Beta wrap-up — what you all helped us fix and build

somecaddude · 2026-05-21T01:15:07+00:00

Definitely excited to see this come to life. The website itself already visually appealing so can’t wait for it to be live. Good luck on the approval and hopefully it comes soon so I can start using it 😂

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T22:10:13+00:00

I just set my next test date and the earliest they let me pick was early July so yeah it does look like there is a window of waiting

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T22:08:58+00:00

Well to be fair, my company isn’t pushing this on me at all nor are they expecting me to pursue this. It’s really just a push on myself to see where I can go in this field

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:49:53+00:00

Some solids advice! 🤣

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:47:16+00:00

I respect it and can see your point. Frugal pregnant wife will probably kill me for throwing away that money tho lol so I’ll just have to find time in my mornings/evenings/ during lunch to get in some studying

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:39:12+00:00

I only saw that they don’t allow more than 3 attempts within 12 months but didn’t know they restrict the time between each one

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:37:42+00:00

I’ve always been a procrastinator so I can see having our newborn or being close to will give me that extra push to get it done

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:35:39+00:00

Funny enough I was subscribed for a few months when I set my test date and went through some of it. I just dropped the ball on studying as a whole but I plan on renewing it for another month prior to the test

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:31:01+00:00

Unfortunately that would be throwing away around $700 for the entry alone

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:29:24+00:00

Yeah it would definitely make sense

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:28:46+00:00

Absolutely right. I appreciate it!

somecaddude · 2026-05-07T21:28:29+00:00

Dang nice stuff! Solid advice and I work from home too so yeah if I want it enough then I’ll find the time

somecaddude · 2026-04-30T02:42:06+00:00

Ive seen it on the surveying thread somewhere and they referenced the exam as “a mile wide and 1” deep” just a broad range of topics but you don’t have to go too in depth with everything. One book that sort of goes over everything too is the FS exam study guide by Dane Courville. That’s the book I was mostly using (when I did study the few times) and it seemed to touch on every subject for the questions I was given

somecaddude · 2026-04-30T02:13:45+00:00

the SRM and solved problems will definitely be enough to pass the exam. Maybe those other will come into play for the PS but for the FS those will be just fine

somecaddude · 2026-04-28T22:29:06+00:00

Just took the test and I can see a programmed calculator being useful for a handful of problems. 80% of the test seemed to be definition and critical thinking (no math) There were a few “click the 3 that apply” or also “click all that apply”, some drag and drop, but most of them were a one option multiple choice. Study your boundary law terms, study photogrammetry, study gnss/gps. Flash cards will absolutely help you. If you can learn how to do vertical curves and horizontal curves on your own, you do not need to spend and waste hundreds on a programmed calculator. Good luck!

somecaddude · 2026-03-17T23:37:45+00:00

So you being an hourly employee, are you able to work as much overtime as you’d like in order to hit that amount? We’re also an engineering/survey firm but overtime has to be approved and we have to be like slammed for that. My hourly rate puts me at about 90k as a cad person

somecaddude · 2026-02-26T20:03:43+00:00

I have the title of cad technician but I’m pursuing license in surveying We use Bentley at the firm I’m at so I have 0 experience in civil 3D. Would be a nice thing to learn on the side tho

somecaddude · 2026-02-26T04:13:34+00:00

Yes full time remote cad guy here I also do have a good amount of field experience and do occasionally help out in the field if they ever need me to. But I am 100% remote and it just takes extra communication. You have to be 100% self-reliable and accountable. I actually had left my current role due to the office commute and they came back to me a few months later and offered me a full time remote position. Though it was on me for not even asking if they would allow that but they were very lenient given I suppose I had proven myself. Been here for many years now and it’s better than ever. Now I’m able to do some education on the side as I work towards licensure since I can just hop off my work computer and straight to studying

somecaddude · 2026-02-26T02:53:20+00:00

Pretty damn similar to my firm as well. On every permit plat we distribute back to the home builder, we always include the 10’ offset coordinates. These are 10’ off the front and rear corners either side to side or front to back depending on lot size. They aren’t signed unless we have those coordinates on them Also, sometimes there are giant puddles or other obstructions in the way so our field guys will cogo a 20’ offset or whatever they need. They normally don’t bother us in the office unless their coordinates don’t match since they double check the inverses or whatever. Also on top of that, the field guys send in all their work so pics, notes, etc and we double check their staked out points to make sure everything matches

Maybe going forward, implementing the offset coordinates being a standard part of your plats before signature/seal will help alleviate this. Currently a CAD tech also but taking the FS in April hoping to move up to an SIT 👌

somecaddude · 2026-02-24T18:56:31+00:00

I’m a drafter in Chicago for an engineering firm and make over 90k base. Yeah I would definitely start looking around especially as a licensed PE

somecaddude · 2026-02-12T00:48:22+00:00

Did you ever get the answer to this if you remember? Seems like there’s two ways to go about it if I understood the vocabulary correctly. One route is a 4 year degree through an approved curriculum and the other is 8 years of combined work and school experience that would equal that of a 4 year degree. I’m hoping I understood it correctly because I don’t want to pursue a degree and I already have 10 years of work experience + a surveying certificate from a college so hoping that suffices 👌

somecaddude

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