United States · Licensing examTransportation PE exam topics
| Knowledge area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Traffic engineering (capacity, planning, safety) | 10‑15 |
| Horizontal design | 8‑12 |
| Vertical design | 8‑12 |
| Drainage | 8‑12 |
| Roadside and cross-section design | 7‑11 |
| Intersection geometry | 7‑11 |
| Project management | 6‑9 |
| Geotechnical and pavement | 6‑9 |
| Traffic signals | 5‑8 |
| Traffic control design | 5‑8 |
From the specifications effective April 2024.
What references does the transportation PE exam supply?
The design standards supplied include AASHTO’s Green Book (A Policy on Geometric Design, 7th edition, 2018), the Roadside Design Guide, the Highway Safety Manual, the pavement design guides and the pedestrian facilities guide, plus the Highway Capacity Manual (6th edition), the 2009 MUTCD and FHWA’s culvert design manual.
Changes for 2027
New Civil: Transportation specifications with updated standards apply from April 2027. Check which version covers your test date.
Sources: NCEES and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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