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PE Exam Knowledge Areas

The Professional Engineering exam is used to determine those candidates who are minimally competent for professional registration. "Minimum competence," as measured by the examination components of the licensing process, is the lowest level of knowledge at which a person can practice professional engineering in such a manner that will safeguard life, health and property and promote the public welfare.

PE EXAM SPECIFICATIONS

The examination presents problems that require a variety of approaches and methodologies, including design, analysis, application, and operations. Some problems may require knowledge of engineering economics.

The exam is comprised of all multiple-choice questions. Each question has one correct answer (the key) and three incorrect answers (distracters)-a total of four possible responses per question. There are a total of 80 questions on the exam, 40 questions are offered in the morning session and 40 questions are offered in the afternoon session. The knowledge areas specified below are examples of the kinds on the exam, but they are not exclusive or exhaustive categories.

The examination will include questions that are independent of the type of material and questions that are related to specific materials. The materials-specific questions will be distributed in the following three groups:

    1. Approximately 50% of the material-specific questions address ferrous materials, defined as stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel and alloyed steel.
    2. Approximately 30% of the material-specific questions address light and nonferrous materials, defined as titanium and titanium alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys, intermetallic alloys, precious metals, refractory alloys, superalloys and other nonferrous metals.
    3. The remaining 20% of the material-specific questions address ceramics, polymers, composites and electronic materials, including glasses, functional ceramics, engineering ceramics, elastomers, thermoset, thermoplastic, composites, silicon, and other semiconductor materials.
EXAM KNOWLEDGE AREAS
I. Foundation Topics

(33% of total exam)

Statistics (5% of exam)

1. Confidence intervals
2. Data analysis
3. Application to quality control
4. Process quality control

Physical/engineering sciences (11% of exam)

1. Physical chemistry
2. Phase equilibria
3. Thermodynamics
4. Heat transfer
5. Reaction kinetics

Mechanics of materials (5% of exam)

1. Statics
2. Dynamics

Process fundamentals (12% of exam)

1. Mass balances
2. Heat balances
3. Thermodynamics
4. Kinetics
5. Heat transfer
6. Electrochemistry
II. Structure and Properties
(30% of total exam)
 A. Structure/phase transformations (10% of exam)
1. Crystal structure
2. Phase diagrams
3. Solidification
4. Phase transformations
5. Diffusion
6. Chemistry
B. Mechanical properties of metals and materials (10% of exam)
1. State of stress
2. Strengthening mechanisms
3. Cold work and annealing
4. Elastic/plastic deformation
5. Fracture mechanics
6. Fatigue analysis and life prediction
7. High-temperature behavior (creep and stress-rupture)
8. Mechanical behavior of composites
C. Applications and specifications of metals and materials selection (10% of exam)
1. Mechanical performance
2. Chemical resistance
3. Thermal stability
4. Corrosion/environmental compatibility
5. Temperature/radiation or other environmental compatibilities
III. Processing
 (21% of total exam)

A. Heat treatments (7% of exam)

1. Ferrous alloys (e.g., hardenability, hardening, tempering)
2. Nonferrous alloys (e.g., annealing, precipitation hardening, age hardening)
3. Polymers, ceramics and glasses

B. Surface modification (5% of exam)

1. Diffusion treatment (e.g., carburization)
2. Coatings (e.g., thermal sprays, paints, vapor)
3. Thermal treatments (e.g., flame or induction hardening)

C. Forming and fabrication (9% of exam)

1. Joining (e.g., welding, brazing and soldering)
2. Casting (e.g., sand, die, investment)
3. Bulk forming (e.g., rolling, forging, extruding)
4. Powder processing (e.g., pressing, sintering)
5. Material removal processes (e.g., machining)

IV. Performance
(16% of total exam)

A. Material testing (8% of exam)

1. Mechanical testing (e.g., hardness, tensile, impact)
2. Mechanical testing (e.g., fatigue, fracture, toughness)
3. Nondestructive testing (NDT) (e.g., radiography, utlrasonic, penetrant)
4. Chemical analysis techniques (e.g., OES, EDS)
5. Metallography (microstructure/macrostructure)
6. Electron microscopy
7. X-ray diffraction application/analysis
8. Environmental test methods (e.g., corrosion testing)

B. Material Degradation (7% of exam)

1. Corrosion and wear mechanisms (e.g., crevice, galvanic, pitting)
2. High-temperature oxidation
3. Embrittlement (e.g., hydrogen, DBTT)

C. Waste process control and environmental impact (1% of exam)

1. Recycling and alternative materials to reduce and manage hazardous waste (e.g., Cr, Cd)

FOR MORE INFORMATION . . .

For more information visit the NCEES Principles and Practices Exam page, which provides such exam-related detail as scoring methodology and national pass rates.