Professional Engineer License Cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, documented PE license fees total $475 — exam $400, application $75. Always confirm the current schedule with North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS) before paying.
Figures below come from the same dataset as the full guide and list only what the state publishes. Anything not published is marked “varies — check the board” rather than guessed.
PE license cost — North Carolina at a glance
| Pre-license education | Varies — check the board |
| Exam fee | $400 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| License fee | Varies — check the board |
| Documented fees total | $475 |
| BLS median annual wage | $104,110 (mechanical engineers (BLS does not track professional engineers separately)) |
Official source: North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS) ↗
Fees vs. median pay
The BLS median annual wage for mechanical engineers (BLS does not track professional engineers separately) is $104,110.The BLS median annual wage for mechanical engineers (BLS does not track professional engineers separately) is $104,110. Documented PE fees in North Carolina are $475 — about 0.5% of one year's median pay. The bigger investment is usually tuition and time.
Frequently asked questions
What does a PE license cost in North Carolina?
Documented fees in North Carolina total $475: exam $400, application $75. Pre-license education is the biggest variable cost and is set by each school, not the board.
Are the exam fee and the license fee the same thing in North Carolina?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the test, while the application and license fees cover processing and issuing the credential. Each is listed separately in the table above where the state publishes it.
How much does PE training cost in North Carolina?
Training-hour requirements for North Carolina are not published here — ask North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS) for the approved programs and their costs.
Is a PE license in North Carolina worth the cost?
The BLS median annual wage for mechanical engineers (BLS does not track professional engineers separately) is $104,110, so documented fees are roughly 0.5% of one year's median pay. Earnings vary widely by state and market — treat this as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Budget your PE licensing in North Carolina
This page is informational and not legal advice. Fees, pass rates and retake rules change frequently — verify all figures with North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBELS) and your exam vendor before paying (retrieved 2026-08-20).