How to Pass the PE Civil Exam: 3 Top Tips for Your Prep

Passing the PE Civil exam is one of the most challenging and important milestones of your engineering career. Below are three tips you can use to prepare for and pass the exam.

Table of Contents

1. Start Early

2. Study

3. Have a Plan

1. Start Early

The application process and exam preparation can take months or even a year. Do not wait until the last minute to start this process. Each state differs in requirements for taking the exam; some states require that you prove you have the experience before registering for the exam, others may allow you to take the exam and provide proof of experience after you pass. Find out the deadlines in your state. Get in touch with your previous and current supervisors so they can complete the required paperwork. Submit your application early so that you have time to address any comments or questions your state board may have. If you miss deadlines, chances are you will not be able to take the exam when you want to.

Part of the registration process includes choosing your depth topic for the exam. There are several great blogs from School of PE with sound advice for choosing a depth topic. My recommendation is to choose the topic you are most familiar with, not necessarily what other people say is the easiest or one that has the fewest reference books.

2. Study

Exam preparation is critical and should start months before the exam date. Find a good review course, either in-person or online. I took an on-demand online course and felt well prepared for the exam by working through the course. Take several practice exams after you complete the review course. Practice exams will allow you to revisit areas you need to work on. Part of the studying process is to gather all the reference books and material you will need, become familiar with them, and mark and tab areas of the books to find what you're looking for quickly. Make sure to check the exam requirements for marking and tabbing reference material.

3. Have a Plan

When the exam date arrives, you will want to have a plan for how you answer questions. Each question is weighted the same, and you aren't penalized for wrong answers. With this in mind, you should answer all of the easier questions without spending too much time on the hard questions.

To help me manage my time and maximize my correct answers, I first read through each question briefly at the beginning of each exam session. I numbered each question one through four. Number one questions were the questions I could answer without opening a book and wouldn't take me more than 30 seconds. Number four questions were those I had no idea how to answer and I would need to spend 15 or 20 minutes trying to solve. I answered all the number one questions, and worked my way through numbers two, three, and four. This method ensured I got the highest number of right answers and didn't run out of time without answering all the easiest questions.

As you get near the end of each exam session, make sure you have answered all the questions, even if you have to guess without reading the question. Remember, a wrong answer doesn't hurt you, and you have a chance of getting the right answer with a guess.

With these tips-and plenty of hard work-you can successfully pass the PE Civil exam.

My Experience on Passing the Mechanical PE Exam

I feel that a lot of individuals struggle to pass both the FE and PE exams because they just want to get it over with, attain the license, and move on. My experience with passing the Mechanical PE exam was less of a linear process and more of a journey, though. As I was preparing for the PE exam, I realized that I needed to find other kinds of motivation-it would not be enough to simply want the PE license for a title change or potential pay raise.

The first two steps in my journey were to complete my undergraduate education and pass the FE exam. The FE exam is more focused on undergraduate subjects, which is why it is recommended to sit for the FE exam while in college or a recent graduate. I passed the FE exam in the fall of my collegiate senior year and submitted my transcripts as proof of graduation before my EIT designation became active. My journey continued as I entered the industry and gained four years of work experience as a practicing engineer. As I started my career, I realized that despite beginning as an entry-level engineer, I would finish as a highly trained professional.

During those four years as an EIT, I saw that my projects increased in complexity as I delved more into the industry. I was learning not just hard technical skills, but also soft skills like how to collaborate with co-workers, contractors, and third-party agencies. After my initial four years passed, I became eligible to sit for the PE exam. When I first reviewed the PE exam application, I noticed it was much more involved than the FE exam application. However, this change made sense to me logically since every level in a process typically increases in difficulty. The PE exam would not only consist of a more difficult application process, but also a more challenging exam process in general. These new challenges were part of the journey and contributed to my professional and personal growth.

The PE exam is a much more practical exam than the FE exam, with questions and problems based on actual engineering scenarios that you would see in the industry. For the FE exam, you learn core competencies and theory to help prepare you to pass the exam, enter the career field, and gain experience. When that career experience is gained, you're ready for the PE exam. When I passed the PE exam, it felt like another graduation commencement; I could now practice fully as a licensed professional engineer. Along with the license also came responsibility. I could use my experience to help other engineers strive for their PE License as a reference, as well as provide exam advice for younger engineers.

For me, passing the Mechanical PE exam was always about striving to improve myself. Even now that I have achieved my goal of becoming professionally licensed, I know that my journey is still not finished. I will continue to learn within my industry and fulfill continuing education requirements. That was my motivation; the experience was just that...the experience. My motivation was not just about calling myself a professional engineer or trying to earn a bigger bonus in the workplace. I knew that if I could pass the PE Exam, I could become a better individual, not just for myself, but for the people around me like my family, friends, and coworkers.

About the Author: Gregory Nicosia

Gregory Nicosia, PE is an engineer who has been practicing in the industry for eight years. His background includes natural gas, utilities, mechanical, and civil engineering. He earned his chemical engineering undergraduate degree at Drexel University (2014) and master's in business administration (MBA) from Penn State Harrisburg (2018). He received his EIT designation in 2014 and PE license in 2018. Mr. Nicosia firmly believes in continuing to grow his skillset to become a more well-rounded engineer and adapt to an ever-changing world.

Six of the Most Common Surveying Instruments

Surveying is one of the oldest professions, with records of land surveys dating back to ancient Roman times. You might assume that equipment used in the past was rudimentary and crude, but evidence indicates that ancient measuring tools for surveying were developed with surprising accuracy. Romans used an instrument called a groma to "trace on the ground simple and orthogonal alignments necessary to the construction of roads, city, temples, and agricultural lands subdivision¹." Since then, surveying instruments have evolved with respect to exponential developments in technology. These days, surveyors use elite electronic equipment in addition to more basic tools to aid in measuring and mapping efforts. Curious to know more about the equipment surveyors use? We have compiled a list of the six most used surveying tools, including:

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1. Theodolite

2. Measuring tape

3. Total station

4. 3D Scanners

5. GPS/GNSS

6. Level and rod

1. Theodolite: A surveying instrument with a rotating telescope for measuring horizontal and vertical angles to make precise measurements of areas and triangulate the position of objects in a specific area².

2. Measuring tape: A length of tape or thin flexible metal, marked at intervals for measuring size or distance. Surveyors commonly use tape measures (known as measuring wheels) in lengths of over 100 meters³.

3. Total station: A theodolite that uses electronics to calculate angles and distances and contains an on-board computer to collect data and perform triangulation calculations. This tool is used to record features in topographic surveying or to set out features (roads, houses, or boundaries)⁴.

4. 3D scanners: A surveying instrument that can accurately measure and collect data from objects, surfaces, buildings, and landscapes. This tool collects information in the form of point cloud data, which consists of millions of 3D coordinates. These coordinates can be used to create 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models, which can then help analyze topographic features and structures. The high accuracy of 3D scanners helps reduce project costs⁵.

Ready to test your knowledge? Explore our practice exams now!

5. GPS/GNSS: The use of Global Positioning System signals and/or Global Navigation Satellite System signals via a receiver and antenna to determine the form, boundary, position, objects, or points in space relative to other forms, boundaries, or points. This technology has dramatically increased the speed and productivity of surveyors using on-demand centimeter-level accuracy provided by Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning⁶.

6. Level and rod: A graduated wooden or aluminum rod, used with a levelling instrument to determine the difference in height between points or heights of points above a vertical datum⁷. This tool is used to establish and verify elevations.

Surveying is critical to the construction of new roads and structures necessary to fulfill our population's needs. Surveying engineers use a combination of different tools to help them gather the data necessary to map, chart, and measure. Are you interested in surveying engineering? School of PE is offering both Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam review courses! Learn more today: https://www.schoolofpe.com/surveying/.

References:

¹ "How to Use the Roman Groma." De Legione Romana. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://legioneromana.altervista.org/content/how-use-roman-groma?language=en.

² "All About Theodolites." Johnson Level, 2015. https://www.johnsonlevel.com/News/TheodolitesAllAboutTheodo.

³ Johnson, Ian. "How To Read a Tape Measure." The Tape Store, February 14, 2014. https://www.thetapestore.co.uk/knowledgebase/How/How_to_Read_a_Tape_Measure.html

⁴ "Total Stations." EngineerSupply. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.engineersupply.com/total-stations.aspx.

⁵ "What Is Laser Scanning and How Can It Be Used?" TopoDOT Blog, December 9, 2020. https://new.certainty3d.com/blog/what-is-laser-scanning-and-how-can-it-be-used/.

⁶ "What Is GPS/GNSS Surveying?" NovAtel. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://novatel.com/industries/survey.

⁷ "Basic Surveying Manual." Center for Technology and Training. Michigan Technological University. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://ctt.mtu.edu/sites/default/files/flyers/Surveying%20manual.pdf.

About the Author: Martha Hunsucker

Martha Hunsucker is a content writer for EduMind. She received her BA in English from Stetson University and has experience marketing, copywriting, editing, and blogging. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books by Jon Krakauer (her current favorite author), hiking with her two dogs, and sleeping in on weekends.

4 Steps to Getting Licensed in Electrical Engineering

Earning an electrical engineering license is a huge accomplishment that takes both time and effort. You might be wondering, how does one become a licensed engineer? This process begins with a four-year-long marathon of dedicated effort to graduate with a bachelor's degree, and two more years if someone wishes to continue their education further and pursue a master's degree. Luckily, the effort spent to graduate with a degree kickstarts the process of obtaining your license. I spent time researching and studying how best to accomplish my goal of becoming an electrical engineer, and gleaned several necessary actions to obtain licensure:

Table of Contents

1. Earn a BS or MS degree from an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)-accredited school program

2. Pass the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam

3. Find a full-time job and work under the supervision of a licensed PE

4. Pass the PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering) exam

1. Earn a BS or MS degree from an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)-accredited school program: International students with a degree from a program abroad will need to have their credentials evaluated by the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) to make sure that their degree meets the requirements set by the ABET. Accredited programs can be found at https://www.abet.org/.

2. Pass the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam: Administered by the NCEES throughout the year, this six-hour exam is a computer-based test focusing on the fundamentals of engineering you learned in your undergraduate program. I recommend taking this exam right after graduation when the content you learned in your classes is still fresh.

3. Find a full-time job and work under the supervision of a licensed PE: Depending on the state, approximately four years of professional experience is required to be able to sit for the PE exam. Some states allow you to sit for the PE exam before the four years of experience have accrued. Individuals whose states employ this policy are still required to obtain the four years of experience before they can apply for their license. Check with your state board to see whether this policy applies.

4. Pass the PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering) exam: Administered by the NCEES throughout the year, this eight-hour, computer-based exam tests the knowledge you have gained working in the industry for four years along with the fundamentals you learned during your undergraduate education.

Once you've passed your PE exam, you are almost done with your journey to achieving your engineering license. You will need to provide evidence to your state board that you met all licensure requirements, including a diploma from an ABET-accredited program and proof that you not only passed the FE and PE exams, but also acquired the four mandatory years of experience as an engineer-in-training (EIT).

I suggest keeping detailed records of your work history as well as maintaining positive relations with your supervisors and coworkers to make procuring their references a simpler process. At the end of this journey, you can proudly call yourself a licensed engineer and begin displaying your competency and skillset. One last quick tip: you will need an electronic or rubber stamp seal to put the finishing touch on your designs!