LICENSURE / FE · EIT · PE
Civil engineering licensing: FE, EIT and PE by state
The steps from graduation to a PE license, a guide to each exam, and each state's rules beside the jobs that ask for them.
AND EIT JOBS
Of the 389 open civil engineering jobs on this site today, 147 require a PE license and 33 ask for an EIT. PE-required roles that disclose pay have a median range midpoint of $122,340, $26,820 more than the other roles that do.
Every US state licenses engineers through its own board, using the same two NCEES exams but its own rules for experience, references, extra exams and renewal. This page links the general path to the rules of each state.
The path to a PE license
- STEP 1Engineering degree
Most boards expect an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's. Other degrees usually mean more years of experience.
- STEP 2FE exam → EIT
Pass the NCEES FE exam, often in your senior year, then apply to your board for EIT or EI status. FE guide
- STEP 3Experience
Usually 4 years of progressive work after an ABET degree, verified by engineers who supervised it. EIT to PE timeline
- STEP 4PE exam
The NCEES PE Civil exam, in one of five depth areas. Many states let you take it before your experience is done. PE Civil guide
- STEP 5License and renew
Apply to the board, pass any state exam, then keep up continuing education. Add states by comity. Comity guide
PE licensing rules by state
We have checked the rules on the boards' own sites for the states with the most open jobs, starting with these 12. For any other state, find its board in the NCEES licensing board directory.
| State | Exams beyond FE and PE | Continuing education | Open jobs | PE / EIT jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Ethics of Engineering exam | 15 hours of continuing education each renewal, at least 1 of them in ethics | 60 | 16 / 5 |
| Florida | None beyond the FE and PE | 18 hours every two years: 1 on Florida Laws and Rules from a Board-approved provider, 1 on professional ethics, 4 in your area of practice and 12 on any engineering topic | 39 | 13 / 6 |
| Montana | Montana Laws & Rules Questionnaire, sent with the application | 30 professional development hours every two years | 23 | 9 / 1 |
| North Carolina | None beyond the FE and PE | 15 PDH each renewal period, at least 1 in ethics or the Rules of Professional Conduct | 21 | 6 / 0 |
| Washington | Washington Engineer Law Review (passing score 80%) | Confirm with the board | 23 | 13 / 4 |
| Oregon | None beyond the FE and PE | 30 PDH every two years | 20 | 8 / 7 |
| Nebraska | None beyond the FE and PE | 30 hours every two years, all technical, with 1 on ethics | 15 | 5 / 1 |
| Colorado | None beyond the FE and PE | None | 18 | 5 / 1 |
| Idaho | None beyond the FE and PE | Continuing professional development is required | 12 | 6 / 0 |
| California | California Civil Seismic Principles exam; California Civil Engineering Surveying exam | Confirm with the board | 16 | 9 / 0 |
| Illinois | None beyond the FE and PE | 30 hours each renewal: 1 on sexual harassment prevention, 1 on Illinois engineering statutes and rules, 1 on ethics and 27 electives | 14 | 5 / 0 |
| New York | None beyond the FE and PE | 36 contact hours every three years, with 1 hour of professional ethics | 10 | 6 / 2 |
The licensing guide series
Jobs by license
ABOUT THESE PAGES
Where the rules come from.
Each state page summarizes the board's published requirements and links the exact pages we read. Where a board's pages did not state something, the page says so instead of filling the gap from a third-party site. These summaries are not legal advice: confirm anything you rely on with the board.
Job counts and pay come from live postings on this site and update hourly. Pay figures use only employer-disclosed ranges, and only when at least three postings disclose one. See the salary methodology.