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Key Facts: PE Naval Architecture Exam
85
Exam Questions
NCEES
9.5 hrs
Appointment Time
NCEES
63%
1st-Time Pass Rate
NCEES
38%
Repeat Pass Rate
NCEES
$400
Exam Fee
NCEES
13
Content Areas
NCEES
The PE Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering exam is administered once per year and currently shows a 63% first-time pass rate with a 38% repeat pass rate in the January 2026 NCEES update. The exam contains 85 questions in a 9.5-hour appointment and uses scaled scoring with no published cutoff percentage. Hydrostatics and stability is the largest single content area, but strong results require balanced preparation across structures, propulsion, piping, electrical systems, environmental compliance, and marine rules. Candidates testing in 2026 should study from the specification set effective beginning October 2025.
About the PE Naval Architecture Exam
The NCEES PE Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering exam is a once-a-year computer-based licensure exam for engineers practicing in ship design, marine systems, and offshore applications. It covers 13 content areas that span hydrostatics, stability, hydrodynamics, structural design, arrangements, propulsion, piping, auxiliary systems, electrical systems, environmental compliance, hull outfitting, materials, and marine rules. Candidates test with the NCEES electronic reference handbook and the specified design standards provided onscreen during the exam.
Questions
85 scored questions
Time Limit
9.5-hour appointment
Passing Score
NCEES uses scaled scoring and does not publish a fixed passing percentage
Exam Fee
$400 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))
PE Naval Architecture Exam Content Outline
Naval Architecture: Hydrostatics and Stability
Hydrostatic tools, intact and damage stability, dynamic stability, list and downflooding effects, and weight estimation/control.
Naval Architecture: Hydrodynamics
Resistance, propulsion, appendages, maneuvering, directional stability, seakeeping, and model-testing/scaling methods.
Naval Architecture: Ocean Engineering
Wind, waves, currents, tides, sea states, and mooring, anchoring, and berthing system behavior.
Naval Architecture: Structural Design
Internal and external load cases, hull girder response, local structures, fatigue/corrosion considerations, FEA, and material selection.
Naval Architecture: General Arrangements
Compartment layout, workflow, access and egress, maintenance routes, hazardous areas, accommodations, habitability, and fire/watertight boundaries.
Marine Engineering: Propulsion and Power Generation
Diesel plants, fuels and lubricants, drivetrains, shafting, bearings, vibration, and propulsion architecture tradeoffs.
Marine Engineering: Piping System Design
Pump and valve selection, flow-speed limitations, cavitation, water hammer, relief protection, piping layout, and pressure-drop calculations.
Marine Engineering: Auxiliary Equipment Selection
Heat exchangers, HVAC/refrigeration, fire protection systems, and hydraulic system selection and arrangement.
Marine Engineering: Electrical Systems
Generators, transformers, motors, batteries, switchgear, cable sizing, load analysis, redundancy, and electric propulsion considerations.
Marine Engineering: Environmental Considerations
Combustion-emissions compliance and marine environmental-protection systems such as oily-water separation, sewage treatment, waste handling, and ballast treatment.
Common: Hull Outfitting
Deck machinery, anchoring and mooring equipment, gangways, lifting appliances, and securing fittings.
Common: Materials, Corrosion, Welds, and Connections
Fasteners, welding design and inspection, bimetallic joints, corrosion mechanisms, and cathodic-protection applications.
Common: Rules and Regulations
Statutory requirements, international regulations, and third-party standards from bodies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, IMO, OSHA, EPA, and classification societies.
How to Pass the PE Naval Architecture Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: NCEES uses scaled scoring and does not publish a fixed passing percentage
- Exam length: 85 questions
- Time limit: 9.5-hour appointment
- 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 Naval Architecture Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current PE Naval Architecture exam format?
NCEES lists the PE Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering exam as an 85-question computer-based exam administered once per year. The appointment time is 9.5 hours and includes the tutorial and scheduled break. The exam includes multiple-choice questions and alternative item types.
What is the passing score for the PE Naval Architecture exam?
NCEES does not publish a fixed passing percentage for this exam. Exams are scored on the total number of correct answers, then converted to a scaled score that accounts for minor form difficulty differences. Results are reported as pass or fail.
How hard is the PE Naval Architecture exam?
It is a challenging licensure exam because it spans both naval architecture and marine engineering instead of isolating one specialty. Recent NCEES pass-rate data shows a 63% first-time pass rate and a 38% repeat pass rate, which reflects the breadth of the blueprint. Strong preparation usually means balancing stability and structures with systems topics such as piping, electrical, and environmental compliance.
What references can I use during the exam?
NCEES provides the electronic reference handbook and the specified design standards during the exam. Personal reference materials are not allowed in the testing room. Candidates should practice searching the handbook and the listed standards before exam day because speed matters during a long CBT session.
What changed for 2026 candidates?
As of March 12, 2026, NCEES has not posted a separate 2026-specific blueprint change for this exam. The current governing specification is the version effective beginning October 2025, and the exam remains a once-per-year CBT on October 27, 2026. Candidates should therefore study to the October 2025 specification and current NCEES examinee policies.
Which topics deserve the most study time?
Hydrostatics and stability is the single largest official domain, followed by structural design and a broad middle tier that includes hydrodynamics, propulsion, piping, auxiliary systems, and electrical systems. In practice, many misses also come from rules, environmental systems, and arrangements because those areas are easy to underweight. The best plan is to protect the big calculation-heavy domains without neglecting the regulation and systems questions that drive marginal scores.