PE Exam

Self Study vs. Review Courses for the PE Exam

March 1, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article, (and video above), I discuss the difference between self study and review courses when preparing for the PE Exam to help you decide which option would work best for you.

There are usually two ways people go about studying for the PE exam. Either they purchase materials including a reference manual and prepare on their own, or they take a structured review course, either online or locally. Both options can be effective, but you should consider your goals and circumstances to choose the best option for you.

Here are Some of the Factors You Should Consider:

What to Bring to the CBT Exam

February 15, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Bring This to the CBT Exam:

Appointment confirmation letter
Your ID
Your Calculator
A sweater or sweatshirt and/or eyeglasses (if needed)

For all CBT (Computer Based Test) exams, the testing center will provide pencils, papers, erasers and ear plugs. For more information, review each one of these items in detail:

1. Appointment Confirmation Letter

How Hard Is the Civil PE Exam?

February 1, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Is the Civil PE Exam Difficult to Pass? After completing a college degree, passing the FE exam, and getting at least four years of experience working in engineering (in most states), candidates can sit for the PE exam. The PE exam is one of the last steps in becoming a licensed professional engineer. But how hard is it? In this article (and video above), I answer that question and also take a look at the PE Pass rates.

FE Exam Prep: Strength of Materials

January 25, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

In this article (and video above), I solve a strength of materials 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.

Question:

A steel bar (E = 200 GPa) is stretched with a force of 50 N. If the bar is 4 m long and has a cross-sectional area of 0.5 square meters , what is the approximate elongation?

(A) 1 nm
(B) 2 nm
(C) 3 nm
(D) 4 nm

Solution:

Does a Master’s Degree Help You Take the PE Exam Quicker?

January 18, 2022 by Anthony Fasano, P.E. Leave a Comment

Does a master’s degree help you take the PE Exam quicker? In this article (and video above), I answer that question and also cover some of the other benefits of getting your master’s degree.

To get right to the point here, in many states, you reduce the amount of qualifying engineering experience, which is typically 4 years for a PE license, by one year with a Master’s Degree in engineering. However, you will likely need to complete your degree before it will count, you will not get credit for a degree that you are working towards. It is very important that you check your state board’s website to be certain, though, because every State has their own requirements related to the Master’s degree credit.

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.

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:

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).

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?”

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: