Examination Registration Information

APRIL 2012 EXAM APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

There is a two-step process to register to take any examination(s). ALL applicants are required to submit an application and fee to the Board postmarked by the final filing date, in addition to registering for the examination(s) at the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). This process applies to all applicants, including those who are re-filing to retake an examination(s) and those who are taking only California state specific examination(s).
The final filing dates for all April 2012 exams have passed, and no new applications will be accepted.  HOWEVER, not all applicants have registered for their examinations with NCEES.

How do I register?
Please follow the instructions below. Registering with NCEES reserves your seat and exam book ONLY, and does not constitute an application for licensing in California. If you register on the NCEES Web site and fail to submit an application to the California Board, your exam(s) will be canceled, and you will not be allowed to sit for the exam.  Applicants will not be allowed to sit for examinations if they have not met all Board requirements, including NCEES registration.
Please make your site and afternoon module selections on the NCEES site carefully. The Board will be approving applicant exam registration on the NCEES system on a flow basis as they are received and processed. Once the California Board has approved your exam registration on this system, no site or module changes will be allowed.  This is an NCEES rule so please do not contact the Board regarding this issue.

PE/PLS Applicants that have filed an application with the CA Board by the Final Filing Dates:

1. Set up, or log into an existing personal account at http://www.ncees.org/Exams/States/CA.php
2. Register for your exam(s), including California State Specific Only (CA Land Surveying, CA Seismic Principles, and CA Engineering Surveying).
3. When you have completed your NCEES registration, you will be directed to download and print a PDF document that summarizes the exam(s) you registered for and the site you selected. You must send a copy of this PDF summary document to the California Board. Applicants that do not register for an exam on the NCEES website will not be allowed to sit for the exam(s).
4. You may log onto the NCEES website at any time to check if the CA Board has approved your exams. 

Civil Engineering and Land Surveying Candidates:
Civil Engineering Candidates: Registering for the NCEES Civil PE exam does not register you for the CA Civil Seismic Principles, and CA Civil Engineering Surveying Exams, and all three exams are required for licensing.  You must register for these two California State Specific exams on the NCEES website or you will not be allowed to sit for the exams.  Register for these exams by clicking on California State Specific Only when selecting an exam type, select California Engineering Surveying, and complete the registration for that exam.  Then click on Add Another Exam.  Now select California State Specific Only again, and select California Seismic Principles, and complete the registration for that exam.  Click here for a tutorial.
Land Surveying Candidates: Registering for the NCEES LS exam does not register you for the CA Land Surveying Exam, and both exams are required for licensing.  You must register for the CA LS exam on the NCEES website or you will not be allowed to sit for the exam.  Register for the exam by clicking on California State Specific Only when selecting an exam type, then select California Land Surveying.  Click here for a tutorial.
NOTE: You must re-register with NCEES and submit a new application to the California Board for each exam cycle; your exam and site choices do not carry forward to the next exam cycle.

EIT/LSIT Applicants (FE and FS exams): The EIT/LSIT application deadline was January 23, 2012 and no new applications will be accepted.

Exam Authorization:
NCEES will e-mail you 2–3 weeks before the exam with instructions on downloading and printing your exam authorization. If you are taking more than one exam, you will have a separate exam authorization for each exam. You will be required to present the exam authorization along with a valid, government-issued photo ID (must contain your signature) upon arrival at the exam site. You will not receive a separate notice from the California Board.

Important Information:
Applicants should continue to check the Board’s website www.pels.ca.gov and the NCEES website http://www.ncees.org/Exams/States/CA.php for updated information, including the exact dates to submit application materials and fees to the Board and registering with NCEES.
FAQs regarding NCEES National ID http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/national_id_faq.pdf
Updated February 1, 2012