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Key Facts: PE Metallurgical Exam
85
Exam Questions
NCEES
8.5 hrs
Exam Time
NCEES
49%
First-Time Pass
NCEES Jan 2026
$400
Exam Fee
NCEES
4
Content Areas
NCEES
Oct 28
2026 Test Date
NCEES
The PE Metallurgical and Materials exam is a once-per-year NCEES CBT scheduled for October 28, 2026. It uses the current October 2024 specification, includes 85 questions in a 9.5-hour appointment, and had a 49% first-time pass rate in the latest Jan 2026 NCEES update. Performance is the largest content area, followed by Processing, Characterization & Properties, and Structure. Strong preparation in degradation, processing-selection tradeoffs, and lab-based materials interpretation matters more than memorizing isolated facts.
About the PE Metallurgical Exam
The NCEES PE Metallurgical and Materials exam, listed on this site as PE Metallurgical Engineering, is an 85-question computer-based test for engineers pursuing licensure in materials-focused practice. The current CBT specification is organized into four content areas: Structure, Performance, Processing, and Characterization & Properties. Questions draw from ferrous and nonferrous alloys as well as polymers, ceramics, and composites, with the heaviest weighting on materials performance and degradation. Expect practical engineering decisions involving phase transformations, failure mechanisms, joining, heat treatment, processing routes, corrosion, and laboratory interpretation.
Assessment
Computer-based; multiple-choice and alternative item types
Time Limit
8.5 hours
Passing Score
NCEES does not publish a fixed passing score (scaled)
Exam Fee
$400 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))
PE Metallurgical Exam Content Outline
Structure
Atomic bonding, crystal structures, defects, diffusion, phase diagrams, phase transformations, solidification behavior, and structure-property relationships across major material classes.
Performance
Mechanical behavior, corrosion and environmental degradation, wear, thermal damage, fracture and fatigue, quality assurance, reliability, materials selection, and life-cycle decision making.
Processing
Casting, solidification control, deformation processing, heat treatment, joining, coatings, surface engineering, powder processing, additive manufacturing, and polymer/composite manufacturing routes.
Characterization & Properties
Mechanical testing, microscopy, chemical and thermal analysis, nondestructive evaluation, physical-property measurement, and interpretation of microstructure, composition, and property data.
How to Pass the PE Metallurgical Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: NCEES does not publish a fixed passing score (scaled)
- Assessment: Computer-based; multiple-choice and alternative item types
- Time limit: 8.5 hours
- Exam fee: $400
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PE Metallurgical Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PE Metallurgical exam pass rate?
NCEES reported a 49% first-time pass rate and a 50% repeat pass rate in its January 2026 pass-rate update for the Metallurgical and Materials PE exam. The repeat-taker sample was small, so first-time results are usually the more stable benchmark. The figures still show this is a specialized, moderately difficult once-a-year PE discipline.
Does NCEES publish a fixed passing score for PE Metallurgical?
No. NCEES does not publish a fixed passing percentage for PE exams. Scores are scaled based on psychometric analysis of the exam form, so candidates should treat preparation as mastery-based rather than aiming for a public cutoff like 70%.
What topics are most heavily tested on the PE Metallurgical exam?
Performance is the largest domain at 23-35 questions, so corrosion, fracture, fatigue, wear, high-temperature behavior, and materials selection deserve outsized study time. Processing is next at 19-29 questions, followed by Characterization & Properties at 17-26 questions. Structure is smaller at 11-17 questions but still foundational because it supports questions in every other domain.
What changed for 2026 on the PE Metallurgical exam?
As of March 12, 2026, NCEES had not announced a metallurgical-specific blueprint revision for 2026. The current PE Metallurgical and Materials exam still uses the October 2024 CBT specifications, and NCEES's January 2026 exam-changes memo listed updates for other disciplines but not this one. The major current-year operational detail is the published October 28, 2026 exam date for this once-per-year CBT.
What references are provided during the exam?
NCEES provides the PE Metallurgical and Materials Reference Handbook as a searchable on-screen PDF during the CBT appointment. You cannot bring personal materials into the exam. Preparation goes better when you practice solving problems with the handbook's electronic organization and terminology, not just with class notes.
Is the PE Metallurgical exam offered year-round?
No. Unlike several larger PE disciplines, Metallurgical and Materials is administered once per year as a computer-based exam. The current NCEES exam page lists the next administration as October 28, 2026 at Pearson VUE test centers after state board approval.