"The PE exam tests your ability to practice competently in a particular engineering discipline. It is designed for engineers who have gained at least four years’ post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline. The PE exam is typically the last step in the process of becoming a licensed P.E. (or professional engineer)."
Basically, you pass this test and get your Professional Engineer's license. I have until July 19th to gather all my application forms, college transcripts, and reference letters (I have to ask at least 4 of my supervisors/peers to vouch for me and the quality of my engineering work thus far) and send them in to the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Should I miss this deadline, I will have to wait 6-ish months to apply and take the test in April since it's only given twice a year. Once I register, I am basically plugging into study mode for the remainder of summer until the test at the end of October. I kid you not, my friends, this thing is brutal. It's 2 days of 8 hour long exams. Oh, and there's a take home portion I need to complete and send in with my application. Lovely. I almost forgot about that one. Needless to say I am not thrilled about it but I am motivated. This test is broken into portions and should an examinee (notice my restraint in that I didn't say "testee." Except for just now.) fail any portions, they have to retake and pass each portion to obtain their license. I constantly hear about colleagues who must take and retake the test and I definitely know how that goes. I had to take the EIT (Engineer-In-Training exam, junior version of the PE where it's *only* 8 hours of testing) twice. It's not a fun experience. I'm really shooting for passing on the first try, but in order to do so I know I'll have to buckle down hard. I'm probably going to need to paste this to my hand during study sessions: