The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Civil exam is undergoing significant changes, with a new format set to launch on April 1, 2024. This transition aims to refine the examination process by tailoring content more specifically to the discipline area chosen by the test-taker.
As the PE exam undergoes a shift towards a more discipline-focused approach, NSPE strives to keep its members—including PEs and aspiring PEs-- informed so that they may alter their preparation strategies accordingly. By leveraging resources tailored to the updated format and staying abreast of these changes, engineers can position themselves for success in navigating the evolving landscape of licensure examination.
Understanding the Shift
Previously, the PE exam consisted of a breadth segment covering general topics and a depth segment focused on specific discipline areas within civil engineering. The forthcoming modifications will see the breadth component either minimized or entirely removed, depending on the depth chosen by the test-taker. Instead, there will be five distinct exams, each dedicated to a single discipline area such as structural or geotechnical engineering.
“The [Civil] exam will no longer be a breadth and depth format, meaning there will no longer be a common breadth for all five disciplines of the civil exam,” the NCEES Chief Officer of Examinations, Jason J. Gamble, P.E., stated in a recent podcast interview. “Each of the five disciplines will be a depth exam all of its own.”
For example, there will now be a Civil: Construction exam, a Civil: Geotechnical exam, a Civil: Structural exam, a Civil: Transportation exam, and a Civil: Water Resources and Environmental exam.
Status of Other Exams for Other Disciplines
The Mechanical exam has already changed from a breadth and depth format to a discipline specific format. It remains a depth-only exam with three different depth exams. The Electrical and Computer Engineering exams are currently depth exams for all three different electrical exams.
Preparation Strategies
In response to these changes, review courses have been adjusted to align with the updated examination structure. Rather than offering broad presentations, courses now provide standalone modules, each closely aligned with the content specified by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for the respective depth exams.
Implications for Test-Takers
The changes mean that test-takers will not see as many questions on general content as in the past. Pass rates and test-taking volumes could see changes based on the scope of test-takers’ experience and their specific scope of practice.
Staying Current and Leveraging Resources
The PE exam has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the transition to computer-based testing in 2021. Despite these shifts, certain constants remain, such as the closed-book nature of the exam and reliance on the NCEES handbook for reference during testing.
Attaining licensure is an important step in every professional engineer's career. That's why NSPE assists licensure candidates in every way possible by evaluating a wide range of exam review and preparation courses in all media and putting them at your disposal, conveniently and economically. Find resources through NSPE’s Exam Review and Preparation page.
For further insights into the upcoming changes, including the full conversation with NCEES Chief Officer of Examinations, Jason Gamble, P.E., listen to the NCEES podcast on this exam update.