PE Electrical Power exam topics overview
The authoritative topic list is the exam specifications that NCEES publishes. Download them from the NCEES PE Electrical and Computer: Power exam page and treat them as the source of truth. The seven areas below are EngiByte's own study groupings. The labels are ours, not NCEES section titles.
The seven practice areas
- Measurement and instrumentation: instrument transformers, metering.
- Circuits and power system analysis: three-phase power, power factor, per-unit, symmetrical components, faults.
- Transformers and rotating machines: transformer ratios and impedance, induction and synchronous machines, motor starting.
- Transmission, distribution and interconnection: power transfer, voltage regulation, grid operations.
- Protection and relaying: overcurrent and distance protection, fault duty.
- Power electronics and inverter-based resources: converters, rectifiers, inverter behavior.
- Codes, standards and safety: the standards the exam specifications list.
See how these fit a schedule in the study plan, or test yourself with the practice exam.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official list of PE Power topics?
In the exam specifications on the NCEES Power exam page. Use that as the source of truth.
Are EngiByte topic areas the same as NCEES sections?
No. They are our own study groupings that loosely follow the NCEES topic groups, so use the official specifications for the definitive list.
Which area should I study first?
Run a diagnostic and start with your lowest-scoring area. Circuits and power system analysis underpins most of the others.