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NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination

MECHANICAL BREADTH and THERMAL and FLUIDS SYSTEMS DEPTH

Exam Specifications

Effective Beginning with the October 2008 Examinations



The mechanical exam is a breadth and depth examination. This means that examinees work the

breadth (AM) exam and one of the three depth (PM) exams.



The three areas covered in the mechanical engineering examination are HVAC and Refrigeration;

Mechanical Systems and Materials; and Thermal and Fluids Systems. The breadth exam contains

questions from these three areas of mechanical engineering. The depth exams focus more closely on

a single area of practice in mechanical engineering.



Examinees work all questions in the morning session and all questions in the afternoon module they

have chosen. Depth results are combined with breadth results for final score.



The exam is an 8-hour open-book exam. It contains 40 multiple-choice questions in the

4-hour AM session, and 40 multiple-choice questions in the 4-hour PM session.



Questions in Sections I–IV of the breadth module will be in either USCS or SI units. Questions in

Section V of the breadth module will be in USCS units. Questions in the depth module will be in

either USCS or SI units.



The exam is developed with questions that will require a variety of approaches and methodologies,

including design, analysis, and application. Some problems may require knowledge of engineering

economics.



The knowledge areas specified as examples of kinds of knowledge are not exclusive or exhaustive

categories.



The specifications for the AM exam and the Thermal and Fluids Systems PM exam are

included here.

MECHANICAL BREADTH Exam Specifications

Approximate

Number of

Questions

I.

Basic Engineering Practice

A. Basic Engineering Practice

1. Engineering terms and symbols

2. Economic analysis

3. Project management

4. Interpretation of technical drawings

5. Electrical concepts

6. Units and conversions

12

12

II. Mechanical...