June 15, 2024
Now that you want to chart your voyage to professional engineering licensure, you’ll need to have all the requirements and checklists ready. It’s best to be prepared in advance to avoid any last-minute surprises – and delays – in your career plans.
When it comes to the professional engineer exam, you need to meet certain criteria and requirements for eligibility. Typically, it involves demographic requirements such as an age of 21 years and a lack of criminal record as well as passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.
However, there are certain requirements that differ by state. For example, certain states have an Experience Record Requirement and Residency Requirement while certain states don’t – and differences such as these are significant enough to make a difference on your career journey.
In this article, we’ll look at the PE exam requirements by state. We’ll make sure to go into detail about everything that we discuss today.
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It’s crucial to know your state requirements for the PE exam beforehand. Whether residency and experience are a requirement or not, can alter your eligibility status. Moreover, each state has its own ethics exam as well. What we’re trying to say is that a candidate must be fully aware of the PE exam requirements.
While we’ll definitely discuss the major differences in this article, you should definitely check out the linked website to different state boards below for complete detail.
Now that you know the respective state websites you should be taking a look at before preparing for the PE power exam, let’s walk over the entire process to be eligible for the PE Exam step by step.
To meet the mandatory eligibility criteria for appearing in the PE exam, you need to go through the following hierarchy of steps.
Let’s go through each of these crucial steps in further detail.
For the PE exam eligibility, you would need to have an accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering or related science from an EAC (Engineering Accreditation Commission) / ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) partnered institution. However, some states allow you to give the PE exam without any agreement if you meet the experience requirement – however, those can be stricter.
There are many reasons why you should pass the FE Exam. The most important reason is that it is required in order to become licensed as a professional engineer. In order to obtain your license, you must first pass the FE Exam. We have enough resources dedicated to the FE exam separately, which you can check out. The FE exam requirement can be waived off in case of additional work experience, more on that later.
Almost all states require a minimum of 4 years worth of experience in the following engineering capacity:
You’ll have to write and submit your Experience Record (ER) as well as obtain references from a licensed PE in your state. These transcripts will be sealed and sent to the board.
This is a step where you can’t really prepare or do much. There will be a background check on your records to ensure that you have not committed any criminal activity.
The exact application requirements may vary by state, but the typical application involves submitting your personal details, work experience, and other relevant paperwork. You may or may not need to take prior approval from your state to sit in the PE exam.
Apart from the 8-hour PE examination, the state may require you to take an ethics exam before it deems your candidature competent enough to be licensed.
Every state in the US restricts the PE exam candidates to fulfill different requirements but the general requirements for the P.E. exam as per NCEES® official website are as under:
You know by now that certain states require work experience for the NCEES® Exam. But what sort of work experience qualifies? The NCEES® PE exam is designed to test your competency. For this reason, only the engineering experience actually counts. Your graduate research, engineering teachings, and relevant military experience are a few examples.
Researching in an accredited school definitely counts if you worked in a lab. If you were teaching at the college level, some states give partial credit. And lastly, in the military, if you performed true engineering work – not a ‘combat engineer’, that experience would count as well.
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While the PE Exam cost differs state-wise, it generally costs about $375 to take the exam. However, if you want to know the exact fees for your discipline, follow the steps below:
Remember, the licensing board may require a separate application fee.
Earning your PE license is a significant accomplishment that unlocks professional opportunities. But the benefits can extend beyond the borders of a single state. PE license reciprocity allows you to practice engineering in other states without retaking the entire PE Exam. Here’s how reciprocity can empower your engineering career:
Imagine you’re a licensed Civil PE in California and considering a job opportunity in neighboring Nevada. Reciprocity simplifies the licensing process if the state requirements are sufficiently similar. Many states participate in compacts like the Council of Engineering Boards (CEB) Model Law, which standardizes qualifications and streamlines reciprocity for licensed engineers. This can expedite your transition to your new position.
For some engineering disciplines, projects may span multiple states. Holding licenses in relevant jurisdictions can be advantageous. While requirements vary, some states grant reciprocity based on your current PE license and documented engineering experience within their borders [3]. This allows you to contribute seamlessly to projects, regardless of location.
While a US PE license isn’t universally recognized, there’s still hope for international aspirations. Some countries have agreements with US licensing boards that facilitate the licensing process for foreign engineers. Research the specific requirements of the country you wish to work in to determine the path to obtaining an engineering license there.
Reciprocity adds an exciting dimension to your PE license. It represents a qualification in your home state and a potential passport to broader career horizons. By understanding reciprocity options, you can make informed decisions about your engineering future and pursue opportunities across geographic boundaries.
Not entirely. Some states allow and accept PE license from different states, but not all. Every license is valid only in the state where it is granted usually – this depends on the state itself. Usually, the registrations are conducted on the basis of discipline and state. If that is the case, then the engineering license is different as well.
If you gave the NCEES® PE exam in one state, you don’t have to retake it to be licensed in a different state. This is the short, easy answer, however, there are a few exceptions. You will have to retake the PE exam again for licensure if your PE exam was non-NCEES® accredited, in a different discipline, or your license was granted with some alternate examination method such as an interview.
Basically, if you gave the 6-hour long NCEES® PE exam, you don’t have to give it again in another state.
California PE exam requirements allow you to take the PE exam without passing the FE exam. Of course, it comes with its own conditions. Firstly, you should have around 12 years of work experience in the field of engineering which would be acceptable to the board. Secondly, of the 12 years, you should have spent 5 years “responsible in charge” of the engineering work. Thirdly, the prospective candidate should have not failed the FE exam in the past two years.
If you meet these criteria, all you have to do is file a waiver application to the State Board, which has its own procedure that you can find here.
No, The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) ensures the uniformity of the PE exams nationwide. The standardized and uniform nature of the PE exam is comprehensively implemented across all U.S. states and territories, showcasing a consistent benchmark for assessing the competence of professional and licensed engineers. However, the eligibility criteria may vary slightly depending on your state licensing board.
A clear plan is crucial if you’re serious about becoming a PE-licensed engineer. Ensure you know PE exam requirements by the state you will appear in the exam to avoid any last-minute surprises.
This is all you need to understand PE exam requirements by state. For tips and tricks or questions regarding PE exam preparation, stay connected with Study for FE – Your go-to platform for PE exam preparation.
Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas (PE), Florida (PE) and Ontario (P. Eng) with consulting experience in design, commissioning and plant engineering for clients in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure.
