United States · Licensing examHow long does it take to get PE exam results?
| Exam | Results |
|---|---|
| FE | 7‑10 days |
| PE (every exam except Structural depth) | 7‑10 days |
| PE Structural breadth sections | 7‑10 days |
| PE Structural depth sections | 10‑13 weeks |
Structural depth takes longer because NCEES runs a standard-setting review first.
What do FE exam results show?
Pass or fail, with steps from your licensing board on what to do next. If you fail, you get a diagnostic report showing how you did in each major topic.
NCEES doesn’t hand-check answers on computer-based exams, and you can’t see your questions or answers afterwards.
After you pass
Passing doesn’t make you licensed. You still apply to your state board, and each board has its own steps. In Texas, the board says a PE number is usually assigned within a couple of business days of passing. Washington issues new licenses monthly.
If you don’t pass
You can register again and pay the full fee. NCEES allows one attempt per quarter and three in any 12 months, and some boards are stricter.
Sources: NCEES · Texas TBPELS · Washington BRPELS and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
- NCEES: Examinee Guide (May 2026) ↗
- NCEES: Exam scoring ↗
- Texas TBPELS: Licensing FAQs ↗
- Washington BRPELS: Professional engineer license exams ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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