what is the best professional engineering exam prep course?

by Miss Annetta Witting 7 min read

The 4 Best PE Exam Prep Courses

Rank Company Pricing Get Started
1. School of PE Best for comprehensiveness $1,190 - $1,490 Go To School of PE
2. PPI2Pass Best overall $195 - $3,067 Save $500 Go To PPI2Pass PE
3. Ultimate Civil PE Review Course Best for ... $397 - $997 Go To Ultimate Civil PE
4. Capstone Learning Associates Best expert ... $699 Go To Capstone Learning PE
May 13 2022

Best PE Exam Prep Courses Summary
  • Best Overall PE Prep Course – Civil Engineering Academy.
  • Most Comprehensive PE Exam Prep – School of PE.
  • Best PE Prep Live Classes – PPI2Pass.
  • Best PE Exam Instructors – Excel Test Prep.

Full Answer

How to prepare for the Professional Engineering exam?

The PE course is held twice annually with the purpose of professional licensure. It’s a challenging test and something you must work hard to prepare for. So, where do you start? Enrolling in a top-rated professional engineering exam prep course is your best bet to pass the first time around.

What is the best online test prep for PE exams?

Excel Test Prep offers live online courses for only four PE disciplines: civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. They are best suited for students who have been out of school for a while and designed to provide a concise, intensive, and structured review of important exam topics.

Does School of PE offer engineering courses?

Save up to $50 off School of PE for PE/SE/FE Engineering Courses School of PE hosts onsite courses in major cities of 46 states nationwide. School of PE offers PE exam prep courses in architectural, chemical, control systems, civil, electrical, environmental, industrial, mechanical and petroleum engineering.

Why choose our PE Exam Review courses?

Since 2004, we have been offering PE exam review courses to help exam applicants prepare for and pass their chosen NCEES PE exam. Our courses are taught by professional engineers who have both industry and teaching experience.

What is a good PE exam prep course?

What is the best book to take for the PE exam?

How many questions are asked in PE exam?

What is the PE exam?

How many times can you take a capstone course?

How long does it take to pass the Civil Structural Exam?

How much does it cost to take the chemical PE exam?

See more

Which PE exam is the easiest?

Construction Depth Exam I think this is the most popular PE depth exam that civil engineers take - or want to take, (but is it the easiest PE exam?). It's popular because many civil engineers work in a variety of different fields but don't specialize in one particular area.

What is the best way to prepare for the FE?

Preparing for the FE ExamFamiliarize yourself with the “FE Reference Handbook” Every examinee is given the same reference to use during the FE exam. ... Take a practice exam. NCEES has practice exam books available on its website. ... Do practice problems. ... Know yourself.

How can I prepare for PE exam?

Preparing, Studying, and Passing the NCEES PE ExamGet ready to study. ... Gather your PE exam study materials; including textbooks, calculators, class notes, etc.Request support at work and at home.Develop and follow through with your study plan.Practice self-care to alleviate stress ahead of your exam.More items...•

Which is better school of PE or PPI?

While both School of PE and PPI2Pass have similar options, School of PE has a larger volume of material. Whether you need video lectures, practice questions, or full exam sims, you'll get more from them than you would from PPI2Pass.

What should I study for the FE exam?

Complete as Many Practice Problems as Possible For example, if you're taking the FE Civil exam, we recommend getting the FE Civil review bundle, which includes FE Civil Practice, as well as the review book, two practice exams, and more. Don't skip any of them. All of the problems were written to illustrate key points.

How long should I study for FE exam?

We recommend planning to study for at least 2 to 3 months before your FE exam date. Once you get started practicing problems from all of the different topics covered, you'll have a better idea if you need to spend more or less time preparing.

How many hours should you study for PE?

200-300 hoursFor individuals who are preparing for an NCEES exam such as the FE, PE, or SE exam, the average time spent preparing for an individual's chosen exam is 200-300 hours.

Is PE exam difficult?

The PE exam is not a "tricky" exam. Students manage to fail even when questions are straightforward. The NCEES organization doesn't sit in a room and think of ways to trick you. You will find, however, that they do list answers to questions with very common mistakes made.

Is the FE exam hard?

A 54% pass rate is a hard exam, the hardest among the FE exams. The FE Mechanical and FE Environmental exams now have the highest pass rate at 66% (see our chart in the next section below), and a 34% failure rate is something we consider very demanding.

How much does a PE review course cost?

Best PE Exam Prep Courses ComparisonPE EXAM REVIEW COURSESPRICEFrom $990$550-$650 per course (breadth/ depth)DISCOUNTPRACTICE QUESTIONS1,000+ practice questionsNumber of practice questions varies by course typeFULL LENGTH PRACTICE EXAMS3Includes realistic simulated breadth and depth exams9 more rows

Is School of PE legit?

Overview. School of PE has a consumer rating of 2.9 stars from 10 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. School of PE ranks 99th among Test Preparation sites.

How do I pass the PE power exam?

Focus on the Syllabus. ... Know what's in the NCEES Electrical and Computer PE: Power Reference Handbook. ... Think Practical & Think in 6 minutes. ... Know the key concepts and skills from these references. ... Know the NEC. ... Know the test format. ... Use your time wisely: Go through the test in 3 Passes.More items...•

Which PE review course is the best?

Our team took a look at a bunch of different courses to find the best PE review courses: School of PE PPI EET Capstone Read more about each provide...

How many months should I study for PE?

The amount of time you should dedicate to studying for the PE exam depends your schedule. If you are working a full-time job while studying, you...

Is a PE exam prep course worth it?

Studying for the PE exam can be stressful. A PE prep course will help alleviate some of this stress and guide you in the right direction. Some in...

Do I need a PE review course?

Very likely, yes. Although the material you need to know may still be somewhat fresh in your head from college, the PE exam tests material in a ver...

How much does a PE prep course cost?

PE prep courses range widely in price, from just a few hundred dollars all the way up to $3,000+. While that is a large disparity, most students wi...

What is the best PE course?

Which PE prep course is right for you totally depends on what type of learner you are, how deep of a review you need, and what your personal situat...

5 Best PE Exam Prep Courses for 2022 [School of PE & Others]

Advertiser Disclosure You’re our #1 priority. 100% of the time. We believe everybody should be able to make online purchases with confidence. And while our website doesn’t feature every test prep company or review course in the universe, we’re proud that the advice we offer and the information we provide is accurate, truthful, objective - and entirely free.

What company offers PE exam?

Another fantastic resource for students preparing to take the PE exam comes from Capstone. This company offers a wide range of study materials geared specifically toward future engineers, so you can rest assured this topic fits securely in their wheelhouse.

How many modules are in the Civil PE review?

The Ultimate Civil PE Review comes with 10 modules that cover 8 topics found on the civil PE breadth exam. It’s a very focused course that is continuously updated to meet specifications. In addition to the Introduction and Conclusion module, their review course will cover:

What does a PE instructor do?

They work to combine the fundamentals of the subject matter and problem-solving techniques to fully equip people for exams.

What is a PE license?

To create more opportunities and grow your engineering career, a Professional Engineer (PE) license is the answer. This means you’ll need to study and review to pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, otherwise known as the PE exam.

Can you retake PE exam with TestMasters?

However, if you don’t succeed the first time, TestMasters allows you to retake the course again for free. TestMasters comes with a variety of course materials, including 72 hours of instruction that are focused on helping you pass. But the unfortunate truth is that TestMasters doesn’t offer courses for every PE exam.

Does TestMasters have practice exams?

Keep in mind that unlike the other review courses on this list, TestMasters does not come with any practice exams. So if this is a resource you need to pass, you may want to choose another review site. Still, the excellent reference notes and enticing guarantee make this an option well worth your consideration.

Is School of PE online?

Unfortunately, you will be limited to online courses for most disciplines . Despite it’s name, School of PE is primari ly web-based and has limited onsite instruction.

What is Excel test prep?

Excel Test Prep offers live online courses for only four PE disciplines: civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical.

What is civil engineering academy?

Civil Engineering Academy offers practical practice exams that are modeled and ranked in difficulty close to the actual FE and PE exams. The exam prep course uses videos that cut through dense theory and provide students with step-by-step practice problems. We chose it as the best for accessibility because it offers a growing library of video-based lectures and video exercises that can be accessed on any device with an internet connection.

What is capstone learning?

Capstone Learning offers online PE and FE exam prep programs with a unique review methodology that accurately mimics the conditions of the exam to prepare students for the actual exams. We chose it as the best for self-paced learning since it’s built to let students learn at their own pace and offers additional tutor support from a professional engineer and experienced exam instructor if needed.

How many FE exams are there?

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is a group of seven separate exams administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), one for each of six different disciplines and one for general engineering. Engineers must pass at least one of these exams in addition to the Practice of Engineering (PE) ...

How many hours are in a PPI course?

Each course includes between 26 and 70 hours of lectures, problem-solving demonstrations, exam strategy sessions, and office hours. PPI’s Live Online courses meet for two and a half to three hours, two days a week for 10 weeks.

What is FE exam?

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first of two examinations that engineers must pass in order to become licensed professional engineers (PEs) in the United States. There are actually six separate exams covering six engineering disciplines as well as one general exam for those who are unsure of which engineering career they want ...

How many years of work experience is required for PE?

By contrast, the PE exam tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline and is for engineers with a minimum of four years of post-college work experience in their chosen discipline.

Is PPI2Pass the best PE exam?

Why PPI2Pass Makes the Best PE List. When engineering professionals think of the PE exam, they think of PPI2Pass in one way or another, and for good reason. PPI2Pass has been prepping engineers for the PE exam for close to five decades, and provides some of the best study materials around.

Does School of PE have a streamlined curriculum?

However, School of PE has a streamlined curriculum that efficiently cuts through subject matter in a logical and methodical way that made learning (or often re-learning material) very easy – at least for the PE Civil course I took. If you like things orderly (like me), you’ll really like their curriculum structure.

Do I need a review course for PE?

Given that you’ve been out of school for a few years when getting ready to take the PE exam, you very likely are going to need a review course to help you prep. This high-stakes exam simply carries too much weight to go it without proper prep materials. But with so many different courses available commercially, all with varying study materials, ...

Course Details

This course is built around the PPI Learning Hub, which is a learning tool that creates a guided study course based on your performance. It adjusts as you work through each lesson to account for what learning styles work best and what subjects you need additional help to understand.

PROS AND CONS

Learning Hub: Much like School of PE, this course comes with an adaptive learning hub. This platform guides you through the course and ensures that you’re prepared for the PE test. It does so by gauging your initial abilities, creating a study plan, and helping you practice until you’ve mastered the engineering discipline of your choice.

Q: Who can take the PE exam?

A: Typically, someone needs to pass the FE exam and gain 4 years of work experience. However, 14 states allow you to take the test before completing the work experience.

Q: What is the easiest PE exam?

A: According to the NCEES, the PE Fire Protection test has the highest pass rate at 88%. That means you can reasonably assume it’s the easiest test to pass, although you should still study with an online review course!

Q: Does my PE exam expire?

A: No. As long as your exam results are verified as part of the application process, they will not expire.

Which FE Exam is the hardest?

According to the NCEES, the FE exam with the lowest cumulative pass rate is FE Industrial and Systems at 65%. However, the Petroleum discipline in the FE Other Disciplines exam is even lower at 33%, although this is slightly skewed due to a low number of test takers.

How many times can you fail the FE exam?

If you fail your first attempt at the FE exam, you can retake it once in the same three-month testing window. In one 12-month testing period, you can fail and retake the exam a maximum of three times; after that, you will have to wait for the next 12-month period for another chance at a retake.

Does it matter what FE exam you take?

Absolutely! Engineering is a vast field with many different disciplines— for example, the necessary knowledge and skills for a petroleum engineer are very different from a computer engineer. Instead of comparing pass rates or question counts, pick the FE exam discipline that directly applies to your ideal career path.

Do all engineers have to take the FE exam?

Technically, no— it’s possible to work as an engineer without taking the FE exam and being certified. However, the path to becoming a professional engineer is significantly easier if you pursue FE and PE certification, so it’s highly recommended that you do so in order to save time and energy.

What is the first step in becoming an engineer?

Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first big step toward becoming a professional engineer. Unfortunately, 20 – 30% of students who take the FE exam fail the first time according to the NCEES.

What is the School of PE?

And if you require one-on-one attention, look no further. School of PE also offers private tutoring that can be purchased in one- or five-hour increments.

What do instructors do during a mock exam?

During the courses, instructors will provide a comprehensive review of all key materials that will be covered on the exam and give you plenty of opportunities to practice with realistic practice questions. You’ll also get to take a mock exam so you can get a feel for what the conditions will be like on test day.

When can I take the FE exam?

This will vary depending on where you live, but most states allow you to take the FE exam in or after your senior year of college. Some states allow juniors to take it as well. It’s usually best to take the exam while you’re still in school or shortly afterward because the information will still be fresh in your mind.

Is Excel test prep online?

Its live online and hybrid courses are a better value than its self-paced courses, but self-paced materials are available to those who learn better in this way. There’s also a custom course option for groups who want a more personalized learning experience.

About our PE Exam Prep Courses

Since 2004, we have been offering PE exam review courses to help exam applicants prepare for and pass their chosen NCEES PE exam. Our courses are taught by professional engineers who have both industry and teaching experience.

PE Exam Pass Rates

Because of our Prepare, Practice, Pass initiative, we believe our review courses fully prepare our students to pass their PE exam. If fact, our pass rates are much higher than the national average. Check out our pass rates below:

What Makes Our PE Courses Unique?

School of PE has been helping its students pass their exams for more than a decade. Through years of experience preparing exam review courses and obtaining student feedback, School of PE has formulated and strategized what really makes the best review course.

Pass the ARE and get your license

Michael Kurko a writer and editor for The Balance. He is an expert in small business marketing, finance, wealth management, and business technology. He has deep experience reviewing insurance products and has worked with brands including Software Advice, Fit Small Business, and Fast Capital 360.

The 6 Best Architect Exam Prep Courses of 2022

Architect Exam Prep was created in 2011 by David Doucette and Eric Corey Freed, architects with a combined 50 years of experience. 2 The mission of the company is to help students pass ARE exams using a combination of multimedia and traditional teaching methods.

FAQs

Architect exam courses help students prepare for and pass the ARE exams by breaking down the methodologies of each division, offering real-world examples, and providing a variety of study materials and sample exams.

How We Chose the Best Architect Exam Prep Courses

We reviewed over a dozen architect exam prep courses before settling on our choices. Due to the detailed and difficult nature of the exams, we made sure to review providers that offered a variety of prep materials to match the individual learning styles of each student.

What is a good PE exam prep course?

A good PE exam prep course enables students to quickly get the answers to any questions that arise. In a live class, you can ask your instructor, but often students in self-study courses are left to fend for themselves.

What is the best book to take for the PE exam?

Here are the best recommended options of books to prepare for the PE exam. PE Civil Reference Manual, 16th Edition – Best Civil PE exam prep book.

How many questions are asked in PE exam?

Each section consists of 40 multiple-choice questions .

What is the PE exam?

The Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) exam is designed to assess your competency within your chosen engineering discipline, and passing it is a necessary step to becoming a Professional Engineer. The exam is challenging, and many students opt to take a PE exam prep course first in order to give themselves the best chance ...

How many times can you take a capstone course?

Once you pay for a course, you have access to the material forever. You can take each course module once or 100 times.

How long does it take to pass the Civil Structural Exam?

The exception is the Civil Structural exam, which takes place over two days, with multiple-choice breadth exams in the morning and essay depth exams in the afternoons. There is no set number of questions that you must get right in order to pass. It varies from one testing administration to another.

How much does it cost to take the chemical PE exam?

When you register, you must pay the examination fee — $350 for paper tests and $375 for computer-based tests — in order to hold your place.

image