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But the PE exam is a much more practical exam compared to your FE undergrad subjects. Industry experience will help you to gain exposure to some of the different topics, but you will need additional preparation on your own. I passed the exam in Pennsylvania (PA), and at the time, you needed four (4) years minimum working experience before submitting your application to sit for the exam to the State Board. In those four years, I completed my graduate school for business and was naturally removed from engineering undergrad, so I was certainly feeling the gap period when I revisited past textbooks. I tried self-studying early on but quickly found myself overwhelmed and was lacking defined direction that would be needed to pass the PE exam.
2. Investigate Exam Review Course Options
You may want to spend a little time with undergraduate and graduate engineering reference materials as a refresher, but some information may be outdated after an extended gap period. I enjoyed my business graduate courses, but these were separate from PE exam topics; my only continued exposure to engineering was industry, so I needed help with my preparation. School of PE offers excellent online review courses with sections that correlate with National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) PE exam topics. A friend had first recommended School of PE to me, and it really was the turning point in my studying habits. I gained a much better sense of the types of questions that would appear on the PE exam, and from that, I also gained more confidence with my ability to earn a passing result. Before passing the FE exam, I attended a weekend review class that helped with my preparation. But the online classes offered by School of PE provided me with both detailed notes and recorded sessions so I could study at my own pace without concern about slowing down the review class. And since I was in my own gap period, I needed to go at a slower pace.
In addition to an online review course (I would recommend School of PE!), you should investigate purchasing copies of the most recent reference materials. Either from NCEES, School of PE, or another credible source, other resources will help you better understand the PE Reference Handbook. When I took the PE Mechanical (Thermal and Fluid Systems) exam, you were permitted to bring your own reference materials on exam day. I know that has changed in recent years, and that for many PE disciplines, only the PE Reference Handbook is permitted during the exam. However, other studying sources may help you better understand the PE Reference Handbook. When preparing after a gap period, you certainly want to review multiple resources since there is overlap with different exam topics and multiple resources can help to better bridge the gap period.
NCEES conducts an exam content review every 6-8 years, so if your gap period has exceeded this timeframe, you will probably need to start fresh on your PE exam preparation (e.g., if you last attempted the PE exam several years ago). The good news is you do not need to start over from the beginning with trying to relearn your engineering undergraduate curriculum! But you may need to teach yourself some new topics (this is where the review course becomes handy). A review course can help narrow your scope so you can focus on the most relevant topics needed to pass the exam. Most PE exams will be mostly multiple-choice questions, and you do not need to provide any justification for your answers. The PE exam is a more practical exam compared to the FE exam, but there is still a good level of textbook knowledge that you will need to achieve a passing score. The PE exam itself started in the 1960s and has evolved over the years, so be sure to keep yourself updated with NCEES standards. Just to give you an idea, one of my PE references sat for the exam in the 1980s, and back then it was an open-ended exam where you needed to show your work, so PE licensure has certainly undergone different variations.
You should start with reviewing NCEES exam guidelines on their website; you can also check School of PE for examination info too. If you already applied for the PE exam, you should follow-up with your State Board to ensure that your application and references are still valid. Once you pass the PE exam and attain professional licensure, you only need to worry about completing your continuing education requirements (most states in the United States require approximately 24 credit hours). I would also recommend discussing with other licensed PE co-workers and colleagues their experience with exam preparation. They may have tips and advice that could help you with the application process and/or studying if they recently passed the PE exam. Things have recently come full circle for me; the other day, I was discussing the application process with a co-worker who is preparing for the PE exam this year.
And now I will present to you my step-by-step "unofficial" guide to preparing for the PE exam (after a gap period).
1) Review NCEES format.
2) Review existing reference materials as background.
3) Discuss which exam to take with co-workers (Mechanical, Chemical, etc.); gain advice and tips on the exam application process-my undergraduate engineering degree was in Chemical Engineering, but co-workers recommended the PE Mechanical: Thermal and Fluids Systems exam for more workplace relevance (and they were correct!).
4) Apply for PE exam and/or update registration; if there has been a long gap period, explain to the State Board your situation and see if they can provide an update on your application status. You may also be able to check your online account if it is still active.
5) Once you have confirmed approval to sit for the PE exam, identify your preferred exam date. Most PE exams are computer-based testing (CBT), so you can take the exam just about any time, year-round.
6) Sign-up for an online review course. The PE Mechanical review course that I completed through School of PE was instrumental towards helping me pass the PE exam on the first try.
7) Study! (Review course, practice questions, practice exams, etc.); I would recommend reviewing recent exam materials since NCEES updates the exam format every 6-8 years. It is highly unlikely that the exam administration would include irrelevant or outdated exam questions. If you encounter questions that seem to deviate from the exam format or are from over five years ago, these types of questions probably will not appear on the PE exam.
8) Plan how you will celebrate once you pass the exam. I bought gift cards for my references to show my appreciation for their reference endorsement and advice on recommending the PE Mechanical Thermal exam.
9) Above all else, put yourself in the mindset that you will pass; be optimistic-you can do this! Remember, there is no limit to how many times you can take the PE exam, so passing is a matter of when not if-again, keep that positive mindset!
If you're preparing for your PE exam, consider a partnership with School of PE. Our subject-matter expert instructors and comprehensive course materials provide what you need to succeed on exam day! Register now.
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