On NCEES's July 2026 figures, 71% of first-time takers passed the Water Resources and Environmental depth, the highest of the five PE Civil depths. Repeat takers passed at 49%.
Water Resources, first time
71%
Water Resources, repeat
49%
First-time takers
2,620
Updated
July 2026
Pass rates for the five PE Civil depths
Depth
First-time takers
First-time pass
Repeat takers
Repeat pass
Water Resources and Environmental
2,620
71%
876
49%
Transportation
1,929
61%
1,097
43%
Structural
1,624
62%
847
43%
Construction
1,000
60%
417
38%
Geotechnical
434
63%
201
44%
What the numbers say
Water Resources and Environmental is the largest PE Civil depth by first-time takers and has the highest first-time pass rate.
Repeat takers pass at 38% to 49% across the depths, well below first-time takers.
NCEES shows these rates for the January to June or July to December population of each year-round exam and updates them each July and January.
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Try 4 questions
Question 1Uniform flow and Manning's equation
A concrete-lined rectangular channel is 10.0 ft wide and flows at a uniform depth of 3.0 ft on a slope of 0.002 ft/ft. Manning's n is 0.015. Using Manning's equation in US units (constant 1.49), the discharge is most nearly:
Question 2Wells and drawdown
A production well has a static water level 85 ft below the ground surface. After pumping at 420 gpm long enough for the level to stabilize, the pumping water level is 117 ft below the surface. The specific capacity of the well is most nearly:
Question 3Sedimentation
A rectangular sedimentation basin is 120 ft long, 30 ft wide and 12 ft deep and treats 2.0 MGD. The surface overflow rate is most nearly:
Question 4Engineering economics and life-cycle cost
A levee costs $2,400,000 to build and $35,000 a year to maintain. It reduces expected flood damage by $260,000 a year. Over a 30-year life at 5%, (P/A, 5%, 30) = 15.3725. Define B/C = (present worth of benefits) / (first cost + present worth of maintenance). The B/C ratio is most nearly: