PE Structural vs Geotechnical vs Transportation: Which Exam? (2026 Guide)

Bottom Line Up Front: Your PE exam choice should align with your professional experience first, career goals second, and academic background third. Civil: Water Resources leads with 70% pass rates, while Structural trails at 58%, but selecting the right discipline based on your strengths matters more than chasing higher pass rates.

Choosing between PE Civil disciplines represents one of the most critical decisions in your engineering career. As of April 2024, the PE Civil exam is now 100% discipline-focused, eliminating the previous breadth section, making your choice even more important than before.

This comprehensive analysis examines the three most common PE Civil specializations—Structural, Geotechnical, and Transportation—providing the data-driven insights you need to make an informed decision that aligns with your career trajectory.

Understanding the New PE Civil Exam Format

NCEES introduced new specifications for PE Civil exams effective April 2024, updating all five disciplines: Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources and Environmental. This fundamental shift eliminates the traditional breadth-depth format.

What Changed in April 2024

The NCEES eliminated existing common knowledge areas that tested general civil engineering 'breadth' content. All five PE Civil Exams now only test 'depth' content specific to their area of practice.

Key Changes:

Focused Content: Each discipline exam includes only content relevant to that specific practice area
Increased Question Density: Since specifications have fewer topics but maintain 80 questions, questions per topic significantly increase
Updated Standards: Design standards updated, including ASCE 7-16 replacing ASCE 7-10
Same Duration: 8-hour exam with 80 questions administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE centers

As one industry expert noted: "Finally, the transportation exam is now a transportation exam. Most general topics not directly related to transportation have been eliminated".

PE Civil Structural Exam: Deep Dive Analysis

Content Focus and Scope

The PE Civil Structural exam eliminates topics from other disciplines, focusing on five core areas from the former depth portion: Analysis of Structures—Loads and Load Applications, and Analysis of Structures—Forces and Load Effects.

Primary Topics Include:

Structural Analysis: Complex load path analysis, moment distribution, and force calculations
Steel Design: Connection design, member sizing, and stability analysis using AISC standards
Concrete Design: Reinforced concrete design, prestressed concrete, and ACI code application
Foundation Design: Includes subtopics like "Soil Classification" and "Soil Properties" incorporated from the former breadth section
Load Analysis: Dead, live, wind, seismic, and special loading conditions

Pass Rate Analysis

Civil: Structural shows a 58% first-time pass rate, representing the lowest among civil disciplines with a 12-percentage-point difference from the highest-performing Water Resources at 70%.

Performance Factors:

Structural engineering's lower pass rate stems from its mathematically intensive nature, complex code requirements, and knowledge spanning concrete, steel, masonry, and timber design
The transition to computer-based testing improved structural performance, with pass rates increasing from approximately 45% to 58%—a 13 percentage point jump
The new format requires deeper conceptual understanding: "Theory questions have always been huge, but now it's more than ever. You need good understanding at a conceptual level"

Career Prospects and Salary

Structural engineers earn an average of $99,400 annually, compared to civil engineers' $82,674, reflecting the specialized nature requiring focused expertise and advanced knowledge.

Career Paths:

Building Design: High-rise, industrial, and specialty structures
Bridge Engineering: Transportation infrastructure and major crossings
Seismic Engineering: Earthquake-resistant design specialization
Forensic Engineering: Failure analysis and expert witness work
Construction Management: Technical oversight of complex projects

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects civil engineer demand, including structural engineers, to grow by 11% from 2016 to 2026.

Who Should Choose Structural

Ideal Candidates:

Experience in building design, structural analysis, or construction oversight
Strong mathematical background and comfort with complex calculations
Interest in detailed code application and regulatory compliance
Career goals in consulting, design firms, or construction companies
Willingness to invest significant study time in multiple design materials (200-300 hours)

PE Civil Geotechnical Exam: Comprehensive Overview

Content Focus and Applications

Geotechnical engineering focuses on soil-structure interaction, foundation systems, and earth-related engineering challenges. The exam covers site characterization, soil mechanics, earth structures, foundations, and related geotechnical principles.

Core Topic Areas:

Soil Mechanics: Classification, strength parameters, and consolidation analysis
Site Investigation: Subsurface exploration, sampling, and testing procedures
Foundation Engineering: Shallow and deep foundation design and analysis
Slope Stability: Earth pressure analysis and retaining structure design
Pavement Engineering: Subgrade analysis and pavement design principles

Pass Rate and Performance Data

From 2023 to January 2025, Civil: Geotechnical repeat taker pass rates improved from 34% to 46%, indicating enhanced preparation resources and understanding of the CBT format.

Geotechnical represents a challenging discipline with a 63% pass rate, requiring specialized visual learning approaches for complex soil-structure concepts.

Performance Considerations:

Moderate mathematical intensity compared to structural
Strong emphasis on practical field experience
Visual understanding of soil behavior critical for success
Integration of laboratory testing with design applications

Career Applications and Growth

Geotechnical engineers work across multiple industries: Transportation (highway, bridge, railway evaluation), Energy (power plant and offshore drilling infrastructure), and Environmental Consulting (soil contamination and groundwater assessment).

Salary and Demand:

Geotechnical engineers earn approximately $90,000 annually according to ASCE salary surveys
BLS forecasts 8% growth for mining and geological engineers from 2016-2026
Strong job growth and competitive salaries make geotechnical engineering a valuable profession at the intersection of engineering and earth sciences

Specialized Applications:

Environmental Remediation: Contaminated site assessment and cleanup design
Mining Engineering: Slope stability and tailings dam design
Earthquake Engineering: Liquefaction analysis and seismic foundation design
Infrastructure Assessment: Existing foundation evaluation and rehabilitation

Ideal Geotechnical Candidates

Perfect Match Profile:

Field experience in soil testing, foundation design, or site investigation
Interest in combining theoretical principles with hands-on problem solving
Comfort with uncertainty and engineering judgment calls
Career interests in consulting, environmental firms, or infrastructure projects
Appreciation for visual learning and conceptual understanding

The visual nature of geotechnical concepts makes this discipline particularly suited for engineers who benefit from animated explanations of complex soil-structure interactions—an approach emphasized by specialized providers like PEwise.

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PE Civil Transportation Exam: Complete Analysis

Exam Content and Evolution

Transportation exam topics include project management, traffic engineering, roadside and cross-section design, horizontal design, vertical design, intersection geometry, traffic signals, traffic control design, geotechnical and pavement, and drainage.

Transportation is one of only two disciplines adding new subtopics to their exams under the 2024 specifications, reflecting the evolving nature of transportation engineering.

Updated Topic Distribution:

Traffic Engineering: Signal timing, capacity analysis, and level of service calculations
Geometric Design: Horizontal and vertical alignment, sight distance analysis
Intersection Design: Roundabouts, signalized intersections, and interchange design
Pavement Engineering: Flexible and rigid pavement design and analysis
Transportation Planning: Traffic studies, demand forecasting, and system analysis

Pass Rate Performance

Transportation typically performs in the middle range of civil disciplines for pass rates, benefiting from the practical nature of many transportation problems and strong alignment with typical undergraduate coursework.

Exam Characteristics:

More conceptual questions with less pure calculation compared to structural
Strong integration of planning principles with engineering design
Emphasis on standards application and design manual usage
Practical problem-solving aligned with everyday transportation challenges

Career Opportunities and Salary

Transportation engineers enjoy diverse career paths across public and private sectors with strong job security due to ongoing infrastructure needs.

Primary Career Tracks:

Highway Design: State DOTs and consulting firms for road and bridge projects
Traffic Engineering: Signal optimization, intersection design, and safety analysis
Transit Planning: Public transportation system design and operations
Airport Engineering: Runway, taxiway, and terminal facility design
Transportation Technology: ITS systems, smart infrastructure, and connected vehicles

Market Demand:

Transportation engineers plan, design, and maintain streets, highways, airports, mass transit systems, harbors, and related infrastructure
Growing emphasis on sustainable transportation and smart city initiatives
Strong public sector opportunities with defined career advancement paths
Increasing private sector demand for transportation consulting services

Best Candidates for Transportation

Optimal Background:

Experience in traffic studies, highway design, or transportation planning
Interest in public policy intersection with engineering solutions
Comfort with both analytical and practical problem-solving approaches
Career goals in government agencies, consulting firms, or transit authorities
Appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Decision Framework: Choosing Your PE Discipline

Primary Selection Factors

Your exam discipline should be selected based on professional functions/role, academic experience, and most importantly your affinity for that subject. Exposure to all exam topics is unlikely and should not be the final qualifier.

Factor 1: Professional Experience (Highest Priority - 40% Weight)

Your professional background and experience matters most. If you have worked for two years as a nuclear engineer, you would automatically know more about nuclear stations than marine engineers.

Structural: Building design, structural analysis, construction oversight, or materials testing experience
Geotechnical: Site investigation, foundation design, soil testing, or environmental consulting background
Transportation: Traffic engineering, highway design, transportation planning, or DOT experience

Factor 2: Career Trajectory Goals (30% Weight)

The PE exam should be a strategic step toward a fulfilling engineering career, not just predetermined by your degree. Choose the exam that aligns with desired career trajectory.

Consider future work settings:

Structural: Design firms, construction companies, building departments
Geotechnical: Environmental consultants, construction companies, academic research
Transportation: DOTs, transit authorities, traffic consulting firms, urban planning

Factor 3: Academic Foundation (20% Weight)

While important, academic background ranks third in priority. What your degree was earned in has no determination on which FE examination you can take, and what FE exam you pass has no determination on which PE exam you can take.

Performance-Based Considerations

Pass Rate Reality Check

While Civil: Water Resources leads with 70% first-time pass rates and Structural trails at 58%, the 12-percentage-point difference shouldn't drive your decision.

Strategic Insights:

Higher pass rates don't guarantee personal success if you lack relevant experience
Success correlates strongly with structured preparation emphasizing breadth coverage, optimal timing around four years of experience, and first-time focus
Choosing a discipline aligned with your strengths outweighs selecting for pass rate statistics

Timing Considerations

Optimal timing for civil engineers involves taking the exam within 3-5 years of graduation when theoretical knowledge remains fresh while gaining sufficient practical project experience.

Structural: May benefit from longer preparation time due to complex code requirements
Geotechnical: Success possible with earlier attempts given practical field emphasis
Transportation: Balanced approach works well due to mix of theory and practical applications

Content Overlap Analysis

While topics haven't changed through the update, the number of anticipated questions per subject have increased significantly.

Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge:

Structural-Geotechnical: Foundation design, soil-structure interaction, seismic analysis
Transportation-Geotechnical: Pavement design, earthwork, subgrade analysis
All Disciplines: Project management, professional ethics, regulatory compliance

Understanding these overlaps can help inform your choice, especially if you have experience spanning multiple areas.

Study Strategy Recommendations by Discipline

Structural Engineering Preparation

Time Investment: Plan for 200-300 study hours given the mathematical intensity and code complexity.

Key Resources:

AISC Steel Construction Manual mastery essential
ACI 318 concrete code thorough understanding
ASCE 7 load combinations and applications
Seismic design principles and building codes

Study Approach:

Emphasize conceptual understanding over memorization
Practice complex multi-step problems regularly
Focus on code navigation efficiency
Visual learning particularly beneficial for load path analysis

Geotechnical Engineering Preparation

Time Investment: 150-250 study hours with emphasis on conceptual understanding and practical applications.

Essential Focus Areas:

Soil mechanics fundamentals and laboratory correlations
Foundation design procedures for various soil conditions
Site investigation interpretation and reporting
Slope stability analysis and retaining wall design

Effective Methods:

Visual learning approaches for complex soil behavior concepts
Integration of field experience with theoretical principles
Practice with actual site investigation data
PEwise offers specialized geotechnical preparation using animated content addressing unique challenges of this 63% pass rate discipline

Transportation Engineering Preparation

Time Investment: 150-200 study hours focusing on standards application and practical problem-solving.

Core Preparation Elements:

Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) procedures and applications
AASHTO geometric design standards mastery
Traffic signal timing and intersection analysis
Pavement design procedures for flexible and rigid systems

Study Strategy:

Balance theoretical concepts with practical applications
Emphasize design standard navigation efficiency
Practice integration of planning and engineering principles
Focus on real-world problem-solving scenarios

Making Your Final Decision

Decision Matrix Approach

Create a weighted scoring system considering:

Professional Experience (40% weight)

Years of relevant experience in each discipline
Quality and depth of experience
Supervisory experience and project responsibility

Career Goals (30% weight)

Desired work environment and setting
Long-term professional aspirations
Geographic and market considerations

Academic Preparation (20% weight)

Coursework alignment and performance
Continuing education and training
Technical certification and specializations

Personal Interest (10% weight)

Intellectual curiosity and engagement
Enjoyment of typical work activities
Motivation for continued learning

Common Decision Scenarios

Scenario 1: Recent Graduate with Limited Experience

Consider academic strength areas and internship experience
Evaluate which discipline offers best entry-level opportunities in your region
Factor in long-term career interest and market demand

Scenario 2: Experienced Engineer Changing Focus

Prioritize transferable experience and skills
Consider market opportunities in new discipline
Plan for additional training or education if needed

Scenario 3: Multi-Disciplinary Background

Choose discipline representing majority of your experience
Consider which area offers best advancement opportunities
Factor in personal preferences and intellectual interests

Final Recommendations

For Maximum Success Probability:

Align with Experience: Choose the discipline closest to your professional background
Consider Market Demand: Research local job market and opportunities
Evaluate Study Resources: Ensure quality preparation materials are available
Plan Timing Carefully: Target 3-5 years post-graduation when theoretical knowledge remains fresh
Focus on First Attempt: Strategic preparation choices and first-time focus significantly impact success rates

Conclusion

Your PE discipline choice shapes your entire engineering career trajectory. While pass rates vary from 58% (Structural) to 70% (Water Resources), selecting the discipline aligned with your professional experience, career goals, and interests provides the best foundation for both exam success and long-term career satisfaction.

The April 2024 exam changes emphasize discipline-specific expertise over general knowledge, making experience-based selection more critical than ever. Whether you choose Structural engineering for its technical complexity and higher salary potential, Geotechnical for its practical problem-solving and environmental applications, or Transportation for its public service impact and diverse opportunities, success depends on thorough preparation aligned with your professional background.

Remember that strategic preparation choices and optimal timing outweigh raw experience in determining PE exam success. Regardless of your discipline choice, investing in quality preparation resources—including visual learning approaches that have shown 60% better retention for engineering concepts—will significantly improve your chances of first-time success.

The path to PE licensure represents more than just an exam—it's your gateway to professional independence, increased earning potential, and the ability to protect public health, safety, and welfare through your engineering expertise.

References

NCEES - Civil PE Exam Specifications and Updates (2024) - https://ncees.org/exams/pe-exam/civil/ - Official exam specifications and updates
American Society of Civil Engineers - Salary Survey and Career Analysis (2024) - Professional compensation data
PPI A Kaplan Company - PE Exam Pass Rates and Analysis (2024) - Statistical analysis of exam performance
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook: Civil Engineers (2024) - Employment projections and salary data
School of PE - PE Civil Exam Specification Changes and Preparation Guidelines (2024) - Exam preparation insights
Civil Engineering Academy - The New PE Civil Exam Explained (2024) - Format changes analysis
PEwise - PE Exam Pass Rates 2025: Civil Engineering Success Statistics - /blog/pe-exam-pass-rates-2025-complete-analysis - Comprehensive pass rate analysis

PE Structural vs. Geotechnical vs. Transportation: Which Exam Should You Choose?