Important Updates for the PE Electrical Power Exam and All Three PE Mechanical Exams (Effective October 1, 2025)
Planning to take the PE Electrical Power or PE Mechanical exam? Big changes are coming! Starting October 1, 2025, the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) will be implementing updated exam specifications for both the PE Electrical Power and all three PE Mechanical (HVAC and Refrigeration, Machine Design and Materials, and Thermal and Fluid Systems) exams.
This page will provide essential information to help you navigate these updates and prepare effectively. We've compiled details on the upcoming changes for each exam, including what’s changing and what’s staying the same. Whether you're just beginning your PE exam preparation or are nearing your test date, understanding these modifications is crucial for success.
Please explore the sections below for detailed information specific to your exam discipline.
What was announced?
NCEES is changing the PE Electrical Power exam specifications effective with exams beginning on October 1, 2025.
What’s not changing?
- Format: The exam is still 80 Questions, 9 hours long, and offered year-round as a computer-based test (CBT).
What is changing?
- Increased discipline-specific content and reduced general content, allowing a deeper focus on your specific area of expertise.
- Updated design standards, so it’s crucial to study using the correct edition of all materials.
- Sections on reliability and engineering economics have been removed.
- Increased emphasis on measurement & instrumentation and general applications.
- Revised NCEES Reference Handbook and practice exams to align with the new exam specifications. The new NCEES PE Electrical and Computer: Power Reference Handbook and practice exam are now available through your MyNCEES account. The current handbook (v. 1.3) is valid through September 30, 2025. If you plan to take the exam on or after October 1, 2025, or later, you must use the updated handbook (v. 2.0.1).
What are my options?
We're hard at work updating our PE Electrical Power course to align with the October 1, 2025 exam specification changes. This means you'll get new course notes, workshop problems and solutions, Question Bank questions, flashcards, and lecture videos.
Register now for one of our Live Online or Ondemand courses to get started.
What was announced?
NCEES is changing the PE Mechanical exam specifications effective with exams beginning on October 1, 2025. These changes will apply to all three PE Mechanical exams: HVAC & Refrigeration, Machine Design & Materials, and Thermal & Fluid Systems.
What’s not changing?
- Format: The exam is still 80 Questions, 9 hours long, and offered year-round as a computer-based test (CBT).
- Core Topics: Although there may be a few slight changes in terminology (see below), the core topics will remain the same in the new format. Some topics are being carried over from the old exam specs. Please find the latest specs from NCEES here.
What is changing?
- Increased discipline-specific content and reduced general content, allowing a deeper focus on your specific area of expertise.
- Updated terminology to reflect current industry standards.
- Revised NCEES Reference Handbook and practice exams to align with the new exam specifications. The new NCEES PE Mechanical Reference Handbook and practice exams are now available through your MyNCEES account. The current handbook (v. 1.9) is valid through September 30, 2025. If you plan to take the exam on October 1, 2025 or later, you must use the updated handbook (v. 2.0).
What are my options?
School of PE is in the process of revamping all three of our PE Mechanical courses with new course notes, workshop problems and solutions, Question Bank questions, flash cards, and lecture videos to reflect the exam spec change in October. These changes will be live by August 31, 2025.
Register now for one of our Live Online or Ondemand courses!
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help! If you still have questions about the upcoming PE Electrical Power or PE Mechanical exam changes, don't hesitate to reach out to our Student Services team. They can provide further clarification and support to help you prepare. Contact them now!
- 425 Metro Place North, Suite 450
Dublin, 43017 - info@schoolofpe.com
- (614)-873-7475
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