Suggested experience for SE Exam?
Suggested experience for SE Exam?
(OP)
I am currently studying to take the PE exam in April, but I have started to look into taking the 16 hour SE exam as soon as October or April 2015. Of course this is assuming I pass the PE exam on my first try.
Obtaining an SE license is on the top of my career goal list at this point, but I don't want to take it multiple times if it can be avoided. Also, our firm borders a state that requires a SE for most structural design work and therefore, it would open up a whole new market for our structural team to have a licensed SE on staff.
Currently, I have 4 years of experience with all of it being design related. I am a little hesitant to take the SE exam this soon though, as I don't know if I have enough experience in certain areas. Seismic design being the largest concern as 90% of the structures I have designed have been are SDC A and the remaining 10% are SDC B. So my exposure to any significant seismic design has been virtually non-existent. Also, I have had only limited exposure to any bridge work.
Working for a small design firm, however, has exposed me to many different types of designs. I have been fortunate to perform design work with all major building materials and have a working knowledge of all codes required on the SE with the exception of the AASHTO code. I don't know these codes as well as needed for the SE exam yet, but in preparing for the PE exam, I will be spending a lot of time to understand the codes even better. Thus it may be beneficial to take the SE exam shortly after the PE exam.
My question is for all the people that have taken the exam (16 hr and SE I/SE II opinions appreciated) is do you think that with my given experience and a dedicated study schedule that I should consider taking the SE exam soon after the PE exam? Or should I wait and gain more practical experience before sitting for the SE exam? I am most interested in hearing what other's experience levels were and if diligent studying can make up for a career that is still in it's infancy? If your results weren't as hoped, do you think it had to do more with a lack of experience, or not enough studying?
Obtaining an SE license is on the top of my career goal list at this point, but I don't want to take it multiple times if it can be avoided. Also, our firm borders a state that requires a SE for most structural design work and therefore, it would open up a whole new market for our structural team to have a licensed SE on staff.Currently, I have 4 years of experience with all of it being design related. I am a little hesitant to take the SE exam this soon though, as I don't know if I have enough experience in certain areas. Seismic design being the largest concern as 90% of the structures I have designed have been are SDC A and the remaining 10% are SDC B. So my exposure to any significant seismic design has been virtually non-existent. Also, I have had only limited exposure to any bridge work.
Working for a small design firm, however, has exposed me to many different types of designs. I have been fortunate to perform design work with all major building materials and have a working knowledge of all codes required on the SE with the exception of the AASHTO code. I don't know these codes as well as needed for the SE exam yet, but in preparing for the PE exam, I will be spending a lot of time to understand the codes even better. Thus it may be beneficial to take the SE exam shortly after the PE exam.
My question is for all the people that have taken the exam (16 hr and SE I/SE II opinions appreciated) is do you think that with my given experience and a dedicated study schedule that I should consider taking the SE exam soon after the PE exam? Or should I wait and gain more practical experience before sitting for the SE exam? I am most interested in hearing what other's experience levels were and if diligent studying can make up for a career that is still in it's infancy? If your results weren't as hoped, do you think it had to do more with a lack of experience, or not enough studying?






RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
Below is a link to one of my posts to a related topic.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=357166
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
In my opinion, the SE is harder than NCEES's practice test but easier than than Kaplan's review books (I liked these review books). NCEES's practice exam gave me the impression that the AASHTO stuff was going to be relativity simple. It was not. I guess on just about all of them.
The PE should be relatively simple (actually very simple compared to the SE (IMO)), given your background I would even challenge you to bring no reference material. :)
Don't be intimidated by all the others there when they tell you it's their 2nd or 3rd time.
Eyes on the prize. You do need to study.
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
For those of you that took the SE, how many hours of study time did you put in for the 16 hour test? I studied about 60 for the FE and I plan on 150-200 for the PE, but I have no idea how many to "budget" for the SE. I do have a wife and a two month old son, so I will need to work around family time, but would much rather take care of the SE now before he gets older and wants to spend more time with dad!
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
I would say get the NCEES practice exam first and/or maybe even the Kaplan books. Start with the NCEES practice exam first though. Don't rush through it. Go problem by problem and spend a good amount of time going through your references to make sure you have the solution correct. Do not give up and go straight to the solution, that IMO does you no good. However this will help you identify what areas you need to spend more time studying. For example say you have to give a nailing pattern for a wood shear wall. Don't just look up the table and find the nailing pattern spend time reading the footnotes, understand what other factors could possibly be applied which reduces the capacity (i.e. species, blocked vs unblocked, what is the maximum aspect ratio, what about seismic reductions).
This is just my opinion and what works for me versus just reading material to read it.
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
And know this: All essay questions end with "neatly sketch your results, clearly identifying all elements and dimensions."
Lastly, have a plan for the exam. Plan to read the problems and which ones to work and what to when you run out of time. Don't be one of those folks that are aghast at the two minute warning and only 50% done. Know what you're going to do before time is up.
Good luck.
Regards,

Qshake
Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
Knowing where to find things quickly through good organization is just as important during the test as knowing what to do.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
I took the SE with little SDC D experience and really very little building design (my company at the time did mechanical systems which we built supports for). With enough studying, you can learn what you need to know. It's actually an advantage to learn the "academic way" instead of carrying different habits.
I also took it immediately after the PE. This was advantageous for several reasons: 1) some questions were similar so my studying/prep for the PE could be applied to the SE preparation, 2) all of my references were the same edition as during my PE test which again doubled my studying efficiency, 3) it was easier to keep a studying routine instead of jumping back into it after time off.
My study schedule for the SE was 1-2 hours a day (lunch and maybe an hour at night) for 3 months, 4-5 days a week, and I met with a couple of friends as a study group on Sunday afternoons for 3 or so hours. I also had a newborn at the time. It's a difficult schedule but coming from my little experience, it was necessary to learn the materials. I took both sections the first time and passed the gravity test, then took the lateral a second time and passed.
Two years have passed since passing it and the pay off has been well worth the struggle and effort. It's opened doors and given me a sense of personal satisfaction that has been unparalleled in my career so far. I don't even feel that passing the PE, which had a more direct impact on my day-to-day job, was as beneficial to me. So it's well worth the effort to do.
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
Which is why I keep it there, just so no one takes my crazy ideas too serious... But in this case it should be pretty applicable and I agree with what the others have suggested.
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?
This test is tough. I know several smart and gifted engineers who failed only because they did not put in the study time. I believe the study time I put in was the only reason I passed. You must know your seismic design to pass this test. I was also surprised by how many bridge questions there were.
RE: Suggested experience for SE Exam?