What is the difference between the PE Civil exam and the PE Structural (SE) exam?
The PE Civil exam is one computer-based module: 80 questions in an 8-hour exam inside a 9-hour appointment, offered year-round. PE Structural, often called the SE, has vertical and lateral components, each with a breadth section and a depth section taken separately. You need acceptable results on both components, though a passed component does not expire. NCEES calls it a PE exam, but not every jurisdiction accepts it as one, and each section costs $350.
PE Civil and PE Structural side by side
PE Civil Structural is one module inside the civil exam, while PE Structural is a separate exam with a vertical component and a lateral component. The table below compares the clock, the calendar, the item types, the fee, and the result each path requires.
| Point of comparison | PE Civil | PE Structural |
|---|---|---|
| What you register for | One of five modules | Four sections, taken separately |
| Questions and exam time | 80 questions, 8-hour exam, 9-hour appointment | Each breadth section: 55 questions, 5 hr 30 min. Each depth section: 6 hr 20 min |
| When it is offered | Year-round, computer-based | Breadth sections year-round. Each depth section twice a year |
| Item types | Traditional multiple choice and alternative item types | Breadth: traditional multiple choice only. Depth: alternative item types only |
| NCEES fee | One fee for the module you choose | $350 per section |
| Results you need | A result on that module | Acceptable results on both components. A passed component does not expire |
How the PE Structural exam is organized
You take four sections: vertical breadth, vertical depth, lateral breadth, and lateral depth. The vertical component pairs its breadth section with its depth section, and the lateral component works the same way. Because a passed component does not expire, you can sit the remaining component later and keep the one you already passed.
Breadth sections use only traditional multiple choice, while depth sections use only alternative item types, so you can tailor your practice to match each one. Every other PE exam mixes both item types on the same exam. Depth results take 10 to 13 weeks. For result timing on other PE exams, see when PE exam results come out and how often you can retake.
What the PE Civil Structural module asks
This module uses the structural specification that took effect in April 2024. The appointment around the exam adds a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, and a 50-minute scheduled break, as described on the PE Civil exam format page. The ranges below belong to this module, and what is on the PE Civil Structural exam treats each area in more detail.
Analysis of Structures-Loads and Load Applications is 12-18 questions. You decide which loads apply and how they reach the members: self-weight, occupancy, and construction loads; wind and seismic demand; snow, rain, ice, and impact; moving loads such as vehicles and cranes; earth pressure and surcharge; tributary areas and load paths; and the combinations of those loads. Analysis of Structures-Forces and Load Effects is 17-26 questions. You turn those loads into shear and moment diagrams, axial tension and compression, shear, flexure, combined stresses, and deflection, and you also cover torsion, buckling, fatigue, progressive collapse, thermal deformation, and bearing.
Temporary Structures and Other Topics is 5-8 questions, and it stays with the construction window. Items draw on special inspections, submittals, formwork, falsework, scaffolding, shoring and reshoring, bracing, anchorage, effects on adjacent facilities, and safety for the crew, the roadside, and the work zone.
Design and Details of Structures-Materials and Material Properties is 10-15 questions, where you connect material behavior to a design choice. Soil shows up as classification and as strength, permeability, compressibility, and the proportions of solids, water, and air. The structural materials are concrete (unreinforced or reinforced, cast-in-place or precast, pre-tensioned or post-tensioned), structural and cold-formed steel, timber, and masonry such as brick veneer and concrete masonry units, plus the tests and specifications used to accept them.
Design and Details of Structures-Component Design and Detailing is 26-39 questions, the largest block on this specification. You size horizontal members (beams, slabs, diaphragms, struts) and vertical members (columns, bearing walls, shear walls). The same area covers systems such as trusses, braces, frames, and composite construction, and the connections that join them (bolts, welds, bearing, embedment, and anchors placed after the concrete is cast). Foundations are included: shallow systems such as footings, combined footings, slabs, and mats; deep systems such as piers, piles, caissons, and drilled shafts; and retaining walls.
What the four PE Structural sections cost
Each of the four PE Structural sections costs $350: vertical breadth, lateral breadth, vertical depth, and lateral depth. Taking all four sections once costs $1,400 in NCEES fees. The PE Civil module you choose carries a separate fee, listed on how much the PE exam costs.
Does your board accept the PE Structural exam?
NCEES considers the Structural exam a PE exam, though not every jurisdiction accepts it as one. PE license basics in Texas, California, Florida, and New York is a starting point for those four states, since the board that will receive your application is the one that decides.
California’s professional engineer application page sorts licenses into practice acts, title acts, and title authorities. The practice acts on that page are Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical. California uses title acts for Chemical and Agricultural work, for Fire Protection and Control Systems, for Metallurgical and Industrial practice, and for Petroleum, Nuclear, and Traffic. Structural engineering and Geotechnical engineering appear as title authorities.
Who takes the PE Civil Structural module
NCEES pass rates for the five PE Civil modules were last updated in July 2026. The structural row is the civil structural module, not PE Structural. PE exam pass rates places these figures next to other disciplines.
| Module | First-time examinees | First-time pass rate | Repeat examinees | Repeat pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 1000 | 60% | 417 | 38% |
| Geotechnical | 434 | 63% | 201 | 44% |
| Structural | 1624 | 62% | 847 | 43% |
| Transportation | 1929 | 61% | 1097 | 43% |
| Water Resources and Environmental | 2620 | 71% | 876 | 49% |
These counts describe recent volume and outcomes for the civil modules.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SE exam the same as the PE Structural exam?
Yes. SE is the everyday name for the NCEES PE Structural exam, the one with vertical and lateral components and separate breadth and depth sections. The structural module inside PE Civil is a different exam: one 80-question module on the civil specification. Use the name your board uses when you confirm which result it will accept.
How much does the SE exam cost?
NCEES charges $350 for each PE Structural section: vertical breadth, lateral breadth, vertical depth, and lateral depth. Taking all four sections once costs $1,400 in NCEES fees. A PE Civil module is a separate registration with its own fee.
Do I need the PE Civil exam before the SE?
NCEES offers PE Structural as a PE exam. Whether your board wants a PE Civil result before it, or instead of it, is a board question. Confirm that order with your licensing board before you register for either exam.
How long are the PE Structural sections?
Each breadth section is 55 questions with 5 hr 30 min of exam time, runs year-round, and uses only traditional multiple choice. Each depth section is 6 hr 20 min of exam time, is offered twice a year, and uses only alternative item types. Depth results take 10 to 13 weeks.
Does a passed PE Structural component expire?
A passed component does not expire. You still need acceptable results on both the vertical component and the lateral component. Your licensing board decides whether those results meet its rules.
Sources
- NCEES: PE Structural exam. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- NCEES Examinee Guide, May 2026 (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- NCEES: PE Civil exam. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- California board: Professional Engineer application. Retrieved October 3, 2026.