Home
>
Blog
>
PE Power Tips
>
Which Is the Easiest PE Exam?

Which Is the Easiest PE Exam?

Published: Feb 2, 2026

Wondering which is the easiest PE exam? Read this article to discover the PE exams with the highest and the lowest first-time taker passing rates and more.

So you have earned an engineering degree, cleared the FE Electrical exam, acquired the title of EIT, garnered four years of work experience, and are finally looking forward to taking the PE exam.

But this must be the very first thought that would have struck your mind:

Which PE exam should I take?

The answer is pretty simple.

Everyone would like to take the PE exam that they can pass on their first attempt to become professional engineers without wasting their time retaking the pe exam.

But which is the easiest PE exam to take?

Well, it heavily depends on your fascination with a specific subject, whether you will crush the exam in your first take or not. So, you will obviously have a firm grasp on your topic of interest, making it significantly easier to ace.

Plus, your work experience is also a key player here. For instance, if you have earned experience working as an electrical engineer, you will definitely have more knowledge about electrical systems than civil engineers. In that case, the PE power exam will be the easiest for you to pass.

However:

We must also not neglect an exam’s difficulty levels. There is no doubt that some PE exams are somewhat more challenging than the rest.

To find this out, we have to look at the passing percentages for different PE disciplines to determine which one is relatively easier to pass than the others.

So, here’s a table highlighting the PE exam pass rates for all of the disciplines. According to NCEES®, the passing ratios are as follows:

PE Exam (Updated Jan 2025)	Pass Rate (First-Time Takers)	Pass Rate (Repeat Takers)
Agricultural and Biological Engineering	81%	N/A
Architectural Engineering	58%	20%
Chemical	61%	20%
Civil: Construction	59%	40%
Civil: Geotechnical	63%	42%
Civil: Structural	58%	47%
Civil: Transportation	57%	39%
Civil: Water Resources and Environmental	70%	53%
Control Systems	58%	39%
Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering	67%	0%
Electronics, Controls, and Communications	72%	52%
PE Electrical and Computer: Power	57%	40%
Environmental	71%	51%
Fire Protection	78%	29%
Industrial and Systems	62%	39%
Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration	72%	59%
Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials	65%	49%
Mechanical: Thermal and Fluid Systems	74%	55%
Metallurgical and Materials	67%	33%
Mining and Mineral Processing	80%	45%
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	56%	71%
Nuclear	54%	0%
Petroleum	42%	33%

From the statistics in the table above, we can see that 81% of candidates passed the PE Agricultural and Biological Engineering exam on their first attempt. So as this PE exam disciplines have the highest pass rates, we can evaluate that this is the easiest PE exam to take and pass.

How Long Do I Need to Study for PE?

Although it differs from person to person, you should dedicate between 200-300 hours on average to prepare for the PE power examination if you commence studying three to four months before the exam.

For example, let’s say you start studying three months before the PE test and spend two hours each day, plus six hours on Saturdays and Sundays. In that case, you will need to devote 264 hours to studying for the PE exam.

Remember that these figures are just based on students’ personal experiences and are not always true.

Aligning Your PE Choice with Career Goals

Passing the PE exam is a significant hurdle, but consider the long-term impact of your chosen PE discipline on your career path. Here’s why looking beyond just exam difficulty matters:

Job Market Demand and Salary Potential:

Don’t solely focus on difficulty. Research job market trends in your area and identify disciplines with high demand for licensed PEs. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% job growth rate for environmental engineers between 2022 and 2032, translating to an estimated 99,400 new jobs in that decade. Choosing an exam aligned with a growing field can enhance your employment prospects and earning potential.

Personal Interests and Expertise

PE Exam difficulty shouldn’t be the sole decision factor. Consider your areas of engineering enthusiasm and expertise. If you excel in solving sustainability challenges, the Environmental PE exam might be fulfilling, even if it’s slightly more demanding. Aligning your PE discipline with your passions can increase career satisfaction and motivation.

Specialization and Career Advancement:

Some PE disciplines offer more opportunities for specialization than others. For instance, the Civil PE exam covers various sub-disciplines like structural or transportation engineering; if you have a specific engineering niche, research which PE exam best aligns with your desired specialization path for long-term career advancement.

By incorporating these considerations, you can move beyond a narrow focus on exam difficulty. Choosing a PE exam that aligns with your long-term career goals and personal interests can lead you to greater professional fulfillment and success as a licensed engineer.

Conclusion

It is good to consider statistics, but your interests should be your priority. Practically speaking, you should take the PE exam in a discipline you already practice regularly because you will be more conversant with the fundamental principles and won’t have to study much.

As the PE exam is entirely different each time, it is a matter of chance which examination might include simpler problems and which one might contain tough ones. Having said that, every PE examination is challenging and demands unwavering dedication and hard work.

We hope this article provided you with enough insight into the easiest PE exam to take so you can make an informed decision. If you are still on the fence about which PE exam you should take, we recommend you check out this detailed blog on Which PE Exam Should I Take for further insight.

Related Reading

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.