FE and PE exams · calculator policy · checked Oct 29, 2026
FE exam calculators: the approved list
Only calculators on the NCEES list are allowed on the FE exam. The list: Any Casio fx-115 or fx-991 model, the HP 33s or HP 35s, or any TI-30X or TI-36X model; one in the room, plus an on-screen TI-30XS. The same list applies to the PE, and NCEES reviews it every year.
Updated Oct 29, 2026 · Not affiliated with NCEES.
- brands on the list3
- calculator in the room1
- on screenTI-30XS
The approved models
The policy names families, not single models, so a model is allowed when its name contains the family name (NCEES calculator policy):
- Casio: any model with fx-115 or fx-991 in its name, such as the fx-115ES PLUS or fx-991EX.
- Hewlett Packard: the HP 33s and the HP 35s, and no other HP model.
- Texas Instruments: any model with TI-30X or TI-36X in its name, which includes the TI-30XS MultiView and the TI-36X Pro.
Everything else is out, including graphing calculators such as the TI-84 or TI-89 and every other Casio and HP model.
In the testing room
- One calculator on your desk; a spare stays in your locker, and NCEES reviews the list every year.
- No cover. The calculator goes in without its case or lid (examinee guide).
- On screen: an on-screen TI-30XS is available during the exam, in addition to your own approved calculator. It is a fallback, not a reason to leave yours at home: mouse clicks are slower than keys you know.
Which approved model to pick
The best FE calculator is the approved model you already know. If you are choosing, match it to the exam:
- Electrical and Computer: many items run on complex numbers and polar-rectangular conversion, so pick a model with a complex-number mode and drill it (circuit analysis).
- Civil, Mechanical, Environmental, Chemical: an equation solver and numeric integration save time on iterative problems; check that your exact model has them before you rely on it.
- Practice on the one you will bring. Angle mode, fraction display and memory keys differ between models, and a habit built on one costs time on another.
Before you buy
Check the full model name on the box against the families above, and check the NCEES page in the year you test, because the list is reviewed annually. A calculator that is not on the list is not allowed in the testing room at all.
The same list for the PE
The PE uses the same list: the PE Mechanical HVAC & Refrigeration exam facts name the same models and the same one-calculator rule. A calculator you buy for the FE carries over to the PE.
Calculator-ready problems by discipline
FE Civil app
FE Civil questions, answers and worked solutions in a study app.
Not affiliated with NCEES.
FE Mechanical app
FE Mechanical questions, answers and worked solutions in a study app.
Not affiliated with NCEES.
FE Electrical and Computer app
FE Electrical and Computer questions, answers and worked solutions in a study app.
Not affiliated with NCEES.
FE Environmental app
FE Environmental questions, answers and worked solutions in a study app.
Not affiliated with NCEES.
FE Chemical app
FE Chemical questions, answers and worked solutions in a study app.
Not affiliated with NCEES.
FE calculators, quick answers
Is the TI-36X Pro allowed on the FE exam?
Yes. Its name contains TI-36X, and every TI-36X model is on the NCEES list.
Is the TI-84 allowed on the FE?
No. Graphing calculators are not on the list; only Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, the HP 33s and 35s, and TI-30X and TI-36X models are.
Can I bring two calculators?
You may have only one in the testing room; a spare stays in your locker.
Is there a calculator on the computer?
Yes: a TI-30XS opens on screen next to the question. Working it with a mouse is slow, so treat it as a backup to your own approved model.