PE Civil Exam Codes and Standards

NCEES publishes exam specifications that identify the design standards used for each civil engineering discipline. Along with the NCEES Reference Handbook, these references are supplied during the exam in PDF format, allowing candidates to quickly locate relevant information. The codes and standards also reflect the documents practicing engineers rely on in real-world design.

Here are some study hints for using the design standards:

• Use the standards while practicing problems. Become comfortable navigating each reference by working sample problems and practice exams with the applicable standard open.

• Focus on finding information quickly, not memorizing content. The PE Civil exam is open-reference, and efficiency matters more than recall. Practice locating equations, tables, figures, and commentary under time constraints.

• Understand sections of standards that are used conceptually versus numerically. Some references are primarily used for definitions, limits, or design logic, while others require direct use of equations and tables.

• Simulate exam conditions when studying. Use searchable PDFs, limit external notes, and time your practice to reflect real exam conditions as closely as possible.

The following standards are based on the references identified in the NCEES PE Civil exam specifications:

Water Resources and Environmental

• TSS Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities, 2014

• TSS Recommended Standards for Water Works, 2018

Transportation

• AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 7th edition, 2018

• AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures, 4th edition, 1993 with 1998 supplement

• AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, 2nd edition, 2021

• AASHTO Highway Safety Manual, 1st edition, 2010, with 2014 Supplement (including September 2010, February 2012, and March 2016 errata)

• AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide: A Manual of Practice, 3rd edition, August 2022

• AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th edition, 2011 (including February 2012 and July 2015 errata)

• FHWA Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts, Hydraulic Design Series Number 5, 3rd edition, April 2012

• Highway Capacity Manual (Volumes 1–4), 6th edition, 2016

• MUTCD, 2009, including Revisions 1 and 2 dated May 2012

Structural

• AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 8th edition, 2017

• IBC, 2018

• ASCE 7-16 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2017

• ACI 318 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary, 2014

• AISC Steel Construction Manual, 15th ed., 2017

• AWC Wood Design Package

• CFR TITLE 29: Part 1910 Subparts D, I, and F, Part 1926 Subparts E, L, M, Q, and R

• PCI Design Handbook: Precast and Prestressed Concrete, 7th edition, 2010

• TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures (and companion commentaries), 2016

Geotechnical

• ASCE 7-16 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2017

• USACE Engineering and Design: Slope Stability, 2003

• FHWA Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, 2006

• FHWA Soils and Foundations Reference Manual - Volume I, 2006

• FHWA Soils and Foundations Reference Manual - Volume II, 2006

• FHWA LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Transportation Geotechnical Features and Structural Foundations Reference Manual, 2011

• FHWA Design and Construction of Driven Pile Foundations - Volume I, 2016

• FHWA Design and Construction of Driven Pile Foundations - Volume II, 2016

• FHWA Geotechnical Site Characterization, 2017

• FHWA Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures and Design Methods, 2018

• NAVFAC Foundations & Earth Structures, Design Manual 7.02, 1986

• CFR TITLE 29: Part 1926, Subparts CC, E, M, and P

• UFC Dewatering and Groundwater Control, 2004

• UFC Soil Mechanics, 2022

Construction

• ACI 347R Guide to Formwork for Concrete, 2014

• ACI SP-4: Formwork for Concrete, 8th ed., 2014

• AISC Steel Construction Manual, 15th ed., 2017

• ASCE 37-14 Design Loads on Structures During Construction, 2nd ed., 2015

• CMWB Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction, 2012

• PCA EB001 Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., 2021

• MUTCD Part 6 Temporary Traffic Control, 2009, including Revisions 1 and 2 dated May 2012

• CFR TITLE 29: Part 1903 and Part 1926