Examination Information
Examinations - All applicants for licensure must take and pass three examinations - the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES), Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination and the Texas Ethics of Engineering examination. The FE and PE examinations are both 8-hour tests and are given twice a year at four locations in Texas (certain PE tests are given only once per year). The testing dates are scheduled for April and October. Texas residents and non-residents who are otherwise eligible for licensure may take the FE examination. The Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam is an open book examination concerning the Texas Engineering Practice Act and the Board Rules. You may either take the exam online or download the Ethics Exam from this website and complete it at your convenience. Click here to go to the Ethics Exam.
Both NCEES Exams are administered by ELSES staff for non-students at the following locations: Houston, Austin, Arlington/DFW (TBD) and El Paso.
FE Exams may be administered by these universities for their engineering students: University of Houston, Texas Tech University, University of TX @ Pan American, University of TX @ Arlington, University of TX @ Austin, Rice University, University of TX @ El Paso, LeTourneau University, Southern Methodist University, Trinity University, Texas A&M @ Kingsville, Baylor University, Texas A&M University and University of TX @ San Antonio.
NCEES Exam Types:
Group I Exams
Group II (Fall Only Exams)
Group II (Spring Only Exams)
Exam Locations
Non Student Sites
Student Sites
(the Houston, Austin, Ft. Worth, and El Paso Locations are COMBO Sites for students and non students)
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering examination is a supplied reference examination consisting of 120 one-point questions in the morning session and 60 two-point questions in the afternoon session. The morning session is common to all disciplines. The afternoon session is administered in five disciplines with a general engineering section for all remaining disciplines. Candidates will work all questions in the morning session as well as in the afternoon section they have chosen.
Principles and Practice of Engineering
The Principles and Practice of Engineering examination is a test offered in a specific discipline of engineering that is given at the end of your experience period. You will be granted permission to take the PE exam only after your application for licensure has been approved. You may test in any of the following disciplines:
Group I Exams
Group II (Fall Only Exams)
Group II (Spring Only Exams)
The examination formats and specifications may be viewed/printed from the NCEES web site at: http://www.ncees.org or telephone NCEES at 1-800-250-3196.
The board does not endorse any particular study courses or study materials for the FE or PE exams. Many Universities or Professional Societies or Associations have study information for the exams. (See our Links Page for more information.) Information concerning the examinations is also available from NCEES. (www.ncees.org)
Out of State Exam Proctoring
If you have applied for a license in Texas and have been approved to take the PE exam by the Texas board, but wish to take the exam in another state, use the following process:
For the April 2008 exam date the deadline for proctor arrangements is February 15, 2008.
There will be no exceptions and no accommodations will be made if requests are
received after that date.
ELSES Contact Information:
Website: http://www.els-examreg.org/
Address:
P.O. Box 1687 (280 Seneca Creek Road)
Clemson, SC 29633-1687 U.S.A.
Phone: (877) 536-7729 toll-free
Fax: (864) 654-6966
Special Accommodations
If you have a disability and require special accommodations in taking the examination, please contact ELSES.
Exam Waivers
The board has provisions for waivers of the FE and the PE exam. See the Exam Waivers page for more information.
Veterans Assistance
The Texas Board of Professional Engineers has been approved by the VA under the GI Bill for reimbursement of examination fees for the FE and PE exams. This approval allows veterans and other eligible persons to receive reimbursement for the cost of license examinations/tests from the VA. The effective date of approval is March 1, 2003.
This reimbursement is not from the state of Texas or the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. Please do not contact the board for information or reimbursement. The reimbursement information is available at http://www.gibill.va.gov/education/benefits.htm under "Licensing and Certification".
