PE Exam

Alps · October 02, 2010, 02:37:55 AM

At the end of the month (hopefully) I sit for my civil engineering PE Exam. I've asked people questions but it's hard to really get at what I want to ask. I'm looking for: What topics are covered? What resources do I need? What do I need to study, versus what can I bring in a book and reference while I'm sitting at the exam? What sort of references do I need? I know it can be easy to bring a shopping cart full of books, which I want to avoid. Anyone who's taken it before, I appreciate the advice.

Brandon · October 02, 2010, 04:46:44 PM

Bring the Michael Lomberg book. It's the best one out there, IMHO. I took the environmental, and mine was full of OSHA, NIOSH, and EPA books as well as the Lomberg one. Passed it on the first try.

Alps · October 02, 2010, 08:42:02 PM

What book is that? Does it have relevance to civil?

hbelkins · October 02, 2010, 09:09:46 PM

Wonder how different these are from state to state? I work with a young man who recently passed his PE in Kentucky. If you'd like, I can give you his name and e-mail address if you'd like to ask him about his experience.

Brandon · October 04, 2010, 09:58:41 AM

Quote from: AlpsROADS on October 02, 2010, 08:42:02 PM
What book is that? Does it have relevance to civil?

Lindeberg, not Lomberg (why was I thinking Lomberg?)
Here's the Civil PE one at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Engineering-Reference-Manual-Exam/dp/1591261295/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286200641&sr=1-1

J N Winkler · October 04, 2010, 11:01:42 AM

I am not a civil engineer, nor have I ever sat for a PE exam, but it is my understanding that in some states the PE exam consists of a relatively small number of design problems calling for answers in essay form. The question gives you data and some criteria for the expected solution, and you must not only devise your own solution within that framework, but also check it. For example, if the question asks you about a bridge over a stream, you have to spell out your design solution, and then check it against LRFD, 100-year flood level, etc.

Brandon · October 05, 2010, 10:09:33 AM

^^ Not in Illinois. Here, it's an intensive exam that uses mathematical calculations and requires you to choose the best of four answers. My exam had about 50 of these four a four hour time period, then another 50 in another four hours after that.

Scott5114 · October 06, 2010, 10:11:35 AM

I should certainly hope some sort of computing device is allowed in the test. I'd hate to work all that shit out by hand. Thank God I never went with my first instinct to go to college for civil engineering. I would have died.

Brandon · October 06, 2010, 10:06:41 PM

Quote from: Scott5114 on October 06, 2010, 10:11:35 AM
I should certainly hope some sort of computing device is allowed in the test. I'd hate to work all that shit out by hand. Thank God I never went with my first instinct to go to college for civil engineering. I would have died.

In Illinois, they allow a TI-30Xa or similar calculator. It was all I needed for the exam.

Alps · October 07, 2010, 12:16:16 AM

Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2010, 09:58:41 AM
Quote from: AlpsROADS on October 02, 2010, 08:42:02 PM
What book is that? Does it have relevance to civil?

Lindeberg, not Lomberg (why was I thinking Lomberg?)
Here's the Civil PE one at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Civil-Engineering-Reference-Manual-Exam/dp/1591261295/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286200641&sr=1-1

Well it's a lot of money, but if I never have to spend it again...

News:

PE Exam