NEC License Exam Nepal: Pattern, Application and Preparation Guide

Licence and registration

NEC licence exam: how to become a registered engineer in Nepal

To practise engineering in Nepal you need to be registered with the Nepal Engineering Council (NEC). Fresh graduates do this by passing the NEC registration exam, often called the licence exam. This guide explains the categories, the exam pattern, the application steps and how to prepare.

NEC official websiteNEC notices

Categories

Types of NEC registration

The Nepal Engineering Council Regulations, 2057 (as amended in 2080) set out three kinds of registration.

General registered engineerFor graduates with a bachelor's degree in engineering. Entry is through a written exam. This is the licence most engineers in Nepal hold.

Professional engineerA higher grade for experienced engineers. It needs years of work as a general registered engineer and involves a written exam, a skill evaluation and an interview.

Non-Nepalese registered engineerFor foreign engineers working in Nepal. It is granted for a limited period and must be renewed.

Exam pattern

What the general registration exam looks like

Item	Recent pattern
Question type	Objective (multiple choice)
Total marks	100
Questions	60 questions of 1 mark and 20 questions of 2 marks
Time	2 hours
Pass mark	50 marks
Negative marking	None in recent exams
How often	Usually twice a year, as announced by the NEC

The questions cover the subjects of your own discipline, with separate papers for civil, electrical, computer, mechanical and the other branches. NEC publishes the syllabus for each discipline on its website.

Why preparation matters: in the licence exam held in March 2023, only 565 of 1,981 candidates (28.5%) passed, according to a Republica report. Treat it like a final-year exam, not a formality.

Step by step

How to apply

1. Watch for the exam noticeNEC publishes an annual schedule and an exam notice. The regulations require at least 21 days for applications, and late applications within seven days after the deadline pay double the fee.
2. Apply onlineCreate an account on the NEC registration portal, fill in your academic details and upload the documents listed in the notice, usually your degree certificate or provisional certificate, transcript, citizenship and a photo.
3. Download the admit card and sit the examCheck your exam centre and time in the notice. Carry the admit card and the ID asked for.
4. Check the result and complete registrationResults are published on the NEC result page. After passing, pay the registration fee (Rs 5,000 for a general registered engineer under the regulations) and collect your registration certificate.

Preparation

How to prepare in eight weeks

1. Weeks 1 to 2: map the syllabusDownload the syllabus for your discipline from NEC and list the chapters. Mark the ones you studied least in college.
2. Weeks 3 to 5: one subject a few days at a timeRevise from your college notes and standard textbooks. For civil, give extra time to structures, geotechnical, hydraulics, transportation, estimating and the Nepal Building Code.
3. Weeks 6 to 7: practise MCQs against the clockAim for under a minute per 1-mark question. Note every mistake in a small notebook and revise it daily.
4. Week 8: full mock testsSit at least three full 100-mark papers in two hours. Without negative marking, never leave a question blank.

Useful on this site

Tools and notes for revision

Nepal Building Code listAll NBC documents with what each one covers.Open guide Unit converterkN, MPa, cft and Nepali units for quick checks.Open tool Levelling calculatorRise and fall and HI methods with the arithmetic check.Open tool Steel weightThe D²/162 rule and bar quantities.Open tool

Official links

NEC resources

NEC

Nepal Engineering CouncilRegulator for engineers in Nepal

Exam notices, syllabus, results and the register of engineers.

• NEC home
• Notices
• Online registration
• Results
• Act and regulations
• Forms and resources
• Professional engineer
• FAQs

FAQ

Common questions

Can I sit the exam before my final results?

Eligibility is based on your bachelor's degree. Check the current notice for whether a provisional certificate or transcript is accepted.

Is there negative marking?

Recent exams have had no negative marking. Read the instructions in the notice for your exam in case this changes.

How many times can I take it?

You can sit again in the next session if you do not pass. Exams have usually been held twice a year.

Do I need NEC registration for a government job?

Lok Sewa and most employers ask for NEC registration for engineer posts. See our useful links for the Public Service Commission.

Last reviewed October 2026. Rules, fees and exam formats change, so confirm details in the latest official notice. Found an outdated link? Please let us know.