NCEES Exam Registration: FE, PE, FS, and PS
You register and pay in your MyNCEES account. For U.S. licensure, your licensing board decides whether NCEES exam registration or its own application comes first—even the FE and PE paths can differ in the same state. (Guide, p. 2)
How to register and book your exam
- Check your board's path for your exam. Open the NCEES licensing board directory, or choose your state on NCEES's FE, PE, FS, or PS page. Some boards let you register directly. Others want their own application approved first. Eligibility is the board's call, not NCEES's. (Examinee Guide, p. 2)
- Sign in to MyNCEES with one account. Use your existing MyNCEES account, or create one if you've never had one. You're only allowed one account. Your first and last name must be in English and match the government-issued ID you'll bring on test day. (Guide, p. 2)
- Complete your profile, then pick the exact exam. Fill in and confirm any profile sections the account flags. Then choose the exam, the discipline (or PE Structural section), and the licensing board. A wrong pick later means canceling and paying again. (FE/FS registration FAQ; Guide, p. 4)
- Request accommodations now, if you need them. You must say so during registration. You can't add accommodations later. You'd have to cancel and register again. (NCEES accommodations)
- Pay NCEES. Select "Register for an exam," agree to the Examinee Guide rules, and pay by MasterCard, VISA, or American Express. Paying does not reserve a seat. (Guide, pp. 2–3)
- Wait for "NCEES Exam Ready to Schedule," then book with Pearson. That email means you're authorized. Sign in to MyNCEES, choose Schedule, and book at least one business day out. You're booked only when Pearson's email titled "Confirmation of Your Scheduled Exam" arrives. (Guide, pp. 4–5) For an accommodated exam, follow the scheduling instructions in your determination letter. (Pearson accommodation process)
NCEES exam fees
| Exam | NCEES fee per attempt (U.S. dollars) | When it's offered |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) | $225 | Year-round |
| Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) | $225 | Year-round |
| Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) | $375 | Year-round |
| Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE), all disciplines except PE Structural | $400 | Year-round or fixed dates, depending on the discipline (see the dates below) |
| PE Structural | $350 for each section: vertical breadth, lateral breadth, vertical depth, lateral depth | Breadth sections year-round; depth sections twice a year |
These amounts come from the NCEES Examinee Guide (May 2026), pp. 2–3. The Guide's fee table is labeled "Starting January 1, 2024." Some notes on the fees:
- You pay the full fee every time you register, including retakes.
- Your board may charge its own application fee on top.
- International candidates: if you're approved through a foreign entity, NCEES adds a nonrefundable $25 international scheduling fee.
- PE Structural adds up. All four sections total $1,400 in NCEES fees, if you need all four.
Fees checked October 5, 2026.
Board first or NCEES first?
These examples show three orders of operations. Your board's text on the NCEES exam page tells you which one applies to your exam and applicant category.
| Path | What you do | How the board's instructions usually read | Real examples (checked Oct. 5, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Register directly with NCEES | Register and pay in MyNCEES. No board application is needed before you test. | "does not require … an application or an additional fee prior to registering with NCEES" | New York FE: if you're enrolled in or graduated from a bachelor's-level EAC/ABET engineering or ETAC/ABET engineering-technology program (NYSED; NCEES New York instructions). Pennsylvania FE: if you graduated from, or completed two years of, an ABET-accredited engineering program (PA board). Washington, D.C. FE and FS (NCEES state selector). |
| 2. Board approval first, then NCEES | Apply to the board, wait for its approval, then register and pay NCEES. | "must first apply to the … board for approval" | New York PE: you get an eligibility letter by email with scheduling and payment instructions (NYSED). Pennsylvania PE, FS, and PS (PA board). D.C. PE and PS (D.C. board; NCEES state selector). |
| 3. NCEES first, then the board's administrator | Register with NCEES, then file the board's separate application. | "complete the NCEES exam registration process prior to submitting an application" | Puerto Rico: register with NCEES, then apply to Didaxis, the board's testing administrator (NCEES state selector; Didaxis engineering and surveying applications). |
Some notes on using the paths:
- Don't assume your FE path carries over to the PE. New York and Pennsylvania both let candidates in the qualifying ABET categories above register for the FE directly. Both require board approval before the PE.
- The direct path can come with conditions. Alabama's published NCEES instructions require a verified FE pass plus either an EAC/ABET BS engineering degree or written board approval for direct PE registration. Candidates also sign an attestation. (NCEES state selector, Alabama)
- The order matters for your money. If you pay NCEES before a required board approval, you can't schedule until the board acts. Meanwhile, your registration isn't doing anything for you.
- Check the current text, not old blocks. Some state panels on NCEES's exam pages still show old 2021 deadline text. Go by the current instructions, and confirm on your board's own site.
Do FE and FS candidates need transcripts to register?
Not for NCEES. Its FE/FS registration FAQ says transcripts and verified education aren't required to register. You'll see a "verify" button next to your education after your graduation date passes, but you don't have to use it to register. Education is usually verified later, when you apply for a license. (NCEES help)
That's NCEES's rule only. Your board can still want documents before you test. For example, New York requires Form 1FE, a $70 fee, and an education review from FE candidates outside its direct-registration categories. (NYSED)
PE candidates: check whether your FE pass needs verification
Some boards want your FE result verified in MyNCEES before you can register for the PE. On the MyNCEES dashboard, look for Exam Verification. Review Verified Exams. If your FE pass is missing, use Request Verification and send the request to the board under which you took and passed the FE—not automatically the board for your new PE registration. (NCEES state selector, Alabama instructions)
What changes with a foreign degree?
A foreign degree and an overseas test center are separate issues. Ask your chosen licensing board whether your education needs a credentials evaluation; do not assume the NCEES FE/FS transcript rule waives a board's education review. Testing abroad follows the international arrangements explained below. (NCEES international-professional instructions)
PE Structural or PE Civil: Structural?
These are different exams. Pick the one your board requires; the price difference isn't the deciding factor. NCEES itself notes that not all jurisdictions accept PE Structural as their PE exam, so check with your board before paying. (NCEES PE Structural page)
When can you schedule?
There is no single registration deadline for every exam and licensing board. Check your board's application deadline, your exam's testing dates, available seats, and your authorization expiry separately. (Pearson registration and scheduling; Guide, pp. 4–5)
The 12-month clock
Once you're approved to test (the "Ready to Schedule" email), you have 12 months to take the exam. If you neither test nor cancel your registration in that time, NCEES keeps your fee. (Guide, p. 4)
If your plans slip, cancel before the 12 months run out. A booked appointment also has its own cancellation cutoff; use the cancellation rules below, rather than waiting for your authorization to expire.
Year-round doesn't mean any day
Most NCEES exams run year-round at Pearson test centers. Seats are first-come, first-served, and you must book at least one business day ahead. (Guide, p. 5)
The table below lists the next published fixed dates for these PE exams as of October 5, 2026. The listed non-Structural disciplines run once a year; PE Structural depth sections run twice a year. Missing an annual administration can mean waiting until the following year. These are exam dates, not registration deadlines. (NCEES testing patterns; PE Structural testing opportunities)
| Date | PE exams offered that day |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Mining and Mineral Processing; Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering; Nuclear; Petroleum; Structural Lateral Depth |
| October 28, 2026 | Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Architectural Engineering; Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering; Industrial and Systems; Metallurgical and Materials; Structural Vertical Depth |
| April 13, 2027 | Fire Protection; Structural Lateral Depth |
| April 14, 2027 | Control Systems; Electrical and Computer: Electronics, Controls, and Communications; Structural Vertical Depth |
These dates come from the Examinee Guide, p. 16. The year-round exams are FE, FS, PS, PE Chemical, PE Civil (all), PE Electrical and Computer: Power, PE Environmental, PE Mechanical (all), and both PE Structural breadth sections.
Some notes on scheduling:
- PE Structural depth seats can be reserved up to a year ahead, once you're registered and board-approved. (PE Structural page)
- Testing in April 2027 or later? Check the exam specifications listed for your actual test date. NCEES has posted new PE Structural specifications that start April 2027. PE Civil also has updated design standards effective beginning April 2027. (PE Structural page; PE Civil specifications and design standards)
- PE Structural depth-area choice: You must choose the same depth area (buildings or bridges) for both the vertical and lateral components. The May 2026 Examinee Guide already requires this match. (Guide, p. 11)
Where you can test
NCEES exams are given only at Pearson test centers. There's no at-home option. You can test at any NCEES-approved center in the United States, its territories, or Canada; your test location doesn't change which board you registered under. If you were approved through an international entity other than Canada, you must test in that country. (Guide, p. 5; Pearson NCEES page)
Active-duty U.S. service members and their spouses stationed outside the United States, its territories, or Canada can request a military exception to test in their country of assignment. NCEES requires a new exception request for each exam registration. Other overseas candidates should use the relevant NCEES international arrangements.
Cancel, reschedule, or switch: what it costs
Changing your appointment (with Pearson) and canceling your registration (with NCEES) are separate actions. You only get your NCEES refund if you cancel the registration itself.
| You want to… | What to do in MyNCEES | Deadline | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move to a new date | Reschedule your appointment | At least 48 hours before your appointment | $50, paid to Pearson |
| Back out before booking a date | Cancel the registration while its status is "Unscheduled" | Within your 12 months | NCEES refunds your fee minus $50 |
| Back out after booking | First cancel the appointment, then cancel the registration | Cancel the appointment more than 48 hours ahead; cancel the registration before authorization expires | $50 to Pearson; NCEES then refunds your full exam registration fee (it waives its $50 fee) |
| Change discipline or board | Cancel the registration (cancel any appointment first), then register again | Before authorization expires; if booked, cancel the appointment more than 48 hours ahead first | Use the matching cancellation case above: NCEES deducts $50 if unbooked, or waives its deduction after a paid Pearson cancellation. Then pay the new full exam fee. |
Sources: NCEES help: rescheduling, cancellations, and refunds (updated Aug. 14, 2026); Guide, pp. 4–7.
Either standard cancellation route costs $50 net in NCEES/Pearson cancellation charges, as long as you act in time. The calculations below exclude separate board fees, any previously paid change fees, and the nonrefundable $25 international scheduling fee:
| Exam | Fee paid | Cancel before booking | Cancel after booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| FE or FS | $225 | Get $175 back → lose $50 | Pay Pearson $50, get $225 back → lose $50 |
| PS | $375 | Get $325 back → lose $50 | Pay $50, get $375 back → lose $50 |
| PE, except PE Structural | $400 | Get $350 back → lose $50 | Pay $50, get $400 back → lose $50 |
| PE Structural (per section) | $350 | Get $300 back → lose $50 | Pay $50, get $350 back → lose $50 |
NCEES says refunds go back to the card you paid with within 7–10 business days. (NCEES help)
Inside 48 hours, ordinary cancellation is not allowed. If something serious keeps you from testing on the day, you may be allowed a free reschedule or a full refund through the documented-emergency process. Qualifying reasons include:
- Illness or a medical emergency (yours, or an immediate family member's when they require your care)
- A death in the immediate family on the exam date or within the two days before it
- A disabling traffic accident involving you on the way to the test center
- A court appearance or jury duty
- Military duty
For this policy, immediate family means parents, siblings, a spouse, or children—not grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. The Guide specifies the required evidence: a police or insurance accident report; hospital or attending-physician documentation for a medical emergency; a qualifying obituary or funeral order of service naming you as a surviving immediate family member; a court document or jury summons; or documentation from your commanding officer. An at-home COVID test is not acceptable medical documentation.
Send NCEES documentation within 14 days of the missed appointment. Bad weather doesn't count if the test center is open. (NCEES help; Guide, pp. 6–7)
If the test center closes, Pearson cancels the appointment and tells you how to reschedule or cancel the registration. Follow that notice instead of treating the closure as your own missed appointment. (Guide, p. 7)
Accommodations
Request them during registration, or you'll have to cancel and register again. After you register, NCEES emails you next steps. Pearson then handles the request through its online request system, where you upload supporting documentation. (NCEES accommodations; Pearson NCEES accommodation process)
Three things to know about the timing:
- You can't book a seat until there's a decision. Your registration goes on hold until then.
- Pearson asks you to allow 10 business days for its review. That's a request for patience, not a guaranteed turnaround.
- If you're approved, your determination letter tells you how to schedule the accommodated exam.
Previously approved NCEES accommodations are generally valid for two years. If that approval has expired or you need different accommodations, submit a new request. (NCEES accommodations FAQ)
Paid but can't schedule? Fixes
| What's happening | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You paid, but no "Ready to Schedule" email | Required board authorization or an accommodation decision may still be pending | Check your board application. For accommodations, finish Pearson's request steps and wait for the determination. |
| You scheduled, but no Pearson confirmation email | Scheduling didn't finish | Sign in to MyNCEES and complete it. You're not booked without that email. |
| Registration stops at your profile | A required section still needs your review | Complete and confirm each section the account flags. |
| No dates for your discipline | It's a fixed-date exam, or nearby seats are full | Check the date table above, and look at other approved test centers. |
| The name on your confirmation doesn't match your ID | Your account name differs from your ID | Contact NCEES right away. A mismatch can mean you can't test and won't get a refund. |
| You picked the wrong discipline or board | — | Use the cancellation steps above, including canceling any booked appointment first, then register again. Applicable fees and deadlines still apply. |
| You needed accommodations but didn't ask | Accommodations must be requested at registration | Follow the cancellation deadlines and fees above, then register again and request accommodations this time. |
| Your PE registration asks for board approval or an FE record | Your board requires approval first, or your FE isn't verified | Complete the required board application, or request verification from the board under which you passed the FE through Request Verification in MyNCEES. |
| You can't get into an old MyNCEES account | — | Recover the existing login, or contact NCEES. Don't create a second account; you're only allowed one. |
Sources: Guide, pp. 2–6; NCEES accommodations; NCEES FE/FS FAQ; MyNCEES account recovery; NCEES Alabama exam-verification instructions.
After you're booked
- Retakes: You can attempt a given exam once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12 months. The windows are January–March, April–June, July–September, and October–December. Some boards are stricter. Fixed-date exams still follow their published testing dates. Each retake is a new registration at the full fee. (Guide, p. 5)
- Test-day ID: Bring one current, physical photo ID from an accepted category: a government-issued ID from the country where you are testing, an international travel passport in roman characters from your country of citizenship, or a U.S. military ID. It must include an expiration date, your name, date of birth, recognizable photo, and signature; a valid U.S. military ID without a signature is accepted. Your first and last names must match your appointment confirmation. Digital and student IDs aren't accepted. Arrive 30 minutes early. (Guide, pp. 8–9)
- Calculator: You can bring one NCEES-approved calculator into the testing room. Check the Calculator Policy on the NCEES exams page for your test year before bringing it. (Guide, p. 8)
- Results: Results are typically available 7–10 days after the exam; NCEES emails you instructions to view them in MyNCEES. PE Structural depth results take 10–13 weeks. (Guide, p. 14)
- Your license is a separate step. Passing the exam doesn't license you. You still have to complete your board's licensure process. (NCEES licensure requirements)
Coming in 2027: NCEES's new Public Land Survey System (PLSS) exam starts in fall 2027. It will be offered twice a year for $325, and only some states will require it. (NCEES PLSS page)
Who to contact
| Question | Contact |
|---|---|
| Eligibility, board applications | Your licensing board (directory) |
| Your account, registration, fees, results | NCEES: 800-250-3196, chat on ncees.org, or a message from your MyNCEES account (Guide contact details, p. 24) |
| Appointments, test centers, accommodations | Pearson: 888-866-8766, or Pearson's NCEES page |
Sources
- NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (direct PDF)
- NCEES help: CBT rescheduling, cancellations, and refunds (updated Aug. 14, 2026)
- NCEES help: FE and FS exam registration FAQs (updated June 17, 2024)
- NCEES reasonable accommodations
- Pearson: NCEES accommodation process
- Pearson: NCEES exams
- NCEES exam pages: PE Civil, FE, PE, PE Structural, FS, PS, PLSS, calculator policy
- NCEES member licensing board directory
- New York State Education Department: PE license requirements
- Pennsylvania board: application information
- D.C. Board of Professional Engineers: examination process
- Didaxis: Puerto Rico engineering and surveying board applications
- NCEES international-professional instructions
- NCEES military exceptions
- NCEES computer-based testing: year-round and single-day exams
- NCEES account recovery and existing-account FAQ
By Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. Last verified: October 5, 2026. We checked the fees, registration and scheduling steps, cancellation and refund rules, accommodation process, and exam dates against the NCEES and Pearson pages cited above. We checked the New York, Pennsylvania, and D.C. board instructions and the jurisdiction-specific registration instructions published by NCEES. Your own eligibility and available appointments depend on your board and your MyNCEES account. Board rules change, so confirm yours before you pay.
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. Exam and credential names identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners.