Videos

Three Tips to Pass the Civil PE Exam (From Someone Who Just Did!)

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

This is a guest blog by author Nick Heim, PE, EMI’s Civil Engineering Collective Coordinator

As engineers progress in their careers, it is necessary for most to obtain their Professional Engineering (PE license) on their way to becoming an Engineering Manager. At EMI, we understand the importance of obtaining professional licensure, and the opportunities that it can provide. Therefore, I would like to share three tips that helped me pass the Civil PE exam:

1. Know and Respect the Exam

A Step by Step Guide to Apply For the PE Exam (Part 1 of 2)

July 21, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In the previous article, I covered the requirements needed to apply for the PE exam. In this article, I will take you through the first 5 steps of a 10 step process of applying for the PE exam, and show you how to complete your application in an easy-to-follow step-by-step process.

There will be slight differences in the process depending on which US state you are applying to. Most states provide application process checklists on their respective state board websites, so be sure to check with your State Board for specific information. Please note that the information in this article was taken from various sources including PE Exam Coach.

The General Process to Apply for the PE Exam (in Most States) Is As Follows:

Water Resources Problem & Solution: Calculating the Amount of Runoff

July 13, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this Pass the FE Exam article (and video above), I take you step by step through a type of problem you’ll likely have to solve during the FE Exam as part of the hydrology/water resources section by calculating the amount of runoff from a commercial site.

This sample problem has been provided to us by PrepFE. PrepFE is one of the most effective FE exam self-study prep services out there and happens to be one of the most affordable too. It is an app that gives you access to countless sample FE problems to bolster your self-study efforts.

You can visit PrepFE here and use the discount code in the description of this video here to receive 10% off and get some great FE practice problems.

Question:

A 20-acre suburban commercial lot has stores and parking lots. The corresponding NRCS curve number is 97. What is most nearly the amount of runoff created after a 2.75″ rain event over the course of 24 hours?

Solution:

Qualifications Required To Apply For the PE Exam in October 2021

July 7, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), which is the first in a two-part series, I take you through the requirements and qualifications needed to apply for the PE Exam.

Registration for the October 2021 pencil-and-paper PE exams opened on June 14 and will close on August 26th at 3:00 pm EST. Registration for the computer-based PE exams is however open all year-round.

States regulate professional engineering licensing in the US. Each state’s requirements are different, but the application process is generally the same. Each state has an engineering board that regulates the practice of engineering in that state. They are who you will apply to for your engineering license and are the ultimate authority on the specific rules and requirements of your state.

The first step, before you officially apply for the PE exam, is to make sure you meet the qualifications to be eligible to be licensed. The next step will be to submit all documentation and information to your state board for approval, and that second step I will cover in the next video.

Minimum Qualifications Required To Apply For the PE Exam:

7 Top Tips For FE Exam Takers

June 29, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I cover 7 top tips that will help FE exam takers to pass the FE exam. While taking the FE exam you’ll likely get stuck on a problem that you will find difficult to solve. It happens to everyone.

The answer, or the equations that you will need to find the answer, can’t always be found in the supplied reference handbook, and the use of a calculator may not help for some of these problems. Also, the problem may be the kind where it is not easy to eliminate certain answers to make a calculated guess. So, here are seven tips for FE exam takers to use during their exam to attempt to solve these difficult problems.

How to Utilize Your PE License Outside The USA

June 23, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I explain how you can utilize your US PE license outside the USA and what steps you need to take to get there.

If you are currently licensed as a professional engineer (or PE) in the United States and seeking recognition to practice in another country then this video is for you. The NCEES International Registry for Professional Engineers (also known as IRPE) assists U.S.-based professional engineers who are seeking recognition in countries that are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or the International Engineering Alliance (IEA), formerly the Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF).

The Countries Include:

FE Practice Problem: Consolidation of Clay

June 15, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I solve a consolidation of clay practice problem that you will encounter during the FE exam. This example is of a geotechnical investigation at a proposed road construction site that contains a subsurface clay soil layer and looks at the consolidation of that layer.

You can visit PrepFE here and use the discount code in the description of this video here to receive 10% off and get some great FE practice problems.

The Question Is:

A geotechnical investigation at a proposed road construction site spotted a 7 ft thick weak clay layer, 10 feet below the ground surface. On top of the weak clay layer, there is 10 feet of fill material. A sample was obtained from the drilling investigation and was subsequently sent to a lab for testing. The lab results for the weak clay layer and the fill material layer can be seen below. Assume building a road on top of the soil profile will increase vertical stress by 100 psf at the midpoint of the weak clay layer and the clay layer is a normally consolidated clay. What is most nearly the primary consolidation of the weak clay layer?

Here is the Solution:

How To Pass The Civil PE Exam (In 2021)

June 9, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I talk to Connor Adamsick, an EIT and bridge engineer at HDR in Denver Colorado who recently took the Civil Structural PE exam in April. He talks about his experience taking the exam, and how he thinks gymnastics correlates with studying for your PE Exam. He is also going to provide some very specific study prep tips that you won’t want to miss.

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Connor:

You recently wrote an article on LinkedIn called: All-American to PE Hopeful where you talked about how while competing for your University, you also were studying for a degree in Civil Engineering. What has this experience taught you and how does gymnastics correlate with studying for your PE Exam?
Take us through the preparation process, from the moment you decided to take the exam up to where you started to study for the exam. Are there any set guidelines, schedules, or procedures you used to determine how you will study for the exam?
Why did you decide to take the exam a year early?
How long did it take you to study for the Civil Structural PE exam?
While studying for the exam, did you set goals for yourself, and if so, how did the goals help you along the way?
Tell us more about exam day. Was it everything you expected, and how do you think you did in the exam?
What advice can you give engineers out there considering taking the Civil Structural PE exam?

Here Are the Key Points Discussed in the Episode:

How To Pass The FE Exam The Second Time

June 1, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), we talk to Mahbub Robin about his experience taking the FE exam. He tells us how, despite going through a lot of diversity and failing the exam the first time, he decided to take the exam a second time, and what he did differently this time around.

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Mahbub:

Tell us more about your educational background, and what field of engineering you are in?
An article called: Cab driver. Harvard dad. Covid-19 victim tells the story about your family, and how tragically, both your parents passed away. How did this experience influence your career?
What was it that you did differently the second time when taking the exam?
How can you study to learn the concepts as opposed to just memorizing equations?
Can you talk about the mental challenges of taking the FE exam a second time?
What kept you going through all of the adversity you faced in your career and life?

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

How to Get Your PE License in Another State

May 26, 2021 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

As a licensed professional engineer, there are certain situations where you may need to obtain a PE license in another state. In this article (and video above), I talk about if, and how, you can get licensed in states other than the one where you passed the PE exam.

You worked hard and passed the PE exam, and now, you want plan to use it in states other than the one in which you took the exam. Can you receive permission to do so? The answer is yes you can, but unfortunately, earning a professional engineering license in one state does not automatically make you eligible to obtain the license in other states.