Anthony Fasano, P.E.

FE Exam Prep: Ethics

January 11, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I solve an ethics question similar to one you might encounter during the FE Exam in the FE and Professional Practice category.

Question:

Why may it be difficult to apply codes of ethics to real-world situations?

(A) The codes are too idealized for real-world situations.
(B) Since few people follow such codes, doing so would put one at a great disadvantage.
(C) Corporations are profit oriented, and frown upon anything that may affect their bottom line.
(D) Sections of the code are vague or conflict with other sections.

Solution:

[Read more…] about FE Exam Prep: Ethics

How Many Years’ Experience Do You Need To Take The PE Exam?

January 5, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I answer the following question from one of our listeners: “How many years experience do I need to take the PE Exam?”

Typically, in many US States, the experience requirement to apply for your PE license is four years of qualifying engineering experience. However each state acts independently to set its own education experience and residency requirements, therefore, there is variation throughout the US.

It is generally required that all candidate’s experience be accumulated after graduation from an accredited school. If you have worked while attending school, and if the work fits the criteria for qualifying engineering experience, you may qualify to take the examination less than four years following graduation. However, depending on circumstances, it may be difficult for you to demonstrate that the pre-graduation experience constitutes true engineering experience.

FE Mathematics Exam Prep Question

December 28, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I solve a FE mathematics exam prep question similar to one you might encounter during the FE Exam, to give you a better understanding of what you can expect during the exam. These types of questions and answers will help you prepare for your FE Exam and help you get a better understanding of what to expect during the exam.

I also provide tips for how to visualize questions like this and how to to find the right equations in the reference handbook, which is critical to exam success.

Question:

Which of the following expressions is equal to the angle between two planes whose normals are given by V1 and V2?

Solution:

From FAIL to PE EXAM PASS: How He Did It (The Second Try)

December 22, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), I talk to Frisner Jean-Pierre, P.E. (JP), a General Engineer at the United States Department of the Air Force about how he prepared for the PE exam and what he did differently the second time around that helped him pass the exam.

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask JP:

How did you prepare for the PE exam?
Did you do self-study, or did you enroll in any prep courses?
How did you approach the different categories of the exam?
What was the big difference between the pencil-and-paper exam, and the computer-based exam?
Do you have any advice for engineers out there that are thinking of taking the PE exam soon?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed in the Episode:

FE Exam Mechanical Practice Question: Continuity Equation

December 14, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), I solve a continuity equation question similar to one you might encounter on the mechanical section of the FE Exam.

Question:

Which of the statements is true concerning the following continuity equation?

Do THIS After You Pass the PE Exam

December 8, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I talk about what you can expect after you have taken your PE Exam and what you should do after you pass the PE exam. We talk about how long you will have to wait for your results to be available, how you can obtain your license if you passed, and when you will be able to start practicing as a licensed engineer. Information for this post was referenced from these articles (PPI, NSPE, and NJSPE).

FE Civil Exam Practice Problem (Spring Constant)

November 30, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this video (and article above), I solve a spring constant question similar to one you might encounter on the civil section of the FE Exam.

Question:

A long metal rod can be used as a very stiff spring. The deformation of a rod is given by the following expression:

What Kind of Experience Qualifies for Qualifying Engineering Experience?

November 24, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), I respond to a question from one of our listeners about what qualifies as qualifying engineering experience for the PE exam.

Here is the Question:

“What kind of experience qualifies for work experience for being able to take the PE. Would surveying natural and built assets quality as work experience? Just curious how long I should expect to wait before being able to do my PE?”

Engineering Ethics Problem Question

November 17, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), I solve an engineering ethics problem that you may encounter as part of the Ethics and Professional Practice section of the FE Exam.

Question:

An Engineer-In-Training (EIT), is asked to review and stamp a set of civil engineering drawings by his or her supervisor. The EIT is working under a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and has met the state requirements to obtain licensure. The EIT may seal the contract documents if :

(A) He or She has been given permission by their supervisor who is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

(B) He or She has a PhD in the area of Civil Engineering.

(D) He or She is a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and is competent in the area of Civil Engineering.

Solution:

PE Environmental vs. PE Civil Water Resources and Environmental

November 10, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

If you are considering a career in environmental engineering, and you want to pursue your professional engineering license, you may be stuck deciding which professional engineering exam to take. You could take the PE Civil Exam with a Water Resources and Environmental depth option or you could take the PE Environmental. The National Council of Examiners and Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) offers both.

So how will you decide? Firstly, consider looking at the specifications of each exam, as below: