My personal take on a PE license is that it makes you a better, more consciencious engineer (if not a better speller).  It is like wearing a white shirt and tie to work.  You'd like not to believe it, but a PE or a tie affects your attitude, and your effectiveness.  Go for it!!

Yes, do it!  Here's a tip I wish I'd had, even tho I passed on my 1st try.  I took a few books on theoretical/basic stuff (dislocations, etc)-had about 3 total books with me.  While standing in line waiting to get into the testing room (a HUGE room), I noticed a few guys with SHOPPING CARTS full of books(prob. mechanical or civil types).  I thought I was doomed.

Turns out the exams are much more practical than anything--either you understand things or you don't.  Don't forget to take simple conversion charts (hardness, etc).  You get to select about half of all the questions to answer-you don't have to answer them all.  I liked the essay part better than than the multiple choice.

I agree with IFRs and Metalguy - take the exam.  I took the exam and passed the first time.  The TMS study guide is very good - print it and take it with you.  Other good references to take with you include The ASM Handbook Desk Edition or ASM Handbook Volumes 1, 2, & 4.  By the way, the exam has changed recently and all questions are multiple choice.

I agree wholeheartedly...TAKE THE TEST!

Lot's of good references and suggestions already.  I, personally, found the test to be much broader in scope (metallurgy and materials science) than I expected.  You may want to add a generalized materials science and engineering book (yep, a college 101 book) to your stack.

I bought the TMS book when I took the exam (in 1998) and it was okay.  It helped me get an idea of some of the diversity to expect and I planned accordingly with proper references.  One book that did help was "Metallurgical Problems" by Allison Butts.  Yes, it's old, and you may not find it in print, new that is.  (Mine was reprinted by Krieger.)  But I actually had a blast furnace conversion question on my test and it came in extremely handy.  (But pay attention to MetalGuy....too many books can be a problem as much as having not enough or the right kind!)  Also, when I took the test, material and energy balance questions seemed to abound (probably 30-40 questions).  So that's a topic you want to be aware of.

CoryPad is right.  The test is now completely multiple choice.  So you better do your math right!  (At least with the old written part you could get partial credit.)

Good luck on your pursuit...

~NiM

Thanks guys.

It will be a good review for me. As I said I just took a job in metallurgy again after a few years out of it. So I think studying for it will have its own benefits.

I'm taking some night classes until June so I'll probably start the major amount of studying this summer. Thanks for the ideas on the review books.

I'll look for the metallurgical problems. I don't own my Desk Edition but every workplace I've needed it at had it as well as the ASM volumes.

I was the guy who went to the PE exam with a little red wagon with 15-20 books. It made the local paper.

Ever since taking the exam I have been confident to carry out analysis in concert with my designs. Some people in today's environment sneer at analysis. They say testing is the final arbiter. BS. I have seen money wasted on meaningless tests that my quick analysis showed to be stupid and unnecessary.

I think the best element of the PE test process is the interaction with your peers of varying backgrounds and experience during the prep. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you. Take the prep, take the test, and enjoy the benefits.

Is there a sample test for the Metallurgy section?

I am scheduled for the Mechanical test in April and would like to take the Metallurgy next.

jackboot

jackboot,

Yes, it is developed by TMS, who also develop the actual PE test questions.  View more info at:

http://www.tms.org/Education/PE/PE.html

Jackboot, do you know of some good sample mechanical test links?

I think I will do what you did in reverse. Take the metallurgy test first and the mechanical second.

I think these tests are excellent for keeping your knowledge up. I am taking this more for a good review than anything, although the title(s) will certainly be nice

Just out of curiosity for those who have taken it already how many years after your undergraduate or graduate did you take the PE exam?

I took the FE (EIT) my senior year of undergraduate, but it's been now 7 years since then.

PE pass rates on the metallurgy test are at 54% (this is a low pass rate compared to other disciplines)

The FE wasn't bad at all. In fact I don't know anybody who didn't pass that the first time around. Seems it was a bit too easy. But then again after getting through those years of undergrad it is very fresh in your mind.

I will take the October test. That will give me plenty of time (I'll use the summer to prepare)

EngineerDave:

I have had a hard time getting any good material.  I bought a sample questions book off of Amazon - nothing special.

But due to the time constraints (30 days until test time)- I bought for about $360 the MGI Professional Ref Program.  This package has 3 items/books.  You get a sample problems booklet, a solutions booklet, and a mini-test notebook broken up in the various mechanical sections.  -This is sort of a correspondance course.

The mini-test are designed so that you "mail in" your test and a grader will grade it and point out one's mistakes.

I find the sample problems in the course can be extremely difficult - but the "sample lessons or reviews in this book" are very helpful. The mini-tests tend to be more workable in my opinion- but I doubt I will finish the entire course before I have to take the exam.

So, I guess I would recommend it - but I haven't had the time to explore other options.  Review courses - I haven't found any, save one in Houston, that is available for the Mechanical Test takers.  If you are Civil then there are many more options - but they (Civil) comprise more than half of all the test takers as well.

http://www.pelicense.org


Check out the site above.  But I would really like to take a real course instead of beating my brains out every night trying to derive the thermo equation I need.

-for the second question-
graduated in Aug 90 Eng Tech
graduated again in DEC 94 Mechanical Eng
EIT June 1995

So, yes I am in the same boat.

jackboot

EngineerDave,

I took the FE my last year of undergraduate university.  I took the PE test as soon as I could - after I accumulated four years professional experience.

EngineerDave:

I took the EIT (now called the FE) in the last semester of undergraduate work.  I then took the PE test 7 years later (after a job change and a mentor-study period).  I could have taken it at 4 years (like CoryPad).  That's all the experience you need.

~NiM

Thanks for the help guys.

Do you need a referral from existing PE's to take it? I thought I read somewhere about that?

If so I don't know too many in metallurgy, but maybe any PE can refer you?

Looks like I have a bit of time, at least until October. ANd some people offered to give me a copy of there textbooks for it.

I took both the EIT and PE exam 13 years after grad. A graduate engineer can refresh his knowledge and get thru the PE. The refresher in forum is highly recommended.

One of the great things about metallurgy is that it is the foundation of just about everything.  Metallurgists were the origunal "Quality Assurers" we had "total quality management" long before it became a HR buzz-word, and the discipline is only about 6,300 yrs ord since the first copper was poured at Timna.  Chemical Engineers may claim that Metallurgy is just a specialist branch, but Metallurgy is the older and father of all Process Engineering.  Be proud, it may not be the best paying profession, but if you are just in it to find the Philosopher's Stone remember we started all logical reasoning too.

Engineer Dave:

Try out the National Society for Professional Engineers (NSPE):  http://www.nspe.org/lc-home.asp
(I've earmarked the licensure page)

Also try out the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveyors:  http://www.ncees.org

Both organizations work together to produce the licensure for engineers.  

As far as your question on recommendations, I think the magic number was five (5) total recommendations, with three (3) of those coming from licensed PE's.  When I applied I had 4 PE's and 1 non-PE.  Of the PE's I had, only one was a metallurgist.  The other 3 had worked with me on various projects and could comment on my work, my ethics, and my knowledge.  It will probably depend on your state licensing board and what they require though.

~NiM