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Related Pages
FE Reference Handbook
FS reference formulas (see errata)
Design standards
Exam scoring
Exam schedules
Exam registration
(go to ELS-EXAMREG.org)
Exam Formats

Summary — Below are the formats for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE), Fundamentals of Surveying (FS), Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE), and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exams:

FE
FS
PE Agricultural
PE Architectural
PE Chemical
PE Civil
PE Control Systems
PE Electrical and Computer: Computer
PE Electrical and Computer: Electrical and Electronics
PE Electrical and Computer: Power
PE Environmental
PE Fire Protection
PE Industrial
PE Mechanical
PE Metallurgical and Materials
PE Mining and Mineral Processing
PE Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
PE Nuclear
PE Petroleum
PE Structural I
PE Structural II
PS


Exam
Length Questions Units of measure
used
Open/closed book?
FE 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
180 multiple-choice
(120 for morning session, 60 for afternoon session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is closed-book; reference will be provided.
FS 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
170 multiple-choice
(85 per session)
USCS Exam is closed-book; reference (see errata) will be provided.
PE Agricultural
8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Architectural 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Chemical 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Civil 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)

Examinee takes a common breadth exam and chooses 1 depth exam (of 5 offered).
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Control Systems 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Electrical and Computer: Computer 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Electrical and Computer: Electrical and Electronics 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Electrical and Computer: Power 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Environmental 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
100 multiple-choice
(50 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Fire Protection 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Industrial 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Mechanical
8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)

Examinee takes a common breadth exam and chooses 1 depth exam (of 3 offered).
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Metallurgical and Materials
8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Mining and Mineral Processing 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple-choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Nuclear 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Petroleum 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple choice
(40 per session)
Both SI and USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Structural I 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
80 multiple choice
(40 per session)
USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PE Structural II 8 hours
(two 4-hour sessions)
8 essay questions offered (4 per session)

Examinee chooses 2 questions per session.
USCS Exam is open-book. Examinee must bring own copy of all relevant references in hard-copy format. Please check with your licensing board about any restrictions.
PS 6 hours
(4-hour morning session and 2-hour afternoon session)
100 multiple-choice
(67 for morning session, 33 for afternoon session)
USCS Exam is open-book, but check with your board about any restrictions.