Essential SE Exam Study Materials

March 2026 Update

• The SE Exam transitioned from a paper format to computer-based testing (CBT) in April 2024. This post has been updated to reflect the new format, including changes to references, exam structure, and study strategy. The design standards and editions listed below are effective as of the April 2024 exam cycle. Always check the NCEES website for the latest information.

The Structural Engineering (SE) Exam is daunting. As a test taker, you are expected to know the ins and outs of the design standards, analysis methods, and material behavior.

The SE Exam is now a closed book, computer-based exam. NCEES provides an electronic reference handbook along with all the design standards as searchable PDFs during the exam. You can no longer bring personal materials into the testing room.

This is a major shift from the old paper format where you could bring suitcases full of tabbed references. However, the challenge still remains in knowing where to find the information. Instead of flipping through physical pages, it’s about searching the digital files effectively.

I created a list of SE Exam study materials that were the most useful when I studied for the exam. The study approach and resources are still relevant; the way you use them on exam day is what’s changed.

You can jump right to the TL;DR if you want the condensed list without all my rambling.

SE Exam Structure (CBT Format)

Before diving into the study materials, it’s worth taking a look at how the CBT format is structured.

The previous 16-hour test was broken in two days, vertical and lateral. On each day, the 4-hour morning sessions were breadth sections with multiple choice questions. The afternoon session were depth sections with extended essays and calculations.

The exam still has those components but it’s broken down differently. Here are the details:

• Breadth sections are available year-round. Each breadth section is 6 hours long and contains 55 multiple choice questions.
• Depth sections are still offered only twice a year (April and October). Like before, you choose whether you want the buildings or bridges version of the test. Each depth section is 6.5 hours long and contains 5 scenarios with 12 questions each, totaling 60 questions.
• Each section receives independent results. You don’t have to pass both the breadth and depth at the same time like before. Once you pass a section, those results don’t expire.
• Each section costs $350.

Here are some of my takeaways of the new format:

• The individual sections are now longer than the previous format. However, you are not required to take the breadth and depth back-to-back on the same day. You need more single session stamina but can relax once your test is over.
• It could be beneficial to only study one component, Vertical or Lateral, at a time since results don’t expire. I recommend taking the breadth close to when the depth sections are offered, so maybe like March or September. You get the benefit of spacing the tests out a bit while still only having to study during one time period.

SE Exam Design Standards and Code Editions

Design standards are the most important items, not just for the test but also for the everyday practice of structural engineering. You want make to sure that structures you design are code compliant. And there’s no way to know that without the standards of practice.

Under the CBT format, NCEES provides all design standards electronically during the exam. You are responsible for obtaining these references before the exam for study purposes. It’s highly recommended to get a hold of these copies because you need to understand the content and build familiarity with how they’re organized.

If possible, get the digital copy of the references to mimic test conditions. The exam interface only allows one chapter of a standard open at a time. You also have to share the screen between the exam question and the reference material.

Early test takers reported these constraints as one of the biggest adjustments, especially for problems that require you to jump between multiple code sections. Practicing with these limitations during your study sessions will go a long way.

You should check the NCEES website for the references (and editions) used on the next exam. Although most things seem to stay the same between editions, I recommend getting the version listed by NCEES. You don’t want to miss a question because of a minor change in an equation or updated material strengths. Every point matters!

Here are the current design standards provided on the exam (effective April 2024):

Here are some examples of changes between editions:

• Bolt shear and tension strengths (Table 7-1 and 7-2) changed between the 13th and 14th edition of the Steel Construction Manual.
• Wind pressures changed from service level to ultimate level in IBC 2012.
• ACI-318 chapters were reorganized from the 2011 to the 2014 edition.

Help With Costs

Since digital copies of the references are provided on exam day, you don’t need to purchase them for the exam but having access to them during your study period is still important.

Here are some tips to help with the costs of obtaining these references:

• The NCEES PE Structural Engineering Reference Handbook is available for free through your MyNCEES account. Download it early and start getting familiar with its layout.
• Borrow the design standards from your coworkers or your company’s reference library.
• If your firm has the digital copy of the references, use those for study.
• Discounts are often available to members of the various structural engineering associations. For example, the AISC Steel Construction Manual (15th Edition) is $400 for non-members and $200 for members. If you are not a member yourself, consider asking if your company or coworkers are members and can get the lower price for you.

SE Reference Manual

The SE Reference Manual is almost as important as the design standards when it comes to SE Exam study materials.

This book lays out all the topics that will be on the exam. It gives a comprehensive review of the analysis and design methods for multiple materials and structures. But it doesn’t spell out everything you need to know. Therefore, you still need to dive into the design standards mentioned above.

I used the SE Reference Manual to structure my self-guided study sessions. The table of contents served as the outline for my study format. I read the book from cover to cover. The examples and problem sets tested my proficiency in all subject areas. I developed a sense of what to expect on the exam and how to approach the problems.

I felt much more prepared for the exam after completing the SE Reference Manual.

SE Exam Practice Problems and Exams

The best use of time in SE Exam prep was running through practice problems.

To get the most of your time, you want the practice questions to mirror ones on the actual exam. This will help you accurately assess your pacing and knowledge. So it’s great that the exam provider, NCEES, releases practice exams along with trusted sources such as PPI and SEAOC.

I focused most of my study time on completing as many problem sets as possible. I wanted to get in as many repetitions as possible. This exposed me to all the ways a concept could be presented.

A great place to start is the SE Exam Reference Manual mentioned in the previous section. There are 270 examples and 50 questions in this book. In addition to that book, I found these five practice problem books to be the most useful:

• NCEES PE Structural Engineering e-book Practice Exam
• PPI Practice Exam
• Six Minute Problems with Solutions
• SE Exam Bridge Problems
• SEAOC Structural/Seismic Design Manual Volume 1

CBT-specific Notes

The breadth section is still multiple choice and the practice problems should still be mostly the same.

However, the depth sections no longer use essay/constructed responses. All questions are now alternative item types (AITs), which include formats like drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, point-and-click, and multi-select. The engineering content in older depth practice problems is still useful for learning the material, but the essay format no longer mirrors the actual exam. The NCEES e-book is the closest to the current exam’s content and difficulty.

As of this writing, there isn’t a widely available practice tool that replicates the AIT interface. To familiarize yourself with the AIT question types, check the NCEES CBT page for descriptions and examples.

CodeMaster Pamphlets

CodeMaster pamphlets are a great study resource. These pamphlets condense information into a few laminated sheets. They contain design standard references, step by step design processes, and examples.

Important: You cannot bring these with you to the exam anymore. They serve as a study resource to help internalize design procedures when studying.

I found the following CodeMaster pamphlets to be invaluable:

• The masonry design ( ASD, Strength Design) pamphlet has step by step instructions for both in-plane and out-of-plane wall design. I always pull out this resource to design CMU walls.
• The wood design pamphlet presents all the adjustment factors into one section for quick reference. It solves the biggest headache when designing wood members, which is looking all over the place for the adjustment factors.
• The seismic design pamphlet lays out the seismic design process in easy to follow steps. I use this resource to quickly determine the seismic design category and base shear. I also lean on these sheets for seismic irregularity questions.

Design Flow Charts

One of the best ways to consolidate knowledge is to create your own design flow chart. This provides a quick design overview. It also acts as a QC checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.

I created a set of flow charts for my second attempt at the SE Exam. These were key to passing the test. While you can’t bring these into the exam under the CBT format, the process of creating them forces you to memorize the design procedures.

You can get the foundation design flow charts for free by entering your email below.

Scientific Calculator

To protect exam integrity, NCEES only allows certain calculators for the exam. You can see the list of approved calculators is on their website.

Get your calculator well before the exam. You should be using this calculator to solve practice problems. This helps develop a sense of familiarity. It also eliminates a potential source of stress during the exam. Don’t forget to bring a 2nd calculator to the exam in case the first one breaks.

I bought and used the Casio FX-115ES for the exam. I am still using it 5 years later. It replaced the TI-89 as my main calculator. It’s lightweight and solar powered, so I don’t have to worry about changing the batteries.

Conclusion (TL;DR)

The first steps in preparing for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam is getting all required SE Exam study materials. NCEES provides all references digitally but you need to know the material well enough to navigate those resources efficiently.

Here’s what I found to be the most important:

• NCEES PE Structural Engineering Reference Handbook (free from your myNCEES account)
• All current design standards for studying
  • Check the NCEES website for standards and editions.
  • Practice searching and navigating PDFs.
  • Practice only using one chapter at a time.
• The SE Reference Manual
• Practice exams and problem sets:
  • NCEES PE Structural Engineering e-book Practice Exam
  • PPI Practice Exam
  • Six Minute Problems with Solutions
  • SE Exam Bridge Problems
  • SEAOC Structural/Seismic Design Manual Volume 1
• Code Masters pamphlets
  • If you don’t want to buy the bundle, the most useful ones are:
    • Masonry Design ( ASD, Strength Design)
    • Wood Design
    • Seismic Design
• Casio FX-115ES

Tags: #engineering