What is the Mechanical PE Exam?
The Principles and Practice of Engineering exam is the examination required for one to become a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States. It is the second exam required, coming after the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Upon passing the PE exam and meeting other eligibility requirements that vary by state, such as education and experience, an engineer can then become registered in their State to stamp and sign engineering drawings and calculations as a PE. The PE Exam is created and scored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). NCEES is a national non-profit organization composed of engineering and surveying licensing boards representing all states and U.S. territories. Learn More about the PE Exam.
How many sub-disciplines are there for the Mechanical PE Exam?
Three.
- HVAC and Refrigeration
- Thermal and Fluid Systems
- Machine Design and Materials
Which Mechanical PE Exam discipline is the easiest?
Based on the latest published pass rates from NCEES, all three disciplines are about the same, with approximately two thirds of first time exam takers passing, and just over half of second time exam takers passing. View Pass Rates.
What score do I need to pass the PE Exam?
The cut score varies from one test to the next and is not published by NCEES.
Which Mechanical PE Exam discipline should I take?
You should take the exam that is most relevant to your education, experience, and future work expectations. If any of these are in conflict, experience should be the primary driver.
What should I study for the Mechanical PE HVAC & Refrigeration Exam?
Refer to the Exam Specifications published by NCEES:
How exactly should I study for the Mechanical PE Exam?
Spend about 10 hours brushing up on the Fundamentals to re-establish your foundation, especially if you have been out of school for a while, then practice solving as many example problems as you can, carefully and gradually uncovering the nuances along the way.
How can I organize the study process so I don’t waste valuable time figuring out what to study?
Enroll in the Full Access Bundle and go in order:
- HVAC and Refrigeration Full Access Bundle
- Thermal and Fluids Systems Full Access Bundle
What other books do you recommend for the Mechanical PE Exam?
Even though you can’t bring it with you since the exam is closed-book, the Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual is a helpful learning aid. There is no need to purchase the 14th edition. A used copy of the 13th edition will suffice as an occasional study reference.
The NCEES Practice Exams books are useful for a trial run a few weeks before your exam, when you are nearing the end of the study process.
I am taking the Machine Design Exam, do you have any resources?
Not at this time, but I may create a program in the future. Click here to sign up for updates.
I need to pass the FE before taking the PE, do you have any resources for the FE?
Yes!
We have the course: 300 Practice Problems for the Mechanical FE Exam which will enable you to pass with confidence on the first try. Click here to watch free previews or enroll.
What if I am taking the PE Exam for Civil, Electrical, or other Engineering Discipline?
- For Electrical, reach out to Wasim Asghar of Study for FE.
- For Civil, reach out to Isaac Oakeson of Civil Engineering Academy.
When should I start studying for the Mechanical PE Exam?
I recommend starting 4-6 months before your exam date. Any less tends to be rushed, and when life or work inevitably gets in the way, there isn’t enough slack in the schedule to accommodate the delay. Candidates often end up taking the test before they are fully prepared, or pushing their exam back, which carries a cost. On the other hand, allowing much more than 6 months leads to a casual, unfocused approach to studying which doesn’t shift into high gear until the exam date is approaching. The danger of too much time is a false sense of confidence. 4-6 months is the ideal balance. Read more of my thoughts on this.
When is the Mechanical PE Exam?
As of April 2020 the Mechanical PE Exam has flexible scheduling because it is a computer-based test (CBT).
Where do I take the PE Exam?
What are the PE Exam education and professional requirements?
It depends on your state. Learn more here.
What tools will be provided for the CBT exam for drawing lines on the screen, such as using the psychrometric chart?
Why should I get my PE license?
Should I take a PE Exam course or study on my own?
If you are a highly motivated engineer with a detail-oriented learning style, you may not need a formal review course with live instruction. With the right program, you can get yourself well-prepared and pass on the first try. If your life is busy with work, family, and other commitments and you are looking to be more efficient, I’ve created on-demand review programs that bypass the conventional study models and cut to the chase with focused practice problems in clean modules organized by topic. In addition to solution PDFs, I’ve recorded a clear concise solution video, typically 5-10 minutes, walking you through every single problem. My goal is to give you a way to study on your own and be confident that the process is going to bring you to your ultimate goal – passing the PE Exam!
How can I pass the PE Exam without spending a lot of money?
You can check out my YouTube channel and all the Free Previews for my courses. If you really want to make your process more efficient, you can save 100+ hours by using the Full Access Bundle, which represents a savings of about $4,000 worth of time for the average engineer, and a lot less stress and frustration.
Is the content in the Full Access Bundle released according to a schedule?
All content is available to you immediately upon enrollment.
Are the examples in the Full Access Bundle similar to real exam problems?
Yes, most of the problems have been written to be as hard as exam problems or slightly harder. My goal is to challenge you, but not distract you or waste your time with hour-long problems. Every problem has at least one key insight embedded within it, and very often two or three.
Are the solutions in the Full Access Bundle based on the Computer Based Test (CBT)?
Yes, all problems are solved using the NCEES Mechanical Reference Handbook PDF. The companion Practice Problems book calls out specific search terms from the handbook to help you quickly find what you need.
I've been out of school for a long time. Is the Full Access Bundle right for me?
Yes! By covering the Fundamentals first, I give you the background and context you may have forgotten (or never fully grasped back in college) before we start solving example problems.
Are the PDFs in the practice modules downloadable?
Yes, for each of the main practice Modules, you get all the PDFs: Problem Set, Answer Key, Complete Solutions, Key Formulas, and Key Search Terms.
I've already purchased an individual course included in the Full Access Bundle, how can I upgrade?
Email me and I will give you a link with a credit for any course(s) you already purchased. My email address is Dan@MechanicalPEexamprep.com.
How long does the program access remain active?
The HVAC & Refrigeration Full Access Bundle and the Thermal and Fluid Systems Full Access Bundle both include Lifetime Access. You can take the courses at your own pace, and return to specific topics in the future if you need a refresher. I update the material periodically, and all future updates are also included.
Can I purchase individual courses?
Most of the courses are not offered individually. Topic-specific modules/chapters are exclusive components of the respective bundle. The reason for this is that for most candidates, what really matters is the final outcome: Passing the PE Exam! In my experience, cherry-picking topics tends to lead to partial understanding of key concepts, confusion, frustration, and disappointment with the exam results. The program is truly a comprehensive system and takes every measure to make sure you are fully prepared. The Fundamentals course is offered a la carte, since many candidates like to get the lay of the land and gain a sense of my teaching style before enrolling in the Full Access Bundle. The practice modules (which make up the main content of the program) are written specifically for the CBT exam and will help you find the key search terms quickly as you’re studying.
FAQs
How many questions do you need to get correct on PE exam? ›
However, for the PE Mechanical exam, it is generally believed that the cut score is around 70% (56 out of 80 multiple choice questions). If you fail the exam, you will receive a diagnostic report identifying areas of deficiency so you can improve and refocus for retaking the exam.
How to prepare for mechanical engineering PE exam? ›The best way to prepare for the PE exam is to work through as many practice problems as possible. You have an average of 6 minutes to complete each question, so speed is critical. The way to achieve the required speed is through consistent practice.
Is the mechanical PE exam difficult? ›Yes, most of the problems have been written to be as hard as exam problems or slightly harder.
How long should I study for Mechanical PE? ›We recommend that you study for approximately 100-120 hours. A solid study plan that worked for several of our engineers is to spend approximately one half day each Sunday studying for the three months leading up to the exam, and then study every day for a few hours the week before the exam.
Which PE test is the hardest? ›Which PE Exam is the Hardest? According to NCEES® stats, the structural depth and geotechnical exams are the hardest of civil PE exams. Only 64% and 55% of students managed to clear it in the first attempt. You will have to consistently prepare for the PE exam for 3 to 6 months to clear it, no matter which exam.
What percent of people pass the PE exam? ›| Exam | First-time takers | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Pass Rate | |
| PE Agricultural and Biological Engineering | 18 | 83% |
| PE Architectural Engineering | 115 | 58% |
| PE Chemical | 169 | 58% |
The rule of thumb is to invest 2-3 hours in your exam preparation daily. The approximate time frame for in-depth preparation and promising success comprises 200-300 hours. On average, students can easily pass the PE exam after studying for 3-4 months.
How many months should I study for PE exam? ›Caution: The tips below assume that you have already applied to take the PE exam and that you have sufficient time to prepare for it. We recommend at least three months of study time.
How many questions do I need to get right on the FE mechanical exam? ›NCEES generally does not provide a specific number of questions required to answer correctly for one to pass. However after doing the research and referring to different articles listed above it has been said that out of 110 problems, to pass, you will need to answer approximately 50 to 60 percent of them correctly.
Is the PE exam curved? ›The examiners take special measures to identify flawed questions before scoring takes place. They look for ambiguity, gender or ethnic bias, technical accuracy, and unusual statistics. The PE Exam is not graded 'on a curve' and so there is no set percentage of candidates who pass each time.
Is the PE much harder than Fe? ›
The FE exam is actually harder than the Professional Engineer (PE) exam, simply because it is much more broad. It's best to take it as close to graduation as you can, with all that schooling still fresh in your mind.
How many times can you fail the PE? ›As a general rule, PE Civil examinees are eligible to retake the PE Civil Exam once per testing window, and up to three times per year. Check your state board for additional state-specific retesting requirements.
Is 3 months enough to study for PE? ›The approximate time frame for in-depth preparation and promising success comprises 200-300 hours. On average, students can easily pass the PE exam after studying for 3-4 months.
How long does the average person study for PE? ›For individuals who are preparing for an NCEES exam such as the FE, PE, or SE exam, the average time spent preparing for an individual's chosen exam is 200-300 hours.
Is mechanical engineering hard for an average student? ›It mainly depends on your basics, if you like programming and debugging then you can choose CSE. Mechanical will be the easiest branch after CSE as we can answer the questions from seeing the drawings. For Mediocre Civil engineering is Easy. If you have previous knowledge about programming, CSE will be better.
Does it matter which mechanical PE exam I take? ›Whether you're a Civil Engineer or a Mechanical Engineer, choosing the right exam to take can make all the difference. And not all exams are created equal! Some have a wider range of topics, problems types and references that make them more difficult to prepare for and pass.
What percent of engineers have PE? ›Percentage of Engineers with a PE License
According to the National Society of Professional Engineers, an estimated 20% of engineers in the U.S. have their Professional Engineer license. The percentage is higher for structural, geotechnical and other sub-disciplines of Civil Engineering.
- Tip 1: Create a personalized three-month, week-by-week study schedule.
- Tip 2: Make a personal budget for test preparation materials.
- Tip 3: Simulate real tests on the last two to three of weeks leading up to the exam.
- Tip 4: Familiarize yourself with exam and center rules in advance.
Most PE exams, regardless of discipline, have pass rates between 60-70% for first-time takers, and then it plummets to about 30-40% for repeat takers.
How long does it take to get results from PE? ›Timeline: the results are released from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) between eight to 10 weeks after the exam date. However, this is when the results are received by the state's licensing board.
Is getting a PE hard? ›
CONCLUSION The exam is difficult, there's no question about that. You need to understand that it takes many weeks to prepare for this exam and in order for you to pass you have to study hard.
Which PE exam is the easiest? ›So there you have it. I think the water resources exam is the easiest depth exam and the structural depth exam is the hardest one for the civil PE exam. In the end, no matter what you take, you'll be locking yourself in your closet and hunkering down for 3 to 6 months. Give yourself plenty of time to get through.
Should I study the day before the PE? ›Don't study the day before your exam.
Put the books away and let your brain rest right before exam day. As mentioned, consider taking the day before the PE exam off of work if you can. Just relax, do a mindless activity, and eat some good food. Exam day is a long day, so the break beforehand is well worth it.
- Government-issued ID, valid passport, or military ID.
- Printed copy of your exam authorization.
- One calculator. Casio fx-115 and fx-991. HP 33s and HP 35s. ...
- Non-smart wristwatch.
- Glasses (but leave the case at home)
- Two straightedges. Ruler. ...
- Bound reference materials with no loose papers.
- Earplugs.
The examiners take special measures to identify flawed questions before scoring takes place. They look for ambiguity, gender or ethnic bias, technical accuracy, and unusual statistics. The PE Exam is not graded 'on a curve' and so there is no set percentage of candidates who pass each time.
What is a passing score on PE power exam? ›It is suggested that the average passing score for the PE exam is about 70%. It means you will need to correctly answer about 70% of the problems, that is roughly 56 out of 80 correct responses.
How many questions do you need to get right to pass the FE exam? ›NCEES generally does not provide a specific number of questions required to answer correctly for one to pass. However after doing the research and referring to different articles listed above it has been said that out of 110 problems, to pass, you will need to answer approximately 50 to 60 percent of them correctly.
What score do you need to pass PT exam? ›What is the passing score in PTE? The PTE exam does not have any minimum passing score. However, a score of 50-60 out of the total range of 10-90 is considered appropriate for any candidate.