First-time pass rate for the PE Power exam (2025)
That means nearly 4 in 10 engineers who sit for the PE Electrical & Computer: Power exam do not pass on their first attempt. The application process you choose — and how you execute it — is the first filter. Let's make sure you get through it correctly.
Source: NCEES Annual Report / PE Power Pass Rate Data, 2024–2025The PE Electrical & Computer: Power license is the highest standard of professional credentialing available to power engineers in the United States. It gives you the legal authority to sign and seal engineering drawings, open your own consulting firm, and represent yourself as a licensed Professional Engineer — a title that carries legal weight in every state. But before any of that, you have to apply. And applying incorrectly costs candidates months.
This guide walks you through every step of the 2025 application process — from confirming your eligibility and setting up your NCEES account, to documenting your experience record, securing your references, and scheduling your exam. Whether you are a U.S.-based engineer or an international candidate, this is the roadmap you need.
In This Guide
What is the PE Electrical & Computer: Power Exam?
The PE Power exam is administered by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It is the standardised licensing exam used by every U.S. state and territory. It is a 9-hour, 80-question computer-based test (CBT) covering power engineering across 9 domains. The exam is closed book but provides searchable electronic versions of six reference standards — including the NEC, NFPA 70E, and ANSI C2.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Computer-Based Testing (CBT) at Pearson VUE |
| Duration | 9 hours (includes tutorial + optional break) |
| Questions | 80 questions — all required, no optional sections |
| Reference Material | 6 searchable electronic standards provided (NEC, NFPA 70E, ANSI C2, and others) |
| Exam Fee | $400 (NCEES) — paid after board approval |
| Credentials Evaluation Fee | $400 (international engineers, one-time) |
| Updated Specifications | October 2025 — added IBR, BESS, grid-forming inverters |
| First-Time Pass Rate (2025) | ~61% |
The exam covers 9 domains or knowledge areas. Understanding the domain structure helps you target the right preparation from day one:
Measurement & Instrumentation
6–9 questionsGeneral Applications
8–12 questionsElectrical Safety
10–15 questionsCircuit Analysis
10–15 questionsPower Devices & Electronics
5–8 questionsRotating Machines & EM Devices
8–12 questionsTransmission & Distribution
8–12 questionsProtection
8–12 questionsPower System Analysis
8–12 questionsStep 1 — Confirm Your Eligibility
If you taken the FE exam or have previously established your account on NCEES, then you would use the same account to register your PE exam. However, if you do not have an NCEES account, then before you open MyNCEES or contact a state board, confirm that you meet the four core eligibility requirements. Applying before you are ready is one of the most common — and most costly — mistakes engineers make. State boards return incomplete applications, and every delay costs you a testing window. Below is a brief core eligibility requirements.
Qualifying Engineering Degree
An EAC/ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in engineering is the standard. International engineers must have credentials evaluated by NCEES.
FE Exam / EIT Designation
You must hold the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI) designation before you can sit for the PE exam in most states. For me, I took the PE exam before applying for my EIT designation. Check with your state Board.
4 Years Progressive Experience
Most states require four years of qualifying engineering work under a licensed PE. Some allow a one-year reduction with a master's degree or 2 years reduction for a PhD degree holder.
PE Power Exam
The final requirement. Passing the 80-question CBT exam earns you eligibility for state licensure as a Professional Engineer. Know that passing is part of the process and doesn't immediately give you the PE license. I would provide more details in other sections to come.
Pre-Approval States vs. Direct Application States
Not all states process PE applications the same way. This distinction determines how and when you register with NCEES — and getting this wrong is a common source of delays.
| State | Type | Notable Notes | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Direct | Strong experience documentation standards; large engineering sector | International-friendly |
| Illinois | Direct | Straightforward; no state-specific exam | Reliable for intl. applicants |
| New Jersey | Direct | 48 PDHs per 2-year renewal; good processing times | Smooth for intl. applicants |
| Florida | Direct | Florida-specific ethics exam required; 18 PDHs biennial | Straightforward process |
| Ohio | Direct | 30 PDHs per 2-year cycle; reasonable processing | Standard documentation |
| California | Pre-Approval | Board reviews education & experience before exam; can be slower | Non-ABET assessed directly by CA Board |
| New York | Pre-Approval | Pre-application reviewed; all references required before approval | Detailed documentation required |
| Washington | Pre-Approval | Strong emphasis on experience documentation; start application early | Slower processing |
Step 2 — Update Your MyNCEES Account
Everything in the PE licensure process flows through your MyNCEES account at NCEES. This is where you pay your exam fee, access your NCEES Record, and — in direct application states — register to sit for the PE exam. Create your account as early as possible if you do not have one, even if you are still building your experience record.
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01
Go to ncees.org and create a free MyNCEES account
This step is only applicable to those who do not have an accoun yet with the NCEES. Use a permanent personal email address — not a work or university address you may lose access to. This account follows you through your entire licensure career.
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02
Start building your NCEES Record
The NCEES Record is a portable professional record that stores your education, experience, and exam history. It can be submitted to multiple state boards without re-submitting individual documents each time. Start documenting now — do not wait.
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03
International engineers: submit for Credentials Evaluation ($400)
If your degree is from outside the U.S. and is not from an ABET-accredited program, you need NCEES Credentials Evaluation. This takes 6–10 weeks. Submit at ncees.org/credentials-evaluations. Do this before contacting any state board.
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04
Contact your chosen state board and request an application
In pre-approval states, this happens before NCEES registration. In direct states, you apply to NCEES for the exam first. Download your state board's PE application form and read all instructions before submitting anything. Most states have moved on to online application and no more paper or form filing. This is far easier.
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05
Pay the $400 NCEES exam fee after board approval
The NCEES PE exam fee is $400 (updated as of 2024). In direct application states, you pay this to register for the exam. International candidates also pay a non-refundable $25 international scheduling fee.
Step 3 — Document Your Experience Record
This step should be the most easiest but it is not. Of all the steps in the PE application process, the experience record is the one most engineers handle worst. I tis not because the work they have done is not qualifying, it almost always is, however, because they experience it poorly documented. A vague, poorly structured experience record can trigger a request for additional information from a state board, delaying your application by 3–6 months.
When I was putting together my own experience record, I learned quickly that state boards are not just checking that you logged 4 years of time — they are looking for evidence of progressive engineering judgment. The way you describe your work is as important as the work itself. One poorly written experience entry nearly flagged my application. You would always be given the chance to correct any flagged or mistakes but it better to get it at once. Write your entries like a licensed PE is going to read them carefully — because they are.
Remember, this step shouldn't hold you from registering your PE exam. In fact, I wrote my exam before completing the work experience write up.
The 6-Element Experience Entry Framework
It would be great if every experience entry you submit covers these six elements. State boards generally look for them or impactful keywords. Leave one out and you invite follow-up questions.
What Every Entry Must Include
Project or Work Description
What was the project? What was its scope, scale, and purpose? Name the client, system type, or facility if possible.
Scope of Engineering Responsibility
What engineering functions did you perform? What decisions did you make independently? What required your specific judgment?
Technical Content
What types of systems, codes, or standards were involved? Name them specifically — "designed protective relay coordination per IEEE C37.113" is far stronger than "worked on protection systems."
Outcome or Deliverable
What was produced? A protection study, a substation design package, a load flow analysis, a set of construction drawings? Be specific.
Level of Supervision
How much independent judgment did you exercise? Who reviewed your work and at what stage? "Reviewed by senior PE before submission" is more credible than nothing.
PE Reference
Who supervised or can verify this work? Provide name, license number, and state. This person may be contacted by the board — make sure they know to expect it.
Example: Weak vs. Strong Entry: What the Difference Looks Like
Worked on electrical design projects at XYZ Engineering for two years. Assisted with power system analysis and helped design substations.
Led protection coordination studies for a 138/34.5 kV collector substation serving a 150 MW solar photovoltaic power plant facility. Modeled fault currents in a short circuit study using ETAP software, selected relay settings per IEEE C37.113, and produced final relay setting sheets submitted to utility for approval.
What Counts as Qualifying Experience?
Qualifying engineering experience is work that applies engineering principles, requires engineering judgment, and contributes to solutions submitted to public authority or carrying engineering liability. State boards are looking for increasing responsibility over time — not four years of the same task repeated.
Step 4 — Secure Your PE References
Most states require three to five professional references who are licensed PEs and can attest to the quality of your engineering experience. This step is often left too late — and a reference who cannot be reached by the state board can delay your application by months.
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Prioritise direct supervisors who are licensed PEs. References should ideally be engineers who directly supervised your work or reviewed your engineering deliverables. If your direct supervisor was not a PE, most states will accept a reference from a licensed PE with direct knowledge of your work.
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Reach out early — before you submit your application. Give your references plenty of notice. Explain what you are doing, provide a copy of your experience description for that project, and make the process as easy as possible for them. A thoughtful, prepared request generates a timely, positive response.
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Confirm their PE license is current and active. An expired or lapsed PE license invalidates a reference in most states. Verify your reference's license status through your state board's online license lookup before you list them.
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International references need extra coordination. If your reference is outside the U.S., confirm that they can be reached by a U.S. state board — by email, phone, or mail — and that they are willing to respond promptly. Boards have specific turnaround expectations. Delays from unreachable references are a leading cause of application processing delays.
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Have a backup reference ready. List one more reference than the minimum required. If a primary reference is unreachable or their response is delayed, your application does not stall.
Step 5 — Apply, Get Approved & Schedule Your Exam
Once your experience record is documented and your references are confirmed, you are ready to submit your application. Here is how the sequence unfolds from submission to sitting in the exam seat.
Submit your application to your state board
In pre-approval states (CA, NY, WA), submit your full application — education, experience, and references — to the board. In direct states (TX, IL, NJ, FL), apply to NCEES first. Allow at least 4 months from your target exam date. Some boards take up to 6 weeks to process a complete application.
Board reviews and approves your application
The board will verify your education credentials, review your experience entries, and contact your references. Keep a copy of everything you submitted. If the board requests additional information, respond within their stated deadline — missing it can push your application to the next cycle.
Register with NCEES and pay the $400 exam fee
Once your board approves you, register at ncees.org and pay the NCEES PE exam fee of $400. International candidates pay an additional non-refundable $25 international scheduling fee. Your NCEES account is linked directly to your MyNCEES profile.
Receive your Authorization to Test (ATT)
NCEES will issue your ATT after registration is confirmed. This is your permission to schedule the actual exam at Pearson VUE. The ATT has an expiration date — do not delay scheduling. Book your exam seat as soon as your ATT arrives.
Schedule at Pearson VUE — including international centers
Visit pearsonvue.com/ncees to book your exam appointment. Choose your test center, date, and time. The PE Power exam is available year-round at most centers (unlike the FE, which has defined testing windows). Book well in advance — popular centers fill up quickly.
Arrive early, check in, and trust your preparation
Arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Check-in includes biometric capture (fingerprint and photo). Your 9-hour exam begins after a software tutorial. The six reference standards are provided electronically — searchable and organised by chapter. You do not bring any physical materials.
International Pearson VUE Exam Centers
You do not need to be in the United States to sit for the PE Power exam. NCEES exam centers are available in the following countries as of 2025:
| Country / Region | Available Centers | Additional Note |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Multiple cities nationwide | Direct NCEES exam access |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh, Jeddah | Direct NCEES exam access |
| UAE | Sharjah | Direct NCEES exam access |
| Egypt | Cairo | Direct NCEES exam access |
| Japan | Tokyo, Osaka | Direct NCEES exam access |
| South Korea | Seoul | Direct NCEES exam access |
| Turkey | Istanbul, Ankara | Direct NCEES exam access |
Exam Day Preparation Checklist
The PE Power exam is a 9-hour commitment. Arriving prepared eliminates unnecessary stress and lets you focus entirely on the questions in front of you.
- Valid government-issued photo ID — must match your registration name exactly. Acceptable forms: passport, driver's licence, national ID card.
- Authorization to Test (ATT) — your confirmation email from NCEES. Bring a printed copy or have it accessible on your phone.
- Approved calculator — the NCEES approved calculator list is published at ncees.org. Only approved models are permitted. Test your calculator batteries the night before.
- Arrive 30 minutes early — check-in includes fingerprint scan and photo capture. Arriving late can forfeit your exam seat with no refund.
- No physical reference materials — all six reference standards are provided electronically within the exam software. Do not bring paper notes, textbooks, or printed standards.
- Plan for 9 hours — arrange your schedule, childcare, and logistics accordingly. The exam includes an optional scheduled break, but the clock continues running.
One thing I tell every engineer I work with: do not underestimate the scheduling step. Candidates who wait two weeks after receiving their ATT before booking sometimes find their preferred test center is fully booked for the next 6–8 weeks. I have seen this push an engineer's exam date back by an entire quarter. Book your seat the same day your ATT arrives. No exceptions.
The Complete Application Checklist
Here is everything covered in this guide, distilled into one clear sequence you can work through step by step.
Your 2025 PE Power Application Roadmap
Confirm eligibility — degree, EIT designation, and experience years
Choose your state board — pre-approval vs. direct; optimise for your background
Create MyNCEES account — start your NCEES Record immediately
International engineers — submit Credentials Evaluation ($400, 6–10 weeks)
Document experience — 6-element framework for every entry
Secure PE references — 3–5 licensed PEs, confirmed and prepped
Submit application — at least 4 months before your target date
Pay NCEES fee ($400) — after board approval
Book Pearson VUE seat — immediately upon receiving your ATT
Begin structured prep — domain-weighted study plan from Day 1
4 Common Application Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them
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Applying too close to your target exam date. Board processing takes 2–6 weeks. Starting 4 weeks before your target date means you will miss the testing window entirely.
Start your application at least 4 months before your target exam date. Build in buffer. -
Weak experience entry descriptions. "Assisted with power system studies" tells a state board nothing. Vague entries trigger requests for additional information, delaying your application by months.
Use the 6-element framework: project, scope, technical content, deliverable, supervision, and PE reference. -
Listing references without confirming their availability. A reference who does not respond to the state board can halt your application entirely. This is one of the most common — and avoidable — delays.
Contact every reference before submitting. Provide them your experience description and confirm they are reachable. -
Waiting to schedule after receiving the ATT. Popular Pearson VUE centers book up fast. Waiting even 1–2 weeks after receiving your ATT can push your exam back by a full quarter.
Schedule your exam at Pearson VUE the same day your ATT arrives.
Download the Free PE Power Guide
The complete licensure roadmap — all 9 domains, experience documentation, state board strategy, and the October 2025 spec changes.
Apply for PE Power Mentorship
1-on-1 session, custom study plan, experience record review, domain coaching, and accountability across your full prep timeline.
Summary
Applying for the PE Electrical & Computer: Power exam is not complicated — but it is sequential, and the sequence has no shortcuts. Every step depends on the one before it: your eligibility determines which state board to approach, your state board determines your NCEES registration timing, your experience record determines whether your application sails through or stalls, and your references determine whether the board can verify everything you have claimed. Engineers who treat the application as an afterthought — something to figure out a few weeks before they want to sit — consistently hit delays that push their exam back by months. The engineers who pass on their first attempt almost always started the process earlier than they thought necessary.
Your PE license is the highest professional credential available to you as a power engineer. It is the difference between being an engineer of record and being the engineer who reviews someone else's work. With a 61% first-time pass rate, the exam is demanding — but the application process is entirely within your control. Get the paperwork right, document your experience with the precision a state board expects, and give your preparation the time it deserves. That is not a guarantee, but it is the best possible foundation. Everything provided: the free PE Power Guide and the strategy calls, exists to help you build that foundation correctly, from someone who has walked this exact road.
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