NCEES FE Civil Exam
At a glance
- Questions
- 110
- Time limit
- 5h 20m
- Exam fee
- $225
- Governing body
- National Council of Examiners for…
Quick answers
How much does the FE Civil exam cost?
The FE Civil exam fee is $225.
How many questions is the FE Civil exam?
The FE Civil exam has 110 questions with a time limit of 5 hours 20 minutes.
The FE Civil exam is the civil engineering discipline module of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It's typically taken by recent civil engineering graduates and current engineering students as the first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
Overview
The exam draws from fourteen content areas covering the core of civil engineering practice, each with its own share of the 110 total questions:
- Geotechnical Engineering — 10–15 questions
- Structural Engineering — 10–15 questions
- Water Resources and Environmental Engineering — 10–15 questions
- Transportation Engineering — 9–14 questions
- Construction Engineering — 8–12 questions
- Mathematics and Statistics — 8–12 questions
- Statics — 8–12 questions
- Mechanics of Materials — 7–11 questions
- Fluid Mechanics — 6–9 questions
- Surveying — 6–9 questions
- Engineering Economics — 5–8 questions
- Materials — 5–8 questions
- Dynamics — 4–6 questions
- Ethics and Professional Practice — 4–6 questions
These weightings come from the NCEES FE Civil exam specifications, effective beginning with the July 2020 examinations.
Cost and registration
NCEES charges a $225 exam fee, paid directly to NCEES during registration. Some state licensing boards apply additional fees on top of this, so it's worth checking your state board's fee schedule before you register.
Exam format
The FE Civil exam is a computer-based test administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. Your total appointment runs 6 hours and includes an 8-minute tutorial, a nondisclosure agreement, the exam itself, and a scheduled 25-minute break; the exam portion is 5 hours and 20 minutes covering all 110 questions.
It's a closed-book exam, but examinees are given access to an electronic reference during testing, and questions are presented in both the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System (USCS). Results are typically available within 7 to 10 business days, and NCEES allows one attempt per testing window with a cap of three attempts per 12-month period.
How the FE Civil practice bank covers the outline
61 practice questions across 10 outline areas.
Counts are the live question bank, grouped by the outline area each question was written to.
Verified facts about the FE Civil exam
6 statements, each bound to the official document it was taken from. The source link beside every line opens that document.
Requirements and rules
- Only Casio fx-115/fx-991, HP 33s/35s, and TI-30X/TI-36X models are acceptable for the 2026 exams
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- Approved calculator list is reviewed annually
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- Computer-based test (CBT), administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- Closed book with an electronic reference
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- One attempt per testing window; no more than 3 attempts per 12-month period
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
- SI and US Customary System (USCS)
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the FE Civil exam and how long is it?
The FE Civil exam includes 110 questions, and examinees are given a 6-hour appointment to complete it. Of that appointment, 5 hours and 20 minutes is the actual exam time; the rest covers the tutorial, nondisclosure agreement, and a scheduled break.
How much does the FE Civil exam cost?
NCEES charges a $225 exam fee, payable directly to NCEES when you register. Some states may add their own licensing board fees on top of that, so check your state board for any additional costs.
What format does the FE Civil exam use?
It's a computer-based test administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. The exam is closed book, but you're given access to an electronic reference during the test, and questions use both SI and US Customary System units.
Can I retake the FE Civil exam if I don't pass?
Yes, but NCEES limits you to one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.
When will I get my FE Civil exam results?
Exam results are typically available within 7 to 10 business days after you test. NCEES notifies you once your score report is ready.
What calculators am I allowed to bring to the FE Civil exam?
Only a short list of approved models is allowed, including the Casio fx-115/fx-991, HP 33s/35s, and TI-30X/TI-36X series for the 2026 exams. NCEES reviews and updates the approved calculator list annually, so double-check the current list before test day.
Sources
- 1.FE Exam | NCEES — National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 2.Exams | NCEES — National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 3.Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) CIVIL CBT Exam Specifications — National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
Official sources
The official documents our facts about this exam are taken from.
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) CIVIL CBT Exam SpecificationsNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)ncees.org
- FE Exam | NCEESNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)ncees.org
- Exams | NCEESNational Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)ncees.org
Last verified against National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying's official sources:
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