PE: Electrical Power Systems Engineering Exam Practice Test

Eligibility is determined by your state licensing board, but generally requires: 1) An ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in engineering, 2) Successful passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and 3) Typically four years of progressive engineering experience under the supervision of a licensed PE. Some states have additional requirements. Always verify specific prerequisites with your state's board before applying.

Yes, the PE exam is open-book. You may bring any printed reference materials, including bound manuals, textbooks, and handwritten notes. The NCEES provides an electronic reference handbook during the computer-based test, which contains essential equations and data. A critical part of preparation is learning how to navigate your chosen references efficiently. All materials are subject to security review at the test center.

The CBT format offers year-round testing at Pearson VUE centers. The exam is now 8 hours total, split into a 4-hour morning session (40 questions) and a 4-hour afternoon session (40 questions). A scheduled break is provided. The electronic interface includes a reference handbook, calculator, and highlight/strikeout tools. The core content and difficulty remain aligned with the previous pencil-and-paper version's specifications.

The 'Electrical and Computer: Power' exam is a breadth-and-depth exam covering a wider range of electrical engineering topics with a power focus. The 'Electrical Power Systems' exam is a depth-only exam, meaning all questions are concentrated specifically on power systems engineering. The Power Systems exam is often preferred by engineers whose career is exclusively focused on generation, transmission, distribution, and protection.

For computer-based tests, results are typically released by NCEES to your MyNCEES account within 7-10 business days after your exam date. Your state board will then be notified, and they will issue your license upon verification that all other requirements (experience, references, etc.) are met, which can take additional weeks or months depending on the state.