NCEES

Name

NCEES

Legal name

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

Website

https://ncees.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) is a US nonprofit founded in 1920 that develops and administers standardized FE, PE, FS, and PS licensing exams for engineers and surveyors across all 50 states and 14+ international jurisdictions, delivered via Pearson VUE test centers and the MyNCEES portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing & Certification Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF)

Keywords

• Engineering licensure exams
• Professional licensing services
• Surveying certification exams
• Credentials evaluation services
• Continuing education tracking

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Exam Registration Fees: NCEES generates revenue through exam registration fees paid directly by examinees. Standard FE exam fee is $225. International exam fees vary by jurisdiction: $250 for Canada (APEGA, EGBC, Engineers NS, APEGS), $400 for Saudi Arabia, $425 for some international locations. Fees are paid to NCEES during the registration process.
2. Credentials Evaluation Services: NCEES offers credentials evaluation services for candidates who earned their engineering degrees outside the United States, evaluating their qualifications for US licensure purposes.
3. Records Program: The NCEES Records program allows licensed engineers and surveyors to maintain licensure-related information for easier multi-state licensure process, including all 50 states and other territories.
4. CPC Tracking: Free tracking service for continuing professional competency (CPC) requirements that most state licensing boards require for license renewal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NCEES develops, owns, and administers the standardized computer-based licensing examinations (FE, PE, FS, PS) required for professional engineer and surveyor licensure in the United States. Beyond exams, it operates the NCEES Records Program for multi-state licensure portability, Credentials Evaluations for internationally educated candidates, and a free CPC Tracking service for continuing education compliance, all accessed through the MyNCEES online portal.

Product overview

NCEES offers a portfolio of four licensing exams for engineers and surveyors: the FE and PE exams for engineering licensure, and the FS and PS exams for surveying licensure. These exams are computer-based and administered year-round at Pearson test centers. Supporting services include the NCEES Records Program for multi-state licensure portability, Credentials Evaluations for international degree holders, and CPC Tracking for continuing education compliance. All services are accessible through the MyNCEES customer portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MyNCEES: Online customer portal for exam registration, NCEES Records, credentials evaluations, and CPC tracking services
• NCEES Foundation
• FE Exam
• PE Exam
• FS Exam
• PS Exam

Products and services

• FE Exam (Fundamentals of Engineering) Computer-based exam administered year-round at Pearson VUE test centers testing knowledge of fundamental engineering concepts across disciplines such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering. The FE exam is the first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer and is taken by graduates or students nearing completion of EAC/ABET-accredited engineering programs.
• PE Exam (Principles and Practice of Engineering) Professional engineering exam that tests minimum competency in a specific engineering discipline. It is typically taken after candidates have passed the FE exam and gained qualifying work experience, and is required for licensure as a Professional Engineer.
• FS Exam (Fundamentals of Surveying) Entry-level surveying exam testing knowledge of fundamental surveying principles and practices. Typically taken by recent graduates or students nearing completion of a surveying program as the first step toward professional surveyor licensure.
• PS Exam (Principles and Practice of Surveying) Professional surveying exam for candidates with at least four years of qualifying professional experience, testing the ability to practice surveying competently. Required for licensure as a Professional Surveyor.
• NCEES Records Program Program that allows licensed engineers and surveyors to maintain centralized licensure records covering education, experience, references, and exam results, and to electronically transmit that information to multiple state licensing boards for an easier multi-state (comity) licensure process across all 50 U.S. states, territories, and other countries.
• NCEES Credentials Evaluations Evaluation service for state licensing boards and applicants that assesses engineering and surveying degrees earned outside the United States. Designed primarily for candidates who have earned their degrees abroad and are pursuing licensure through one of the NCEES member licensing boards.
• CPC Tracking Free tracking and reporting service that allows licensed engineers and surveyors to monitor and report their continuing professional competency (CPC) requirements for license renewal across state jurisdictions, accessible through a MyNCEES account.
• MyNCEES Account Portal Integrated online portal that allows customers to access all NCEES services through a single account, including exam registration, NCEES Records, license and exam verifications, credentials evaluations, and CPC tracking. Maintains licensure-related information in one place and supports electronic transmission to state licensing boards.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson VUE is the primary testing delivery partner for NCEES exams. The company operates over 250 approved test centers worldwide where NCEES computer-based exams are administered year-round. Examinees register through MyNCEES and select their test center location during the scheduling process.
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAPEGA is the licensing body for engineers and geoscientists in Alberta, Canada. NCEES administers FE and PE exams in Alberta under this agreement. APEGA requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee for approval before they can register with NCEES for exams.
• Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEGBC is the regulatory body for engineers and geoscientists in British Columbia, Canada. NCEES administers FE exams in BC under this agreement. EGBC requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee. Note: EGBC does not currently offer NCEES PE or SE exams.
• Egyptian Engineers Syndicate (EES)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEES is the Egyptian engineering syndicate that maintains lists of all engineering graduates in Egypt. NCEES administers FE exams in Egypt under this agreement. Egyptian graduates must register as EES members and obtain EES approval before scheduling exams through NCEES. EES does not offer NCEES PE exams.
• Korean Professional Engineer Association (KPEA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKPEA is the professional engineering association in the Republic of Korea. NCEES administers FE and PE exams in Korea under this agreement. KPEA requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee for approval.
• Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCE is the licensing body for engineers in Saudi Arabia. NCEES administers FE, PE, and PS exams in Saudi Arabia under this agreement. SCE requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee for approval.
• Japan PE/FE Examiners Council (JPEC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJPEC is the examining body for professional and fundamentals of engineering exams in Japan. NCEES administers FE and PE exams in Japan under this agreement. JPEC requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee.
• Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIE is the professional engineering organization in Taiwan. NCEES administers exams in Taiwan under this agreement.
• American University in Cairo (AUC)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAUC is a private Egyptian university. NCEES administers FE and PE exams in Egypt under agreements with both EES and AUC. AUC graduates who wish to sit for NCEES exams may register via AUC.
• American University of Sharjah (AUS)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAUS is a private university in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE. NCEES administers FE and PE exams in Sharjah under this agreement. AUS requires examinees to submit an application and pay an application fee for approval.
• State Licensing Boards (All 50 US States)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCEES member boards include all 50 US states plus DC, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. These licensing boards use NCEES exams for engineering and surveying licensure and are part of the organization's governance structure as member licensing boards.
• Engineers Nova ScotiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCEES administers FE exams in Nova Scotia under agreement with Engineers Nova Scotia. The association requires examinees to submit an application for approval before registration. Engineers Nova Scotia does not offer PE or SE exams.
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCEES administers FE exams in Saskatchewan under agreement with APEGS. Candidates must contact APEGS to confirm eligibility before registering. APEGS does not offer PE or SE exams.
• APEGNB (New Brunswick)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCEES administers FE exams in New Brunswick under agreement with APEGNB. Examinees proceed directly to register with NCEES after approval. APEGNB does not offer PE or SE exams.
• Engineers Geoscientists ManitobaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCEES administers FE exams in Manitoba under agreement with Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. The organization does not offer PE or SE exams.
• Engineers PEIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCEES administers FE exams in Prince Edward Island under agreement with Engineers PEI. PEI candidates must obtain Engineers PEI approval before registering. Engineers PEI does not offer PE or SE exams.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ACT: ACT is a nonprofit assessment organization best known for the ACT college readiness test but also involved in workforce credentialing and certification programs. It operates in the broader standardized testing and credentialing space adjacent to NCEES' professional licensure domain.
• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE is NCEES' exclusive test delivery partner and also a competitor to other licensure bodies as a delivery platform. As the operator of 250+ global test centers, it is a critical infrastructure peer and adjacent service provider in the same high-stakes testing ecosystem.
• Prometric: Prometric is a global test delivery company that administers high-stakes licensure and certification exams including the USMLE and CPA. It operates in the same computer-based testing infrastructure space as Pearson VUE and is a potential alternative delivery partner for licensure bodies.
• Educational Testing Service (ETS): ETS is a major nonprofit educational measurement organization that develops and administers a broad portfolio of standardized tests (GRE, TOEFL, Praxis for teacher licensure). While broader in scope than NCEES, ETS operates in the same standardized testing domain and includes teacher licensure assessment, an adjacent professional credentialing market.

Others

• ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology): ABET accredits engineering, computing, and applied science programs whose graduates are eligible to sit for NCEES exams. It is a tightly coupled ecosystem partner — not a competitor — since ABET accreditation determines the candidate pipeline feeding NCEES exams.

Direct peers

• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): NCARB develops and administers the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and manages the multi-state licensure process for architects in the US. It is the closest direct analogue to NCEES, serving the same regulatory function for a different licensed profession with a similar member-board governance structure.
• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME): NBME develops the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) jointly with the FSMB, providing standardized high-stakes medical licensure exams. It is functionally similar to NCEES in developing psychometrically validated licensure exams for regulated professions with national portability.
• AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) / NASBA / Prometric: The AICPA, together with NASBA and Prometric, develops and administers the Uniform CPA Examination, the standardized licensure exam for US certified public accountants. It mirrors NCEES' role as the standardized exam body for a regulated profession with multi-state reciprocity.
• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT): FSBPT develops and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and provides licensure services to state boards for physical therapists. It closely mirrors NCEES' model of a member-board-governed organization developing standardized licensure exams.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT develops and administers certification exams for radiologic technologists, with credentials recognized across US states. It is a direct functional peer operating as a credentialing body for a regulated healthcare profession, sharing NCEES' exam development and multi-state recognition model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLiZ0hjHNi9jwKIYzX6dyB6rhiEPOP9o87
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncees
• Xx.com/ncees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NCEES