PRC Allowed Calculators for the Civil Engineering Board Exam: 2024 Official List

Current Working Rule

Bring only one (1) calculator, make sure the exact model appears in the latest PRC allowed list or examination advisory, and expect calculator inspection by PRC examination personnel. This article is a study reference, not an official PRC approval document.

Quick Answer for CE Board Examinees

The safest calculator is the one whose exact model name is written in the current PRC allowed list.
Do not rely on brand alone. A Casio, Canon, Sharp, HP, Citizen, Aurora, Olympia, Texas Instruments, KARCE, PORPO, or TAKSUN calculator is not automatically allowed unless the model is listed.
Only one non-programmable calculator per examinee is allowed inside the examination room under the May 2, 2024 PRC advisory.
Borrowing, lending, swapping, substituting, or replacing calculators while the examination is in progress is not allowed.
If your model has a transparent casing condition, follow the condition exactly.
Before exam day, re-check the PRC website, the latest room assignment, and any Civil Engineering Licensure Examination advisory from PRC.

CE Review Strategy Reminder

CE examinees should decide on a calculator early in the review season. Your calculator is part of your exam strategy: speed, familiarity, battery reliability, and model compliance all matter under time pressure.

Why Exact Model Matching Matters

For PRC licensure examinations, the key rule is not simply “scientific” or “non-programmable.” The safer rule is exact model matching. A calculator may be non-programmable but still risky if the model does not appear in the allowed list currently being enforced.

This is especially important in the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination because calculators are used heavily in mathematics, surveying, transportation engineering, hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, structural analysis, steel design, timber design, reinforced concrete design, and engineering economics.

Similar-Looking Models Are Not Automatically Equivalent

Do not assume that a model is allowed just because it looks similar to an allowed unit. For example, Fx-991S and Fx-991W are different from Fx-991EX. Likewise, Fx-570MS is different from Fx-570ES PLUS.

Cross-Reference: Current List vs Older PRC Calculator References

Source	What it contributes	How to use it for this article
PRC May 2, 2024 advisory	Gives the updated list of non-programmable calculators allowed for licensure examinations and states the one-calculator, inspection, and no borrowing/lending rules.	Treat this as the main baseline for this article.
PRC October 7, 2019 CE-specific article	Listed allowed calculators for the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination at that time and stated that the rule applied starting the November 2019 CELE.	Use as historical CE-specific context, especially for why CE examinees are cautious about exact model lists.
PRC Memorandum Circular No. 2008-19 PDF	Shows an older general list of non-programmable calculators across licensure examinations.	Use only as historical context. Do not use an older broad list to justify a calculator missing from the current PRC advisory or room assignment instructions.

Source Priority for Exam-Day Compliance

When sources appear to differ, follow the latest official PRC advisory for your exam, the room assignment instructions, and the directions of examination personnel. If a later PRC or Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering advisory is issued, update your choice accordingly.

Allowed Calculator Verification Checklist

Find the model printed on the calculator body, not only on the box, online listing, or receipt.
Compare the printed model with the PRC list character by character, including numbers, suffixes, hyphens, and letters.
Check whether the model has a transparent casing condition.
Avoid programmable, graphing, computer algebra system, symbolic algebra, equation-storage, text-storage, or communication-capable calculators unless PRC specifically lists the exact model.
Practice with the same calculator during review and mock exams.
Before exam day, check the latest PRC room assignment, examination advisory, and official PRC channels.

Casio Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

Fx-95MS
Fx-122S
Fx-350HA
Fx-82ES PLUS
Fx-100D
Fx-220
Fx-350MS
Fx-85MS
Fx-100MS
Fx-250HC
Fx-350TL
Fx-85W
Fx-100S
Fx-260
Fx-570AD
Fx-901
Fx-100W
Fx-300W
Fx-570MS
Fx-911W
Fx-115MS
Fx-350D
Fx-570S
Fx-991S
Fx-115S
Fx-350ES PLUS
Fx-570W
Fx-991W
Fx-115WA
Fx-350EX
Fx-82EX

Common Casio Model Confusion

Several popular Casio models are easy to confuse. The 2024 PRC list includes Fx-991S and Fx-991W, but it does not list Fx-991EX. It includes Fx-570MS, Fx-570S, Fx-570W, and Fx-570AD, but it does not list Fx-570ES PLUS.

Canon Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

F-502
F-710
F-718SG
F-720i
F-502G
F-718S
F-718SGA
F-760S
F-604
F-718SA
F-720
F-789SGA
Transparent casing

Sharp Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

EL-500W
EL-506W
EL-510R
EL-531XH
EL-501V
EL-509D
EL-520G
EL-531W
EL-501W
EL-509R
EL-520VA
EL-546L
EL-501X
EL-509V
EL-520W
EL-546VA
EL-506P
EL-509W
EL-520X
EL-556G
EL-506V
EL-509X
EL-531VH
EL-W531TH-WH
Transparent casing

Hewlett-Packard Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

HP 9S
HP 10S
HP 30S
HP SmartCalc 300S

Citizen Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

SR-135N
SR-260N
SR-270N
SR-270X
SR-281N

Aurora Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

AX-501
AX-528BL
AX-595TV
AX-597W
AX-600S

Olympia Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

LCD 8110
LCD 9210
ES-570MS
ES-570ES PLUS
Transparent casing

Texas Instruments Scientific Calculators Allowed by PRC

TI-30XA
TI-30XIIS
TI-30XS
TI-34
TI-36X PRO

Other Calculator Brands Allowed by PRC

KARCE KC-S991
KARCE KC-S3500
PORPO YH-105
PORPO YH-106
TAKSUN TS-98MS
TAKSUN TS-2000

Transparent Casing Reminders

Some models are listed with a special transparent casing requirement. Based on the May 2, 2024 PRC list, these include:

Canon F-789SGA with transparent casing
Sharp EL-W531TH-WH with transparent casing
Olympia ES-570ES PLUS with transparent casing

Do Not Ignore Casing Conditions

If the PRC list says “with transparent casing,” do not assume that a regular opaque-casing version will be accepted. Treat the casing condition as part of the allowed model description.

Practical Calculator Selection for CE Review

For Civil Engineering review, do not choose a calculator only because it is allowed. Choose one that is allowed and comfortable for repeated computation. The exam rewards speed, but speed should come from practice, not from using a risky model.

Good practical selection criteria:

The exact model appears in the PRC list.
You can solve MSTE, HGE, and PSAD problems on it without constantly checking the manual.
You know how to reset it if inspection personnel asks.
The keys are responsive and readable.
The battery is reliable or recently replaced.
You have already used it in timed mock exams.

Common Mistakes That Can Cause Exam-Day Stress

Buying a calculator because an online seller wrote “PRC approved” without checking the exact model.
Bringing a newer variant of an older allowed model.
Assuming that any non-programmable scientific calculator is acceptable.
Bringing a backup calculator without checking whether the examination room allows it.
Practicing with one calculator during review but switching to another model near exam day.
Forgetting transparent casing requirements.
Relying on old screenshots, old memoranda, or posts that may no longer match the latest advisory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Is any scientific calculator allowed if it is non-programmable?	No. The safer interpretation is that the exact model should appear in the current PRC list or the latest official examination advisory. A calculator can be non-programmable but still be refused if the model is not included in the list being enforced.
Can I bring two calculators in case one fails?	The May 2, 2024 PRC advisory states that only one (1) non-programmable calculator per examinee shall be allowed inside the examination room. Unless PRC or examination personnel gives a different instruction, plan around bringing one compliant calculator.
Can I borrow a calculator during the exam?	No. The PRC advisory states that borrowing, lending, and substitution or replacement of calculators while the examination is in progress are not allowed.
Is Casio Fx-991EX allowed?	Based on the May 2, 2024 PRC list summarized here, Fx-991EX is not listed. The listed Casio EX models are Fx-350EX and Fx-82EX. If your exact model is not listed, do not assume it is allowed.
Is Casio Fx-570ES PLUS allowed?	Based on the May 2, 2024 PRC list summarized here, Fx-570ES PLUS is not listed. Listed Casio Fx-570 variants include Fx-570AD, Fx-570MS, Fx-570S, and Fx-570W, but not Fx-570ES PLUS.
Is Casio Fx-350ES PLUS allowed?	Yes, Fx-350ES PLUS appears in the May 2, 2024 PRC list. Still verify the exact model on your calculator body before buying or bringing it.
Is Texas Instruments TI-36X PRO allowed?	Yes, TI-36X PRO appears in the May 2, 2024 PRC list. As with all models, match the exact model name and check the latest exam advisory before exam day.
What if my calculator appears in an old PRC memorandum but not in the 2024 list?	Do not rely on the older source alone. Older calculator memoranda and older CE-specific lists are useful for context, but exam-day compliance should be based on the latest official PRC advisory, the room assignment, and instructions from examination personnel.

Official Confirmation Channels

For calculator-related concerns, follow PRC's official channels. The May 2, 2024 advisory lists these Licensure Office emails:

[email protected]
[email protected]

You may also check the PRC website and PRC's official social media accounts for updates.

Final Recommendation for CE Board Examinees

Choose an allowed calculator early and use it throughout the entire review season. Do your mock exams using the same model, learn the reset sequence, check the battery, and verify the exact model again near exam day. A compliant calculator will not pass the board exam for you, but a non-compliant calculator can create unnecessary stress before the exam even starts.

Official List Can Change

The official list can change. Treat this article as a convenient CE review reference, not a substitute for the latest PRC advisory, room assignment instructions, or examination-day directions from PRC personnel.

Source and Verification

This article was cross-checked against the following official PRC materials:

Last cross-check performed: July 8, 2026.