civil engineer to structural engineer?

[malee29]

Am I qualified to be a structural engr? I have a 6yrs. experienced in actual sites form concrete precast-erection to cast in place sites
inspection. Im just starting only a year working in office works like detailing and designing for structural concerns. say =) I am 6/10 for ETABS
and SAFE programs. 4/10 in theory for structural. any advice guys? im quite worried if im ready for this new environment. pls. help ?

 

[kylesito]

I made the switch with a lot less experience than you have. My fall back was that I had some experience with construction outside of the Civil stuff so I was able to relate much of the structural design things I was learning to things I had witnessed in the field.

But yes, you are capable...it's just going to take some time to get up to speed.

First off, you are already in this environment so it sounds like you got through the first step which can sometimes be the toughest...getting a shot. Now you just need to get up to speed and the only way to do that is to have experience...which takes time. In the meantime, you have a lot to learn and just comes down to how bad you want it.

I would suggest that you consider taking one of the PE/SE review courses. Not that you are ready for the test or anything, but because it will give you a good overview of a lot of different topics and you could vew it as sort of a SE 101 type of thing. I would also supplement that with maybe a course or two in structural analysis, steel design, or foundation design at a local college too. The software you will learn through projects but the academic stuff could be a good way to increase your knowledge base.



PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[hokie66]

It sounds like you are ready to contribute in a structural design office environment, but I hope you have a good mentor there. Without an experienced mentor, it will be tough going.

 

[msquared48]

Also, if all they do is concrete design, which I am gathering here, you will never get the experience needed to pass the structural.

I am not talking just professional design time here. I am talking experience with wood, steel, foundation, along with wind and seismic design too, among other things.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[malee29]

very nice to all of you! thanks guys im just here always and keep learning in my life. cheerss