PE Biomedical Engineering Exam Practice Test

Requirements vary by state licensing board but typically include: an ABET-accredited engineering degree (BS or higher), a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and approximately four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed PE. You must apply for and receive approval from your state board before registering with NCEES.

Yes, the PE exam is open-book. You are permitted to bring bound paper references or use the searchable PDF reference handbook provided by NCEES during the computer-based test. Allowed materials must not contain handwritten notes that solve specific problems. Thorough familiarity with the NCEES handbook's content and organization is critical for efficient problem-solving during the exam.

The exam is a computer-based test (CBT) consisting of 80 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 9 hours (including a scheduled break). The questions are broadly distributed across the biomedical engineering knowledge areas outlined in the NCEES exam specifications, which include biomechanics, biomaterials, medical devices, and instrumentation, among others.

Pass rates are published periodically by NCEES and have historically varied. The exam is scored on a scaled pass/fail basis. Your raw score (number of correct answers) is converted to a scaled score to account for minor variations in difficulty between different exam forms. A scaled score of 70 or above typically indicates a pass, but the exact cut score is determined by NCEES.

Most successful candidates dedicate 200-300 hours of study over 3-6 months. The exact time depends on your familiarity with the breadth of topics and your recent academic or professional experience. A disciplined, long-term schedule focusing on both concept review and extensive practice problems is recommended.