United States · Licensing examConstruction PE exam topics
| Knowledge area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Design for support of construction loads | 10‑15 |
| Construction operations and methods | 9‑14 |
| Project planning and scheduling | 7‑11 |
| Material, production and execution quality control | 7‑11 |
| Structural mechanics | 7‑11 |
| Soil mechanics | 6‑9 |
| Estimating quantities and costs | 6‑9 |
| Site layout and development | 5‑8 |
| Material properties | 5‑8 |
| Hydraulics and hydrology | 4‑6 |
| Health and safety | 4‑6 |
From the specifications effective April 2024.
Standards supplied in the construction exam
Besides the PE Civil Reference Handbook, you get these on screen: ACI 347R and ACI SP-4 on formwork, the AISC Steel Construction Manual (15th edition), ASCE 37‑14 on loads during construction, the masonry wall bracing standard, PCA’s Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, MUTCD Part 6 on temporary traffic control, and OSHA’s 29 CFR Parts 1903 and 1926.
What’s different about the construction PE exam?
It’s the civil exam with the most on temporary works, cranes and scheduling, and the only one with a health and safety area built on OSHA construction rules. New specifications with updated standards apply from April 2027.
Sources: NCEES and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
Explore
Everything else, in one place
OverviewPractice testWhere to studyStudy plannerQuestions and timePassing scoreExam datesCostReference handbookCalculatorsResultsRequirementsPass ratesRegistrationTypes of PE exams
PE exams by discipline