16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
(OP)
Other than individual pride, does anyone know what the benefit is to taking this 16 hour Structural Exam coming up next spring? Does it automatically guarentee a SE license in those states that currently license SE's seperate from PE's or do you still have to pass the state specific tests? Is it just a resume builder or do companies not even care that I went the extra step to take this?
I have taken the original Structural I in hopes of one day getting the Structural II in but I couldn't do it before this past fall so I guess I am out of luck.
What benefit can I garnish from suffering through it?
Thanks!
I have taken the original Structural I in hopes of one day getting the Structural II in but I couldn't do it before this past fall so I guess I am out of luck.
What benefit can I garnish from suffering through it?
Thanks!






RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
I would wait to see it all get ironed out a bit before being a "guinea pig" for the first offering of the test. Besides, they aren't even offering the exam in my state! (my state does not have an SE designation)
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
I would take it now - get it done. The longer you wait the harder it will be to study and pass it.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
From what you have read, is there going to be any sort of "grandfathering"? Would it mean my bosses (who are 40 and 50 years old) will have to take the 16 hour exam and pass it in order to be able to be a registered in any other state?
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
By implementing this exam, we will probably have 40 states drop any efforts toward structural requirements and allow a civil registration instead (many do already anyway). We will probably have around 10 states that will use this exam. Try convincing Arkansas (no offence to any Razorbacks) that their structural engineers need to have the same testing as high seismic or high wind areas.
The original intent was to push all states to recognize structural engineering as unique and separate from Civil engineering. This will blow that out of the water.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
I would expect that if you're currently licensed in a state as a civil PE, and they created an SE license, you'd be grandfathered in. This would not help you, however, if you were not previously licensed in that state and then try to become so. In that case you'd have to abide by the new rules.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
General Civil
Transportation
Geotech
Structural
Electrical
Mechanical
I took the 8-hour NCEES Structural only test to get a PE, we don't have an SE designation in Florida.
Maybe it would be something like, "PE-Mechanical" on your seal and license.
I know of too many instances where someone with a PE is practicing outside of their area of expertise. Yes I know all of the board rules regarding that and the responsibility falls on the individual, the Board is not the gastapo that follows us all around and checking all of our work...
If you have the expertise, prove it, pass the exam for that area...
Speaking of which, I just for fun (man am I lame) went to the FL Board website, and someone got an admin charge, and the Board is requiring that person, a PE, to pass the NCEES Structural Exam and pass 9 hours of college level structural engineering classes prior to practicing structural engineering again. Which is my entire point, but do it up front, not after someone gets busted.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
Nick Deal, PE, SE
Michael Brady Inc.
http://www.michaelbradyinc.com
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
In my jurisdiction, my stamp is required to say PE structural... and I was required to take the Structural I exam but not the structural II. I have no idea what this means to me in the future when applying for reciprocity.
Kind of frustrating to go completely through the process and have no idea if I'm going to have to start all over again.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
Just out of curiousity, I actually emailed our state board here in Virginia to ask what was the benefit of taking the 16 hour SE exam versus just taking the general civil PE with a Structural Depth component. Shockingly, in Virginia there is no difference! The only response I got was "unless there is an industry need for an individual to pass the 16 hour exam, there is not a definitive benefit to taking one versus the other". Interesting. Since there obviously isn't a industry need for it, I wonder who will actually volunteer to take a 2x harder test for the same license.
I know there are a lot of arguements either way, but my opinion is that each discipline should be licensed individually. I, like a2mfk, have experienced many engineers thinking they understand a lot about other disciplines simply because they have been around a while. There is probably some truth to this, but when it comes to being held accountable for that design, I think each discipline needs its own standards. Maybe it's purely arrogance but I think Structural things should be left to licensed structural engineers. I personally am sick of utility guys telling me how they "like to design concrete" when they have never cracked a code book like ACI 318!
I hope that the 16 hour test is the right step to take in this direction but it appears that, for now, it is going to be quite ineffective at doing so...
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
My PE stamp actually does have the "civil" designation on the stamp itself.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
Illinois, will not grandfather a PE for their SE license. My father has an Illinois PE and 32 other state PE's. Illinois would recognize the PE as completion of the SE I exam, and requires an SE II for the SE license. With 40 years experience the Illinois board required that he take the second SE exam. Our home state does not offer the SE II exam. As some others have mentioned the 16 hour SE exam, may lead to the end of the SE license in some states. West coast states have always had extra requirements and I am sure that will continue.
I have young engineers that have taken the Alabama SE I and then through reciprocity have taken the SE II in other states. None have volunteered to take the SE III on the west coast. The new exam will establish young engineers with higher credentials, but with very little actual experience.
I believe there should be a distinction between Civil and Structural Engineering, in school and licensing. But, I think the boards are going in the wrong direction.
http://www.FerrellEngineering.com
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
SEA of Texas is pushing for SE licensure. Texas SPE and ASCE Texas are against it.
Heretofore, Texas has accepted SE I or Civil/Structural to register as a structural PE, but our "PE" is universal, and if you have a degree in a discipline, have significant experience in it, or have taken the discipline exam, you can practice in the discipline once licensed in any discipline.
If SE licensing does arrive, Texas appears headed toward grandfathering all existing Texas licensed, currently practicing, structural PE's into the practice. They will likely still accept Civil/Structural exams or the new exam for PE registration. Even if there is an SE license created (which is doubtful at this time, as it will require legislation, not just a board rule), only certain types of projects would require it, and the existing practitioners would be allowed to continue in the practice.
I registered yesterday for the new SE exam in April (My PE is based on the SE 1 exam), but then realized it is being given the weekend after ACI's Spring convention - so no time to cram for the exam.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam
When I have a little (actually a lot) time I'll read it.
RE: 16 Hour NCEES Structural Exam