What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering is the branch of engineering focused on designing, building, and maintaining residential, public, and commercial construction, transportation infrastructure, water and energy systems, and more. Our entire “built environment” depends on civil engineers, who ensure that the homes we live in, the sidewalks we walk on, and the places we visit are safe and functional.

Becoming a civil engineer requires advanced education and licensing, though it is a great career path for those skilled in math and science who want to make a difference in the world around them. The dedication and skill of these professionals give us both the wonders of architectural marvels and the everyday infrastructure, like roads and bridges, upon which we all depend.

Civil engineering at a glance

Civil engineers are central to sustainable construction across our natural and built environments. Compared with other engineering disciplines, the field has strong demand, with a projected 6% job growth for civil engineers between 2025 and 2035. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 22,700 job openings are expected for civil engineers each year over the next decade, much higher than in more competitive niches such as environmental or nuclear engineering. As of 2025, about 380,600 civil engineers were employed, earning a median annual salary of $100,840. The vast majority of civil engineers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, as a college degree is required for licensing, though there are some rare exceptions.

What do civil engineers do?

A civil engineer may be responsible for designing a new structure, testing load-bearing materials, assessing projects to reduce environmental impacts, examining sites for potential hazards, and ensuring that safety standards and regulations are met across projects. This well-compensated role involves a mix of sustainable design, planning, problem-solving, building, testing, and research.

While many civil engineers work in government and public development, private industry roles at engineering firms (like WSP USA, AECOM, and Kiewit), construction companies, manufacturing hubs, defense industries, and consultancies also exist.

Engineers usually spend much of their day in an office designing, researching, and analyzing information and data, though many make frequent trips to work sites for inspections and compliance checks. Engineers almost always work as part of a team, whether it’s a team of other engineering professionals, construction managers, architects, scientists, or other people involved with development. The specific kind of work a civil engineer does largely depends on their area of expertise and local demand. Many core infrastructure projects depend on public funding, while private construction is often still shaped by government regulation.

Branches of civil engineering

Civil engineers can specialize across technical areas, including:

• Transportation (roads, bridges, airports, etc.)
• Structural (the “bones and joints” of buildings and structures)
• Geotechnical (how earth materials like dirt interact with human-made structures)
• Architectural (design that’s both functional and visually appealing)
• Utility and surveying (energy generation, extraction, and transmission)
• Coastal (structures near coastlines, such as ports)
• Environmental (clean energy sources)
• Construction (project management, building, maintenance, and code enforcement)
• Water resource (irrigation, canal construction, wastewater management)
• Mechanics, and more

While there are many directions a civil engineer can go, the general certification requirements for engineers are the same across subdisciplines. These distinctions become important when you’re approaching your long-term career plan and deciding which areas of the field interest you most.

Civil engineering jobs and common titles

Given the vast number of subspecialties civil engineers can pursue, it’s no wonder that there is also a wide variety of job titles that those with civil engineering training can hold:

• Civil Application Engineer
• Civil Engineer (US Army Corps)
• Construction Manager
• Engineering Technician
• Environmental Engineer
• Forensic Engineer
• Infrastructure Design Engineer
• Land Development Engineer
• Planning Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Roadway Design Engineer
• Stormwater Engineer
• Structural Substation Design Engineer
• Water Resources Engineer
• Junior, Senior, Professional Engineer (experience-dependent)

This list is by no means exhaustive: if it’s a constructed object, then there’s likely a civil engineering specialty for it.

Civil engineering professional organizations and certifying bodies

If you’re entering the field as a new civil engineer, you should be familiar with these organizations:

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): The oldest national engineering society in the U.S. (founded 1852), offering training and networking opportunities.
• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): A group that focuses on licensure, ethics, and the professional practice of engineering across all disciplines.
• ABET/Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC): The organization that determines whether an undergraduate engineering program meets rigorous educational and training requirements.
• The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): A non-profit organization that upholds licensing standards for all engineering fields.

The NCEES administers both the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams, which are required to obtain professional licensure. The FE exam is the first major requirement for engineers who have completed a bachelor’s degree at an ABET/EAC-accredited program, and it acts as a passport to advancement.

The FE Civil exam: The first step

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

Many aspiring engineers take the FE Civil exam in their final year or shortly after graduation to stay current on main topics, though some wait until after gaining some experience in the field. Knowing the scope of subjects and their significance to the final score can help make exam preparation more targeted and easier to manage.

The FE Civil exam is an important step in the U.S. engineering licensure process, assessing your readiness to advance to professional engineering licensure. It has two main objectives:

• Qualifies you for EIT (Engineer in Training) certification, which employers often require.
• Prepares you for the PE Exam, which is typically taken 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. You’ll need to know how to navigate the FE Civil Reference Handbook effectively before the test.

How is the exam structured?

The FE Civil exam is administered at authorized Pearson VUE testing centers and taken on computers.

Testing format:

• 110 questions total
• A mix of multiple-choice and alternative types (drag-and-drop, point-and-click, etc.)
• 6-hour appointment (5 hours 20 minutes of test time, plus a tutorial and breaks)

While 6 hours might seem daunting, many students find the pace manageable with practice.

This exam does not test advanced design skills but instead assesses fundamental civil engineering knowledge. It evaluates your ability to:

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

Questions will mainly come from your undergraduate courses, covering both general education and civil-specific classes.

Full list of FE Civil exam topics

The FE Civil exam includes a range of topics, from fundamental mathematical concepts to detailed knowledge of construction materials. Below is a clear, simplified overview of the official content areas and the broad categories they encompass:

Mathematics & Statistics

• Algebra and trigonometry
• Calculus and differential equations
• Probability, statistics, and data analysis
• Numerical methods

Ethics and Professional Practice

• Engineering ethics
• Public safety and welfare
• Professional responsibilities

Engineering Economics

• Time value of money
• Cost estimation
• Depreciation and inflation
• Economic decision-making

Statics

• Free-body diagrams
• Force systems
• Moments and equilibrium
• Trusses and frames

Dynamics

• Motion, velocity, acceleration
• Newton’s laws
• Energy and momentum methods

Mechanics of Materials

• Stress and strain
• Axial, torsion, and bending
• Shear and moment diagrams
• Deflection basics

Materials

• Concrete and steel behavior
• Wood and asphalt properties
• Mix design concepts

Fluid Mechanics

• Fluid properties
• Pressure and hydrostatics
• Flow continuity and energy
• Pumps and open-channel flow

Hydraulics & Hydrology

• Pipe flow systems
• Stormwater runoff
• Groundwater and infiltration
• Water distribution basics

Structural Engineering

• Determinate and indeterminate structures
• Load types
• Basic reinforced concrete and steel concepts

Geotechnical Engineering

• Soil identification and classification
• Compaction and consolidation
• Shear strength and stability
• Foundations and retaining walls

Transportation Engineering

• Traffic flow and control
• Highway design
• Pavement basics

Environmental Engineering

• Water and wastewater treatment
• Air quality concepts
• Solid and hazardous waste

Surveying

• Distance and leveling
• Angles and bearings
• Coordinate geometry and GPS basics

Construction

• Construction materials
• Scheduling (CPM, Gantt charts)
• Equipment and cost basics

The exam involves more than just math or science; it’s about how mathematics, physics, chemistry, and business fundamentals converge in engineering.

Civil engineers frequently design infrastructure for public use, requiring them to demonstrate expertise in safe, efficient design and construction management. The FE and PE certifications verify that these professionals are capable of planning and overseeing projects that may serve hundreds or even thousands of people daily. A solid understanding of the underlying principles of these systems and structures is crucial not just for excelling on the exam but also for effectively performing daily responsibilities.

FE Civil exam requirements

Before taking the exam, here are the key points you should understand:

Eligibility requirements:

• Typically, final-year engineering students or graduates from ABET-accredited programs.
• Some states allow non-ABET graduates through additional steps or evaluations.

How to register for the exam:

• You register online through the NCEES website.
• Choose your exam discipline (Civil).
• Select your test center, date, and time.

Identification requirements:

• Government-issued ID required on test day (passport, driver’s license, etc.).
• The name must match your NCEES profile exactly.

Other logistics:

• Cost is usually around $225 (may vary if you need to pay for an additional application with your state).
• The exam is offered year-round.
• You must arrive early for check-in and verification.

Be aware that the exam is offered during specific windows during the year:

• January to February
• April to May
• July to August
• October to November

Create a schedule to take the test at least three to six months in advance, helping you manage academic, professional, and personal responsibilities during your preparation. Remember, the FE Civil exam is breadth-based, covering a broad spectrum of topics without deep focus on any one area. You should anticipate:

• Concept-oriented questions
• Calculator-assisted problem solving
• Moderate difficulty across a broad spectrum of subjects

Pro tip: The test primarily assesses general engineering skills rather than advanced specialization.

Additional questions about civil engineering

Do I need a college degree to become a civil engineer?

Yes. In most cases, you need a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited program to become an engineer. This is also a major requirement for taking the FE exam, which is typically open only to those with at least a college degree. Many engineers opt to earn a master’s degree in civil engineering or a subspecialty to deepen expertise in a specific area and enhance their career prospects.

There are exceptions for those with extensive work experience; these engineers will need to petition their state board to proceed with licensure. While the FE exam is administered nationally, states are responsible for specific licensing standards within their jurisdictions.

What skills do I need to become a civil engineer?

Civil engineering demands a mixture of hard skills, soft skills, and familiarity with various technologies, including:

• Quantitative skills
• Deep knowledge of physics and chemistry
• Data analysis
• Expertise in common building materials like steel, concrete, and timber
• Modeling and design software
• Geospatial mapping technologies (like GIS and GPS)
• Land surveying tools
• Hydrologic modeling
• Hydraulics
• Soil sampling
• Critical and creative thinking
• Organizational skills
• Project management, delegation, and leadership
• Written and oral communication

Additionally, being a civil engineer requires a commitment to safety and sustainability and a promise to minimize environmental harm. Engineers have the power to transform the world around them, and must do so while upholding their responsibilities and professional ethics.

Is civil engineering affected by AI?

Like most industries in science and technology, civil engineering is being reshaped by AI. However, experts expect the industry to rely on a combination of human expertise and the responsible deployment of AI technology in the coming years. Complex analysis, planning, and design that require hours of calculations, research, and work are now being drastically simplified thanks to new software. Even so, the need for human judgment, negotiation, and compliance remains deeply important to the field. Many experts believe that AI will affect how civil engineers do their day-to-day tasks and help make projects more efficient, but that the field will remain human-centered and continue to grow in demand.

Civil engineers will continue to be relied upon to build new structures, upgrade deteriorating infrastructure, and promote resiliency amid a changing climate. While the tools may change, talented and skilled engineers will always be a crucial part of the process.

How does civil engineering compare to other disciplines?

Civil engineering is one of the most in-demand and stable fields. While median salaries may be slightly lower than in other disciplines, the job outlook for civil engineers remains strong. Civil engineering also employs far more people than most other engineering fields, almost 390,000 civil engineers, compared with roughly 20,000 or fewer chemical engineers, and generates more annual job openings. The diversity of civil engineering roles also means candidates can take their degrees and expertise in several directions, across different industries.

What’s the difference between construction and engineering?

Construction involves the actual building of structures like homes, bridges, and hospitals, while engineering is the process of designing, planning, testing, and assessing structural integrity. Not all construction workers require special licenses, as engineers do; different training pathways are available for various roles.

Within civil engineering, construction engineering involves engineers working on projects pre-, during, and post-construction. This may include feasibility studies, site investigations, drafting designs and blueprints, and maintaining safety standards.

Final thoughts

Civil engineers are crucial to our communities, enhancing daily safety, mobility, health, and prosperity for entire communities. Though the field can be rigorous and competitive, it’s a great career path for those interested in applying engineering principles to build usable construction and systems. Passing the FE exam in civil engineering gets your foot in the door early, letting you take the path toward advancement and professional licensure in this dynamic field. The impact of civil engineering can be felt on a local, national, and global scale, and the field is waiting for you to make your mark.