PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration Practice Exam
Work original PE HVAC and Refrigeration problems on loads, psychrometrics, ductwork, piping, refrigeration and equipment, read the full worked solution, then sit an 80-question timed mock in the CBT format: two sections of 40 and an 8-hour clock.
80 questions in two sections of 40, 8 hours of exam time, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every problem.
Or start with a free 10-question drill- 134 original PE HVAC and Refrigeration problems with worked solutions
- 5 free drills: every knowledge area plus a mixed set
- 71% of first-time examinees passed in January–June 2026
A university is evaluating a 15-year chiller maintenance contract that costs $12,000 per year, paid at the end of each year. At an interest rate of 6% per year, what is the present worth of the contract payments?
PE HVAC and Refrigeration exam format
- Questions
- 80 questions in two sections. After about 40 you review and submit the first section; you cannot return to it
- Time
- 9-hour appointment: 8 hours of exam time, a 50-minute scheduled break, an 8-minute tutorial and a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement
- Question types
- Mostly multiple choice with one correct answer, plus multiple correct, point and click, drag and drop and fill in the blank. No partial credit
- Units
- U.S. Customary units only
- References
- Closed book. NCEES supplies its electronic reference handbook on screen; no design standards are supplied for PE Mechanical. One NCEES-approved calculator
- Pass rate
- 71% first time (799 examinees) and 40% on a repeat attempt, January–June 2026
- Fee
- $400 per attempt to NCEES, year-round at Pearson VUE test centers
- Results and retakes
- Pass or fail in about 7 to 10 days, with a diagnostic report if you fail. One attempt per quarterly testing window, at most three in 12 months
What’s on the PE HVAC and Refrigeration exam
The 4 knowledge areas of the NCEES specification effective October 2025, with the number of questions each carries. Our full mock draws its 80 questions in proportion to the middle of each range. Every knowledge area has a ten-question drill with a worked solution after every answer; each drill’s first attempt is free.
| Knowledge area | Topics in the specification | Questions | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. HVAC Loads and Psychrometrics | 1A Heating/Cooling Loads · 1B Heating/Cooling Processes · 1C Humidification/Dehumidification Processes | 18–2721 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 2. HVAC and Refrigeration Distribution and Systems | 2A Air Distribution Systems and Ductwork · 2B Air Quality and Ventilation · 2C Fluid Distribution Systems and Piping · 2D Control Concepts · 2E Refrigeration and Refrigeration Systems | 20–3023 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 3. HVAC Equipment and Components | 3A Cooling Towers and Fluid Coolers · 3B Boilers and Furnaces · 3C Heat Exchangers · 3D Condensers/Evaporators · 3E Pumps, Compressors, and Fans · 3F Cooling and Heating Coils · 3G Energy Recovery | 24–3627 in our mock | 10-question drill |
| 4. Supportive Knowledge (HVAC and Refrigeration) | 4A Codes and Standards · 4B Acoustics and Vibration Control · 4C Economic Analysis · 4D Electrical Concepts | 8–129 in our mock | 10-question drill |
What the HVAC and Refrigeration exam tests
- Equipment and Components carries the most questions (24 to 36): cooling towers, boilers and furnaces, heat exchangers, chillers, VRF and heat pumps, pump and fan laws, coils and energy recovery.
- Loads and psychrometrics (18 to 27 questions) are tested at sea level, at 5,000 ft and at low temperature, so know how air density changes the standard sensible, latent and total heat factors.
- Every question uses U.S. Customary units. Supportive Knowledge adds codes and standards, acoustics and vibration isolation, economic analysis and electrical concepts.
Common questions
How many questions are on the PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration exam?
80 questions. The appointment is 9 hours: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 8 hours of exam time and a 50-minute scheduled break. The exam is split into two sections; after about half the questions you review and submit the first section, and you cannot return to it. This exam uses U.S. Customary units only.
What is the passing score for the PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration exam?
NCEES does not publish a passing score. Results are reported as pass or fail, typically 7 to 10 days after the exam. If you fail, NCEES sends a diagnostic report that shows your performance in each knowledge area against the average of passing examinees.
Is the PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration exam open book?
No. It is closed book with an electronic reference: NCEES supplies its PE Mechanical reference handbook on screen as a searchable PDF, and you can study the same handbook free from your MyNCEES account. You bring one NCEES-approved calculator. No design standards are supplied for PE Mechanical.
How often can I retake the PE exam?
NCEES allows one attempt per testing window (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December) and no more than three attempts in any 12-month period. Some licensing boards have stricter rules. Each attempt costs the $400 exam fee.
Are these official NCEES questions?
No. NCEES does not release its exam questions. These are original practice problems written to the October 2025 exam specifications, with every number recomputed by an independent reviewer and a worked solution for every answer.
What is the PE Mechanical HVAC and Refrigeration pass rate?
71% of first-time examinees passed in January–June 2026 (799 first-time takers), and 40% of repeat examinees (229), according to NCEES. HVAC and Refrigeration is the most-taken of the three PE Mechanical exams.
Ready for exam day?
80 questions in two sections of 40, 8 hours of exam time, with a score by knowledge area and a worked solution for every problem.
Or start with a free 10-question drillMore PE Mechanical practice
One PE Mechanical pass covers every full practice exam below.
Exam format, fees, specifications and pass rates checked November 2026: NCEES PE Mechanical: HVAC and Refrigeration CBT exam specifications (October 2025) · NCEES: PE Mechanical exam and pass rates · NCEES Examinee Guide (November 2026) · NCEES: PE exam.
Original independent practice problems written to the published NCEES exam specifications. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).