PE Civil: Transportation is built around roadway geometric design — Traffic Engineering carries the most questions, with Horizontal and Vertical Design close behind and roughly tied with each other. Between those three and intersection geometry, traffic signals, and traffic control design, geometric and traffic-flow topics make up a clear majority of the exam.
8 or 8.5 hours testing; 9 or 9.5 hours for the appointment
Where to put your time first.
Ranked by question count weighted against the spec's own difficulty rating — not question count alone, since a smaller topic rated harder can be worth more study time than a bigger, easier one.
Circular curve elements · Sight distance · Superelevation · Special horizontal curves
3Vertical Design8–12q
Vertical alignment · Stopping and passing sight distance
Full Civil: Transportation topic breakdown.
Every topic in the official NCEES spec, with its question range and share of the exam. Study Scheduler allocates your study hours in this same proportion automatically.
Project Management~8% of exam6–9q
Quantity and cost estimating
Project schedules
Economic analysis
Traffic Engineering~14% of exam10–15q
Uninterrupted flow / LOS
Interrupted flow
Intersection capacity
Traffic analysis
Traffic safety analysis
Nonmotorized facilities
Traffic forecasts
Highway safety analysis
Roadside and Cross-Section Design~10% of exam7–11q
Forgiving roadside concepts
Barrier design
Cross-section elements
Nonmotorized design considerations
Horizontal Design~11% of exam8–12q
Circular curve elements
Sight distance
Superelevation
Special horizontal curves
Vertical Design~11% of exam8–12q
Vertical alignment
Stopping and passing sight distance
Intersection Geometry~10% of exam7–11q
Intersection sight distance
Interchanges
At-grade intersection layout and roundabouts
Traffic Signals~7% of exam5–8q
Traffic signal timing
Traffic signal warrants
Traffic signal design
Traffic Control Design~7% of exam5–8q
Permanent signs and pavement markings
Temporary traffic control
Geotechnical and Pavement~8% of exam6–9q
Sampling, testing, and soil stabilization
Soil properties
Compaction, excavation, embankment
Pavement design and rehabilitation
Drainage~11% of exam8–12q
Hydrology and runoff
Hydraulics, culverts, stormwater collection
Frequently asked about Civil: Transportation.
What's tested on PE Civil: Transportation?
Project management, traffic engineering, roadside and cross-section design, horizontal and vertical geometric design, intersection geometry, traffic signals and control, plus geotechnical/pavement and drainage considerations.
What carries the most weight on PE Civil: Transportation?
Traffic Engineering, at 10–15 questions, with Horizontal Design and Vertical Design roughly tied just behind it at 8–12 each.
For how many hours to budget, week-by-week study plans, and how Study Scheduler weights your plan — see the full PE study guide.
Example plan · PE
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Your schedule combines topic study, review, mock practice, and time away. Actual blocks depend on your exam, study budget, and days off.