Electrical and Computer P.E. Exam: Lessons from 2013 and Tips for 2025
This article is on what I got right—and wrong—when I passed the Computer Engineering PE exam in 2013, and how today's computer-based format changes.
Originally published: October 26, 2013 | Updated: May 5, 2025
Tags: Engineering Career, P.E. Exam, Professional Licensure
A Credential, Not a Challenge
The Professional Engineer (P.E.) exam is less a test of technical brilliance than it is a formal credential—an official license to legally offer engineering services in regulated fields.
From a purely academic perspective, the P.E. exam doesn’t demand excellence. It’s designed for competent professionals, and anyone who managed average grades in their undergraduate coursework should find it achievable with the right preparation.
Breadth Over Depth
The real challenge of the P.E. exam is its breadth, not its depth. It spans numerous topics, many of which date back to undergraduate studies. For those of us who’ve been out of school for years, that means revisiting some long-dormant material. Focused, deliberate review is essential.
Back in 2013, I chose the Electrical and Computer Engineering discipline, focusing on Computer Engineering. Civil Engineering with a Transportation emphasis was tempting, but I found the breadth of required civil sub-disciplines (e.g., Water Resources, Structural) too far removed from my core expertise.
The Exam Experience: Predictable and Old-School
Despite its significance, the P.E. exam is refreshingly structured. It’s a standardized test: questions are specific, answers are definitive, and ambiguity is limited. Unlike real-world engineering problems, where tradeoffs and uncertainty are the norm, this exam provides clarity—and that’s oddly comforting.
Preparation Insights: What to Prioritize
✅ Recommended
1. Digital Design and Computer Architecture (2nd Ed)
by David Money Harris & Sarah L. Harris
This had been my most valuable study resource. It covers digital systems, architecture, and logic design in a highly readable and comprehensive way—ideal for this exam in 2013.
2. Practice Exams
PPI’s Computer Engineering Sample Exam (obsolete, helpful in 2013)
These booklets had been spot-on. Several questions on the actual exam mirrored the format and difficulty of the samples in these prep materials.
🟡 Helpful Reference Materials
These resources aren’t required reading cover-to-cover, but they’re valuable for exam preparation:
Modern Operating Systems (2nd Ed) by Andrew S. Tanenbaum — A solid resource for operating systems topics—useful for tackling OS-related questions.
Software Engineering (9th Ed) by Ian Sommerville — Offers clear explanations of software engineering principles, especially helpful for demystifying complex or lesser-known concepts.
⚠️ Use with Caution
Some references commonly recommended in older manuals may be outdated or misaligned with today’s exam:
These may still have academic value but probably offer little relevance for exam-focused study in 2025.
🔴 Not Much Helpful
Computer Engineering Reference Manual by John A. Camara
This was the official reference manual back in 2013, now obsolete in 2025. While well-meaning, it overemphasizes topics such as Engineering Economics and Math—which have minimal presence on the exam—while offering only superficial coverage of core areas like Computer Architecture. Its utility for focused exam preparation is therefore quite limited.
Focus Topics in 2013
The following subjects featured prominently on the 2013 exam:
Digital Systems: Logic arrays, Gray Code, Flip-Flops (D, J-K, S-R)
Computer Architecture: Pipelining, ALUs, instruction sets, CPU energy consumption
Encoding: Unicode, IEEE floating-point, two’s complement, binary arithmetic
OS & Software: Interrupt handling (maskable/non-maskable), scheduling, DRAM timing
Networking: TCP/IP, Shannon capacity, wireless interference
Circuits: CMOS power usage, simple diodes, op-amps
Programming Concepts: Hamming codes, parity checks, Verilog/VHDL basics
One note: in 2013, I did not invest heavily in Electronics and still passed confidently. A basic grasp suffices—use your sample books to gauge the level needed.
📌 2025 Edition Postscript: What’s Changed?
Since 2013, the P.E. exam format has moved from paper-based to computer-based testing (CBT) across most disciplines, including Electrical and Computer Engineering. Key updates include:
Closed-book format: You now have access to a searchable digital reference manual provided by NCEES. Bringing in personal reference materials is no longer allowed (no textbooks, no printed handouts, no handwritten notes).
The searchable reference handbook is helpful but limited. Learn its structure well in advance, because you won’t have time to explore it blindly during the test.
The use of physical calculators is not allowed. You will have access to an on-screen calculator provided within the exam software
Increased focus on conceptual understanding: You can no longer rely on flipping through textbooks; it's more important than ever to master the fundamentals.
Exam structure: CBT exams are 9.5 hours with 85 questions
Final Advice
If you're preparing for the Computer Engineering PE Exam, here’s a refined, modern roadmap:
Examine deeply the latest, updated 2025 Exam Specifications
Master the PE Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering NCEES Reference Handbook version 2.0 - you can download it free with your NCEES account
Practice using official NCEES sample problems
Focus on understanding—not memorization
Don’t waste time on outdated texts or over-specialized reference manuals
📌 Disclaimer
The information in this post reflects the author’s personal experience and understanding of the P.E. Electrical and Computer: Computer Engineering exam, including changes up to 2025. Exam formats, policies, and resources are subject to change by NCEES or other regulatory bodies. For the most current and official exam details, always consult the NCEES website.