring on PE exam day include an ID, your appointment confirmation letter, and an NCEES-approved calculator. In addition to these required items, only certain personal items are allowed in the testing room while you are taking the PE exam. Refer to our detailed PE exam day checklist below for the complete list of what to bring.

PE Exam Day Checklist

You do not need to bring a lot to the PE exam, but there are a few things you are required to bring in order to take the exam, including:

• A physical, unexpired photo ID issued by a government entity in the country in which you are testing, OR an international travel passport from your country of citizenship, OR a U.S. military ID. Student IDs will NOT be accepted.

• Your appointment confirmation letter

• An NCEES-approved calculator:

• Hewlett Packard: HP 33s and HP 35s models, but no others.

• Casio: All fx-115 and fx-991 models. Any Casio calculator must contain fx-115 or fx-991 in its model name.

• Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models. Any Texas Instruments calculator must contain either TI-30X or TI-36X in its model name.

In addition to the list above, only certain personal items are allowed in the testing room while you take your PE exam, including:

• The key to your test center locker

• A reusable booklet and marker (supplied by Pearson VUE)

• Your eyeglasses (no case)

• A sweater or jacket

• Items listed in the Pearson VUE Comfort Aid List, such as earplugs and tissues.

• Medical aids, such as braces, hearing aids, and eye drops

Can you bring reference materials to the PE Exam?

If you are taking a computer-based PE exam, you cannot bring any reference materials into the testing room. Instead, the current version of the appropriate NCEES reference handbook will be supplied onscreen as a searchable PDF. If you are taking a paper-and-pencil PE exam, you can bring reference materials. These materials must be bound and remain that way throughout the exam. Writing tablets, legal pads, and stapled paper are not allowed. Refer to the NCEES Candidate Agreement to see the complete policy on PE exam reference materials.

What Not to Bring to the PE Exam

Generally, people bring too many things to the PE exam. Items not permitted in the PE exam testing room include (but are not limited to) cell phones, fitness trackers or other electronic devices, wallets, purses, food, and beverages. You can bring these items with you on exam day, just be aware that you will have to store them in a locker while you take your PE exam. Be sure to bring water and snacks to store for your 50-minute break halfway through the exam to stay hydrated and keep your energy up.

What to Do the Day Before the PE Exam

Take the day before the PE exam off from work to relax. Do not cram. A good night’s sleep is the best way to start the exam. If you live a considerable distance from the PE exam testing center, consider getting a hotel room so you don’t have to travel as far. Use the PE exam day checklist listed above to make sure you have everything you’ll need. Double-check that your exam kit is packed and ready to go. Calculate your wake-up time and set multiple alarms. Select and lay out your clothing items. Select and lay out your breakfast items. Make sure you have gas in your car and money in your wallet.

What to Do the Day of the PE Exam

Turn off any alarms on your phone and watch. Set your cell phone on silent mode before storing. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam starts. This will allow time for finding a convenient parking place, putting your belongings in storage (if applicable), making room and seating changes, and getting mentally focused for the 8-hour exam. Be prepared, though, to find that the exam room is not open or ready at the designated time. It’s always better to arrive early and wait than to arrive late and get locked out of the exam room!

What to Do During the PE Exam

All of the procedures typically associated with timed and proctored tests will be in effect when you take the PE exam. Listen carefully to everything the proctors say, but do not ask your proctors any engineering questions. Even if they are knowledgeable in engineering, they will not be permitted to answer your questions. 

You will be given the full four hours to answer questions. If you finish the exam early and there are still more than 30 minutes remaining, you will be permitted to leave the room. If you finish less than 30 minutes before the end of the exam, you may be required to remain until the end. This is done to be considerate of the people who are still working. Be prepared to stop working immediately when the proctors call time. Continuing to work for even a few seconds will completely invalidate your exam. 

Good luck on the PE exam!