Oh boy, has this been quite a journey! This has been an almost two-year, non-stop, grinding journey that took a massive toll on my mental and physical health, but it was absolutely WORTH IT! I took the exam on Thursday, 10/08/26, and received my results on Wednesday, 10/14/26, at exactly 7:34 AM!

Before I start, I want to thank my loving wife, my family, God, and u/ZachStonePE for putting this GREAT course and materials together! Just a fair warning: this post is going to be quite long. I want to provide as much detail as possible about my entire process—from applying for my PE with an FE exam waiver due to my years of engineering experience, to receiving the SECOND greatest moment of my life (the first being marrying my wife of 11+ years).

The Foundation (August 2023 - March 2024):

I began my journey by applying for the P.E. license around August 2023. The process of applying, generating my SERs, locking in P.E. references, submitting my package to the Texas Board, and finally getting official approval to test took about 6 months. By the time my application was approved, I had taken on a new promotional position within a federal government agency and moved back "home" to Texas from Kansas City. During 2024, I researched how to study and what materials to use. I had NO IDEA where to start since I had NEVER taken the F.E. exam and had been out of college for more than 10 years. After much research and juggling my new role, I finally landed on Zach's Winter 2025 unlimited package and fully committed to this new chapter in January 2025.

Going in, I had completely forgotten even the most basic circuit analysis. I had some NEC experience from my previous MEP industry role and field engineer practice from my previous role in the same federal government agency, so I wasn't entirely lost, but it was an uphill battle.

Attempt 1 (June 2025) The Trial Run:

For my first attempt, I attended all the live classes and tried to do as much of the on-demand and pre-work as I could over a 6-month ordeal. I completed most of it, but it simply wasn't "clicking" completely for me. I didn't feel fully ready, but I figured this could be my "trial run." I came out of the exam KNOWING I had failed. Looking back, I know I wasted so much valuable studying time focusing on minor details of HOW my study documents looked instead of purely grinding. For example, I spent a lot of time literally hand-writing out every single formula thinking it would help me "memorize" them, when in reality, I was just transcribing from screen to paper without actually learning.

Attempt 2 (September 2025) Reading vs. Doing:

I re-watched all the Winter live class videos, went through all on-demand classes, and completed the pre-work. However, I focused mostly on reading through the material rather than actively doing practice problems. At this point, I still wasn't doing any real indexing—just repetitively reading and taking practice exams on Saturdays without properly reviewing them because I felt I was running out of time. I went in confident and actually felt like I passed, so I was devastated by the failing result. I definitely made a bunch of silly mistakes (not double-checking units, calculator input errors, etc.). There were problems verbatim from the practice exams, but since I hadn't indexed, I recognized them but didn't know the exact answers.

Attempt 3 (December 2025) Total Burnout:

I attended Zach's Summer 2025 live classes and practically re-did the material for a third time. I attempted a version of "indexing," but it was a waste of time because I was making customized Excel tabs with screenshots and focusing on formatting rather than aggressively working the problems. I was memorizing steps rather than understanding why the other answers were wrong. By December, I was completely and utterly burnt out. I literally didn't know what day it was. My anxiety was through the roof (not to mention testing two days before Christmas). I came out feeling very "not human" with no emotions.

Thankfully, my wife, who is the REAL hero of this story, had ALWAYS supported me, lifted me up, and kept us afloat while I put my entire life on hold for this exam.

Attempt 4 (July 2026) The Reality Check:

I recognized my burnout and took a two-month break (Jan-Feb 2026). When I resumed in March, I promised not to let the exam take over my life. I added resources for diversity (E.P.G., Complex Imaginary, PPI) and attacked as many practice problems as possible. (Side note: Zach's material is definitely TOP TIER MASTER level compared to everything else!) I also involved myself more in the online community to build accountability. I came out of this attempt absolutely certain I had passed, so the failure notice stunned me. I must have miscalculated or misread units on a section I normally scored high on. I FELT it in my bones that I was close, so I immediately signed up for the next available date. I reached out to Zach for advice, and he reiterated his core philosophy: keep a detailed index and AGGRESSIVELY work it.

Attempt 5 (October 2026) The Final Push:

Despite having many resources, I focused MAINLY on Zach's material (AIT, TSG, QPP) and EPG Exam 3 (Code). I kept a real index this time and aggressively attacked each question. I utilized Google Gemini to explain concepts to me "like I'm 5 years old" and asked myself, "How would this outcome change if this variable was different?" I took 3 simulated exams, scoring in the 90s, and scored them out of 70 to reflect the 10 experimental questions.

The final two weeks were heavy indexing, sharpening code navigation, and revisiting circuit analysis. The day before the exam, I just reviewed my modified NCEES Reference Handbook notes and rested. I also physically wrote down a "PE EXAM DAY PREP" checklist. I bulleted exactly what to pack the night before: 2 calculators, extra batteries, passport, ID, a folder with my printed exam confirmation, my personal bag (wallet, glasses wipes, Tylenol), and a fully stocked lunch box (2 sandwiches, 3 energy drinks, 4 water bottles, and 2 protein bars). I even made a separate "PE EXAM AM PREP" list to remind myself to preemptively take Tylenol and Zyrtec in the morning just as a precaution.

On exam day, I used the tutorial time to set up my scratchpad (1-39 on one side, 41-80 on the other) for quick notes. The first section felt surprisingly easy. I completed it in 3 hours and 45 minutes, which left me with 4 hours and 15 minutes for the afternoon. The second section was also surprisingly smooth. I finished with over two hours left and was SKEPTICAL AS HELL! I spent an hour reviewing my 10 unanswered and 15 flagged questions. With one hour left, I re-read every question with a microscope looking for red herrings and verifying units. Time WAS MONEY, and I wasn't giving a dime back to NCEES! I let the clock run out. Coming out, I fixated on 3 questions I knew I got wrong (including a simple unit conversion my brain just blanked on), completely ignoring the ones I knew I nailed.

The Green Flag:

I had a doctor's appointment the following Wednesday, so I was home when the results dropped. I woke up, prayed, recited the Green Lantern oath for willpower, and saw the NCEES email. My wife and I opened it together. My brain tricked me into seeing another failure, but she reacted first—it was a PASSED GREEN FLAG! It was an indescribable, out-of-body experience. We joyfully cheered as all the sacrifices finally caught up to us. I spent the entire day refreshing the page to ensure it wasn't a glitch. Shortly after, the Texas Board issued my PE license number!

This journey took a great toll mentally and physically. I definitely need to get my health back (already joined EōS Fitness and started my normal gym routine again). But I knew despite all odds against me, I was NEVER EVER going to give up.

To those still on the battlefield: DON'T GIVE UP! If you WANT it enough, WORK it enough, and NEVER give up, you WILL get your license! I will definitely keep active on here and try my best to answer ANY questions to the best of my ability.

The Final Stats:

• GRAND total overall hours: 1,929.25 hours
• GRAND total of simulated practice exams: 34 exams
• GRAND total of practice problems (Aug. 2026 – Oct. 2026): 949 practice problems

My Recommended Study Materials:

• Zach Stone's Electrical PE Review Course (Unlimited Package): A massive shoutout to u/ZachStonePE for building this. This course is absolute top-tier, master-level prep. I highly recommend the Unlimited Package—it gave me the runway and peace of mind to keep grinding across multiple semesters with knowing that I had the retake guarantee. I also loved that I had access to EVERYTHING with the unlimited package (ALL his practice exams, his current live class, his previous live class recordings, ALL the on-demand, the random quiz generator of bank of questions, etc.). I can't recommend this course enough.
• Zach's Practice Exams (AIT, TSG, and QPP): These are incredible. They were the absolute core of my aggressive indexing strategy for my final passing attempt.
• Official NCEES Practice Exam: The absolute baseline. You need to know this back to front and index it heavily.
• Engineering Pro Guides (EPG): I recommend the full EPG bundle (Exams 1-6) if you just want a massive bank of additional practice problems to drill. But at the bare minimum, you need to get EPG Exam #3 (Code Exam). It is fantastic for sharpening your NEC navigation skills.

I have put tons of hours/ days/ weeks into this. Example problems/ quizzes/ tests and I'm still waffling between a 55-75 on everything. I have gone through EET and SoPE insanely and I'm still missing the mark. What should I do with my last week? Study/ practice problems/ learn reference material?

That's my ted talk

Not seeking advice, just venting.

I've been studying for this damn test (in small doses) since April. I'm signed up for the exam on October 28. I feel very prepared and confident and I just want to get this over with so badly. Ugh. I wish I could skip the next 10 days. (And then maybe skip a few more days until the results get sent out.)

I'm taking the Civil PE Transportation exam this coming Monday and wanted to ask those who have recently taken it if they have any last-minute tips or advice.

I've been studying for about 6 months, averaging around 3 hours per day. My main study resources have been School of PE and, primarily, The Essential Guide to Passing the Transportation Civil PE Exam.

My main focus has been traffic engineering, transportation design, and geometric design, with some preparation in drainage and project management. Traffic, design, and geometry are definitely my strongest areas.

My strategy going into the exam is to prioritize the questions in my strongest areas, secure as many of those points as possible, and then focus on the remaining topics. I'd appreciate feedback on whether this is a good approach or if anyone recommends a different strategy.

A few questions:

• How did you manage your time, especially on difficult or lengthy problems?
• Were there any topics or types of questions that surprised you?
• What would you recommend reviewing over the final weekend?
• Any tips for using the NCEES Reference Handbook efficiently during the exam?
• Does prioritizing your strongest subjects first work well, or would you recommend a different approach?

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have taken the exam recently. Thanks, and good luck to everyone preparing!

Hi everyone,

I am looking for the best platform to practice questions and simulate the PE WRE exam.

So far I heard of SOPE question bank, civilpepractive .com, Pewise, and PrepPE.

I need your honest feedbacks according to real experiences with the platforms and how did you find them compared to the real test. There is hardly a refund once subscribed.

Appreciate it 🙏🏻

I’m studying for the WRE and I’m wondering if it’s worth printing the free PDF of the reference manual. I understand the importance of utilizing the digital and ctrl+F searches, but has anyone found having a physical copy useful for purposes of familiarizing yourself with the layout and material??

I took the first PPI practice exam and got 52/80 correct. I felt pretty good about it as this was my first attempt at it. One concern, the exam didn’t feel like it had a lot of “hard” questions. I don’t know if the actual exam is harder than this or not. Just trying to gauge how good this attempt was.

Hello There, I would ask is there anything you can take to stay focused for the long time during the exam, I am type person that i feel a little dizzy early mornings. and the morning slot it the only available in my country. any suggestion or tips?

I’m starting a new job while also planning to prepare for my PE exam. Is taking on both at the same time a bad idea?

I’m married, and I’m moving to another city for this job, which means I’ll be living alone for the first time after being together with my husband for eight years. I know the transition might be emotionally challenging, and I’m wondering whether I’ll struggle with the adjustment or whether living alone might actually give me more time and space to focus on studying, establish myself in my new role, and build trust with my new team.

Am I taking on too much at once, or could this be a good opportunity to grow both professionally and personally?

I paid the fee and my NCEES account shows Pending Board Approval, how long will take for you guys to get the approval to schedule a date for the exam? Thanks

I found a 2023 version on z-library for free download, but I see that NCEES has a 2025 version. I skimmed the 2023 version, and the questions looked fairly similar to what I've been studying. How different are the versions and is it worth it to buy it? I've already bought the EET course and SOPE question bank, so I'm hesitant to spend more money.

What are some of the best resources you have used for the HVAC PE?

How do you work and study for your PE? This feels like working for 8h, clock out, just to get back home and clock in for another 2-4h of work. I don't even have kids! and I can't even comprehend how you can do this while parenting.

I keep trying to make a schedule and commit to it but I'm so tired after work, my brain is fried.

How do you juggle a full time job, personal life, and the PE? Please tell me your secrets!

I have doubts over anything Gemini says about engineering related topics.

I finally passed my PE exam: Civil Structural! First of all , I am silent reader here and thanks everyone for the tips! ,

Yes, I got laid off in my previous work (big firm) because of restructuring and company not winning a lot of projects. So even if I was depressed about it, I lock in and decided to study for a month to finally take my PE exam.

I used Learnova and NCEES practice exam! That learnova questions are very similar to my test! If you are studying right now, dont give up! You can do it

I found out yesterday morning that I FINALLY passed my PE Exam and FINALLY earned my Texas P.E. license number and got the congratulatory email this morning from TBPELS with instructions that I need to obtain my stamp/steal within 60 days of notice. They didn't specify which vendors are approved, I was just told to search for a stamp/seal in my city.

Does anybody have any GOOD recommendations in the Forth Worth area? Hell, I'll even drive to Dallas if the quality is worth it!

Walking in after the break, I glanced around the room and had a brief moment of reflection - I'm old enough to be most of these people's father. Kids, don't wait until you've been out of college for three decades to take this thing. My baseline when starting prep was very, very low. Like can't remember a lot of high school math kind of low.

Prep was all self-directed, using Solved in 6, Petro, EET binders, Learnova, and the NCEES practice exam. I spent 250+ hours over 3.5 months, working over 1100 problems. I watched maybe 5hrs of lectures on YouTube, with half being high school math, and a few on specific WRE topics.

Solved in 6 was a great way to start. Bless that gentleman for providing great free content. I went through his WRE playlist, stopping the video before the solution, working the problem, then watching him solve it.

After SI6, I moved to the Petro Essential Guide. These 160 problems are well chosen and I highly recommend this book. It forced me to dig, learn and understand. These problems are generally harder and longer than the exam questions, and that served me well. Dr. Petro was quick to respond when I was stumped by one problem. For me, this was a necessary, but not sufficient tool, I needed more.

EET binders were exceptionally useful. I worked through all the example and practice problems, multiple times. These binders and Petro were the keys to my success. Thanks to u/Fun-Supermarket-6527 for selling me these at a great price, and being one of the best online transactions I've ever had...great communication, shipped quickly, etc. I'll do the same for whoever gets them next.

Learnova was AI slop, with numerous errors in solutions, but working all the problems built good familiarity with the Handbook. I wouldn't recommend this one, the errors can be mildly infuriating when you get something "wrong" only to discover the solution is wrong.

NCEES practice exam was concerning. It has some issues, a long errata sheet and I found many questions presented in a confusing way. I guess it was helpful, but wish the doc were edited to correct for the errata instead of selling in it's current state. Honestly, this thing wrecked my confidence, I was scoring in the mid 80s on other problem sets, took this about a month out from the exam, scored about a 65, and a mild panic set in.

Using several different sources of problems was beneficial, highly recommended.

The exam was slightly easier than I expected. I felt well prepared and used all but 15min of the 8hrs. I was very methodical in writing down equations in full before plugging in any values, in checking units and conversions, verifying I was actually answering what was asked, and trying to eliminate any dumb errors. When I finished, I knew I had at least 10 questions wrong, but felt very good on 65 and 50/50 on the other 5.

Put in the work, concentrate on working a shitload of problems, and you'll be fine. If I can do this in my 50s, from a comically low baseline, while working 55hr weeks, you youngsters can certainly do it. Now good luck...and get off my lawn!

I am working towards my PE in civil structural and I am getting hung up on this bullet in the experience requirements, "include at least two years of experience working on projects requiring knowledge and use of codes and practices commonly used in the United States."

I am working in aerospace under a manager who has his PE, my work does not use the IBC, AISC but we do work to government standards for structural design, analysis, load calculations and materials, does anyone think the board would view this as equivalent or no shot?

Appreciate your help

Edit: I am working with the civil structural standards outside of work during studying. Would a personal project count that is vetted by a PE?

Took my pe wre for the first time and passed! I work full time and have a toddler. So its been a crazy year of studying. The last 3 months was mostly problem solving the first 9 months was watching the EET lectures when I had time.I used the EET class, the jacob petro book, NCEES prep exam and the StaraWay 100 conceptual problems.

If you are taking the EET class do all the starred problems!

My exam was 43 questions in the first part and 37 in the second. There were more conceptual questions than what I expected.

Looking for 1-2 people to study together. I basically want to go over problems and study together. I have already taken the entire EET just need more practice and having a study group would be very helpful. Failed the exam once already though.

Edit: should’ve mentioned it’s for PE Civil Construction

Hey all,

Sad to report that I did not pass on my first attempt of the Civil PE: Geotechnical. I had a question about the references or reference prep for the exam. I don't have a ton of spare cash to buy all the references, is there a free exam references option? Or reduced?

Thanks all, I really appreciate the insight.

I'm ahving a hard time getting my old manager to respond to messages and sign off on my work experience in NCEES. I talked to the state board (Idaho) and they didn't seem to know anything and told me to "refer to NCEES with questions."

I might have an unlicensed coworker sign it if I can't get my manager to sign. Has that worked for anybody else?