What to Do If You Fail the PE Exam (Beyond Logistics)

 

In this article (and video above), I talk about what to do if you fail the PE Exam and provide you with a powerful plan to reassess, refocus, and rise, so you can come back stronger, smarter, and more prepared than ever.

Let’s break it down into three powerful steps: Reassess. Refocus. Rise.

Step 1: Reassess

Now is the time to analyze your performance — not to beat yourself up about the fact that you did fail the PE Exam, but to learn and grow.

Reflect on:

• Which areas were most challenging?
• Did I run out of time?
• Was it anxiety, or was it a knowledge gap?

While the experience is still fresh, take a moment to jot down the specific topics that challenged you. If available, go a step further and request a diagnostic report. This isn’t just about identifying what went wrong—it’s about uncovering what you can do better next time.

Step 2: Refocus

Here’s where strategy beats effort.

Start by adjusting your study plan based on what you learned. If breadth topics overwhelm you, allocate more time there. If you neglected depth topics, now you know better.

Switch up your tools too:

• Join a study group.
• Try a new prep course or video series.
• Simulate exam conditions regularly.

And remember: studying smarter doesn’t always mean studying longer. It’s about being more efficient, more focused, and more intentional.

Don’t forget to balance your schedule. Burnout is real. Build in rest, exercise, and yes—time to disconnect. A clear mind performs better under pressure.

Step 3: Rise

This step is all heart.

Failure has a way of shaking our confidence. But if you’re watching this, it means you haven’t given up. And that resilience? That matters.

Reach out to others who’ve failed and passed. You’ll find stories of redemption, grit, and inspiration. Use those stories to fuel your own.

Remind yourself daily: you’re not starting over; you’re starting from experience.

And when you walk into that exam room again, you won’t just be smarter—you’ll be stronger, more prepared, and mentally tougher.

Closing Thoughts:

Failing the PE Exam isn’t the end—it’s a detour. A powerful moment to pause, reassess, and push forward with purpose.

If you didn’t pass this time, remember: you’re not alone. Countless engineers have been in your shoes, regrouped, and gone on to pass, succeed, and build amazing careers.

You will too.

Stay focused. Study smarter. And when the time comes, show that exam who’s boss.

You got this.

This Episode Is Brought to You By: School of PE

School of PE has been a leading provider of exam prep courses since 2004, helping thousands of professionals achieve licensure and certification in engineering, surveying, and project management. Taught by industry experts, their courses align with the NCEES CBT format and consistently deliver pass rates above the national average. School of PE is recognized as a top-rated provider, and they are committed to student success through expert instruction and high-quality materials. Visit http://www.schoolofpe.com/ for more details and to see how they can best help you achieve your professional goals. Specialties: FE Exam Review, PE Exam Review, Surveying, and PMP.

I hope you found this article helpful. In upcoming articles, I will solve some more PE exam practice problems and answer other questions from our subscribers. Pass the PE Exam videos will publish monthly, so be sure to click the subscribe button so you don’t miss something that could make a substantial difference in your exam result.

Lastly, I encourage you to ask questions in the comments of this video or on this page, and I’ll read and respond to them in future videos. So, if there’s a specific topic you want me to cover or answer, we have you covered.

I’ll see you next week… on Pass the PE Exam

Anthony Fasano, P.E., AEC PM, F. ASCE
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success