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Structural SE License
2

Structural SE License

Structural SE License

(OP)
I am a Civil PE and I would like to get my SE. It is my understanding that the SE exam is now 2 days divided into vertical and lateral systems. I also understand that the morning session of each day has some bridge design questions. For those of you who are not bridge designers, what study aids did you use for the bridge design/AASHTO?

RE: Structural SE License

After some careful consideration, I decided that it wan't worth trying to pursue the bridge points. I went in with the structural engineering reference manual and what bridge stuff was in there. It earned me a few bridge points but not all of them. I passed on the first go. Like everything else in life and work: cost/benefit.

I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.

RE: Structural SE License

Pretty much the same here too.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Structural SE License

I do both buildings and short-span bridges (but primarily buildings) so when I went into the SE exam I was familiar enough with AASHTO. Similar to KootK I used the SERM and any example problems I could find online but otherwise didn't spend too much time on studying for it as my mornings were good but my afternoons were hurting me.

Since then I've discovered this reference: Bridge Problems for the Structural Engineering (SE) Exam fantastic book, setup for those taking buildings but have not done bridge engineering. But it is useful as well for those taking bridges and looking for more practice.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

RE: Structural SE License

At least for me, optimal strategy seemed to be to snipe off a few of the low-hanging bridge questions and not sweat the rest. Just studying the bridge stuff in SERM and Chapter 3 of AASHTO should get you a couple of bridge answers correct each day and if you print up the index there will likely be another bridge question each day that you can just look up.

As a buildings guy, mainly just focused on shoring up and filling in the buildings understanding since that's 75%+ of the morning sessions, and what I do for a living anyways. Haven't touched bridge stuff since the day of the exam.

RE: Structural SE License

I agree with all above.

David Connor's book is pretty good. I recommend buying directly from his site. Cheaper and he probably gets more of the money that way.
https://www.davidconnorse.com

I studied for 1.5-2 weeks for the bridge portion at the very end (right before my final re-review of all the material). I though it would be most fresh in my mind that way. I'm sure I got a lot of them wrong but it didn't matter, passed on the first try.

RE: Structural SE License

(OP)
Thanks everyone. I will get the Connor book.

RE: Structural SE License

For me I just studied using the PPI SERM and took the PPI review course as well. There were a couple of lectures on bridge design which gave me enough of an overview to pass the exam on my first go. I didn't have the Connor book but when I was preparing to start studying again (thinking I failed) I was planning to buy it. I advise you to take a review course and get the Connor book. You can never have too many studying resources.

RE: Structural SE License

At the risk of being repetitive, I just took the PPI material and AASHTO with me. I tabbed questions that were not familiar to me from the PPI example problems. The index/glossary of AASHTO was helpful in finding the equations needed on many of the multiple choice questions. The multiple choice section is not the problem, so I wouldn't sweat it. It is having enough time to do the essay sections.

Juston Fluckey, SE, PE, AWS CWI
Engineering Consultant

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