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Structural 1 Exam
7

Structural 1 Exam

Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
I passed my P.E. Civil and want to take the S.E 1 exam in April 2008. Is there any review course available in Houston or Austin. Any help in preparing for the exam would be useful. Thanks!!!!

RE: Structural 1 Exam

There should be a local chapter of the Structural Engineers' Association in Houston.  They are constantly offering review courses for that.  Check with an older  structural engineer in the area.  He or she can lead you in the right direction.  Good hunting.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Does Texas recognize the SE license?

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Yes, Texas does recognize the SE. In fact, you don't need the PE to take the SE (and be licensed).

RE: Structural 1 Exam

But, I think the designation that you can write (even with SE 1) in Texas is P.E. A lot of states are in this way, like VA, they will accept passing only SE 1 to have a P.E.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

That is correct. But why would you want to use P.E., when it's so much cooler to be an S.E. :) (jk)

RE: Structural 1 Exam

frv - Unless your state has a separate license recognizing the Structural Engineering, you have only substituted the SE1 exam for the PE exam and thus you are a PE.  For that state, you can only legally call yourself or your practice that of a professional engineer.

There are several different levels of registration and what state recognize, to wit:

Professional Engineer, no title designation
Professional Engineer, title designation called title act,
Licensed Structural Engineer, legislative act.

And in some states like CA you can take extra exams but still only be a structural engineer in title only.  States like Illinois, Washington, etc have a legislative, Licensure act, for the Structural Engineer.

So, legally you haven't got that 'cooler' designation yet.

Regards,
Qshake
pipe
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

You are right in that the seal reads "P.E.". I was simply alluding to the fact that it is perfectly legal (and ethical) to advertise yourself as a "Structural Engineer" (even though your seal reads "Professional Engineer") in Texas. My post wasn't very clear on that.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

What material are you using to study for the SE exam?

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not  because of an awkward accumulation of material.  There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form.  Eladio Dieste

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Calif-

Although I agree that form is paramount, I'm willing to bet that the majority of failures result from factors other than form. Connection failures, bracing failures, corrosion, poor workmanship, soil behavior are just some examples.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

     I have the designation PE from the standard PE exam and I do structural engineering as a PE.  What is the benefit in paying for and studying for a second exam?  Form is a nebulous term!

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Civilperson - Unless you intend to work in a state where a new license is required to practice structural engineer there is no benefit at the present moment.

I say at the present moment because there is a movement by structural engineers to be certified.  I believe the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations has a certification board for structural engineers.  There is also another organization that has a Model Law Structural Engneer designation.  While at the present moment this may not mean anything, in the future, it will likely represent a minimum of knowledge and continuing education for structural engineers such that SE's with only a PE and with out certification or licensure will have a more difficult time plying their trade.

That's my understanding is not necessarily the opinion of this poster.

Regards,
Qshake
pipe
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
By taking this exam, my understanding is that I would be able to get Struct listed as my branch in adition to Civil and be prepared for any requirements in future.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

civilperson-

Some companies who do not engage in structural engineering in states where an SE license is required will nonetheless give you a raise upon obtaining the SE license. Otherwise, you're right; there is no real benefit to it if you do not intend on practicing in these states.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

fvr, what you are responding to is my signature by Eladio Dieste, a structural engineer and architect. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eladio_Dieste
I am asking what material is being used to study for the SE exam.  I want to take it once I complete my master degree although, I plan to move out of the country, it may help in finding a job.

Thanks

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not  because of an awkward accumulation of material.  There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form.  Eladio Dieste

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Calif-

It's fairly obvious it's a signature..  I was just giving my unsolicited (and frankly irrelevant) 2 cents :)

RE: Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
Calif,
I'm planning on using Structural Depth Reference Manual by Alan Williams, the NCEES PE Structural I Sample Questions and Solutions and standard textbooks on steel and concrete design as my study material.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

In my experience, the publications by Alan Williams are a waste of money.  They just aren't practical for the real world or an exam.

Use the NCEES SE I sample questions and the 6 second solutions  for structural 1 exam.  If you dont have the ones from college, get GOOD reinforced concrete, steel, Structural Analysis, Mechanics of Materials, and foundation books...they should be in your permanent library anyway.

You should also be studying the IBC/ASCE wind and seismic chapters very thoroughly.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
Atomic25,
Thanks a lot for the info.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I am in the same situation as zam08.  I already have my civil PE, if I obtain SEI and then SE II in a few years, do I need to attend continuing education classes to keep it updated?  Because in my state I dont have to attend any classes for civil PE.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I was able to sit for the SEII without having taken the SEI, but that might have been because when I took the PE there was no structural option.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

frv-

There is no "SE" in Texas.  You can take the Structural I exam, and have your designation be structural (as opposed to civil, electrical, mechanical, etc), but you are still just a "PE."  Even if you take the Structural II exam, or any of the various state specific structural exams, you're still just a "PE" in Texas.  The Texas board web site has the laws and rules document posted, which elaborate on this further.

Legally, your barber could put "SE" after his name and not run afoul of the law (in Texas).  You see a lot of engineers (in Texas) sign their name "PE, SE."  Presumably, these people have passed the Structural II exam, but again, who knows for sure, since there are no rules to using the unrecognized (by Texas) "SE" suffix.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

nutte-

I work in Texas- I know there is no legal "SE" designation. However, I wasn't aware of the lax laws concerning the use of the title. I think that would fall under the "legal but unethical" designation if one were to use it without qualifying for it.

It is my understanding, however, that the SEII exam is only required in a handful of states; as a result, I would argue that passing the SEI exam should be sufficient to ethically use the title "Structural Engineer" (albeit for advertising purposes only).

RE: Structural 1 Exam

ppi2pass.com has provided me with excellent (although a little pricey) study and reference books for both the S1 and S2 exam.  I recommend the package deals where you get all 3 books.

akastud

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Why would you want to take the SE1 exam if you have already passed the Civil?  That doesn't make any sense.  You should just take the SE2 exam.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
Please correct me if I am wrong, as I believe that by passing the SE1 Exam that I can get Str listed as my branch in addition to Civil in Texas. Moreover it will help me in getting SE in states other than Texas.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I don't think you have to go to that length.  I know people that took the civil and are listed as structural.  Like said above, there really isn't a SE in Texas like in other states.  

In California, you do not have to take the SE1 exam to become an SE.  After becomming a civil, you have to pass the SE2 and their state specific exam to become an SE.

I know other states (Nevada and Hawaii) say you need the SE1 and SE2, but I suspect that they may waive the SE1 part if you have already passed the Civil, but I am not sure.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I believe someone already alluded to this in response to something I posted, but the SEI exam replaces the PE exam. In other words you only have to take the SE exam instead of the PE.

I know that the pass rate on the structural 1 exam is abysmal since they changed the test a few years ago, but I still think it's preferable to take the SE1 instead of the civil. If structural is all you do, why on earth would you want to go back and study all those courses you don't remember and will never use again?

Having said that, however, I knew an engineer who was licensed in Texas and was attempting to get a license in another state through reciprocity (can't remember the state, but it wasn't any state that required the SEII); since the state required its own engineers to take the civil before the structural, he had to go back and take the civil exam even though he had been practicing as a structural for years.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I would agree that taking the SE1 over the civil would probaly be best if you are just doing structural.  I would have a hard time getting motivated to take the SE1 if I had already passed the civil, though.  

FYI - California did not make me go back and take the civil exam.  They recogized the SE1 exam as the national exam (if you take it there you have to take the civil) and I just had to take the seismic and surveying exams.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Surveying?

Really?

That seems like a waste of time and money.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I just did a quick check at the www.ncees.org website.  It seems that you have to know bridge design according to AASHTO, ACI, PCI specifications.  This makes things difficult to those who only work on either bridges or buildings.  How would study for the other?  

calif

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not  because of an awkward accumulation of material.  There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form.  Eladio Dieste

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Surveying for california is not what you'd think.  For example, when you're terra firma is moving in two different directions (pacific plate and north american plate) what do you do with your boundaries and monumnets and benches?  I think it is necessary.

Regards,
Qshake
pipe
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I guess I can see that; but I'd still say hire a surveyor :)

RE: Structural 1 Exam

You can hire a surveyor all right but you still must know what's going on....

Regards,
Qshake
pipe
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

Calif

For the SEI you choose to take either the bridge or building portion. Once you choose one for the morning session you must choose the same one for the afternoon. If you choose the buildings you don't need to worry about AASHTO for the exam.

RE: Structural 1 Exam

(OP)
JLNJ

The choice between the bridge and building portions is not for the SE1 Exam as this is all objective with 2 sessions of 40 questions each. Do you mean SE2 instead?

RE: Structural 1 Exam

I apologize, I was indeed referring to the SEII.

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