Virginia (and everywhere else) SE License Discussion 5

[Simba13]

Just kind of a general inquiry here. I'm trying to get people's thoughts on taking the SE exam. Very typical post I know, but I have a couple specific things I'm curious about. I just took and passed the PE and I'm in no rush to get back to studying. But I feel like I use so much software at work that I wouldn't mind eventually buckling down and really studying hand-calcs/codes etc, that's really the stuff I enjoy more about our profession in the first place.

But hear me out, is it just me, or is the value proposition of taking the SE in a non-SE state kind of strange? I studied for about 200 hours for the PE, and I expect I'll get a decent pay bump when I finish my 4 years and actually get my license. But what do you actually get professionally for getting the SE after that point, a test for which I'll need to study about 400 hours (probably more, I'm not the greatest test taker)? I feel like my firm pushes it a fair amount, and I see the EITs burning themselves out trying to not only study but keep up with their workloads at the same time.

I know it's a learning thing, and a respect thing, and just kind of a general gold star on your resume but does anyone working in the industry feel like the PE is just fine or have they felt held back by not getting the SE? I'm also curious about your thoughts on which states will eventually go SE, is it just inevitable that they all go SE eventually? I'm in Virginia, so I'm especially interested in what people like phamENG and Hokie think here as we're in the same neck of the woods. I feel like we're kind of in the middle of the distribution as far as this goes, not a hyper bureaucracy pro state, but then there's Northern Virginia... nuff said. Do you think we go SE in the next 20 years?

I'm not one of those boo-hooers on structural engineering, and like I said I actually wouldn't mind studying some of this stuff (after a while). But at the end of the day it is primarily just a job and some kind of cost-benefit analysis is warranted when you're talking about sacrificing 6 months of your life and potentially thousands of dollars (my firm only covers the first try) on test registration, a course, books etc especially when the pass rate is so low. I work with a lot of overachievers which I actually love btw but I almost feel guilty when I think the PE is just fine while I see them banging their heads against the SE. Am I alone here? What do you all think? Is there any additional benefit where you work for the SE over the PE? And if so, is it worth it? I bet the people that have passed it say it's worth it now that it's over, but what about the people that have taken it a few times and haven't passed...

Very curious on your thoughts with this. Thanks!

 

[Lomarandil]

Ideem I didn't realize you needed more than a BS to take the exam, that's a little weird..

Only in some states. Granted, if Illinois is on your list, I've heard that it can be challenging to obtain reciprocity from an SE in other states -- you might need to start there.

Given the reputation of their boards, I just hope to never practice in Illinois (or New Jersey).

Don't underestimate that test (if you do take it at some point). I remember when I passed the SE I, it was a 8% pass rate for repeat takers (which I was).

Seconded. I came out of the PE with time to spare and confident I had passed. Spent around 300 hours studying for the SE, and still felt like it kicked my butt.

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just call me Lo.

 

[phamENG]

Lo - what's wrong with New Jersey (in the very limited scope of this discussion)? I need to send them my check for the app/reg fee but that's about it...should I not do work up that way?

 

[Lomarandil]

I wouldn't say that necessarily. My observation was secondhand (and years ago).. when a colleague was submitting for PE reciprocity in NJ for a project there, For whatever reason he had a heck of a time -- had to keep submitting paperwork (by fax, of course) multiple times and kept having it kicked back for different trivial reasons. My impression was that the board staff were thoroughly unhelpful.

If your application goes through quickly (or even if that one staffer has moved on), it might be a totally different experience.

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just call me Lo.

 

[ldeem]

Yes I may be wildly overestimating my test taking skills, especially considering I haven't taken a real test in 20 years.

Back when I was thinking of getting an SE I didn't need to get an SE so there wouldn't be much pressure to pass. I live in Ohio and practice in Ohio and KY so the only possible benefit I could see would be getting an SE in IL and picking up work over there. That is when I looked into their requirements and found I didn't have enough structural specific college credits to get an SE in IL.

 

[271828]

Don't underestimate that test (if you do take it at some point). I remember when I passed the SE I, it was a 8% pass rate for repeat takers (which I was).

When I took the Strl II in the early 2000s, it was a crapshoot. There was no point studying.

The first time I took it, the seismic problem had about every weird seismic thing that can happen. Several in our office took it and we all failed.

Second time, it was easy. I finished an hour early.

The pass rate on my first Strl II attempt was 15% even though every test taker had passed the Strl I. I didn't check for my second try, but I bet it was high.

 

[WARose]

When I took the Strl II in the early 2000s, it was a crapshoot. There was no point studying.

The first time I took it, the seismic problem had about every weird seismic thing that can happen. Several in our office took it and we all failed.

Second time, it was easy. I finished an hour early.

The pass rate on my first Strl II attempt was 15% even though every test taker had passed the Strl I. I didn't check for my second try, but I bet it was high.

I thought the SE II was pretty straight forward. (Even though it was a essay type exam.) IIRC, the pass rates did flip at one point. (With the SE I becoming the harder one.)

Just hope I never have to take the new one. (I don't care about getting licensed out west (I'm on the east coast).)