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Announcement: Live Mini-Webinars – Civil PE Exam Preparation (Free)

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The fall PE Exam will begin to sneak up on us as the summer comes and goes.  As a way to get you sharp and keep you that way for the fall Civil PE Exam, a group of engineers including myself have decided to provide a free short webinar covering a special problem each week for the next several weeks.  These mini webinars (Mini-nars) will begin on May 22, 2013, and will run through the summer.

I will personally be instructing the first free ‘Mini-Nar’ on May 22, 2013.  The Mini-Nar will be the first of a series of weekly Mininars hosted by an alliance of several engineers that will cover a short 5-7 minute problem.

These are free to the first 20 signups, and will be viewable on YouTube later.

The signup for the PE Mini-Nar is here:

May 22  2013  Civil – Construction Problem by Andy Richardson

Or you can paste this link into your browser:  http://acethepe.com/GetFreeMiniNar

Click here to be one of the first 20 to signup!

May 29, 2013  Come back later to find out the topic & signup

June 5, 2013  Come back later to find out the topic & signup

What do you think?

If you have any questions you would like to cover in the Mini-Nar, then leave a comment here or at our social sites!

 

 

Ep 20 Project Management and the PMP Exam

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Project Management

In this episode we launch a new component of the Ace the PE Exam site, which is focused on Professional Development.  In doing so, we discuss how many engineers transition to the role of  Project Manager, and how the PMP Exam plays into that.

Listen Here:


Download info:
Right-Click Here To Download

As we discussed in Episode 16, the PMP certification is becoming important for engineers to have.  So even though this is not related directly to the PE Exam, this episode will likely affect your career.

We have a special guest interview in this episode with Cornelius Fitchner.  More information can be found from him at these places:
•    The PM Podcast – a free project management podcast : www.pm-podcast.com

•    8 free videos on YouTube as an introduction to the PMP exam: www.pm-prepcast.com/8videos

•    The PM PrepCast – a premium podcast to prepare for the PMP Exam.

Sign up today if you are interested at: www.pm-prepcast.com      (affiliate link)

At the end of the show, Cornelius provides a useful project management tip that I realized I need to start working on myself.  I hope you enjoy the show!

What do you think?  
Do you want to become a project manager in your engineering career?

What do you think of the PMP Certification?

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Passing the PE is a Benchmark; Success Photos Wanted for Facebook Page

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Passing the PE is a Benchmark on Your Career:  One of the highlights of my life, and a ‘Benchmark in my career’ was definitely passing the PE Exam.  I just posted a picture on my Facebook page  of me and my wife at a ceremony we went to for PE inductees.  If you are taking the exam in 2013, then think about how great it will feel to pass it; and use that feeling as motivation to prepare.  After all, motivation is half the battle!

“Success Photo” Contest for PE’s:   If you have passed the PE Exam, then this part is for you.  I was hoping to get some success photos from you, and offer you a way to earn a $25 gift card.  You see, I just started my new Facebook page here, and it is frankly looking pretty bland.  So I decided to get some help from the awesome community of Ace the PE.  I figured putting some success photos up there would be fun, and be a great way to encourage upcoming examinees.  Can you help?

How to Win the $25 Gift Card:  The contest is just asking you to post a “success photo” to the Facebook page (Facebook.com/AceThePE).   There will be two winners, each gets a $25 gift certificate to a choice of iTunes, BassPro, or Bath&Body.  It can be a picture at a ceremony, with family, or a letter from the Board.  Be creative! There will be two gift cards mailed to you ~ one will be drawn at random, and one will be for the “best” picture overall (quality, humor, props to Ace the PE, etc).  If you win, I will contact you via Facebook, and I will need your mailing address.  You have until January 8 to upload the photos, so get started..

 

Best Wishes on Your PE Exam Day

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photo: Nono Fara

I just wanted to say to all of the visitors here on the site that it has been great to work with some of you and help you prepare for the big PE Exam day.

Questions in your head…

Now the day is here, and you are probably quite nervous.  And if you were like me the day before my PE Exam, you probably have a lot of questions rolling around in your head.  But right now you may have many questions rolling around in your head.  Some of the things you may be asking include:  have I done enough?  What if I fail? Did I study the material?  these questions do not matter.

I just wanted to offer you some encouragement this day before the exam.   You need to relax a little bit and realize this is not the end all.  Yes, it is just a test.

Now the hard part of preparation is over and the day is here.  The truth is that you have put the hard work in and the only thing left to do is to execute.

Be Confident, Focused and Methodical

And you do have to execute in order to pass.  Remember the key to pass the exam is what I call CFM; be Confident, Focused, and Methodical when you go in there.  Read the problems carefully, and think about what they are asking for.  They may present things sightly different but the concepts are in your reach.

You are just 8 hours away from being a Professional Engineer, and a good exam day can get you to that goal.  I wish you the best on exam day, and look forward to hearing about your experience.

Best Wishes on your PE Exam,

Andy

 

One More Thing: 

If you have not seen facing the Giants, there is a scene in the video that depicts an important truth.  We can often do far more than our minds let us do.  If you believe that you can pass this exam, you will do much better on it. Now enjoy this short video.  Then Believe!

Ep 19 Insights for the 16 Hour Structural Exam (SE Exam)

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Structural Tower

Are you taking the 16 hour SE exam?  If so, then you will want to listen to this interview with Joseph Schuster, SE, PE.  Mr Schuster is a practicing Structural Engineer who has passed the exam himself, and has just released a new practice SE Exam.  He gives critical insight about the format of the Structural Exam, what references are needed for the exam,  and also some tips on how to prepare for  the exam.  We also discuss some of the benefits of taking the SE exam, and states where the SE license is currently recognized.  In addition, we discuss the newly released 16-Hour Structural Engineering (SE) Practice Exam for Buildings (STBDPX).

The following are some additional notes from the interview.   Some links include a commission, but at no additional cost to you.

Listen to the podcast Here:

Download info:
Right-Click Here To Download

New Practice Exam for the SE Exam:

16-Hour Structural Engineering (SE) Practice Exam for Buildings (STBDPX)

I believe one essential part of reviewing for a Professional Licensing Exam is to take a realistic practice exam.  This book fulfills this need while also providing some useful practice problems.  This practice exam is geared towards buildings, and it has 80 multiple choice questions, and 8 essay style questions.  The format of this practice exam matches the format of the 16 hour structural exam, so you can actually use it to run through the full 2-day exam.  This will allow you to assess some areas of weakness, and also help you to develop the attention and focus needed to get through the two-day exam.  The book covers all of the NCEES topics as noted below:

SE Exam Topics Covered

Structural analysis methods
Structural design considerations including seismic detailing
Loads
Concrete
Steel
Wood
Masonry
Foundations
Bridges (multiple-choice questions only)

As seen on Amazon:



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16-Hour Structural Engineering (SE) Practice Exam for Buildings (Paperback)

By (author) Joseph S. Schuster PE
List Price: $160.00 USD
New From: $97.00 In Stock
Used from: $99.55 In Stock

You can also view the intro to the book at the PPI website, here:

http://ppi2pass.com/Docs/bookInfo/STBDPX/STBDPXintro.pdf

Suggested References for the 16 Hour Structural Exam (SE Exam)

Required References for the SE Exam

The NCEES List of Standards are the absolute minimum required texts needed in the exam, and are noted below.

AASHTO – LRFD Bridge Design Specifications 5th Edition, 2010 ASIN: B004C15EOA
IBC 2009 – International Building Code, 2009 edition (without supplements) ISBN-10: 1580017258
ASCE 7-05 – Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2005 ISBN-10: 0784408092
ACI 318-08 – Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, 2008 ISBN-10: 0870312642
ACI 530/530.1 2008 (also known as TMS 402/602) Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures – ISBN- 10: 1929081294
AISC Steel Construction Manual 13th Edition (Includes Specification AISC 360)
AISC Seismic Design Manual (Includes AISC 341 and AISC 358); ISBN-10: 1564240568
NDS 2005 (Specification and Supplement) National Design Specification for Wood Construction ASD/LRFD ASIN:
B001K9TDFS
NDS Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic 2008
AISI Cold-Formed Steel Specification 2007
PCI 2004 – PCI Design Handbook: Precast and Prestressed Concrete, 6th edition, 2004 ISBN-10: 0937040711

- You may be able to get by without the AISI manual and the PCI manual, but it is better to have it than not.

Highly Recommended References for the SE Exam:

Structural Engineering Reference Manual
2009 SEAOC IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual, Volume 1
Structural Analysis Textbook (such as Structural Analysis by R.C. Hibbeler)
PCA Notes on ACI 318-08
NCEES, Structural Sample Questions and Solutions
Joe’s Book: 16-Hour Structural Engineering (SE) Practice Exam for Buildings (STBDPX)

Joe’s Further Reading & References for the SE Exam

ACI Design Handbook (SP-17)
Steel Textbook (such as Steel Structures by Salmon and Johnson)
AISC Design Examples. Version 13.1. Available as a free download from www.aisc.org.
AISI Cold-Formed Steel Design Manual 2008
Foundation Engineering Textbook (such as Foundation Engineering by Braja M. Das)
Wood Textbook (such as Design of Wood Structures by Breyer, Fridley, Pollock Jr, and Cobeen)
Structural Wood Design Solved Example Problems
Masonry Textbook such as Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook by James E. Amrehein
NCMA TEK14-1A (masonry section properties, available free online)
2009 SEAOC IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual, Volume 2
2009 SEAOC IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual, Volume 3
Seismic Design of Building Structures by Michael Lindeburg and Kurt McMullin.
345 Solved Seismic Design Problems by Majid Baradar
FEMA 451 Available as a free download www.fema.gov.
CodeMaster (laminated code summary sheets): Seismic Design (2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05) and Wind Design Overview (2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05)

Additional Study Tips and Suggestions for the SE Exam
Most people who do well on the SE Exam will begin studying about 1 year prior to the exam.  This is the amount of time needed to cover the material for this 2-day exam.  One of the first things you will want to do is get eh NCEES list of specifications for the Structural Exam, and use that as a study guide.  Determine how you will sufficiently cover each topic and subtopic on that list, and then follow through with the schedule.  You have to have a plan, but you also need to follow through with the plan in order to be successful on exam day.  The good thing about the 2-day Structural Exam is that you can pass one day of the exam, and come back and take the other day later.  While most people attempt to take both days together, you may decide to employ a different strategy.

What do you think? 

Please share your thoughts and questions about the SE Exam, or this post.

photo by: tchandok

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Ep 18 Time Tested Advice: The California PE Seismic and Survey Exams

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As usual, we also answered a question from the Audience. We had a question from David about the California PE Exam; specifically the Seismic and Survey exam that is required to get a California Civil PE License. There are some nuances about each of the exams that will require special attention and preparation.

Ep 18 Q&A – Deciphering the California PE Special Exams Seismic and Civil

Download Info:


Right-Click Here To Download

California Seismic Exam:

The recommended seismic class was called seismicreview.com.  According to the interview, Steven T. Hiner, MS, SE provides a good review for the Seismic Portion of the California PE Exam special requirements.

California Survey Exam

For the survey portion, Jim has a review course that he provides and recommends over at CivilPEReview.com.  One of his commonly used resources for the survey portion is Tim Nelsons book that you can find at acethepe.com/surveybook, and also shown below:



See larger image

Surveying Practice Problems (Paperback)

By (author) Timothy J Nelson
List Price: $19.95 USD
New From: $15.98 In Stock
Used from: $25.38 In Stock

Thanks again to Jim Monroe for coming in to provide some tips about the PE Exam. Jim is a Professional Engineer and also an instructor for the Civil PE Exam.  You can sign up for his class (either the online or on the ground version) as a way to prepare for your PE Exam.

What do you Think?

What are you using to study for the California Special Civil Exams? 

photo by: Meta Mourphic

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Ep 17 Get Plugged in With a PE Review Forum

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pe review connection

Get Plugged in With a Forum for Your PE Review

Studying for the PE Exam is hard, and sometimes you feel like you are on an island preparing by yourself.  One key to passing the PE Exam is to have others to talk to and connect with around you that are going through the same thing.  One way to do that is to use an online forum.  There are several PE Review Forums out there, but there is one that has gained polarity in the past few years, and gets my personal approval.

Podcast Download info:

Right-Click Here To Download

If you use forums to help prepare you for the PE Exam, then you probably know about the forum that we discuss in this episode of Ace the PE.  In this episode I brought in the creator of the popular forum  EngineerBoards.com in for an interview.  That’s right, we had ‘Road Guy’ himself come in from EngineerBoards.com to discuss his site.  Road guy proved to have some great tips about how to get the most out of the forum, and how to prepare for the PE Exam using this valuable resource.  If you are not familiar with the PE Exam Forum EngineerBoards.com, then we also tell you where to find it, and give you some tips on how to get started.

I hope you enjoy the interview!  Please click the share button or comment!

What do you think?
Do you think forums are helpful in preparing for the PE Exam?  Which forum do you prefer?

Also, if you liked this, then please click the share button or comment!

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