PE Mechanical Review Course Structure
We offer PE Mechanical review courses for the HVAC and Refrigeration exam, Machine Design and Materials exam, and Thermal and Fluid Systems exam.
HVAC and Refrigeration Exam Review Course – Our review course covers the following topics: basic engineering practice, thermodynamics, psychometrics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, energy/mass balances, heating/cooling loads, equipment and components, systems and components, and supportive knowledge.
Machine Design and Materials Exam Review Course – Our review course covers the following topics: basic engineering practice, engineering science and mechanics, material properties, strength of materials, vibration, mechanical components, joints and fasteners, and supportive knowledge.
Thermal and Fluid Systems Exam Review Course – Our review course covers the following topics: basic engineering practice, fluid mechanics, heat transfer principles, mass balance principles, thermodynamics, supportive knowledge, hydraulic and fluid applications, and energy/power system applications.
Our New Study Hub: One Place for All Your Study Needs
Our reimagined Study Hub was designed with all our past, present, and future students in mind to amplify their studies and help them approach exam day with confidence. PE Civil students can study anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Roll over each icon to learn more about these exciting features:

Questions to Instructors
Ask instructors questions while watching lecture videos.

Discussion Forums
Communicate and interact with your classmates.

Lecture Videos
Watch, pause, and resume lecture videos where you left off.
Make timestamped annotations on lecture videos and bookmark recordings to easily review at a later date.
You can also download, review, and annotate lecture notes.

Test Your Knowledge
Practice different problems using the Practice Portal Pro.

Flash Cards
Select a topic and quiz yourself on important definitions.
You can also bookmark cards that you want to revisit.

Study Using Any Device
Download the Study Hub app to take your studies on-the-go—all you need is an internet connection for a seamless experience.
Our 60-hour PE Mechanical review courses are divided into two parts:
- Refresher Sessions - These sessions prepare students by reviewing topics that are critical for the PE Mechanical exam, allowing students to experience theory and high-probability problems. All topics will be taught in approximately 36 hours.
- Workshop Sessions - These sessions consist exclusively of practicing and solving problems that require numerical solutions—vital for the PE Mechanical exam. All topics will be taught in approximately 24 hours.
Our PE Mechanical exam review courses are offered through two delivery methods: Live Online and Ondemand.
- Live Online - Our Live Online method provides instructor-led online sessions that include live interaction with instructors and a structured study schedule. Attend your scheduled class, talk with classmates, ask the instructor questions, and more in real time with our virtual classroom. Select Live Online Schedule from the side menu to find out when our next PE Mechanical Live Online classes will begin.
- Ondemand - Our Ondemand method provides students with immediate access to 60 hours of course lecture videos, refresher notes, and workshop problems so they can begin studying right away. Watch lecture videos, download notes, track your progress, and more from your computer or mobile device. Select Ondemand Classes from the side menu to register for our free Ondemand Preview and try out our recorded class videos for 30 days.
What makes our PE Mechanical courses unique?
- School of PE has been helping our students pass their exams for more than a decade. Through years of creating and compiling exam review material and reflecting on student feedback, we have gleaned the most important features to include in our exam review courses.
- To help our students receive the best possible exam prep experience, we feature multiple instructors for our PE Mechanical exam review courses. Each instructor is assigned to teach a topic that they specialize in, so our students can be confident that they are receiving the best instruction for each topic.
- School of PE’s pass rates continue to be much higher than the national pass rates.
- Our user-friendly Study Hub provides our students with the necessary tools to stay organized. Whether students register for a Live Online or Ondemand course, they will be provided with access to their own Study Hub from which they can download refresher notes and workshop problems, watch course recordings, and engage with instructors and fellow students.
Don't Just take Our Word for It!
While we'd like to think that the above benefits offer enough incentive to take our PE exam review classes, we believe our strongest selling point is our students’ success rates in comparison to national averages.
PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration Exam Pass Rates
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PE Mechanical Machine Design and Materials Exam Pass Rates
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PE Mechanical Thermal and Fluid Systems Exam Pass Rates
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PE Mechanical Exam FAQs
What exactly is the PE Mechanical Exam?
The PE Mechanical exam is a computer-based exam that tests your knowledge of either HVAC and Refrigeration, Machine Design and Materials, or Thermal and Fluid Systems depending on which version you take.
How long does the PE Mechanical Exam last?
The PE Mechanical exam appointment time is 9 hours, which includes the nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), tutorial (8 minutes), exam (8 hours), and scheduled break time (50 minutes).
How do I prepare for the PE Mechanical Exam?
School of PE offers PE Mechanical review courses with review guides, practice exams, a Study Hub, and more to help students prepare.
When will I receive my PE Mechanical exam results?
Results for NCEES computer-based exams are typically available 7-10 days after you take the exam.
What is the format of the PE Mechanical Exam?
The PE Mechanical exam is a computer-based exam.
What Is the Mechanical PE Exam Pass Rate?
The national average PE Mechanical exam pass rates are 70% for HVAC and Refrigeration (91% with School of PE); 69% for Machine Design and Materials (90% with School of PE); and 67% for Thermal and Fluid Systems (89% with School of PE).
Which of the following is the most difficult subject in PE Mechanical Engineering?
Based on the national average pass rates, the PE Mechanical: Thermal and Fluid Systems exam is the most difficult with a 67% pass rate. The other two fall close behind with Machine Design and Materials at 69% and HVAC and Refrigeration at 70%.
What is the most recent information about PE Mechanical in 2022?
The PE Mechanical exam has transitioned to computer-based testing (CBT) and now incorporates alternative item types (AITs), which are questions that assess examinees’ technical knowledge using methods not available with traditional pencil-and-paper exams. The exam being CBT also means that you are no longer permitted to bring reference materials, and instead, you will be provided with the NCEES electronic reference handbook.
What is the salary of a Mechanical Engineer Pe?
The median salary of a mechanical engineer is $90,160 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What are the dates for the PE Mechanical Exam and the Final Filing Deadlines?
The PE Mechanical exam is held year-round.
How to register for PE Mechanical Exam?
You may register for the PE Mechanical exam through MyNCEES. Some states require that examinees apply to their state board for approval before registration. Visit https://ncees.org/engineering/# to find your state’s specific registration process.
What are the recommended PE Mechanical Exam references and prep materials?
NCEES offers an electronic reference handbook for the PE Mechanical exam. This is the only reference material that can be used during the exam. Examinees should also review the NCEES Examinee Guide to learn the exam’s policies and procedures. For exam prep, School of PE offers comprehensive review courses with review guides, flash cards, practice exams, and more.
How will the PE Mechanical Exam be administered in a testing centre and via CBT?
The PE Mechanical exam is administered via computer-based testing at a Pearson VUE test center.
Everything You Should Know About the PE Mechanical Exam
Here are a few things you might want to know if you are interested in becoming a professional mechanical engineer. The path to professional engineering licensure generally consists of the following steps: obtaining a four-year degree in engineering, passing the FE Mechanical exam, gaining at least four years of engineering experience in the field, and passing the PE exam. School of PE’s Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Mechanical exam review course contains the tools and materials you need to succeed. The PE Mechanical exam is the last step for individuals who have taken and passed their FE Mechanical exam as well as earned their EIT certificate.
Before Taking the Exam
Licensure candidates will need to fulfill several requirements before they can sit for the PE Mechanical exam. Even though every state may have different licensing requirements, most states will expect candidates to have attended and graduated from a four-year, accredited program, taken and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Mechanical exam, earned over four years of engineering experiences, passed a background check, and submitted a detailed work experience report. We recommend you double check with your state board to ensure you are fulfilling proper eligibility requirements.
PE Mechanical Exam Fees
Exam candidates are required to pay $375 to NCEES to take the PE Mechanical exam. Each state may have different registration procedures, so be sure to check with your state licensing board in case there are separate applications or fees required to register.
Exam Specifications
The PE Mechanical exam is designed to gauge an individual’s competency in mechanical engineering. This exam is computer-based and administered at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE testing centers year-round. Including both multiple-choice questions and alternative item types (AITs) , it uses the International System of units (SI) and the US Customary System (USCS).
Materials and Resources
On exam day, individuals will receive a virtual version of the only resource they are allowed to use on this exam, the NCEES PE Mechanical Reference Handbook. A free copy of the PE Mechanical Reference Handbook is available for download through the student’s MyNCEES account. They can also download the free NCEES Examinee Guide to learn more specific details of what to expect on the day of the PE Mechanical exam.
After the Exam
After taking a computer-based exam, results will typically be available 7-10 days later. NCEES will send an email to each candidate with instructions on how to see results through their MyNCEES account. More information about how NCEES scores exams can be found here. Please see NCEES’ website for further details about engineering exams.