PRC Allowed Calculators for the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination: Current CE List

Last updated

August 12, 2026. As of this cross-check, the PRC Civil Engineering Board page still lists Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) as the latest calculator-specific CE resolution. The newer Board Resolution No. 01 (s. 2026) concerns the order of CELE subjects and does not replace the calculator list.

Current Working Rule

For the CELE, use a non-programmable calculator whose exact model appears in Annex A of Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024), unless PRC or the Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering later issues a newer CE-specific rule. Under PRC's May 2, 2024 general calculator advisory, only one (1) non-programmable calculator per examinee is allowed inside the examination room, calculators are subject to inspection, and borrowing, lending, substitution, or replacement while the examination is in progress is not allowed.

Quick Answer for CE Board Examinees

Check the exact model printed on the calculator body against the current CE-specific 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 exact model is listed.
Bring only one compliant non-programmable calculator into the examination room under the current PRC general calculator advisory.
Do not borrow, lend, swap, substitute, or replace calculators while the examination is in progress.
If Annex A specifies a transparent casing for a model, treat that casing requirement as part of the allowed model description.
Re-check the PRC Civil Engineering Board page, the latest CELE room assignment, and any later CE-specific advisory before exam day.

CE Review Strategy Reminder

Choose your calculator early in the review season and practice with the same compliant model. Familiarity, battery reliability, key layout, and model compliance all matter under time pressure.

Why Exact Model Matching Matters

The CE calculator rule is not simply “any scientific calculator” or “any non-programmable calculator.” The current CE-specific resolution provides an enumerated list of allowed models. A calculator may appear similar to an allowed unit but still be a different model.

Do not try to infer approval from features alone. For CELE compliance, the safest approach is to match the exact model against the latest official CE-specific list and follow any additional examination-day instructions issued by PRC.

Similar-Looking Models Are Not Automatically Equivalent

Do not assume that a model is allowed because it resembles an allowed unit. For example, Fx-991S and Fx-991W are listed, but Fx-991EX is not. Likewise, Fx-570MS is listed, while Casio Fx-570ES PLUS / Fx-570 ES Plus is specifically excluded from the current CE list.

Which Official Source Controls?

Source	Role	How to use it
Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024), Annex A	CE-specific resolution containing the updated list of non-programmable calculators allowed in the CELE.	Treat this as the primary calculator-model authority for this article.
PRC May 2, 2024 general calculator advisory	Publishes the general updated calculator list and states the one-calculator, daily inspection, and no borrowing/lending/substitution/replacement rules.	Use as a supporting PRC-wide operational rule.
Latest CELE room assignment and later PRC/CE Board advisories	May contain examination-specific instructions or a newer rule.	Always check these before the actual examination. A later official issuance controls over this article.
Older CE calculator resolutions, 2019 advisories, and older memoranda	Historical context only.	Do not use an older source to justify a model absent from the current CE-specific list.

Source Priority for Exam-Day Compliance

This article is a study reference, not an approval document. If PRC or the Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering issues a later CE-specific calculator resolution or examination advisory, follow that newer official issuance together with the applicable room-assignment instructions and directions of examination personnel.

Why Casio Fx-570 ES Plus Was Removed

Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) records that the Civil Engineering Board received incident reports during the April 2024 CELE involving tampered or modified Casio Fx-570 ES Plus calculators with smoked-type casing that were allegedly capable of being used as communication devices.

The Board therefore resolved to remove Casio Fx-570 ES Plus, with or without transparent/smoked-type casing, from the CELE allowed-calculator list. Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) superseded Board Resolution No. 09 (s. 2023) and applied starting with the June 2024 Special Professional Licensure Examinations.

Casio Fx-570 ES Plus Is Not Allowed Under the Current CE Resolution

Do not interpret a transparent or smoked casing as making a Casio Fx-570 ES Plus acceptable. Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) expressly removes that Casio model with or without transparent/smoked-type casing.

Allowed Calculator Verification Checklist

Find the model printed on the calculator body, not only on the box, online listing, or receipt.
Compare the model against the latest CE-specific PRC/Board list, including the model number and suffix.
Check whether Annex A attaches a transparent-casing condition to the model.
Do not assume that a calculator is allowed merely because it is marketed as “PRC approved,” “scientific,” or “non-programmable.”
Use only a model that appears in the current CE-specific allowed list unless a later official CE issuance expressly changes the rule.
Practice with the same compliant calculator during review and mock examinations.
Before exam day, re-check the PRC Civil Engineering Board page, room assignment, and official PRC advisories.

Casio Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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

Annex A includes Fx-991S and Fx-991W, but not Fx-991EX. It includes Fx-570AD, Fx-570MS, Fx-570S, and Fx-570W, but Casio Fx-570 ES Plus is expressly removed by Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024).

Canon Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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 required

Sharp Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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 required

Hewlett-Packard Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

HP 9S
HP 10S
HP 30S
HP Smartcalc 300S

Citizen Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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

Aurora Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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

Olympia Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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

Texas Instruments Scientific Calculators Allowed for CELE

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

Other Calculator Brands Allowed for CELE

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

Transparent Casing Requirements

Annex A of Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) specifies a transparent casing for these three allowed models:

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 Annex A says “with transparent casing,” do not assume that an opaque-casing version of the same model is automatically acceptable. Treat the casing condition as part of the listed configuration.

Practical Calculator Selection for CE Review

For Civil Engineering review, choose a calculator that is both officially listed and comfortable for repeated computation.

Useful selection criteria:

The exact model appears in the current CE-specific list.
Any listed casing requirement is satisfied.
The keys and display are readable and responsive.
The battery is reliable.
You have practiced with the same model in timed mock examinations.

Common Mistakes That Can Cause Exam-Day Problems

Buying a calculator only because an online seller labels it “PRC approved.”
Bringing a newer variant of an older allowed model without checking the exact model number.
Assuming that every non-programmable scientific calculator is accepted.
Attempting to bring more than one calculator into the examination room under the current one-calculator rule.
Forgetting a transparent-casing requirement.
Assuming a transparent/smoked Casio Fx-570 ES Plus is allowed even though the current CE resolution expressly removes it.
Relying on old screenshots, old memoranda, or superseded CE resolutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Is any scientific calculator allowed if it is non-programmable?	No. For the CELE, use a model appearing in the latest CE-specific allowed-calculator list or a later official CE issuance.
Can I bring two calculators into the examination room in case one fails?	Under the May 2, 2024 PRC advisory, only one (1) non-programmable calculator per examinee is allowed inside the examination room.
Can I borrow or replace a calculator during the exam?	The May 2, 2024 PRC advisory prohibits borrowing, lending, and substitution/replacement of calculators while the examination is in progress.
Is Casio Fx-991EX allowed?	It is not listed in Annex A of Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024). Do not treat Fx-991S or Fx-991W as equivalent to Fx-991EX.
Is Casio Fx-570ES PLUS allowed?	No under the current CE-specific resolution. Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024) expressly removes Casio Fx-570 ES Plus with or without transparent/smoked-type casing from the CELE list.
Is Casio Fx-350ES PLUS allowed?	Yes. Fx-350ES PLUS appears in Annex A of Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024).
Is Texas Instruments TI-36X PRO allowed?	Yes. TI-36X PRO appears in Annex A of Board Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024).
What if my calculator appears in an older PRC memorandum but not in Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024)?	Do not rely on the older source alone. For CELE, use the latest CE-specific list unless a newer official PRC/CE Board issuance changes it.
Did the 2026 CE Board resolution change the calculator list?	The PRC Civil Engineering Board page identifies Board Resolution No. 01 (s. 2026) as an adjustment to the order of CELE subjects. It does not replace the calculator-specific Resolution No. 05 (s. 2024).

Official Confirmation Channels

For calculator-related concerns, use official PRC sources. The May 2, 2024 calculator advisory lists these Licensure Office email addresses:

Also check the PRC Civil Engineering Board page, official examination advisories, and the applicable room assignment before the examination.

Final Recommendation for CE Board Examinees

Choose an allowed calculator early and use the same compliant model throughout your review. Before exam day, verify the model again against the latest CE-specific PRC source and check for any newer CELE advisory. A calculator appearing in an old list, a seller listing, or a review-center post should not be treated as official proof of current eligibility.

Official List Can Change

The calculator list can change through a later PRC or Professional Regulatory Board of Civil Engineering issuance. Treat this article as a convenient CE review reference, not a substitute for the latest official calculator resolution, CELE advisory, room assignment, or examination-day directions.

Official Sources and Verification

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

Last updated and cross-checked: August 12, 2026.