When do PE exam results come out, and how often can you retake it?

Computer-based PE exam results are typically available 7 to 10 days after you test, by email and in MyNCEES, as pass or fail. PE Structural depth results take longer, 10 to 13 weeks. If you fail, NCEES allows one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. Some licensing boards set stricter limits.

When do PE exam results come out?

NCEES sends that pass or fail notice by email and posts it in MyNCEES for computer-based exams. The Examinee Guide lists each PE Structural breadth section as 55 questions in 5 hours 30 minutes of exam time, and each depth section as 6 hours 20 minutes of exam time. If you sat a PE Civil exam, read the difference between the PE Civil exam and the PE Structural exam so you follow the result time for the exam you took.

NCEES does not publish the passing score, because it varies slightly with the difficulty of the form, and it sets no quota of examinees who should pass or fail. First-time and repeat takers are graded to the same standard.

What does the PE diagnostic report show?

Examinees who fail receive a diagnostic report by knowledge area. Each knowledge area shows a scaled score from 0 to 15, compared with the average of passing examinees, which places that area against the group that passed.

You cannot use the report to work out the passing score or the number of correct answers. Treat knowledge areas below the passing average as the ones to review first. Rates for other examinees, including people who repeated, are on the PE exam pass rate page.

How often can you retake the PE exam?

NCEES runs its year-round computer-based exams in four testing windows: January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. After you use a window, your next attempt must fall in a later window, and it still counts toward the three-attempt limit in any 12-month period.

Some boards set stricter limits than NCEES. Check your board’s attempt limit before you register, and review the PE exam cost when you budget that registration.

Since May 2, 2016, Texas EITs may take the PE exam before earning the four years of experience required for licensure. The Texas board calls this decoupling, and Texas EITs who have not tested before are approved automatically, though NCEES attempt limits still apply. See how much experience you need before the PE exam for the experience required for a license, and use PE license basics in Texas, California, Florida, and New York to reach the right board page.

What are the PE Civil repeat pass rates?

NCEES last updated these PE Civil pass rates in July 2026. In each discipline, the repeat pass rate is lower than the first-time pass rate.

Structural in this table is a PE Civil discipline, distinct from the standalone PE Structural exam discussed above.

How do you plan a PE retake?

Use the next window that still fits your attempt limits, and follow your board’s limit if it is stricter than NCEES. Register once that approval is in place.

Let the diagnostic report guide your study order. Focus more practice on knowledge areas with scaled scores below the passing average, while keeping up practice on the other knowledge areas as well. One way to structure the weeks before your next eligible window is the 12-week PE study plan, which is a study suggestion, not an NCEES rule.

Frequently asked questions

How long do PE exam results take?

Computer-based PE exam results are typically available 7 to 10 days after you test. NCEES notifies you by email and posts pass or fail in MyNCEES. PE Structural depth results take 10 to 13 weeks.

How many times can you take the PE exam?

NCEES allows one attempt at a given exam per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. Year-round testing uses four windows: January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. Some boards are stricter, so check the limit with your board before you register again.

Do repeat takers pass the PE exam?

Yes. First-time and repeat takers are graded to the same standard. In the PE Civil figures last updated in July 2026, repeat pass rates were 38% in Construction, 44% in Geotechnical, 43% in Structural, 43% in Transportation, and 49% in Water Resources and Environmental, each below the first-time rate for that discipline.

Can the diagnostic report tell you the passing score?

No. If you fail, you receive a scaled score from 0 to 15 for each knowledge area, compared with the average of passing examinees. You cannot use those scores to work out the passing score or the number of correct answers. NCEES does not publish the passing score, because it varies slightly with difficulty, and it sets no quota for who passes or fails.

Can you take the PE exam in Texas before you have four years of experience?

The Texas board says that since May 2, 2016, Texas EITs may take the PE exam before earning the four years of experience required for licensure. Texas EITs who have not taken a PE exam before are approved automatically. Confirm your eligibility with the Texas board if you have already tested or are unsure you qualify. NCEES attempt limits still apply.

Sources

1. NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2026.
2. NCEES: PE Civil exam. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
3. Texas board: Decoupling of PE exam and experience requirement. Retrieved October 3, 2026.