How to become a civil engineer

1. 1Take calculus and physics in high school

   Time: 4 years (high school)Sources 1

   Engineering programs move straight into calculus, physics and chemistry, so the strongest preparation is the most advanced math and science your school offers, ideally including calculus and physics. Drafting or CAD classes, and summer jobs with a surveying crew, construction company or city public works department, help you see how designs turn into roads and buildings. Strong math grades matter most for admission to engineering programs.

2. 2Earn an ABET-accredited civil engineering degree

   Time: 4 yearsCost: $11,178/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 4, 1, 8

   Choose a program accredited by ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission; graduates of these programs can pursue a PE license in every state, while other degrees may need extra experience or may not qualify. Expect calculus through differential equations, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics and soils, then courses in structures, transportation, water resources and construction, ending with a senior design project. Internships or a co-op give you experience employers look for.

3. 3Pass the FE exam

   Time: Senior year or soon after graduationCost: $225 (2026)Sources 2, 5

   The Fundamentals of Engineering exam from NCEES is computer-based and given year-round at Pearson test centers. It has 110 questions in a 6-hour appointment. Civil students choose one of five Civil options: Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, or Water Resources and Environmental Control Systems. Taking it while coursework is fresh is easiest. Passing lets most states recognize you as an engineer intern (EI) or engineer-in-training (EIT).

4. 4Work under a licensed engineer

   Time: About 4 yearsCost: Paid workSources 5, 1

   Most states require about four years of progressive engineering experience, usually under the supervision of a PE, before full licensure. Early on you will run calculations, draft plan sheets, write specifications and inspect construction. Keep a careful record of projects and responsibilities, since state boards ask supervisors to verify your experience. Pick work that grows in responsibility; repeating the same task for years may not count fully.

5. 5Pass the PE Civil exam and get licensed

   Time: Exam plus a few months for the boardCost: $400 exam fee (2026) plus state feesSources 3, 6, 7

   The PE Civil exam is an 80-question computer-based test in a 9-hour appointment, offered year-round. You pick one depth module: construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, or water resources and environmental. You then apply to your state board with your exam results, transcripts and verified experience. Structural engineers in some states also need the PE Structural exam.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Applied math and mechanics

Sizing a beam, culvert or retaining wall comes down to statics, fluid mechanics and soil mechanics, and errors can mean failures.

Code knowledge

Designs must meet building codes, state DOT standards and environmental permits, and reviewers will check them line by line.

Design software

Plans are produced in CAD and civil design programs, and structural and hydraulic analysis runs on specialized modeling tools.

Clear writing and speaking

Engineers write reports and specifications and explain projects to clients, contractors, councils and neighbors who are not engineers.

Project management

Most projects involve budgets, schedules, subconsultants and permits, and PEs are often judged on delivering them on time.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, mathematics, critical thinking.

Training cost

$45.3K–$56.5K

Before financial aid

Time

8 years (to PE license)

Typical path

Median pay

$100,840

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

0.9–1.1 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: 4 years x College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for civil engineering bachelor's programs, $11,178 = $44,712, plus the FE exam ($225) and the PE Civil exam ($400). High: 5 years at the same tuition, for co-op programs or students who need longer, = $55,890, plus the same exam fees. Not included: fees, books, living costs, state license and application fees, and review courses. Private universities cost much more; the median federal loan debt for civil engineering graduates is $21,594.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Construction manager$114,990 median

  Civil engineers who move to the contractor side can run projects in the field; site experience and often a construction management certification help.

• Architect$99,280 median

  Requires a separate architecture degree, supervised experience and the architect licensing exam; a civil degree alone does not qualify.

• Project manager$102,320 median

  Licensed engineers commonly lead project teams and client relationships; some add a PMP certification.

• City engineer or public works director

  Senior PEs in local government move into running a city or county's engineering and public works department.