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United States · Licensing exam

PE exam requirements: who can take the FE and PE

Each state board sets its own PE exam requirements, so there’s no single national rule. NCEES describes the usual path as an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree, the FE exam, four years of progressive experience and then the PE exam, and says many states offer other paths. Some boards now let you sit the PE before your experience is done.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

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

It depends on the board. Here’s how five boards handle it, from their own sites in October 2026:

BoardBefore the PE examExperience for the license
CaliforniaNo board approval; you apply after passing the PE24 months with an ABET EAC bachelor’s and the FE
TexasBoard approval first, unless you’re a Texas EIT4 years with an accredited degree
WashingtonNo board approval since July 20268 years, education counted toward it
FloridaNo board approval and no experience needed4 years with an engineering BS
MarylandBoard approves your exam application4 years with an EAC/ABET degree

Each state page has the details and the exceptions.

California →Texas →Washington →Florida →Maryland →

Who can take the FE exam?

NCEES designs the FE for students close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree and for recent graduates. Boards decide the rest. Texas, for example, lets undergraduates within two regular semesters of graduating from an approved program register, and Florida lets you apply straight to NCEES.

Can you take the PE exam without a degree?

In a few states, with a lot more experience. California’s flowchart allows a PE application with no engineering degree after the FE and 72 months of qualifying experience. Maryland’s experience route asks for 12 years, five in responsible charge, and since October 1, 2025 the FE too. Other states may not allow it at all.

How do you check your state’s PE exam requirements?

Look up your board in NCEES’s directory and read its licensing page before you register. NCEES says eligibility is your responsibility to check, and some boards make you apply and pay them before you can book.

NCEES: Member licensing board directory ↗
Sources: NCEES · California BPELSG · Texas TBPELS and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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