FE Exam Calculator Policy: Approved Calculators for 2026
At North American test centers, the FE exam calculator policy for 2026 allows only the calculators below. Match the full model name printed on your calculator, not the name on the box.
| Brand | What the 2026 NCEES list allows |
|---|---|
| Casio | Models beginning with fx-115 or fx-991 |
| Hewlett-Packard | HP 33s and HP 35s only, no other HP models |
| Texas Instruments | Models beginning with TI-30X or TI-36X |
Source: NCEES's 2026 approved-calculator notice, p. 1. Some extra Casio models are allowed only at test centers outside North America; see Testing outside North America.
In the testing room: one approved calculator, without its cover. Spares and covers stay with your stored belongings. An on-screen TI-30XS is also available during the exam. (NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026, p. 8)
Is my calculator allowed?
Find your model below. Each verdict applies NCEES's published name rule to the model name as printed on the calculator. The list isn't a catalog of every allowed variant: any Casio or TI model whose model name begins with an approved prefix qualifies, and suffixes such as "PLUS," "Pro," "EX," or "CW" don't change that.
| Model name on the calculator | At North American test centers | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Casio fx-115ES PLUS (including 2nd edition) | Allowed | Has "fx-115" in the name |
| Casio fx-115MS | Allowed | Has "fx-115" in the name |
| Casio fx-991EX | Allowed | Has "fx-991" in the name |
| Casio fx-991CW | Allowed | Has "fx-991" in the name |
| Casio fx-991ES PLUS | Allowed | Has "fx-991" in the name |
| Casio fx-9910CW | Allowed | Begins with "fx-991" |
| TI-30XIIS | Allowed | Has "TI-30X" in the name |
| TI-30XS MultiView | Allowed | Has "TI-30X" in the name |
| TI-30Xa | Allowed | Has "TI-30X" in the name |
| TI-36X Pro | Allowed | Has "TI-36X" in the name |
| HP 33s | Allowed | Named on the list |
| HP 35s | Allowed | Named on the list |
| TI-34 MultiView | Not allowed | A TI model without "TI-30X" or "TI-36X" |
| TI-84 Plus CE | Not allowed | Not on the list |
| TI-89 Titanium | Not allowed | Not on the list |
| TI-Nspire CX II | Not allowed | Not on the list |
| Casio fx-300ES PLUS | Not allowed | A Casio model without "fx-115" or "fx-991" |
| Casio fx-570ES PLUS or fx-570EX | Not allowed in North America | Allowed only at test centers outside North America |
| Casio fx-9750GIII or fx-CG50 | Not allowed | Not on the list |
| HP 300s+ | Not allowed | Not the HP 33s or HP 35s |
| HP Prime G2 | Not allowed | Not the HP 33s or HP 35s |
| Sharp EL-W516X | Not allowed | Sharp isn't on the list |
All verdicts apply the 2026 NCEES list and its international additions. Test-center staff check the actual calculator you carry, so read the label on yours.
What doesn't count: being a "scientific" calculator, having an "exam mode," being approved for the SAT, ACT, or another testing program, or having its memory cleared. NCEES approves calculators by model name. The graphing models in the table are outside the approved list.
About the Casio fx-9910CW. Casio released it in the U.S. in 2025 as the second generation of the fx-991CW (Casio Education). Its model name begins with fx-991, so it qualifies under NCEES's published 2026 family rule.
Model name still unclear? Contact NCEES with the brand, the complete model name printed on the calculator, your exam year, and the country where you'll test.
What you can take into the testing room
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Approved calculator | One, without its cover |
| Spare calculators and covers | Stored with your personal belongings, outside the testing room |
| Calculator manual, notes, or books | Not allowed in the testing room |
| On-screen calculator | A TI-30XS is available during the exam. Using it is optional. |
| Scratch materials | Pearson supplies 2 reusable booklets and 3 markers. Your own pens and pencils aren't allowed. |
Sources: Examinee Guide, May 2026, pp. 8–9.
You don't have to own a calculator to test, since the on-screen TI-30XS is there for everyone.
If a disability means you need a calculator or other equipment that is not already permitted, request it as an accommodation. Request it when you register, before you schedule; items approved as accommodations are allowed in the room (Examinee Guide, pp. 3, 9, and 17). Our NCEES exam accommodations guide walks through the process.
If something goes wrong
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You're not sure your model qualifies | Read the model name printed on it and check the table above. If you still can't tell, contact NCEES or bring a model that clearly fits. |
| You get to the test center with an unapproved calculator | Put it with your stored belongings during admissions, before check-in. A Pearson representative confirms you're carrying only allowed items before you check in. If you store it before check-in and are admitted, you can use the on-screen TI-30XS. The guide has zero tolerance for unauthorized electronic devices found once the self-pat-down begins: you have to leave and you lose your exam fees. |
| You forgot your calculator | Use the on-screen TI-30XS. |
| Your calculator dies or acts up during the exam | Tell the proctor, then switch to the on-screen TI-30XS. Don't plan on swapping in a spare. |
| Your exam is in a new calendar year | Check the NCEES list again. It's set for each year. |
Sources: Examinee Guide, May 2026, pp. 9–10, 12–13.
Why you can't count on a spare: during an unscheduled break, you may access only food, drinks, feminine hygiene products, items on Pearson's comfort-aid list, and medication you need at a set time with the proctor's permission. The exam clock keeps running during those breaks (p. 12). The guide doesn't say whether you can get your spare during the scheduled break, which comes only after you submit about half of the questions.
Possessing a prohibited item is listed as an exam irregularity. Possible results include invalidated results, notice to your licensing board, lost fees, and limits on future testing (p. 13). The safe move is simple: if it isn't clearly on the list, leave it with your stored belongings.
Testing outside North America
NCEES's international FE instructions allow these additional Casio models at test centers and exam sites outside North America: names containing fx-912, fx-915, fx-993, fx-995, fx-570, fx-JP700, or fx-JP900. They're in addition to the standard list, and they don't apply at North American test centers. See the registration notes for your country on the NCEES FE exam page.
If you're approved to test through an international entity other than Canada, you take the exam in that country (Examinee Guide, p. 5). If you'll test at a site where it's unclear whether the North American list applies, ask NCEES before relying on an extra model.
Before exam day
- Read the model name on the calculator itself. Check the front or back label, not a store listing or a classmate's lookalike.
- Check the list for your exam year. The table above covers 2026. For a 2027 appointment, recheck the calculator policy on the NCEES exams page.
- Practice on the calculator you'll bring. Approved models range from basic to advanced scientific calculators, and features such as an equation solver, complex numbers, or matrices differ by model (TI feature comparison; TI-36X Pro guidebook). Learn the ones you'll use from the manual now; you can't bring it in. Since the on-screen TI-30XS is your fallback, work a few problems on a TI-30XS-type calculator too.
- Check power and pack smart. Make sure the battery or solar cell works. The cover and any spare stay with your stored belongings.
For practice problems to use your calculator on, plus a study plan and tips for the on-screen reference handbook, see our FE exam prep guide. Still need to book? Start with NCEES exam registration.
Does the calculator list change?
NCEES publishes approved lists for specific exam years. It added Casio fx-991 models for 2017 (NCEES announcement reproduced by California BPELSG, p. 8) and announced no changes for 2025 (NCEES notice, Nov. 2024, p. 2) or 2026 (NCEES notice, Oct. 2025). We did not find a 2027 calculator list in the NCEES pages and notices checked on October 7, 2026.
Quick answers
Does the same list apply to the PE and FS exams? Yes. The 2026 list covers all NCEES exams (2026 notice).
Can I bring two calculators? You can bring a spare to the test center, but only one goes into the testing room. The spare stays with your stored belongings.
Do I have to clear my calculator's memory? The 2026 calculator notice and the May 2026 Examinee Guide don't state a memory-clearing requirement. They approve calculators by model.
Sources and verification
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. Last verified: October 7, 2026. We checked the 2026 calculator list and the testing-room rules on that date.
We read the NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (PDF), pp. 3, 5, 8–10, 12–13, and 17–18; the international calculator note on the NCEES FE exam page; NCEES's calculator notices for 2025, p. 2 and 2026, p. 1; and the 2017 list announcement reproduced by California BPELSG, p. 8. The model verdicts apply NCEES's published name rule to model names. We didn't handle physical calculators or get individual approvals, and NCEES and test-center staff make the final call. If the guide changes, find the current one on the NCEES Examinee Guide page.
AI-assisted tools were used to develop and check this content. This is editorial source checking, not an official NCEES determination. Found an error? See our corrections page.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) or Pearson VUE. Exam, credential, and calculator names identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners.