Structural Engineering Exam

The Structural Engineering (SE) exam tests your ability to practise structural engineering. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) in the United States administers this exam.

This exam uses separate vertical and lateral components to test your ability to safely design buildings or bridges, especially in areas of high seismicity and high wind.

The SE exam will be transitioning from paper-and-pencil exam to computer-based test exclusively at approved PearsonVUE test centres starting 2024.

Do I Need to Write the Structural Engineering Exam?

The SE exam is specifically designed for professional engineers who practice in jurisdictions that may license structural engineers separately from other professional engineers. If you intend to practice structural engineering in the United States, check the requirements for the jurisdiction you’ll be working in. APEGA is not involved in US state board licensing decisions.

The SE exam is not required if you plan to practice in Canada only. 

Registering for the SE Exam

• APEGA members and Members-in-Training may write the exam. We do not offer this exam with applicant status.
• Register through your myAPEGA account.
• An email confirmation with instructions to continue your registration with NCEES will be emailed to you.

Exam Fees

Taking the Structural Engineering Exam requires paying an administration fee (non-refundable) to APEGA at the time of registration . Once your registration has been submitted, you will be emailed instructions on how to register with NCEES.

Exam Dates

• Registration will be open on November 1, 2023.
• Breadth sections for both components will be offered year-round.
• Depth sections will be offered twice per year in testing windows. 

More information can be found at the NCEES website

Rescheduling & Cancelling

You may cancel or reschedule your CBT appointment through your MyNCEES account. Please refer to NCEES Examinee Guide for more information.

Taking the SE Exam

The exam is comprised of 2 components—vertical and lateral. Each component includes a breadth section and a depth section. Breadth and depth sections may be taken, and acceptable results obtained, separately and at different times.

Breadth section

• Breadth section exam appointments will be 6 hours. Each breadth section appointment will include 10 minutes for a tutorial and review of the non-disclosure agreement, a 20-minute break, and 5.5 hours of exam time.
• Exam items will be all multiple-choice, single-response items graded via computer. Content will include both buildings and bridges.
• Breadth sections for both components will be offered year-round.

Depth sections

• Depth section exam appointments will be 5.5 hours. Each depth section appointment will include 10 minutes for a tutorial and review of the non-disclosure agreement, a 20-minute break, and 5 hours of exam time.
• Depth sections will be offered in two areas—buildings and bridges. Examinees must select and pass the same depth area (buildings or bridges) for each component.
• Depth sections will be offered twice per year in testing windows.

You are allowed to bring bound reference materials to the exam, but the materials must remain bound during the exam. Loose paper may be bound with:

• ring binders
• brads
• plastic snap binders
• spiral-bound notebooks
• screw posts

No staples are permitted. Sticky notes and flags are permitted only when they remain attached to bound pages.

Exam Results

Exam results for breadth sections will be available in 7-10 days. Your results will also be posted on your MyNCEES account and in myAPEGA.

Exam results for depth sections will require standard setting evaluations and be available in 6-8 weeks. Once the item bank is sufficiently populated, results will be available in 7-10 days.