An engineer's guide for passing the PE Exam

Principles and practice engineering exam or the PPEE exam as it is popularly referred to as, is one of the toughest examinations to pass. It evaluates in an elaborate manner the conceptual strength of a student as well as their expertise in selected majors. The basic eligibility criteria for applying for the professional engineer exam is passing the FE exam (Fundamentals of engineering exam). 

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1. Brush up your long forgotten lessons

2. Three popular Suggested study strategies

Brush up your long forgotten lessons

Although there are students who have managed to secure pass grades using their expertise in subjects of personal choice. Contrary to common belief, PE Exam prep will not require you to become an exponent in all the subjects. However, the probability of passing the exam is higher for those students who develop a strong command of all the subjects. 

Another facet of the PE exam is that it will test your understanding of engineering concepts. Some of the theories you may not have even thought of after completing your college education. Hence, it is wise to brush up on those lost memories and revise relevant topics to gain maximum from a PE exam prep course. Successful candidates recommend charting out a study strategy before starting your revision. A study strategy will help you stay focused, cover all applicable topics and stay on schedule to become fully prepared when the exams are due. 

Three popular Suggested study strategies

The broad approach that covers all the fundamental concepts is believed to be the best way for PE exam prep. This strategy requires you to update and revise all the fundamental concepts on all major subjects. The good news is that some of these topics would have been already covered during your undergraduate courses. It is no wonder that most engineers who passed this exam followed this broad way of PE prep course. 

It will be ideal to pick study solution with exam type approach. Questions with solutions aid in planning time allocation for each topic during the PE exam prep course. 

It is ideal for a student, who wants to do a quick revision to focus on those topic wise NCEES PE exam specifications, from which questions are largely expected from. However, this method of PE exam prep is quite risky. There is a large possibility that the topics you prepared on, might be completely omitted from the question set. 

The ideal way of studying will be to incorporate all important topics that are asked in the exam.

What to do after your PE Exam result?

Heartiest compliments to all the pass outs of October 2015- PE Examination. We commend your hard work in pursuing this exam and clearing it with flying colors. With a pass report in your kitty, you might be wondering about the next move you should be making, to put your results to best use. There are several perks you can enjoy after passing your exam and obtaining your PE license. 

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1. Submit your result to respective state board to obtain your license

2. Showcase your designation

3. Obtain your wall certificate

4. Obtain stamp / Seal upon registration as a PE

Submit your result to respective state board to obtain your license

The first thing to do is to submit your PE Exam results to the respective state boards in order to obtain professional engineering license. With a professional engineering license in hand, you will earn yourself an important position with loads of advantages. As a licensed engineer you can sign, seal and submit engineering plans to a public authority.

The License will showcase to the world that you are aware of the critical elements of your job. Obtaining the license, marks you as a professional. Along with, the license also adds to your professional standards that's recognized by employers, government and public, granting them an assurance that you are skilled to do the job.

Also, unless you possess a PE license you cannot call yourself an engineer. If you wish to work for yourself as a consultant, then you will have to register yourself as a PE. You can work from anywhere in the country with your PE license. The license will speak volumes about your dedication, skill and quality.

So, after PE Exam results, you can apply and obtain the PE license. This will further allow you to register with the board of engineering in your new state where you intend to practice professional engineering. Once you obtain the license you can use your PE License throughout the US.

Showcase your designation

Showcase your designation wherever required. Start with using a "PE" or "P.E" designation on your business card. Mention the name of the state where you received your license and are licensed to carry out engineering related tasks. If required by your state, 

1. you can list your license number, certificate or registration number on the business card depending on the state you live in
2. you can buy stamp / seal upon registration as a PE
3. you can practice engineering as a consultant
4. you can even use your license to design in certain areas / state

Obtain your wall certificate

The procedure to obtain your wall certificate varies from state to state. The wall certificate comes in few weeks or months' time after you have cleared the PE Exam. Depending on the state you are practicing professional engineering in:

1. you will have to request for the wall certificate
2. Though it's rare, but you are likely to pay a small price to obtain the wall certificate. Once you obtain your wall certificate you can choose to display it or keep it safely along with your other important certificates carefully. However
3. According to the requirements of some states the certificate needs to be on display for the benefit of the clients

Obtain stamp / Seal upon registration as a PE

Once you've registered as a PE Some states require you to obtain a stamp or seal. Although the requirement to possess it becomes mandatory only when you have to sign off on the finished designs. You can check with the state board and follow the applicable procedures, accordingly.

Possessing a stamp or seal does not demand proof of license therefore you do not have to follow stringent protocols. Also, the seal should ideally be round and include the phrase "professional engineer". It should also list your name, license number and the state name.

Though not necessary, a stamp / seal would make an impact when you send out signed letters or contracts affixed with your signature and date. However, it has to be mandatorily used if you are taking the ownership for a design.

There is substantially enough steps to follow, once you've passed the PE Exam. These "to do's" will equip you in a better fashion to become a licensed professional engineer. So congrats again and all the best for your future endeavors!

Why is equipment Specifications important for an Engineer?

Understanding equipment specifications is important to an engineer as knowing the right surgery tools is to a surgeon.

Equipment specifications are written documents or manuals that stipulate the method of production capacity, power requirement, fabrication methods and other finer details of the equipment that makes it apt for use. An engineer must have a clear understanding of equipment specifications to avoid equipment breakages. Here are five reasons that assert why an adept understanding of equipment specifications is important for an engineer.

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1. Gives a better understanding of equipment design and operating principles

2. Helps order the right equipment

3. Enables the electrical engineer to forecast power & processing demands

4. Facilitates selecting the right service conditions

5. Enables adherence to accurate specification standards

6. Bringing it all together

Gives a better understanding of equipment design & operating principles

Equipment specifications provide a fine understanding of the equipment capabilities based on which the engineer can evaluate whether the equipment is appropriate to meet processing objectives. The equipment design, its metrics and capacity can be clearly understood from the equipment specifications.

PE review electrical engineering courses discuss briefly about how the equipment functions and what their specifications are. It can be rightly called as an owner manual of sorts based on which the engineer knows more about how to use the equipment to gain maximum output.

Helps order the right equipment

Different processes require different equipment with varying processing capabilities. In some cases, the equipment might look identical but might have unique and different features that make them suitable for exclusive functions.

Equipment specifications allows an engineer to implement better electrical engineering project construction process. It helps an engineer to make the right choice of an equipment that will serve the purpose without any hassles. Operational delays due to wrong equipment purchase can be avoided if equipment specifications are referred to prior to placing the order. Further the right devise with operational procedures will help achieve desired results.

Enables the electrical engineer to forecast power & processing demands

Each equipment has its power demand and processing capacity. Equipment specifications enable an engineer to forecast the power requirements of the equipment for a specific period accurately.

The production budget and related forecasts can also be aligned to the production capacity of the equipment effortlessly. The engineer who has qualified a PE Exam will be capable of understanding the work flow of the equipment to devise the right operational flow that will achieve optimum results. 

Facilitates selecting the right service conditions

Equipment specifications provide a detailed overview of the service conditions and processes to be followed for equipment maintenance. It helps the engineer in establishing routine equipment conditions like power supply, use of materials, usage frequency, etc. to keep the equipment in prime condition. Equipment specifications also provide insights on the indoor and outdoor conditions in which the equipment may or may not be used. 

Enables adherence to accurate specification standards

Misinterpretation of equipment specifications can cause severe fluctuations in the testing results. Before writing off the equipment as defective, it is necessary to check whether the right specification standards are used to determine its efficiency.

The use of applicable testing standards as laid down in the equipment specifications will help in an accurate evaluation of the equipment functioning without any deviation. It is the engineer's responsibility to ensure that the right testing standards as per the equipment specifications are used to derive an actual appraisal of the equipment's efficiency.

Bringing it all together

Equipment specifications enable an engineer to make the right logical decisions in circumstances where huge investments are involved. It helps to avoid costly mistakes that can disrupt production or cause material and human loss. An engineer will be able to sustain a steady level of activity with the help of equipment specifications used in day to day routine process.