Suggested experience for SE Exam? 5

[BadgerPE]

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?

 

[matth35]

I've taken the new 16 hr SE Exam (Buildings) and passed. The test is heavily weighted toward seismic design category D. I do not have any design experience in SDC "D," so this made it difficult for me, but I was able to overcome this with a lot of studying focusing on SDC "D." If you can pass the PE, then I would think your experience level is adequate to go ahead and take the SE. It will definitely help having design experience with all of the different materials; this should help overcome the lack of experience in the bridge design. Since you haven't had any experience in SDC "D" yet, then I'm not sure if waiting more time will do any good. You're likely to wait and still not have any experience in SDC "D." Also, I'm not sure what stage of life you are in (married, kids?), but it would definitely be easier to study without having kids. Waiting might put you in a different stage of life that could hinder the large time commitment that is necessary to study for the SE.

Below is a link to one of my posts to a related topic.

[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=357166[/url]

 

[AELLC]

I think you are at a distinct disadvantage if you take the SE after about 8 years of experience. It would be better to academically study areas that you haven't done in real life experience than to wait to get experience in them.

 

[RFreund]

I agree. Take it early. Study ACI chapter 21 and AISC's Seismic Design manual (know your way around the examples somewhat they are very helpful). Do practice problems. Try to do more hand calcs at work or atleast derive your loads by hand if possible.

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

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[RFreund]

Well actually the morning PE exam is cumbersome. Bring CERM and look everything up.

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[BadgerPE]

Thanks all for the info so far!

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!

 

[structural600]

School of PE SE review course is worth the money.

 

[RFreund]

Once you do some practice problems you should be able to get a feel for how much studying and what areas you need to study. I do/did a lot of wood, steel and earth retention so much of my time was spent on concrete and especially ASCE 7 seismic chapters (know this really well and really know it - it gets a little confusing on when you need to apply the overstrength factor or when to use 1.4x force but you'll get it). I would say I started with 4 hours on a weekend about 3 months out maybe and ramped up to 4-8 hours on a weekend and usually about 1hr each weekday or every other during the final month and a half or so. So that's prolly about 150 total?

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

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[Qshake]

I took the SE exam within 3 years of the PE exam. Because I am mainly involved with bridges and marine structures I spent extra time on wood and masonry. Very few people are able to pass the SE exam and not study so figure on setting up a study routine. I had only the NCEES SE exam study guide available to me at the time I took the exam. This forced me to use textbooks for most of the material I wasn't familiar with. Also you need to use and understand the codes you'll be using. This can be daunting if you've never used certain codes for various materials. However, in some cases, please note that more overall codes are now using ACI and AISC by inclusion and that's a comfort. As someone else mentioned above, know the footnotes to the charts and tables. The examiners like to see if you're knowledgeable enough to know these footnotes or know to read them to see if they apply.

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.

 

[msquared48]

I would contact your local chapter of the Structural Engineer's Association and take the review course, if offered. I took their review course over a period of 10 weeks prior to the exam, and the outline it generated helped me to organize my notes and focus on what was important for the test.

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

 

[kylesito]

Crackerjack, great thoughts previously posted, here are some more...

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

 

[RFreund]

I realize now my signature says EIT still, so you're prolly thinking "yeah I'm not listening to that guy".

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

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[DCBII]

I just past the 16 hour SE exam this last year. It was my first time taking it. I took it 2 years after taking the PE exam. I put in about 150 hours of study time over the course of 6 months. I would recommend taking the test whenever you feel ready. I wouldn't recommend taking this test in place of the PE exam though. The PE is a much easier way to ensure you don't delay getting your PE license by failing an 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.

 

[BadgerPE]

Thanks all again for taking the time to post your thoughts! It is greatly appreciated and, RFreund, I only wish I had the type of memory that would allow me to leave all of the references at home and rely solely on my brain. After reading all of the good information here, I will be setting my sights on the SE as soon as I pass the PE.