PE ETHICS EXAM QUESTIONS BASED ON THE TEXAS
ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT AND BOARD RULES
COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. Which Board rule establishes the fundamental duty of engineers to
protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public?
A) §137.63(a)
B) §137.55(a)
C) §137.33(b)
D) §137.59(a)
E) §137.51(a)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.55(a) states that engineers shall be entrusted to
protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public in the
practice of their profession. While §137.51(a) discusses the purpose of
professional conduct rules, §137.55(a) is the specific provision that
establishes this fundamental duty.
2. Under §137.37(a)(1), a license holder is guilty of misconduct if they
knowingly sign or seal any engineering document when:
A) The client has not yet paid for the services
B) Its use or implementation may endanger the public
C) The document contains minor formatting errors
,D) The document was prepared by a subordinate engineer
E) The project is located outside of Texas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.37(a)(1) specifically states that a license holder is guilty
of misconduct and subject to disciplinary action if they knowingly signs
or seals any engineering document or product if its use or
implementation may endanger the health, safety, property, or welfare
of the public.
3. According to §137.33, a Professional Engineer may only seal
engineering work that:
A) Was performed by a licensed architect
B) Was performed under the engineer's direct supervision
C) Was reviewed by a third-party consultant
D) Has been approved by the client
E) Was performed by any employee of the firm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.33 requires that a PE only seal work performed under
his or her direct supervision and control. This ensures accountability
and quality control in engineering practice.
4. Which section of the Act prohibits a person from engaging in the
practice of engineering without a license?
A) §1001.301
B) §1001.004
,C) §1001.401
D) §1001.052
E) §1001.302
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: §1001.301(a) states that a person may not engage in the
practice of engineering unless the person holds a license issued under
this chapter. This is the foundational licensing requirement of the Texas
Engineering Practice Act.
5. Under §137.63(b)(2), engineers must exercise reasonable care or
diligence to prevent which of the following from engaging in conduct
that would violate the Act or Board rules?
A) Their clients only
B) Their partners, associates, and employees
C) Their competitors only
D) Their subcontractors only
E) Their former employers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.63(b)(2) requires engineers to exercise reasonable care
or diligence to prevent the engineer's partners, associates, and
employees from engaging in conduct which, if done by the engineer,
would violate any provision of the Texas Engineering Practice Act or
board rules.
, 6. According to §137.57, engineers shall be:
A) Profitable and efficient
B) Objective and truthful
C) Competitive and aggressive
D) Responsive and timely
E) Creative and innovative
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.57 is titled "Engineers Shall Be Objective and Truthful,"
establishing the fundamental ethical requirement that engineers must
maintain objectivity and truthfulness in their professional practice.
7. Under §137.63(c)(4), engineers shall NOT:
A) Accept employment from a client
B) Give, offer, or promise any commission, gift, favor, or reward as an
inducement to secure engineering work
C) Advertise their services
D) Compete for engineering contracts
E) Work for multiple clients simultaneously
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.63(c)(4) prohibits engineers from giving, offering, or
promising to pay or deliver, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift,
favor, gratuity, benefit, or reward as an inducement to secure any
specific engineering work or assignment.
ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT AND BOARD RULES
COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. Which Board rule establishes the fundamental duty of engineers to
protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public?
A) §137.63(a)
B) §137.55(a)
C) §137.33(b)
D) §137.59(a)
E) §137.51(a)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.55(a) states that engineers shall be entrusted to
protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public in the
practice of their profession. While §137.51(a) discusses the purpose of
professional conduct rules, §137.55(a) is the specific provision that
establishes this fundamental duty.
2. Under §137.37(a)(1), a license holder is guilty of misconduct if they
knowingly sign or seal any engineering document when:
A) The client has not yet paid for the services
B) Its use or implementation may endanger the public
C) The document contains minor formatting errors
,D) The document was prepared by a subordinate engineer
E) The project is located outside of Texas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.37(a)(1) specifically states that a license holder is guilty
of misconduct and subject to disciplinary action if they knowingly signs
or seals any engineering document or product if its use or
implementation may endanger the health, safety, property, or welfare
of the public.
3. According to §137.33, a Professional Engineer may only seal
engineering work that:
A) Was performed by a licensed architect
B) Was performed under the engineer's direct supervision
C) Was reviewed by a third-party consultant
D) Has been approved by the client
E) Was performed by any employee of the firm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.33 requires that a PE only seal work performed under
his or her direct supervision and control. This ensures accountability
and quality control in engineering practice.
4. Which section of the Act prohibits a person from engaging in the
practice of engineering without a license?
A) §1001.301
B) §1001.004
,C) §1001.401
D) §1001.052
E) §1001.302
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: §1001.301(a) states that a person may not engage in the
practice of engineering unless the person holds a license issued under
this chapter. This is the foundational licensing requirement of the Texas
Engineering Practice Act.
5. Under §137.63(b)(2), engineers must exercise reasonable care or
diligence to prevent which of the following from engaging in conduct
that would violate the Act or Board rules?
A) Their clients only
B) Their partners, associates, and employees
C) Their competitors only
D) Their subcontractors only
E) Their former employers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.63(b)(2) requires engineers to exercise reasonable care
or diligence to prevent the engineer's partners, associates, and
employees from engaging in conduct which, if done by the engineer,
would violate any provision of the Texas Engineering Practice Act or
board rules.
, 6. According to §137.57, engineers shall be:
A) Profitable and efficient
B) Objective and truthful
C) Competitive and aggressive
D) Responsive and timely
E) Creative and innovative
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.57 is titled "Engineers Shall Be Objective and Truthful,"
establishing the fundamental ethical requirement that engineers must
maintain objectivity and truthfulness in their professional practice.
7. Under §137.63(c)(4), engineers shall NOT:
A) Accept employment from a client
B) Give, offer, or promise any commission, gift, favor, or reward as an
inducement to secure engineering work
C) Advertise their services
D) Compete for engineering contracts
E) Work for multiple clients simultaneously
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: §137.63(c)(4) prohibits engineers from giving, offering, or
promising to pay or deliver, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift,
favor, gratuity, benefit, or reward as an inducement to secure any
specific engineering work or assignment.
