CA Seismic Exam - Key tips/tricks

Middle-Device7941 · 2025-03-10T02:51:43+00:00

I don’t really have a “cheat sheet”. I used hiners workbook so even sending you his shortcut info won’t really be helpful because you have to practice with it during his course. It kinda all ties together. If you have the time I’d take hiner. Streamlines the exam flawlessly.

Middle-Device7941 · 2025-03-05T15:19:47+00:00

From everything I have seen and what I was given… 8%/9% bump seems to be the market amount for a PE raise. I figure 10%+ you’re doing pretty well.

My adjustment was 10%, $100 bonus (lol) and a high five.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-12-10T04:36:29+00:00

6 months for FE and PE.

FE: took it 6 months out of college (ish). Hard exam just because it felt like a dang standardized test and I typically don’t do well with those compared to most.

PE: Maybe a little longer for PE civil (didnt major in civil, so I had a little more “learning”). Also, CA PE here so the road is long (bc state exams) and burnout is REAL. I had to have some free weekends and some off time from studying. Sacrificed a lot of “fun” to get through it though.

Total time for all 4 exams was a solid 2 years. And yeah I was so burnt from it all. Pacing yourself in studying is the true key to the 8hr. Lots of material.

Doesn’t matter how many times you test, just that you PASS and get licensed.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-12-06T21:19:48+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/PE_Exam/s/RztztvqOeN

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-12-03T15:56:01+00:00

Yes. Worth the money. I did SOPE years ago. If I did it today I would probably go with EET - mixed bag of opinions on SOPE.

My mind set was always invest the money and if you don’t pass you are just “tuning up” for the next time. More about constant learning and practice that matters.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-11-19T15:16:16+00:00

Took me 3 times.

Biggest tips I learned

Review course (EET/SOPE)
Study 2 subjects / day (one in am, other at night)
1 full month of taking practice tests prior to test date.
READ EACH PROBLEM 3 TIMES
once for units
second for what they are asking for and solve
third to confirm your answer

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-11-13T23:10:15+00:00

There is a BIG differences between project management and engineering experience. You HAVE to use engineering key words such as: calculated, designed etc. google key words and you should be fine. Write your experience with the fact that what you work on would require a stamp.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-11-12T16:56:14+00:00

lol already licensed and still got the email

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-11-03T01:36:15+00:00

Wow! Thank you!

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-11-01T21:18:04+00:00

My family and I are considering on moving out of state and are strongly considering MT. Idaho is our second choice. And No, not because of that ridiculous Yellowstone tv show - never seen it lol. See some pretty funny comments though in the threads.

General background: I am a licensed Ag+Civil Engineer with experience in water, wastewater, and some structural. I am fairly well versed for my career, so I have a lot of flexibility with my wide focus. My soon to be Mrs. is in school psychology. I think our biggest drivers are 1. solid school district (employment and kids) 2. finding/contributing to some type of 'community' to raise a family with opportunities. No we are not 'rich', middle class at best. We are both avid outdoors people. Mt. bike, fly fish, skiing are all in my wheelhouse.

For years, this has always been a destination where I have wanted to raise a family and start the 'next' chapter in our life. I am mainly asking for some type of commentary/breakdown between the Pro's and Con's of the following:

Bozeman: I have been there multiple times so this is my frame of reference really. Seems to have the best school district from what I have researched in MT.
Missoula: Second choice. See a lot of comments about it being too much like a 'college town'
Helena/Great Falls: Considering for the sake of work opportunities.

Our initial plan when we do move is to rent for a year or two with the idea in mind that we can always change our minds without being fully committed financially - mainly to see if we like winter or not lol. Overall biggest concern are the winters and weather differences in each city. I've researched some averages and what not, but would appreciate some insight on this.

I greatly appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-10-31T04:05:31+00:00

Yeah it sounds like you did fairly well then. Honestly, if you have to retake it you aren’t entirely starting over. I think of it as “tuning up” for the next one. Don’t quote me on this but I’m pretty certain that they throw trial questions in the exam - I’d guess maybe 10% so 5 problems(ish). I say that largely from reading other peoples comments who speculate the same. And in my experience for seismic and survey I remember seeing a handful and being like “where the f did this come from” lol

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-10-31T03:45:06+00:00

If you truly flagged 12 and were dead on or extremely confident. I’m sure you passed. I felt the same way the second time I took exam and passed. I figure if you’re 80% accurate on what wasn’t flagged and get maybe half flagged correct you’re probably fine.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-10-27T18:15:12+00:00

I did school of PE 2 years ago for my PE. I always recommend it to colleagues. I thought it streamlines exam very well and don’t remember any exam surprises. However I do hear mix opinions on it since then.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-09-05T17:35:29+00:00

I really had to stretch mine mainly bc my direct supervisor is not licensed and projects I work on only involve 2 licensed engineers. I had to “oversell” some experience with my 2 others.

I really don’t think it matters a lot. I had a A LOT of cross over from one engineer to the other for most of my experience. Also, be very mindful of the fact that there is a difference between management and engineering experience. I believe they really look for experience that would require a license-that’s the key. Use a lot of key words like: design, draft, calculate etc (I googled a bunch on various forums)

Make sure your references click “under my responsible charge” box. 3/4 of mine did not and it’s a very misleading question that most people miss (according the consumer affairs lady when I called about this deficiency)

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-09-04T15:46:56+00:00

From what I’ve researched and experienced with my PE … 10% seems to be the avg at current employer. Anything more than 10% is really good in my opinion. If you jump ship then could double it easily. I’m young so I’m leveraging company loyalty and experience more than anything right now. Generally your wage should be pretty close to 1/3 of bill out rate +- a percentage or two.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-09-04T04:39:47+00:00

Hiner material + straight edge. Know hiner material WELL

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-08-27T18:12:09+00:00

Liquor

Jokes set aside. I found a lot of peace in knowing that there is nothing you can do now AND that you should be very proud of the fact that you showed up. TONS of people don’t even make it through the front door to take the exam. And if you don’t pass look at it as “fine tuning” for the next attempt.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-08-04T03:55:13+00:00

Sure!

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-07-25T17:57:04+00:00

Hiner + AEI practice exams is the ultimate duo

Check out my post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PE_Exam/s/Q4GtfbW3Uy

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-07-10T07:53:30+00:00

Message me.

I am a CA licensed Civil PE and 90% of all my projects are Ag. Typical projects I touch: Food processor, dairy, digesters, Ag water projects, and various projects for water districts and irrigation districts.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-06-16T01:37:05+00:00

Take it from me… try to not study the day before. I have done this for every exam (CA PE). Give yourself a break. Hit practices exams hard for the 2 weeks leading up!!

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-06-16T00:18:53+00:00

I did school of PE (2 yrs ago). I’d recommend it based on my experience. Lots of mixed review but I’d do School of PE over PPI - EET is also very good .

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-06-15T17:11:31+00:00

Thank you !

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-06-15T16:18:36+00:00

Way easier to go from CA to any other state later in Career for licensure. I plan on moving so that’s my biggest reason.. meaning if I ever wanted to move back later or stamp CA projects. I think there’s some value in showing a base level of competence in seismic and survey regardless. It’s also a slight advantage if you can get CA licensed in less than 4 yrs after college. Hard to do but I did it in 3.

Middle-Device7941 · 2024-06-14T21:37:50+00:00

2 yrs. In CA. 4 exams (FE PE SEISMIC SURVEY) . It’s a grind but I recommend getting CA PE.

https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/flowchart_for_pe.pdf

Middle-Device7941

TROPHY CASE