FREE HVAC PE EXAM STUDY RESOURCES!

1: What to Bring

• Government-issued Identification – you won’t be getting in the exam room without it. Make sure it’s not expired and meets the requirements of the NCEES Candidate Agreement.  Your ID should include the following:
  • Photograph
  • Your name
  • Visible signature
• NCEES Exam Authorization – This is issued to you by NCEES after you register and reserve your seat for the exam.  Read more about it here.
• Reference materials – these will need to be tabbed and you should already familiar with them because you used them during your study process.
  • ASHRAE Handbook –  Fundamentals
  • ASHRAE Handbook –  HVAC Systems and Equipment
  • ASHRAE Handbook –  HVAC Applications
  • ASHRAE Handbook –  Refrigeration
  • ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
  • ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Res. Buildings
  • Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual (MERM)
  • Six-Minute Solutions for Mechanical PE Exam HVAC and Refrigeration Problems
  • NCEES Practice Exam
  • Charts, tables, notes that have helped you put in a binder.  These have to be bound using screw posts, plastic snap binders, ring binders, spiral spring binders or brads.  They can’t be loose-leaf and they can’t be stapled. Check out the exam rulebook here.
• Psychrometric charts – you will be given a copy in the back of the book.  It’s bound to the book and can be hard to plot on.  I recommend printing additional copies.  Print out this psych chart on large paper (11 x 17 works well).  Print multiple copies.  Don’t forget that you can’t write on any reference material, including plotting on the psych charts.  Just use them to find points.  Also, IT MUST BE BOUND.  Loose-leaf paper is not allowed in the testing center and is grounds for dismissal.
• Straight edge ruler – very handy for plotting on the psych charts
• Protractor – also good for plotting on psych charts
• Approved calculator – Bring two! Borrow one from a friend or buy an extra and leave it in the package.  It will be well worth it if you need it.  If you don’t you can return it for a refund.
• Snacks – bring something healthy that will give you energy (almonds, trail mix, protein bar).  Don’t get anything sugary that will make you crash or give you a headache.
• Gum – if it helps.  It gives me a headache.
• Earplugs – Highly recommended!  It really helps drown out the noise.
• Cough drops
• Tissues
• Chap stick
• Watch or small desk clock – It’s critical that you know what time it is during the test so you know if you’re pacing yourself correctly.  If you don’t wear a watch and happen to be seated away from the wall clock, you’ll need this.  If you use a clock, it can’t be on your desk during the test.  It has to be on the floor per NCEES rules.
• Water bottle – one or two is plenty.  Don’t drink alot because you’ll waste precious time going to the bathroom.
• Lunch – you will have less than an hour to eat lunch.  I suggest bringing something simple and quick to eat.  Bring a cooler if you want and leave it in the car.  Don’t eat anything sugary or greasy that will make you feel like crap in the afternoon session.
• Medications – Leave it at home or in the car if you can. If you must bring something in, make sure it’s in the proper bottle and labeled correctly.  Don’t bring in loose medication in a Ziploc bag.
• Glasses/contacts – Glasses are allowed on the table but not the case.  The case has to go on the floor.
• Magnifying glass – Optional, and if you’re a private detective
• Cart or bin to carry it all in – I suggest a folding rolling cart such as this one that I used.  All this stuff adds up.  You’ll be glad you’re wheeling it in from the car to the test room instead of carrying it when you get there that morning.

1.1 Optional Items to Bring

These are items that some people that have taken the HVAC and Refrigeration test recommend, but are not mandatory.  If you have them and used them to study, then bring them, otherwise don’t worry about purchasing them.

• Cameron Hydraulic Data Handbook – I have not had any experience with this book, but some test takers say it comes in very handy.  From what I can tell, it is highly regarded.  I passed with an 85 the first time and didn’t need this book.  If you have access to it at the office or from a friend, it wouldn’t hurt to get your hands on it and check it out.
• NFPA 90A – Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems – Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems – I would take this with you if you have it handy at the office.  There may be a question referencing this, but not likely.  I wouldn’t go buy it if I didn’t already have it.
• ASME Steam Tables – Steam tables are given in the MERM, but some people like to have a separate copy for convenience.  You can purchase these separately or make copies of the tables in the MERM and staple them together as a quick reference.

1.2 What Not To Bring

• Graphing calculator or any calculator not on this approved list.
• Cell phone – Leave it in the car.  Same thing for iPad, laptop, headphones, etc.  No electronic devices.
• Apple watch/Fitbit/etc. – These are not allowed in the testing room.  Leave them at home or in the car.
• Pencils and pens – NCEES requires you to use the mechanical pencils they provide you on the exam.  It’s a violation of the Candidate Agreement to use anything else to write with.
• Sliding charts or wheel charts (such as ductulators) are not allowed.

1.3 Miscellaneous Tips

• Check your reference materials for loose-leaf papers before the exam, especially if you borrow them from someone else.  You will be disqualified if they catch you!
• Consistency is important in a high stress situation.  It’s the same concept as muscle memory.  You will tend to revert to the same methods you used to study during the test.  Bring the same things to the test with you that you studied with.  This way you’ll be comfortable with them and won’t add additional stress to your day worrying about your tools.  Test the way you studied.
• Make sure the reference material is tabbed properly so that during the test you can easily find what you need since you’ll be under the gun for time.  I suggest tabbing the top of the pages with useful equations and tables that you used during your study process as well as useful sample problems you can refer to for solutions.
• Put the small stuff in clear Ziploc bags for easy retrieval and clear identification by the proctors.
• If they don’t allow something, just toss it and move on.  It’s not worth putting up a fight over it and getting kicked out.
• No scratch paper is allowed. Rules prohibit you from writing on anything other than the test booklet.  Blank pages for scratchwork are provided in each booklet.
• No credit will be given for answers recorded in the test booklets; the answers must be recorded on the answer sheet.

2: What to Bring to the PE Exam – Bottom Line

Take a look at this list now so you know what to bring to the PE exam.  Look again as test day nears so that you make sure you have everything packed.  Be sure to use the checklist I gave you!  This way you’ll be cool and collected leading up to test day.