PE Civil Structural Exam Pass Rate: First-Time and Repeat Data

The latest PE Civil: Structural exam pass rate is 62% for first-time examinees and 43% for repeat examinees, according to NCEES data published in July 2026 for the January–June 2026 reporting population. Those figures describe candidates testing under NCEES member-board jurisdictions; they do not predict whether any one candidate will pass.This guide explains the current rates, candidate volumes, recent movement, comparisons with the other PE Civil disciplines, and how NCEES scores the exam.

The PE Civil: Structural exam pass rate is 62% for first-time takers and 43% for repeat takers, according to NCEES data published in July 2026 for the January–June 2026 reporting population. The reported population included 1,624 first-time examinees and 847 repeat examinees under NCEES member-board jurisdictions. NCEES updates pass rates for this year-round computer-based exam in July and January.

Source: NCEES Civil exam page—Scoring & Pass Rates

Table of contents

• What is the PE Civil Structural pass rate in 2026?
• How has the pass rate changed?
• What does the first-time and repeat gap mean?
• How does Structural compare with the other PE Civil exams?
• Is the exam curved?
• What score do you need to pass?
• How often does NCEES update pass rates?
• What does the pass rate say about difficulty?
• How should candidates use the data?
• Frequently asked questions

What is the PE Civil Structural pass rate in 2026?

NCEES reports a 62% first-time pass rate and a 43% repeat-taker pass rate for PE Civil: Structural examinees in the January–June 2026 reporting population, published in July 2026. The table includes 1,624 first-time examinees and 847 repeat examinees.

These statistics summarize performance by examinees testing under the jurisdiction of an NCEES member board. They are not a lifetime pass rate, and they are not an annual probability assigned to an individual candidate.

See the current figures on the NCEES Civil exam page.

How has the PE Civil Structural pass rate changed?

The July 2026 update, which covers the January–June 2026 population, reports higher pass rates for both candidate groups than the January 2026 update, which covers the July–December 2025 population. The first-time rate increased from 58% to 62%, a rise of four percentage points. The repeat rate increased from 37% to 43%, a rise of six percentage points.

This is a comparison of two different six-month populations, not evidence of a long-term trend. The defensible conclusion is that the population reported in the July 2026 update had higher pass rates than the population reported in the January 2026 update.“Percentage points” and “percent change” are not interchangeable. Moving from 58% to 62% is an increase of four percentage points. Expressed as a relative percent change, it is about 6.9%, but percentage points are the clearer way to compare pass rates.

First-time vs. repeat pass rates: what does the 19-point gap mean?

In the July 2026 data, the PE Civil: Structural first-time pass rate is 19 percentage points higher than the repeat-taker rate: 62% versus 43%.That gap describes two different candidate populations. It does not show why their results differ. The NCEES table does not report study time, academic background, work experience, test anxiety, course use, or other possible influences. Claims that repeat candidates study less or simply repeat earlier mistakes would go beyond the published evidence.NCEES states that first-time and repeat examinees are evaluated against the same minimum ability standard. A repeat candidate is not graded more harshly because of a previous attempt. Likewise, the 43% aggregate rate is not a personal prediction for someone retaking the exam.For an individual repeat candidate, a particularly useful source of individualized information is the diagnostic report issued after an unsuccessful result. It identifies subject areas of relative strength and weakness and can help prioritize the next study plan.

How does Structural compare with the other PE Civil exams?

Structural ranks third of the five PE Civil disciplines by first-time pass rate in the July 2026 NCEES update. Its 62% first-time rate is one percentage point below Geotechnical and one point above Transportation.

Structural and Transportation share the same repeat-taker rate of 43%. Across all five disciplines, the spread between the highest and lowest first-time rates is 11 percentage points: 71% for Water Resources and Environmental versus 60% for Construction.

These aggregate rates do not prove that one discipline is inherently easier or harder for a particular candidate. Differences of one or two points are especially weak grounds for choosing a discipline. Education, relevant work experience, and alignment with the current exam specification are more useful considerations.

Is the PE Civil Structural exam curved?

No. NCEES does not predetermine how many candidates will pass or fail. It converts the number of correct answers to a scaled score, which adjusts for minor differences in difficulty among exam forms, and compares that score with a minimum ability level established for the exam.That process is not a curve based on how other candidates perform. First-time and repeat examinees are scored against the same standard.

What score do you need to pass the PE Civil Structural exam?

NCEES does not publish the passing score. Exam results are reported as pass or fail. Candidates who do not pass receive a diagnostic report identifying subject areas of relative strength and weakness.Internet rules of thumb such as “70% correct is passing” are not an official threshold and should not be presented as one. NCEES explains that scores are scaled to account for minor differences in difficulty among exam forms and then compared with the exam’s minimum ability level.Review the official NCEES scoring explanation for details.

How often does NCEES update PE Civil pass rates?

NCEES updates pass rates for year-round computer-based testing populations twice a year. The July update shows the January–June population, while the January update shows the July–December population.The PE Civil disciplines are computer-based and available year-round. Because each published percentage represents a defined reporting population, the date should always appear beside the rate. A percentage copied without its candidate group and update date can quickly become misleading.The NCEES Civil page also lists specifications effective before April 2027 and revised specifications effective beginning April 2027. Candidates should verify the specification and listed design-standard editions that apply to their planned exam date.

What does the pass rate tell you about exam difficulty?

The pass rate reports the share of a defined candidate population that met the NCEES minimum ability standard. It gives useful context, but it does not measure the probability that a specific reader will pass.The statistic reflects the performance and characteristics of the people in that reporting population. Because the NCEES table does not break results down by experience, education, preparation method, or other candidate characteristics, it cannot establish what caused a rate to rise, fall, or differ from another discipline.The July 2026 comparison shows that the five first-time PE Civil rates span 60% to 71%. Structural’s 62% places it third, but that ranking alone does not make it the third-easiest or third-hardest choice. Selecting a discipline to gain one or two percentage points in an aggregate table could mean choosing content that is less aligned with your background.A more actionable approach is to read the current specification and compare its knowledge areas with your education and professional experience. Under the specification effective before April 2027, the PE Civil: Structural exam includes 80 questions and covers structural loads, forces and load effects, temporary structures and related topics, material properties, and component design and detailing. NCEES has posted a revised specification for exams beginning in April 2027, so check the version tied to your test date.

What should first-time and repeat candidates do with this information?

Use the pass rate as context, not as a study target. A practical plan should start with the current NCEES specification, the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook, and the design standards listed in the applicable specification.

• Turn the applicable NCEES specification into a study-scope checklist.
• Practice with the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook and the listed design standards, not with memory alone.
• Use timed practice mapped to the specification’s knowledge areas.
• If you are repeating, use your NCEES diagnostic report to prioritize relative weaknesses while maintaining stronger areas.
• Confirm which specification and design-standard editions apply to your planned exam date, particularly around the April 2027 change.

For more detail, review the PE Civil: Structural exam format and topics.

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest PE Civil Structural first-time pass rate?

NCEES reports a 62% first-time pass rate for PE Civil: Structural examinees in the January–June 2026 reporting population, published in July 2026. The reported first-time volume was 1,624 examinees under NCEES member-board jurisdictions. The rate describes that population, not an individual candidate’s probability of passing.

What is the PE Civil Structural repeat-taker pass rate?

The PE Civil: Structural repeat-taker pass rate is 43% for the January–June 2026 reporting population, published by NCEES in July 2026. The reported repeat volume was 847 examinees. NCEES evaluates first-time and repeat candidates against the same minimum ability standard.

Is PE Civil Structural the hardest Civil PE exam?

No conclusion that Structural is the “hardest” follows from pass rates alone. In July 2026, Construction had the lowest first-time PE Civil rate at 60%, while Structural was 62%. Aggregate rates do not measure difficulty for a specific candidate.

Does NCEES curve the PE Civil Structural exam?

No. NCEES does not predetermine the share of examinees who will pass or fail. It converts correct answers to a scaled score and compares the result with the exam’s minimum ability level. First-time and repeat examinees are scored against the same standard.

Does NCEES publish the passing score?

No. NCEES reports results as pass or fail but does not publish the passing score. An unsuccessful candidate receives a diagnostic report showing subject areas of relative strength and weakness, which can help guide preparation for another attempt.

How often are the pass rates updated?

For year-round computer-based exams such as the PE Civil disciplines, NCEES updates pass rates twice a year. The July refresh reports the January–June population, and the January refresh reports the July–December population.

Is this the same as the PE Structural exam pass rate?

No. This page covers PE Civil: Structural. The separate PE Structural exam has vertical and lateral components, each with breadth and depth sections that are taken separately and receive independent results. Acceptable results on both components are required to pass the exam. See the official NCEES PE Structural exam page for its current format and pass rates.

Final takeaway

The current PE Civil: Structural pass rate is 62% for first-time examinees and 43% for repeat examinees, based on NCEES data updated July 2026. Structural ranks third among the five PE Civil disciplines for first-time performance in this reporting period.Those numbers are useful benchmarks, but they are population statistics—not a published passing score, a curve, or a personal forecast. The best response is to prepare from the specification for your exam date, practice with the NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook and the listed design standards, and use timed, specification-mapped problems.Ready to organize that work? Check pewise`s PE Civil Structural course.

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Sources

NCEES, Civil exam page—Scoring & Pass Rates, July 2026 rates and volumes, reporting cadence, exam format, and exam specifications. Accessed August 22, 2026. The January 2026 comparison figures were recorded from NCEES’s preceding six-month release before the live table refreshed in July.

NCEES, Exam Scoring, scaled scoring, minimum ability level, no predetermined pass/fail share, same standard for first-time and repeat candidates, and diagnostic reports. Accessed August 22, 2026.