PE Electrical
PE Electrical and Computer: Power
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The PE Electrical and Computer: Power credential is a professional engineering license for engineers who design, analyze, and maintain electric power systems - generation, transmission, distribution, and industrial or commercial power utilization. It is administered by NCEES and is one of three disciplines offered within the PE Electrical and Computer exam, alongside Computer Engineering and Electronics, Controls, and Communications. The Power discipline was the first of the three to move to computer-based testing (CBT); NCEES fast-tracked the transition to December 2020 in response to COVID-19, and appointments are now available year-round at Pearson VUE test centers. Expect the exam to sample broadly across general power engineering, circuit analysis, rotating machines and electromagnetic devices, transmission and distribution, and power system analysis and design, so candidates typically prepare across all of these areas rather than specializing. Serious preparation means working from the exam specifications and reference materials NCEES publishes, drilling calculation-heavy problems under time pressure, and getting comfortable with the CBT interface and its built-in reference tools before test day. Candidates should confirm current specifications, scheduling, and licensing requirements directly with NCEES and their state licensing board, since policies are revised periodically.
What you'll study
About PE Electrical preparation
What format is the PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam?
It is a computer-based test (CBT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. NCEES moved the Power discipline from pencil-and-paper to CBT in December 2020, ahead of the original April 2021 plan, as part of its COVID-19 response. Appointments have been available year-round since December 1, 2020.
Can I schedule the Power exam at any time of year?
Yes. NCEES states that appointments are available year-round at Pearson VUE test centers beginning December 1, 2020. That differs from the Computer Engineering and Electronics, Controls, and Communications disciplines, which NCEES said would be offered annually beginning October 2021 rather than year-round.
Is the October pencil-and-paper administration still an option?
No. As part of the CBT transition, NCEES canceled the October 2020 pencil-and-paper administration for the Power exam and opened registration for the computer-based version in August. Candidates who had registered for the October exam were notified and refunded so they could register for CBT.
How many questions are on the exam, and how long is it?
We do not publish those figures here because they are not stated in the NCEES source this page is based on, and NCEES revises exam specifications periodically. Check the current NCEES exam specifications and candidate guide for the item count, appointment length, and any scheduled breaks before you build a pacing plan.
What topics should I study, and in what order?
Cover all five areas rather than playing favorites: general power engineering, circuit analysis, rotating machines and electromagnetic devices, transmission and distribution, and power system analysis and design. Start with circuit analysis and machinery fundamentals, since they underpin protection, load flow, and equipment sizing problems, then rotate through the remaining areas so no topic goes stale.
What is the most common way candidates lose points?
Breadth failures, not depth failures. Candidates often over-drill one comfort area, such as load flow or motors, and neglect code-related, protection, or grounding questions. Others lose time on unit conversions and per-unit bookkeeping. Practice mixed-topic sets under time pressure and write down assumptions; clean setup earns partial credit thinking even when the number is wrong.
What score do I need to pass, and what does it cost?
Those values are not provided in the source used for this page, so we do not state them. Passing standards and fees are set and published by NCEES and can change between administrations. Refer to the current NCEES exam page and your state licensing board for the authoritative figures before registering.
If I fail, how soon can I retake the exam?
Retake rules come from NCEES and your state licensing board, and they are not specified in our source material, so confirm them directly before planning a second attempt. Because appointments are year-round for this discipline, scheduling is generally less of a constraint than satisfying any waiting period your board imposes.
How should I prepare for a computer-based exam specifically?
Practice with the same on-screen tools you will use on test day: searching a digital reference, using the on-screen calculator, and flagging items to revisit. Build a habit of skipping long problems on the first pass. Two or three timed mixed-topic simulations in the final weeks usually reveal pacing problems better than untimed drilling.