Civil, structural, and geotechnical work is licensed through the Professional Engineer (PE) system, with structural adding the advanced SE exam and geotechnical adding a state GE authority in some states. Site/land-development professionals often add the Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) ladder, and engineering-geology work may call for a PG/CEG. This overview covers the FE, all five PE Civil depth exams, the 16-hour SE exam, the surveying ladder (FS → PS), the geotechnical GE authority, and the PG/CEG geology credential — what each covers and how they relate.
Every path starts with the FE → EIT, then ~4 years of qualifying experience before a PE Civil depth exam (Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, or Water Resources & Environmental). Structural engineers who design significant or high-risk structures pursue the advanced 16-hour SE exam on top of the PE. Geotechnical engineers in a few states (California, Oregon) add a Geotechnical Engineer (GE) authority. Site/land-development professionals often add the surveying ladder (FS → PS) to plat, set boundaries and prepare legal descriptions, and engineering-geology work may require a Professional Geologist (PG) / Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG). All are administered by NCEES, ASBOG, and/or state boards.
Fundamentals of Engineering — the first step toward every PE Civil depth.
The Professional Engineer exam with a chosen civil depth area.
The PE depth exam for structural engineers.
The advanced 16-hour exam for significant-structure design.
The PE depth exam for geotechnical engineers.
An additional license to practice geotechnical engineering in some states.
The first surveying exam — the survey equivalent of the FE.
The professional surveying exam leading to PLS licensure.
Licensure for engineering-geology and geologic-hazard work.
| Credential | Prerequisite | Typical experience | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| FE Civil | Civil coursework | Final-year student / grad | NCEES |
| PE Civil | Pass FE | ~4 years under a PE* | NCEES + state board |
| PE Civil: Structural | Pass FE | ~4 years under a PE* | NCEES + state board |
| SE Exam | Often the PE first | Structural experience* | NCEES + state board |
| PE Civil: Geotechnical | Pass FE | ~4 years under a PE* | NCEES + state board |
| Geotechnical Engineer (GE) | Hold the PE | Geotech experience* | State board |
| FS (Surveying) | Surveying coursework | Final-year student / grad | NCEES |
| PS (Surveying) | Pass FS | Qualifying experience* | NCEES + state board |
| PG / CEG | Geology degree | Qualifying experience* | ASBOG / state |
* Experience hours and prerequisites vary significantly by state, jurisdiction and credential level. Figures shown are typical ranges, not legal requirements.
The PE Civil breadth content is shared, but the depth (Construction, Geotech, Structural, Transportation, Water) is what you specialize in. Choose based on your daily work and study its references hard.
Civil and structural depth exams reference specific standards (AASHTO, ACI, AISC, ASCE 7, NDS, MUTCD, etc.). Know which apply to your depth and practice navigating them quickly.
The SE is a 16-hour, two-component exam (vertical then lateral). Most candidates split the components and prepare for months — build a realistic study plan and practice full essay/problem solutions.
Geotechnical depth questions lean on foundation design, slope stability and seismic/liquefaction. Be fluent with the relevant methods and references for each.
Use the same edition of the code/handbook the exam is written to, and the certifying body’s official references. Exams are tied to a specific cycle — the wrong edition costs you on lookup questions.
Confirm the exact education, experience hours and application steps with the certifying body or state board first — missing a prerequisite trips up more people than the exam content does.
Many exam questions are calculation problems you can rehearse right now with the free tools in the Civil & Structural Studio: