SE Exam and Structural Engineer License: Format, States, PE vs SE (2026)

TL;DR: The SE exam structural engineer license path runs through the NCEES PE Structural exam. It used to be a 16-hour, two-day pencil-and-paper test; today it is four separate computer-based sections (Vertical and Lateral, each with a breadth and a depth), $350 each at NCEES. Breadth runs year-round; depth runs only twice a year. A few states, such as Illinois, Washington and Utah, require a structural license for all or certain structural work, so for fab and plant structural engineers the SE can decide where you can sign drawings.

I recruit for roles like this on U.S. fab and plant projects, and senior structural roles are where I hear the most confusion about licenses. Candidates say “I have my PE, so I’m a structural engineer,” and in many states that is enough. In others it is not. Hiring managers at A&E design firms ask me whether a candidate holds an SE, or can get one, because some projects or states need a licensed structural engineer to seal the work.

Below is how the SE exam structural engineer license path works as of late October 2026: the current exam components, the 2027 changes, state examples with board links, and a practical path for engineers working on semiconductor fabs and battery plants.

SE exam structural engineer license basics: from 16 hours to four CBT sections

Many engineers still call it “the 16-hour exam.” An older NCEES presentation describes that format: two 8-hour components, Vertical Forces on a Friday and Lateral Forces on a Saturday, each with a morning of 40 multiple-choice problems and an afternoon of constructed-response or essay problems (NCEES 16-hour SE update).

Today, the NCEES PE Structural page splits it into four computer-based sections at Pearson test centers:

Each appointment includes a 2-minute NDA, an 8-minute tutorial and a 20-minute break. At $350 per section, the four sections add up to $1,400 in NCEES fees, before any state application fee. Some boards also charge their own fees.

Rules that matter: depth choice, results, 2027 changes

• Same depth area for both components. You choose Buildings or Bridges and must pass the same one for Vertical and Lateral.
• Pass both components. You need acceptable results on Vertical and Lateral. NCEES says acceptable component results do not expire.
• Results timing. Breadth in about 7 to 10 days; depth in about 10 to 13 weeks, because depth needs standard-setting.
• Reserve early. NCEES says you can reserve a seat up to a year ahead once you are registered and approved by your board.
• April 2027 depth format. Depth sections change to 48 questions (40 scored, 8 pretest) using AITs and multiple choice. Lateral Bridges, Lateral Buildings and Vertical Buildings have four scenarios; Vertical Bridges has five.
• Retakes. NCEES allows one attempt per testing window and no more than three in 12 months (Examinee Guide).

Content highlights: the current Lateral depth spec for Buildings requires at least two scenarios in Seismic Design Category D or higher and at least one with wind of 140 mph or more. The Vertical breadth spec covers loads, analysis, steel, cold-formed steel, concrete, wood, masonry and foundations.

“Which SE section do I take first, and when?”

Structural engineers planning the SE watch the pass rates closely, almost nervously, and the question I hear from candidates is always the same: “Which section should I take first, and what are my odds?”

The official numbers are on the NCEES Structural exam page. In the table last updated July 2026, first-time pass rates were 45% for lateral breadth and 44% for vertical breadth. Breadth is offered year-round, but depth is only twice a year: lateral depth on October 27, 2026 and April 13, 2027, vertical depth on October 28, 2026 and April 14, 2027. Starting April 2027, depth sections have 48 questions, 40 of them scored. Each state sets its own rules, so the state board makes the final call. That includes when you’re approved to sit and whether your state requires the SE at all.

• Pick your depth dates first, then schedule breadth around them.
• If your depth date falls in or after April 2027, study from the 2027 specifications.

Design standards: before and after April 2027

Sources: current breadth specs and the April 2027 Lateral breadth and Lateral Buildings depth specs. The 2027 Buildings depth spec says wood and masonry use ASD and steel and concrete use strength design (LRFD). If your depth date is October 2026, you are still on the older list; from April 2027, the new one.

States that require SE licensure for certain structures

States handle structural licensure in different ways. Here are four verified examples. Always read your own board’s current rules.

Experience rules differ too. Washington asks for a Washington PE plus at least two years of progressive structural experience beyond the eight years required for the PE, including seismic design and two of the four common materials (WAC 196-12-047). California counts structural experience in responsible charge after your civil license.

PE vs SE: what changes for your career

The “roughly 23 hours” is my sum of the NCEES exam times (5.5 plus 5.5 plus 6 plus 6). BLS groups structural engineers under civil engineers and reports a $100,840 median wage for civil engineers in May 2025 (BLS); BLS does not publish a separate SE figure. When comparing offers, try the offer comparison calculator.

A step-by-step path for fab structural engineers

Fab and battery plant structural work has its own flavor: heavy equipment loads, vibration-sensitive floors, pipe racks, tall process buildings and sometimes high-seismic or high-wind sites. That is good SE preparation. A practical path:

1. FE exam and EIT/EI. If your degree is from outside the U.S., start the credential evaluation your board requires early.
2. Pick your target state. If you may work in Illinois, plan on the SE exam, since the 8-hour PE Civil/Structural is not accepted there. In Washington or California, you need the state PE or civil license first.
3. Build the right experience. Ask for lateral system design, seismic detailing and at least two materials, which Washington’s rule names explicitly.
4. Take one breadth section first. NCEES does not state a required order, but breadth runs year-round and returns results in about 7 to 10 days, so it is a low-risk start.
5. Book the depth window early. Depth runs twice a year and results take 10 to 13 weeks. Choose Buildings or Bridges once and stay with it.
6. Practice with NCEES material for your date. NCEES lists April 2027 practice exams at $59.95 per section and $199.95 packages for Buildings or Bridges (MyNCEES).
7. Apply to the board once you have passed both components and meet its experience rules.

Bring an approved calculator: the NCEES 2026 policy allows Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, HP 33s and 35s, and TI-30X and TI-36X models.

What’s different at Korean companies, and questions to ask

On Korean-affiliated fab and plant projects, the owner’s engineers often review structural packages with headquarters standards in mind, and the U.S. engineer of record has to reconcile them with U.S. codes. Clear, calm technical explanation is valued, and Korean ability helps in reviews but is not required. Fast schedules can collide with depth exam dates, so raise them early. If you are on a work visa, line up your license plan with your status; see O-1 visas for engineers and H-1B transfer.

• Which states do our projects fall in, and do any require an SE to seal?
• Is there a licensed SE who can supervise and verify my experience?
• Will the firm pay all four section fees and give me time off for depth dates?
• Will I design lateral systems, or mostly gravity framing and foundations?
• Is there a title or pay change when I pass the SE? (Get it in writing; see my offer letter checklist.)

FAQ

Is the SE exam still 16 hours?

Not in the old two-day form. It is now four computer-based sections; breadth exam time is 5.5 hours each and depth is 6 hours each.

Do I need a PE before taking the SE exam?

It depends on the state. Illinois issues an initial SE license on the FE and SE exams. Washington and California require a state PE or civil license first.

Can I take breadth and depth in any order?

NCEES says they are taken separately with independent results and does not state a required order. Check whether your board adds one.

What if I pass Vertical but fail Lateral?

NCEES says acceptable results on a component do not expire, so you retake only what you still need.

Buildings or Bridges for fab work?

In my experience, most fab and plant structural design is building work, so Buildings usually fits. You must use the same choice for both depth sections.

Not legal advice; your state board’s rules decide. Exam details as of October 2026. Sources: NCEES PE Structural, Vertical breadth spec, Lateral depth spec, 2027 Lateral breadth, 2027 Lateral Buildings depth, NCEES Examinee Guide, Illinois IDFPR, RCW 18.43, WAC 196-12-047, Utah S.B. 200, California BPELSG, BLS.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacob Kim

Bilingual (English/Korean) recruiter based in New Jersey. I place engineers, technicians and office staff with Korean-affiliated companies and their suppliers across the U.S., and I write GRYNDHAUS from the questions candidates actually ask me during interviews, offers and their first months on the job.

OSHA 30 · B.B.A., Baruch College (CUNY)

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