Latest information on COVID-19 response

April 1, 2022
Face mask guidance for April 2022 PE Structural exam
Examinees and proctors will not be required to wear face masks while seated alone at their tables. However, masks must be worn at all other times. This is required at all exam sites including locations with no local or state face mask mandates. Face shields may not be used as a substitute for face masks but may be worn in addition to face masks. Face coverings must be removed for proper identification when instructed by a proctor. Proctors may visually inspect face coverings.

NCEES will not require a signed form or ask about an examinee’s health and well-being on exam day. However, people who are sick or suspect they are sick should not enter the exam site. Refer to the Centers for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance on exposure and quarantining.

Click here for more information about the April 2022 PE Structural exam administration.

November 22, 2021
Effective December 1, 2021, face masks will be required for all examinees at company-owned Pearson VUE test centers in the United States and U.S. territories per the requirements set forth in Executive Order 14042 and in compliance with CDC guidelines. For more information, visit the Pearson VUE coronavirus update page.

May 13, 2021
Face mask exemptions
Examinees who have been diagnosed with a condition that rises to the level of a disability that prevents the use of a face mask or covering may submit a request for accommodations and their supporting documentation for consideration.

As part of the registration process, you will have the opportunity to indicate your need for ADA exam accommodations. After registration is completed, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete and submit your request for accommodations.

Click here for additional information on ADA accommodations, documentation guidelines, and to learn how to complete and submit a request.

March 16, 2021
Pearson VUE test centers increasing capacity
As vaccines are distributed and cases of COVID-19 continue to decline, many state and local governments are easing operational and capacity restrictions, meaning Pearson VUE can increase the number of examinees allowed in testing rooms. If you attempted to register for a computer-based exam in the past and could not find an appointment that fit your schedule, we suggest that you check again in the coming days and weeks as more appointments become available. Visit the Pearson VUE coronavirus update page for the most current information on test center operations.

NCEES COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire
Examinees scheduled to test during the April pencil-and-paper exam administration are required to print and complete the NCEES COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire prior to arriving at the exam site. The completed questionnaire, along with your exam authorization and valid ID, are required for admittance to the exam site. All exam site locations will administer exams in accordance with NCEES COVID-19 exam site procedures. Examinees will be required to wear face masks at all times. Visit the April pencil-and-paper exam administration page for the most current information on the exam administration and COVID-19 exam site procedures.

Download the NCEES COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire

January 19, 2021
NCEES is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the April 2021 PE exam administration. All exam site locations are currently proceeding with reduced capacity restrictions in place. Changes to state and local requirements that further reduce capacities for groups and events may impact the number of examinees that are able to test at a specific site. Appointment cancellations may be necessary to comply with reduced capacity requirements. Impacted examinees will receive notification and rescheduling information via email from Pearson VUE. Visit the Pearson VUE coronavirus update page for the most current information on test center operations for computer-based PE exams. Visit the April 2021 exam administration updates page for the latest information on the pencil-and-paper PE exams and COVID-19 exam site procedures.

November 24, 2020
Pearson VUE test center operations
Many state and local governments are implementing operational and capacity restrictions in response to the current COVID-19 surge throughout the country. In many cases, these restrictions limit testing to essential services only. All NCEES exams are designated as essential and will continue to be administered as allowed in accordance with state and local requirements. Appointment cancellations may be necessary to comply with reduced capacity requirements. Impacted examinees will receive notification and rescheduling information via email from Pearson VUE. Visit the Pearson VUE coronavirus update page for the most current information on test center operations.

Regional pencil-and-paper exam administration for PE Civil examinees
NCEES is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the regional pencil-and-paper PE Civil exam administration, which is scheduled at select locations throughout the country on January 26, 2021. All exam site locations are currently proceeding in accordance with NCEES COVID-19 exam site procedures. Visit the regional exam update section of our website for the most current information on the exam administration and COVID-19 exam site procedures.

September 16, 2020
NCEES is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the October 2020 pencil-and-paper exam administration. All exam site locations are currently proceeding with reduced capacity restrictions in place. Changes to state and local requirements that further reduce capacities for groups and events may impact the number of examinees that are able to test at a specific site. NCEES will continue to monitor these changes between now and exam day. As noted during the exam registration process, any changes in capacity restrictions for an exam site may result in the cancellation of an examinee’s registration.

August 13, 2020
NCEES is aware that capacity restrictions are preventing many examinees from being able to register for the October exam administration. In order to accommodate as many examinees as safely as possible, NCEES has moved up the transition to computer-based testing for the PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam and will offer a regional pencil-and-paper exam administration in January for PE Civil examinees as described below.

PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam transition to computer-based testing (CBT)
NCEES has completed the transition to CBT for the PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam. The final pencil-and-paper version will not be administered as planned in October 2020. Registration is open for the CBT exam with appointments starting December 1, 2020. As is the case with most CBT exams, the PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam is offered year-round at approved Pearson VUE test centers and scores are typically available 7-10 days after taking the exam. This year-round format will allow examinees to have more control over their testing options and reduce the risk of being canceled due to capacity restrictions. The CBT exam specifications, which are the same as those for the pencil-and-paper exam, and additional exam information is available here.

Regional pencil-and-paper exam administration for PE Civil examinees
To accommodate as many pencil-and-paper examinees as safely as possible, NCEES has added a REGIONAL exam administration on January 26, 2021, for PE Civil examinees only. Currently registered PE Civil examinees who are concerned about the risk of cancellation for the October exam administration may cancel before registration closes on August 20, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. EDT and receive a full refund of their exam registration fee. After registration closes, only examinees who are canceled by NCEES will receive a refund.

Registration for the regional PE Civil exam administration will open November 1, 2020, and close December 14, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. EST. The exam will be administered in the cities listed below.* Additional cities may be added before registration opens. Examinees who are located outside of these states should check with their state licensing board prior to registering to determine their eligibility to test outside of their jurisdiction. Information will be posted at ncees.org as it is available.

Phoenix, AZ
Denver, CO
Groton, CT
Orlando, FL
Topeka, KS
Louisville, KY
Minneapolis, MN
Raleigh, NC
Las Vegas, NV
Cleveland, OH
Roseburg, OR
Houston, TX
Provo, UT
Puyallup, WA

*Exam sites are subject to change.

June 19, 2020
NCEES posts design standards for April 2021 exam administration
Due to the number of examinees impacted by the cancellation of the April 2020 pencil-and-paper exam administration, and for those who may have health concerns about taking the October 2020 exam, NCEES is providing advance notice of the design standards and specifications that will be used for the PE Civil, PE Structural, and PE Architectural Engineering exams during the April 2021 exam administration. The design standards and specifications for the October 2020 exam administration will remain in effect with no changes for the April 2021 exams.

May 15, 2020
Pearson VUE opens temporary test centers to increase capacity
Pearson VUE is opening several temporary test centers throughout the country to address backlogged testing demand and limited appointment capacity. These temporary test centers will appear as available scheduling options for NCEES examinees when space is available. As a reminder, capacity has been reduced at all test centers to comply with social distancing requirements. Examinees impacted by reduced capacity requirements will receive a notification email from Pearson VUE. In most cases, test centers will require examinees to provide their own face mask for admittance. Examinees are encouraged to confirm specific requirements for their testing location in advance of their appointment. Log in to MyNCEES to check the status of an appointment and test center location.

2020 NCEES Annual Meeting
Due to conditions created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NCEES will be unable to conduct its traditional in-person annual meeting August 26-29 in Chicago. Plans are currently in development to conduct a virtual business session to address essential Council business and elections. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

April 30, 2020
Pearson VUE test centers begin to reopen
Test delivery to a subset of Pearson VUE test centers will resume on May 1. Test centers must operate in compliance with local guidelines and restrictions. Due to varying state restrictions, examinees should verify test center requirements before arriving. In most cases, test centers will require examinees to provide their own face mask for admittance. Additional information is available at https://home.pearsonvue.com/essential-services-faqs.

Capacity at test centers
Capacity has been reduced at all test centers to comply with social distancing requirements. Examinees impacted by the implementation of reduced capacity requirements have been contacted by Pearson VUE. Examinees are strongly encouraged to log in to MyNCEES to check the status of their appointment and test center location.
Appointments are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Examinees who need to schedule or reschedule an appointment should do so as soon as possible through their MyNCEES account for the best availability. Only open test centers will appear in your search.

April 14, 2020
October 2020 exam administration updates
The cancelation of the April 2020 paper-and-pencil exam administration impacted approximately 16,000 examinees. To accommodate these examinees, the format of the October 2020 exam administration will be modified. Information about the October 2020 exam administration can be found here.

April 7, 2020
Pearson VUE Professional Test Center closures extended through April 30, 2020
Pearson VUE professional test centers in the United States and Canada will remain closed through April 30. On-campus Pearson VUE select test centers are subject to closure at the school’s direction. Examinees scheduled to test at an on-campus test center on or before April 30 should contact the center directly to confirm its status.
All examinees impacted by the closure of a Pearson VUE test center are eligible to reschedule their exam at no charge. NCEES has emailed impacted examinees.

March 25, 2020
The 2020 NCEES Engineering Education Award and Surveying Education Award competitions have been canceled due to the significant impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on colleges and universities.

Engineering and surveying programs planning to submit entries for the 2020 competitions are encouraged to hold them for 2021. Competition details for 2021 will be available in October.

NCEES Engineering Education Award

NCEES Surveying Education Award

March 19, 2020
Exam reschedule fees waived for examinees impacted by Pearson VUE test center closures
NCEES examinees impacted by the current Pearson VUE test center closures are now able to reschedule their exam without paying a reschedule fee. To reschedule, log in to MyNCEES and select MANAGE MY APPOINTMENT.

Closure information for on-campus Pearson VUE select test center locations
Pearson VUE select test centers located on college or university campuses are owned and operated by the school and subject to closure at the school’s direction. Examinees scheduled to test at an on-campus test center March 16 – April 17 should contact the center directly to confirm if it is open. NCEES has emailed potentially impacted examinees with additional information.

March 17, 2019
The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to have a significant impact on NCEES programs and services. Please see below for the most recent information.

Pearson VUE Professional Test Centers close in the United States and Canada
Pearson VUE professional test centers in the United States and Canada are now closed and will remain closed until April 16 or whenever conditions are deemed safe to reopen.
Pearson VUE has notified impacted examinees. NCEES is working with Pearson VUE to allow these examinees to reschedule an exam appointment at no charge. Once these details are confirmed, NCEES will send more information to impacted examinees via email.

Changes in NCEES Operations
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, NCEES offices will close in an effort to help contain and slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Operations will continue with staff working remotely. During this time, customers and examinees should contact NCEES through the website chat feature or via email at [email protected].

March 13, 2020
NCEES has been monitoring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its potential impact on our programs and services for several weeks. With a pandemic officially declared for COVID-19, NCEES is taking the following actions to help contain and slow the spread of the virus.

The April 2020 paper-and-pencil exam administration is canceled.
- Examinees who are registered to take an exam during this administration will receive an automatic full refund of fees paid to NCEES.
- Exams offered only once a year during the April 2020 administration will be offered during the October 2020 administration.
- Registration dates for the October 2020 exam administration will be announced soon.
- Additional information will be emailed directly to affected examinees.
All NCEES meetings scheduled to take place between March 15 and May 2 are canceled.
- Meetings scheduled to begin after May 2 will be reassessed as we learn more.
- Meeting attendees will receive an email with additional information specific to their meeting. The email will include instructions on canceling travel arrangements and if the meeting will be rescheduled.

The decision to cancel the April 2020 exam administration and upcoming meetings was not made lightly. These actions support the NCEES vision and mission to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public. While we strive to achieve this every day through the programs and services we provide to the engineering and surveying professions, this decision should serve as a reminder that safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public is at the heart of everything we do.

CBT examinees
Computer-based testing (CBT) examinees who wish to reschedule an existing appointment should contact Pearson VUE to request a waiver of the reschedule fee. CBT examinees should also contact Pearson VUE with questions about a specific test center.

Additional information
Additional updates will be provided as needed. For the latest information on impacted areas, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
News release (PDF): NCEES responds to COVID-19 pandemic

March 10, 2020
NCEES continues to monitor the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its potential impact on our programs and services. After careful consideration, we have made the following decisions related to the upcoming pencil-and-paper exam administration.

The following sites will NOT administer the April 2020 exams as scheduled: Emirate of Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Seoul, and Tokyo. Examinees scheduled to take the exam at one of these sites received a cancelation notice and information on actions they need to take through their MyNCEES account. Affected examinees can message NCEES through their MyNCEES account with specific questions.
All other exam site locations are proceeding as scheduled at this time. NCEES is constantly reviewing this issue and will notify examinees directly through their MyNCEES account if changes are made to their exam site. Information will also be posted on our website.
Information on how an examinee’s site location is preparing for and handling COVID-19 will be included in the individual’s exam authorization, which is sent to examinees approximately two weeks prior to the exam administration.
As a precaution, an exception has been made for the April 2020 exam administration to allow examinees to bring the following items into the exam room:
- Hand sanitizer and wipes (must be kept on the floor during the exam)
- Medical/surgical face masks (must be worn or placed on the floor; proctors must visually inspect the mask; mask must be removed for ID verification)

CBT exams
Computer-based testing (CBT) examinees should continue to contact Pearson VUE with questions about a specific test center.

Additional information
Additional updates will be provided as needed. For the latest information on impacted areas, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

March 3, 2020
NCEES is monitoring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At this time, all NCEES meetings, computer-based exam appointments, and paper-and-pencil exam administrations are proceeding as scheduled. Examinees with specific concerns can message NCEES through their MyNCEES account. Computer-based testing (CBT) examinees should contact Pearson VUE if they have questions about a particular test center.

Updates will be provided as needed. For the latest information on impacted areas, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.