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The Civil: Water Resources and Environmental PE exam

Civil: Water Resources and Environmental had the highest first-time pass rate of the five civil exams in NCEES’s July 2026 update, 71%. The water resources PE exam has 80 questions in 8 hours, year-round, for $400, across 12 areas from hydraulics and hydrology to drinking water and wastewater treatment.

How to register for the PEFree practice test

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

Water resources PE exam topics

Knowledge areaQuestions
Project sitework9‑14
Hydrology8‑12
Hydraulics: closed conduit7‑11
Hydraulics: open channel7‑11
Wastewater collection and treatment7‑11
Analysis and design6‑9
Drinking water distribution and treatment6‑9
Surface water and groundwater quality5‑8
Project planning4‑6
Materials4‑6
Groundwater and wells4‑6
Soil mechanics3‑5

From the specifications effective April 2024.

Standards supplied in the water resources exam

They include the Ten States Standards for water works (2018) and for wastewater facilities (2014), AASHTO pavement and pedestrian guides, and FHWA’s culvert design manual, along with the PE Civil Reference Handbook.

Water resources or the Environmental PE?

They’re different exams. Civil: Water Resources and Environmental is a civil exam heavy on hydraulics; PE Environmental is its own exam covering water, air, solid and hazardous waste, and site remediation.

PE Environmental →All five civil PE exams →Pass rates →
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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