Strategy for Passing the Civil P.E. Exam

Abstract

The Principles and Practice of Engineering examination is the final challenge in earning registration as a licensed professional engineer (P.E.). Many practicing engineers satisfy the education and work experience eligibility requirements, but do not take the exam for fear of failing. This paper presents a no‐nonsense strategy for passing the exam. The paper answers the essential questions: “How do I qualify to take the exam?”; “what is on the exam?”; “how is the exam scored?”; and “what do I need to do to pass?” The goal of the examinee should be to achieve the minimum passing score in the easiest way possible. Many candidates approach their studying and the exam itself with the idea that they should be able to respond to any conceivable problem. The present paper strongly recommends that candidates concentrate on only a few subjects in which they already have some experience or knowledge, and forget the rest.