If you’re planning to take the Electrical Power PE Exam in late 2025 or beyond, listen up: big changes are coming to the exam format, topics, and references starting October 2025. These updates are part of the regular exam refresh cycle by NCEES to keep the test aligned with modern electrical engineering practice. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what’s changing and how to best prepare for the updated exam.
Updates Coming to the Electrical Power PE Exam Starting October 2025
Why Is the PE Power Exam Changing?
NCEES periodically updates their exam specifications to reflect:
- Changes in electrical industry standards
- New technologies (e.g. renewables, energy storage)
- Updated codes (like NEC 2020)
- Improved exam delivery through CBT platforms
The last major update was in 2020. The October 2025 PE Power Exam update brings a more modern structure, better focus on power electronics, energy storage, and new safety standards.
Main Differences in the PE Electrical Power Exam (2020 vs 2025)
| Category | 2020–2023 Version | Starting October 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Exam Length | 9 hours | 9 hours (unchanged) |
| Number of Questions | 80 | 80 |
| Main Topic Areas | 4 | 9 |
| New Topics | – | Inverter-based resources, energy storage, solar, wind, Boolean logic |
| Reference Codes | NEC 2017, NFPA 70E 2018, NESC 2017 | NEC 2020, NFPA 70E 2021, NFPA 499/497 2021, NESC 2017 |
| Exam Interface | Full searchable PDFs | Chapter-by-chapter access (one open at a time) |
New Topics for October 2025
- Electrical energy storage (batteries, ultracapacitors)
- Alternative power generation (solar PV, wind)
- Inverter-based resources (power electronics)
- Boolean logic and ladder logic updates
- New safety requirements from updated NFPA codes
Updated Codes and Standards
Though the standards remain the same, there will be updated versions. The NEC is a major proponent of the exam, and has major number and format changes varying from 2017 to 2020. The standards in the October 2025 PE Exam will be:
- NFPA 70 (NEC 2020)
- ANSI C2 (NESC 2017 — No Update)
- NFPA 70E (2021)
- NFPA 497 & 499 (2021)
- NFPA 30B (2023)
New CBT Reference Interface
A big change for October 2025 is how you’ll access the code references:
- Standards presented as separate chapters in searchable PDFs
- Only one chapter open at a time for system performance
- Linked navigation available for faster searching
Should You Take the Exam Before or After October 2025?
If you’re already studying for the PE Power Exam, it may be easier to sit for the exam before October 2025 to avoid learning the new material. However, if you plan to test after October 2025, update your study plan to match the new exam specifications.
Study Tips for the 2025 PE Electrical Power Exam
- Use study materials that include inverter-based resources and energy storage systems
- Practice Boolean logic and control devices
- Get familiar with the NEC 2020 code format
- Use updated practice exams that reflect the 2025 spec
- Practice using NCEES’ new reference interface and searchable codebooks
Final Thoughts
The changes coming to the Electrical PE Power Exam starting October 2025 are significant but manageable. As long as you align your study resources with the new specifications, you’ll be fully prepared to tackle the updated exam content.
Need a full 2025 Electrical PE Prep Plan? Check out our PE Power Exam Resource Page.
