Texas Professional Engineering Exam
Read this guide for a breakdown of the Texas professional engineering exam. Discover how Harbor Compliance makes managing your firm licenses a breeze.
Texas Professional Engineering Exam—A Quick Guide
Passing the requisite professional engineering exams is a significant step for individuals seeking licensure in Texas. The exams test several engineering principles, demonstrating a candidate's competence and readiness for professional practice.
While securing a license can be demanding, understanding the exam structure and requirements is essential for success. To help you prepare for the process, this guide will offer a concise overview of the Texas professional engineering exam.
You'll also learn about Harbor Compliance, a comprehensive service provider that can help reduce your workload when securing and managing your engineering firm licenses.
Understanding the Three Exams for Texas PE Licensure
To become a licensed professional engineer in Texas, you must meet specific conditions listed in the Texas Engineering Practice Act. One of the requirements is passing three distinct exams:
- Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam
- Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam)
- Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE Exam)
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE Exam)
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is typically the first formal step for recent graduates on their path to professional licensure. It’s administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and available year-round at NCEES-approved test centers. The exam includes 110 questions, and the appointment time is six hours.
The FE Exam covers a broad range of engineering fundamentals. The specific topics depend on the discipline that the candidate chooses. Ten common knowledge areas across all disciplines include:
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Ethics and Professional Practice
- Engineering Economics
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Strength of Materials
- Materials Science
- Fluid Mechanics and Dynamics of Liquids
- Fluid Mechanics and Dynamics of Gases
- Electricity, Power, and Magnetism
Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE Exam)
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam is the second examination engineers must pass to get a Texas professional engineer license. It takes 8–8.5 hours and includes 80–85 questions.
The exam is designed for engineers who have gained at least four years of post-college work experience in their area of specialization.
While the studied topics vary according to the specialization, the PE Exam includes common knowledge areas, including the following:
- Analytical reasoning
- Quantitative reasoning
- Discipline-specific subjects
By passing the FE and PE Exams, engineers demonstrate their understanding of fundamental engineering principles, which is crucial for enhancing their ability to innovate, solve complex problems, and contribute to the advancement of society through cutting-edge solutions.
Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam
The Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam is an open-book examination focusing on the Texas Engineering Practice Act and the Board Rules. This exam is a mandatory part of the licensure process and must be completed and submitted with the license application.
The exam is administered by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and is available for applicants to take at their convenience. It covers several areas, including the following:
- Professional practice provisions of the Act and Board Rules
- Professional conduct and ethical decisions
- Typical ethical and professional practice issues
- The powers of the Board
The objective of the Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam is to ensure that applicants for a license in the state understand their ethical, professional, and legal responsibilities and are aware that guidance is available on these matters.
Eligibility Criteria for the Texas PE Exam
To take the three exams, candidates must meet certain conditions. Here's a breakdown of the specific requirements for each exam:
| Exam | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Texas Ethics of Engineering Exam | Open to all licensure applicants. |
| Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam |
|
| Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam | Applicants must have at least four years of post-college work experience in the chosen discipline, referenced by a professional engineer. |
Additional Texas Professional Engineer License Requirements
In Texas, the prerequisites for obtaining the authority to practice as a professional engineer differ based on the type of entity applying for the license. While the state doesn't explicitly classify these entities, the two general classes of requirements are:
- Individual professional engineer license requirements
- Engineering firm license requirements
Individual Professional Engineer License Requirements
Beyond the educational qualifications and work experience, individuals seeking a Texas professional engineer license must fulfill these conditions:
- Documentation—Applicants must prepare a Supplementary Experience Record (SER) and submit it to the Board. The SER, which should be 6–12 pages, is a written summary documenting the applicant's engineering experience used to meet the requirements for licensure. It should be written in the first person, in narrative form, using complete sentences and active, engineering-type verbs.
- References—Applicants are required to provide three references from licensed professional engineers. These references, which can be authorized in any jurisdiction, should be issued by engineers personally acquainted with the applicant's professional reputation. The threshold is higher for individuals requesting an examination waiver since they must provide five confidential references.
Engineering Firm License Requirements
Like an individual, any business offering professional engineering services in Texas must meet several licensing requirements, including the following:
- Registration—The firm must register with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.
- Engineering work—All engineering work and services the firm offers must be performed by or directly supervised by a professional engineer licensed in Texas who is a regular, full-time employee of the business.
- Fees—The Board has established an initial registration fee, which varies depending on the business structure.
Businesses engaged in engineering work need to deal with both categories of license requirements because:
- Operating as an independent engineer with just an individual license would mean running a business without a legal entity (which means unlimited liability).
- Marketing and contracting to provide engineering services generally requires the business to have an engineering firm license, and it can’t obtain one without being at least partially owned and managed by licensed professional engineers.
- Applying for a firm license requires the business to list at least one individual professional on the license application, known as “the professional-in-responsible-charge.” If they let their individual license expire, the firm license does, too. To avoid disruption, companies must keep track of the licenses held by the professional-in-responsible-charge and other employees (in case they need a quick replacement). Boards typically allow companies a few days to address the issue by either reinstating the license or finding a replacement before the firm license is forfeited.
Even though the mentioned requirements may seem straightforward, researching state laws, preparing the necessary documentation, and filing them means more time spent on paperwork. To reduce your workload and dedicate more time to running your business, consider partnering with Harbor Compliance.
Securing Your Texas Professional Engineer License With Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is your reliable partner in meeting professional engineering requirements in Texas and other states, thanks to our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions.
The Software Suite, powered by our proprietary Compliance Core™ algorithm, simplifies the process of researching, applying for, managing, and renewing your licenses. It eliminates the need for spreadsheets, calendars, and file storage, saving time when checking requirements and submitting filings.
The software also includes the Entity Managers, a module integrated with the secretary of state databases that allows you to monitor your standing in different jurisdictions. It also automates annual report tracking to further reduce your workload.
You can also use the Records Manager, a module that helps you store organizational documents specific to your type of entity, and many others.
Our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions are designed to help professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors obtain crucial licenses like:
- Engineering Firm
- Geoscience Firm
- Land Surveying Firm
Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions
Partnering with Harbor Compliance has several strategic advantages, such as:
- Reduced licensing lapses and gaps—With our specialized licensing software and Compliance Core™, you can have peace of mind knowing you're updated on statutory requirements.
- Personalized assistance—Our experts are always ready to provide personalized advice, simplifying the licensing process.
- Adaptability to your needs—We offer flexible service options, allowing you to choose the solution that best fits your firm's requirements.
- Efficiency—Our service helps streamline the licensing process, freeing up resources for your core responsibilities.
Ordering Harbor Compliance’s Engineering Licensing Service
To order our Compliance Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions, here's what you need to do:
- Go to the solution page.
- Click the “Contact Us” button
- Enter your details.
- Verify that everything is correct and hit “Let’s talk.”
Harbor Compliance offers three service options to choose from:
- Fully Managed—This option provides you with a hands-off experience. Our team of experts handles most of the entity registration, licensing, and tax registration processes—from preparing applications to tracking renewals. It reduces your regulatory workload and provides peace of mind. Choose this option for company licenses only.
- Self-Managed—If you prefer having more control over the process, this option might be the right fit. You'll have access to our cloud-based software, a comprehensive database of licensing requirements, applications and filing procedures, and other essential details.
- Hybrid—You can outsource specific tasks to our team while handling others yourself, allowing you to customize the service according to your needs.
Additional Services by Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance offers a diverse range of services to help you meet various state requirements. Here are some of the most sought-after solutions
| Category | Services |
|---|---|
| Expedited document retrieval | |
| Business licensing |
|
| Lifecycle management | |
| Beneficial ownership information reporting | |
| Tax services | |
| Nonprofit services |
