How to become a civil engineer

To become a civil engineer, you’ll need to meet specific educational and testing requirements, most notably earning a four-year degree in engineering and completing the FE CIVIL NCEES exam, gaining work experience, and passing the PE Civil for full licensure. While you don’t necessarily need to be licensed to be an engineer, completing formal certification requirements will give you a leg up in advancing in this competitive industry.

Civil engineering is a branch of engineering dedicated to designing, constructing, and maintaining residential and commercial buildings, transportation networks, water and energy systems, and more. The entire “built environment” around us relies on civil engineers to ensure that the homes we inhabit, the roads we travel, and the places we visit are safe and operational.

Becoming a civil engineer requires advanced education and licensure, but it is an excellent career choice for those with strong skills in math and science who wish to make a positive impact on their communities.

Basics of civil engineering

Civil engineers play a vital role in sustainable construction within both natural and built environments. They may design new structures, test load-bearing materials, evaluate projects for environmental impact, inspect sites for hazards, and ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations. This well-paid profession combines sustainable design, planning, problem-solving, building, testing, and research. While many civil engineers work in government and public sectors, opportunities also exist in private industry, including engineering firms, as well as in the construction, manufacturing, defense, and consultancy sectors.

Engineers typically spend much of their day drafting, designing, researching, and analyzing data in an office, but they often visit work sites for inspections and compliance checks. They usually work as part of a team with other engineering professionals, construction managers, architects, scientists, and related specialists. The nature of a civil engineer’s work varies based on their expertise, project funding, and regional needs.

Compared to other engineering fields, civil engineering experiences high demand, with an expected 6% growth in employment from 2025 to 2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 22,700 new civil engineering jobs annually over the next decade, a figure significantly higher than in more specialized areas such as mechanical or nuclear engineering. The BLS estimates approximately 380,600 civil engineers are employed, with a median annual salary of $100,840. Most civil engineers hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which is typically required for licensing, though there are a few exceptions.

How to become a professional engineer

Engineers can focus on different areas, such as civil engineering, but the educational and certification requirements are quite similar across disciplines. Many early-career engineers aim for the Professional Engineer (PE) credential, which is an important proof of their expertise in engineering principles, adherence to ethical standards, and commitment to maintaining quality in their work.

The fundamental engineering requirements consist of:

• Education: Complete a four-year degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program.
  • Your degree does not necessarily have to be in civil engineering, though completing coursework in this discipline will make it easier to apply specific engineering principles in practice.
• Preliminary certification: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
• Gain typically four years of progressive engineering experience (some states accept slightly less) under the supervision of a PE.
• Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in civil engineering, the final component of the standard engineering career path.

Licensed engineers can take on legal responsibility for engineering projects and lead them. While you can work as an engineer for several years after earning your FE certificate, moving into senior or specialized roles usually requires obtaining your PE license. Additionally, pursuing a graduate degree may be needed to access leadership opportunities and high-level positions in specific engineering fields.

The FE exam format

The FE exam is primarily for engineering students who have completed or are close to completing an accredited four-year undergraduate degree. Some engineers choose to work and gain experience after graduation before taking the exam. Passing the exam puts you on the path toward formal licensure and makes you a more impressive candidate on the job market. Technically, engineers do not need to be licensed to work in the U.S., but many entry-to-mid-level jobs will require you to have passed the FE before you can apply or advance in the role.

Although the exam is designed for U.S.-based professionals, international students and professionals can also qualify if their experience matches U.S. standards. There are exceptions: candidates with substantial work or educational background, like a master’s or PhD, can petition their state licensing board to take the exam.

While the FE exams are standardized nationwide, official licensure is granted by state boards, so certification standards differ slightly from place to place. Always verify if your state requires pre-approval to sit for the exam, as rules differ across jurisdictions.

Once you’ve confirmed you can take the FE exam, you can dive into the details and start prepping. These key facts are the same regardless of your engineering specialty:

• Administration: A computer-based exam administered at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers.
• Schedule: FE exams are offered year-round at Pearson VUE centers, but four quarterly testing windows (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December) limit how often you can retake it (once per window, up to three times in a rolling 12-month period).
• Cost: A $225 exam fee is payable directly to NCEES at the time of registration.
• Number of questions: The FE exam consists of 110 multiple-choice questions covering a broad range of engineering fundamentals.
• Length of exam: The total appointment is about six hours, which includes a tutorial, a nondisclosure agreement, and a scheduled break, leaving roughly five hours and 20 minutes of actual testing time.
• Calculator policy: Examinees may use only specific approved calculator models (more on those below).
• Reference materials: Outside books and notes aren’t allowed, but candidates get access to the official, exam-specific FE Reference Handbook throughout the test.

Passing the FE exam and meeting your state’s work requirements earns you the “engineer-in-training” (EIT) designation, a title that signals to firms and employers that you’re serious about your engineering career. Taking the test is an investment in your future opportunities, as it can help you access higher-level roles and better pay sooner than those without the credential.

FE Civil: The gateway to your career

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is typically the initial step toward obtaining a professional engineer (PE) license. For civil engineering students, the FE Civil exam is designed to assess core knowledge and skills. It covers a wide array of topics studied during coursework, from basic mathematics and structural analysis to fluid mechanics and engineering ethics.

Many future engineers take the FE Civil exam in their final year or shortly after graduation, keeping the material fresh and familiar. Others go straight into the workforce, gaining practical experience they can apply to their eventual exams. Knowing which subjects are included and how they influence your final score can help streamline and focus your exam preparation.

The FE Civil exam is a key step in obtaining an engineering license in the U.S., assessing whether you’re prepared to move forward in professional engineering. It has two main objectives:

• Qualifies you for engineer-in-training (EIT) certification, which employers often require.
• Prepares you for the PE Exam, which you take later in your career, typically after gaining three to four years of work experience under a licensed PE.

A crucial resource for this exam is the FE Civil Reference Handbook, which functions as the official guide to equations, formulas, and data you’ll need during the test.

Topics covered

FE exams are known for their wide scope. Here’s what you’ll need to study for the FE Civil, along with the approximate number of questions included for each topic:

A well-structured FE Civil study guide that targets high-yield areas on the test can help you stay organized as you ramp up before exam day.

Level of knowledge expected

This comprehensive certification test addresses many topics. Keep in mind that FE Civil is a breadth-based exam, meaning it covers a broad range of subjects without going into deep detail. You should anticipate:

• Concept-focused questions
• Calculator-based problem solving
• Moderate difficulty across a wide range of subjects

This exam focuses on fundamental civil engineering knowledge rather than advanced design. It assesses your ability to:

• Apply formulas
• Interpret diagrams
• Use engineering judgment
• Solve conceptual and calculation-based problems

You will encounter questions mainly based on your undergraduate studies, including both general education and civil-specific courses.

Professional engineer (PE) requirements

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams are more comprehensive, longer, and more challenging than the FE exams, which assess a basic level of competency in a specific engineering field. The PE exam targets engineers with at least three to four years of work experience in their designated specialization after college.

Some general details about PE exams include:

• Administration: Also an entirely computer-based exam.
• Schedule: Administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers, in the same testing windows as the FE exam.
• Cost: $400 (in most cases).
• Number of questions: 80 multiple-choice questions.
• Length of exam: Approximately 9 hours (about 8 hours of actual exam time).
• Calculator policy: Calculators are allowed, provided they are NCEES-approved models.
• Open-book policy: Candidates are allowed access to a searchable, digital NCEES PE Reference Handbook, but are not permitted to bring their own notes.
• Remote exam options: None are currently available.

Other things to note about the PE designation:

• The PE Civil exam can be taken in five different specialties: Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, or Water Resources and Environmental
• Along with the exam, three to four years of progressive engineering experience are needed to achieve the designation
• Like the EIT designation, PE certifications are administered by state agencies
• States require a certain number of continuing education requirements for professional engineers, often between 30 and 40 hours every three years

The path to licensure can be long, but don’t let it overwhelm you: many successful engineers spend time gaining work experience and exposure in different specialties before completing their PE requirements.

Entry-level engineering jobs

If you’ve recently passed the FE exam or have completed a civil engineering degree program, here are some of the roles you may target:

• Civil Engineer Intern/Apprentice
• Entry-Level Site/Civil Engineer
• Entry-Level Structural Engineer
• Entry-Level Water Systems Engineer
• Entry-Level Office Engineer
• Junior staff role (usually reserved for those with more experience)

Typical daily responsibilities include:

• Building 2D and 3D design plans using software like AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Running basic stormwater, hydraulic, or structural load computations
• Compiling technical reports, cost estimates, and compliance documents for local regulatory agencies
• Visiting active construction sites to observe field conditions or assist with material testing

Starting salaries for civil engineers often begin around $68,240 (the BLS 10th-percentile figure) and climb from there, with sufficient experience and the professional engineer (PE) designation helping to unlock six-figure salaries.

Final questions

Is civil engineering hard?

Civil engineering can be challenging due to the interdisciplinary knowledge required, a generally competitive job market (especially in large urban areas), and a long licensing timeline. However, dedicated professionals are rewarded with stable, in-demand positions, competitive salaries, and fulfilling work that helps shape the world around us.

How much do civil engineers make?

The median salary for civil engineers is around $100,840. The lowest 10% of civil engineers, typically those at the entry level, made less than $68,240, while the top 10% made over $163,000.

What’s the difference between a civil engineer and an architect?

Civil engineers deal with safety, structural integrity, and, in many cases, public infrastructure, while architects focus on creative design, spatial layout, and aesthetics of a building. Both professions entail different education, training, and certification routes, though both generally require professional degrees in a specific discipline. However, there is a lot of crossover between fields, with civil engineers working with architects and vice versa on a variety of projects. Some civil engineers even specialize in architectural engineering, which combines the planning and design elements of both fields.

Is civil engineering in demand, and is it a good career?

Civil engineering is a highly sought-after and stable career choice. Although median salaries might be somewhat lower than those in other fields, the job outlook remains robust. The field employs significantly more people, nearly 380,000 civil engineers, compared to about 125,000 architects or 20,000 or fewer chemical engineers, and it offers more annual job opportunities. Additionally, the variety of roles within civil engineering allows professionals to leverage their degrees and skills in various industries.

What degree do I need to become a civil engineer?

Generally, becoming an engineer requires a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. This degree is also a key requirement for the FE exam, which is typically available only to individuals with at least a college education. Exceptions exist for those with substantial work experience, who must petition their state board to pursue licensure. Although the FE exam is conducted nationwide, each state handles its own licensing regulations.

Is a master’s in civil engineering worth it?

Many engineers pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering or a related subspecialty to deepen their expertise and improve their career opportunities. Considering the fact that the average age of engineers who take the FE exam is around 26-27, it’s clear that many students take time to earn additional degrees beyond a bachelor’s before pursuing licensure.

Whether this investment is worthwhile for you depends on:

• Whether you have a background in a different discipline and want to pivot to civil
• Whether you are willing to forgo time in the workforce to pursue more education
• Whether your workplace can help assist with tuition payments, or if you can fund your degree yourself
• Whether you want to advance to a senior position that requires additional degrees
• Whether you’re interested in entering teaching or academia in the future

A master’s degree can be a great investment for engineers looking to further specialize in a specific area. While work experience is often seen as commensurate with the training a master’s provides, some senior-level positions will require that engineers hold a degree beyond a bachelor’s to qualify. Importantly, a master’s in civil engineering is not a replacement for the PE license, which is a legal designation for advanced engineers.

Conclusion

Civil engineers play a vital role in our communities by improving safety, mobility, health, and prosperity every day. While the profession can be demanding and competitive, it offers an excellent career for those eager to apply engineering principles to create practical constructions and systems. Clearing the FE exam in civil engineering opens doors early, paving the way for career growth and licensure in this vibrant field. The influence of civil engineering extends from local communities to national and global levels, and there is an opportunity for you to leave your mark.