How to Register For the PE Exam?

To become a professional engineer in the US, acquiring a PE certification is necessary. It is the exam that succeeds the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE). 

There are many reasons why you should take the PE exam. The most obvious reason is that it will help you further your career and open up new opportunities for you. But there are other reasons as well, such as:

1. 1. It will give you a sense of accomplishment
2. It will show your employers that you are committed to your profession
3. It will give you a chance to network with other engineers
4. It will give you a chance to learn more about your field
5. And last but not least, it will look great on your resume!

So if you are an engineer who is looking to further your career, the PE exam is definitely something you should consider.

If you are interested in appearing for the PE exam, below is a detailed account of how to register for the PE exam.

Short on Time? | How to Register for the PE Exam

If you’re interested in taking the PE Exam to become a licensed professional engineer, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure that you’re eligible and prepared. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to register for the PE Exam:

1. You must have an NCEES® account. If you have not created one, now’s the time. Simply enter your primary email to create an account.
2. Next, navigate to the “Register for an exam” option. It should be located under the “Common Tasks” option.
3. Choose the test you are going for. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Chemical. Civil for example.
4. Choose the state in which you’ll take the test.
5. Read and agree to the acknowledgment terms.
6. Next, acknowledge the NCEES® attestation, which covers policies and regulations.
7. Specify if you are looking for accommodation.
8. Take a final look at your info before confirming.
9. Provide billing information, agree, and submit.

After you’re done, it is advised that you attempt practice exams as much as possible. You can check out our free PE exam to get a feel for the actual exam. Creating a PE study schedule will also help you maximize your preparation efforts before the exam day.

Steps To Register for PE Exam – [Detailed Steps]

Here are the five steps to register for the PE exam that you can follow:

Step 1: Sign up/into your NCEES® account

Create an NCEES® account if you haven’t already. The email address you use here will be associated with your account permanently, so make use of a workable and suitable email profile.

It’s also best if you can avoid work email addresses because, in the case of changing jobs, you might lose access to that email.

Step 2: Register for the exam

You will see the option of registering for an exam under the “Common Tasks” option.

Step 3: Choose your exam

In the left panel, you will have options like Dashboard, Exams, Exam Prep, and more. It will stay there all through the registration process, and the option “Exam Registration” is where you can select the kind of test you’re undertaking. Here’s an overview of each option you will see:

• FE: The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the key to becoming an Engineer in Training. Before you can take the PE exam, you must pass FE.
• PE: This is the option you are looking for here.
• SE: The Structural Engineering test is for engineers who have acquired a PE license and want some additional qualifications.
• As a final option, you will find Fundamentals of Surveying and Principles and Practice of Surveying.

You will also find a series of disciplines under each option. However, there will be cases where their exam details are not available. This is because the period of registration would be closed, and you would need to wait around some time. So, keep an eye on the registration dates so that you know exactly when to go for it.

Step 4: Exam board and requirements

After selecting your board, you will see a page where there will be a set of requirements detailed about the exam prompted by your state. In the case of Texas, there are certain rules to abide by. It largely depends on the state regulations, and you must acknowledge these terms before proceeding further.

It is highly recommended that you do not skip past this page and blindly acknowledge all terms because understanding them would be crucial going forward.

Step 5: Attestation of documents

So far, so good. This is one crucial step that you must not skip before proceeding further. Here’s a roundup of what you will need to do in the following steps further:

• Be sure about the correct spelling of your name. Make sure your legal name is fully written there. No nicknames, please.
• Acknowledge the electronic mode of payment.
• Agree that the information you are entering is true and validated.
• Confirm if you have read and fully understood the NCEES® Examinee Guidelines, which will be stated at the end of the line. If you have not opened those guidelines, it’s time to do so.
• Make sure that you acknowledge all policies associated with the NCEES® Examinee Guide and agree to your state’s regulations.
• Further, agree to the dispute-resolution policies in the same guide. It means that in case you encounter a problem on any step, it will be dealt with by a specific course of action that you must agree to.
• Finally, acknowledge that clearing this particular test would not ensure that you are a state-licensed Professional Engineer because you will still need to receive your license. To actually acquire that, you will need to fill out an application with your state. We have a guide on how to get a PE license. Maybe consider checking that out. 

Again, it is really important that you carefully go through all the detailed NCEES® Examinee Guide. It will prepare you for what to expect on the day of the test and what you are not entitled to do. If you fail to follow the rules in the guidelines, you may unfortunately not be able to appear in the test.

For example, there are instances where examinees show up with expired IDs. NCEES® would strictly go against it because that is a fundamental requirement and would ask anyone to leave. 

Step 6: Inform if you need accommodation

If you do not require any help with accommodation, you can proceed with the option: “I do not need any accommodations.” It is located at the top.

In case you are differently abled, you can seek accommodations as per the Americans with Disabilities Act. It should be noted that NCEES® highly encourages differently-abled candidates to seek accommodations. NCEES® is keen on building an inclusive community, which is why they highly stress it.

Then there is a section on examinees currently serving in the military. This is important for people who need to appear in the exam but are based internationally and serving their military term. For example, a military candidate based in Europe and registered in a US state can still take the test in their current location.

The final section is the “religious section,” where you can request accommodation terms according to your religious requirements. For example, if a sacred holiday clashes with your exam date, you can sort it out with them. NCEES® is also moving all exams to an electronic basis to ensure no candidate faces a problem.

Step 7: Double-check your information to avoid any hassle

This is a fairly simple process, where you ought to review the information you have filled in. Make sure you choose the right exam to appear in as well as the correct board and, if necessary, accommodation arrangements.

Step 8: Check your address, cart, financial options, checking out

Not many complicated steps are involved here. It is a simple and straightforward checkout page, but for your information, we will break down each step so that your registration is successful.

Let’s start with the right side of the page:

• On the top, you will find the cart, which will detail the exam you are undertaking as well as the cost. PE exams are currently priced at $375. 
• Next, you will find a box to enter a promo code. If you have any promo code for the NCEES® pe exam available, you can check its validity and avail a discount.

On the left side:

• Now you will find Order Information on the top which would contain the billing address and credit card details.

The next thing here to check are Financial Policies that are applicable to computer-based tests. The PE test in 2022 will be computer-based, so this information is all the more relevant to you than ever before. Here’s what you need to know:

When it comes to fee disputes, this is the standard “you’ll be penalized if your check bounces or there’s not enough money in your account” scenario. NCEES® may cancel your exam as a result of this, so be warned.

In the event that your exam is computer-based, you have the option of canceling up to 48 hours in advance and receiving a refund, minus $50 in administrative fees.

Since the computer-based examination for April 5 at 8 a.m. is already scheduled, you can cancel it for a partial refund at any time before 8 a.m. on April 3. Afterward, you will not be entitled to a refund.

CBT exam registration costs forfeiture – merely repeats the information above so that you don’t lose your money if you cancel within the 48-hour timeframe or don’t show up for your exam.

For CBT tests, rescheduling fees are only applicable if you reschedule less than 48 hours in advance. Therefore be aware of this information.

In states where taking the PE exam necessitates an authorization period of 12 months, this information is only relevant to individuals who live there. It simply states that you will not be refunded your money if you do not take the test within that time period.

Your registration is complete once you’ve submitted your payment information and agreed to our financial conditions, and clicked “Complete Order.”

Optional step: Check your state’s rules

You’ll stumble on a page called “NCEES® engineering exam registration.” This page only offers exam details and state regulations. Once you select your state and the test, you’ll be directed to a page that opens to a series of steps.

What Is the PE Application Approval Time?

The majority of the boards are slow to meet deadlines and have poor communication.

According to our colleagues who have applied in the last few months in New York, the current approval time is two weeks. It used to take a lot longer, but I believe the new online application has made it considerably faster. The actual approval time is generally a month or two, but it can take longer to gather references and any back-and-forth if the board doesn’t like something, for example. Some boards are extremely slow and only meet once a month, so if you aren’t authorized, you may have to wait another month for them to examine your application.

Conclusion

We hope you found this article on how to register for the PE exam helpful. If you want to register for the PE exam, make sure to follow the guidelines stated in this article. If you follow all the steps carefully, you’ll be able to successfully register. Once you’re done, you can continue preparing for the final test.

Wasim Asghar – P.E, P.ENG, M.ENG

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.

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