Why so few MET PE's ??? 1

[CW3]

I will be taking the metallurgical PE exam ob Oct. 29 in Houston. I noticed that only 3 other candidates are signed up for the metallurgical exam. I also noticed that there are very very few MET exam takers nationwide. I was going to take the mechanical PE exam with the fluids depth section, but when I started looking at the material in the TMS study guide, I decided that the MET might be more up my alley. I deal with chemistry and materials as it applies in the power industry (power plant construction and commissioning). A person taking the mechanical exam has literally an unlimited supply of practice exams and problems to work with. Not so for the metallurgical exam. I know TMS is involved with the design of the exam (I'm a TMS member by the way). Is hoping that being able to understand EVERY problem in the 52-problem guide enough to confidently take the exam? Or, should I expect surprises that the guide does not prepare you for? I can also understand how the other exams are graded and then adjusted so that it may only require a 50%raw score to pass....but what about when only 20 or 30 people are taking the exam...??? I'd love to hear comments and/or advice from others who paved the way, or have knowledge of what I've gotten myself into.

Thanks!!

Curtis (CW#)

 

[metengr]

UKCats;
The Principles and Practice exam for Metallurgical Engineering is a administered by NCEES.

http://www.ncees.org/

This is a national examination in the US, and as such, it is only offered once a year (October).

 

[CW3]

Thanks for the vote of confidence all. UKCats, I feel about 50/50 as well, although I feel like the FE exam was harder than the PE exam. I'm keeping my karma in a mode of "I passed", but I wish the MetPE exam was given every 6 months like the MechPE exam.....just in case. If I find the need to re-take the exam (hope my + karma negates that need)I may take the MechPE exam in April, just to stay in the test-taking mode. For now, and next 10 weeks or so, back to normal life (at least as normal as my life is...abnormal?).

Maybe they give points for bubbling in your name, SS#, etc................

Thanks again,

Curtis (CW3)

 

[EdStainless]

CW3 and UKC, In my opinion if you come out of the test and don't feel like you got your a$$ whipped you passed. The guys that I knew that never could pass always felt beat by it.

I just wish that I had been able to take a multiple choice test. Eight long answer problems was a bear.

My real question is Why do you take the test? I can see old guys like me caring because we need to be able to advertise 'engineering consulting services'. Personnal accomplishment? (a very good reason). Professional pride? I have never seen an industrial employer that cared.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.

http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm

 

[CW3]

Why take the test.............Well, it's strictly a personal thing with me. I'm 45 yrs old. Went to college when I was 26, graduated at 30. I'm not sure what I will be doing 15 yrs from now. A PE isn't required at my present job, but a PE is looked upon as a sign of interest and dedication to the industry. I may be in a position to be a consultant in years to come. I guess it's kinda like climbing a mountain. I never followed the crowd and always did things the hard way. Hmmmmm, in all actuality, I could get grandfathered in in another year or so, but what the heck, I'm up for the challenge.

Good question.

CW3

 

[metengr]

Edstainless;
Multiple choice tests are NOT easier in comparison to "show your work" exams. I had taken the PE test as a multiple choice test (and passed) and I had also taken the EIT when it was "show your work". Having both experiences, the show your work is by far the better method for engineers.

As an engineer, I had despised multiple choice tests in college, and as a PE reviewer for the metallurgical PE exam I still do!! Multiple choice tests show that candidates can get lucky at guessing, or you can solve problems by substituting various answers to reach a solution to a problem. Providing a methodology as to how one arrives at a solution to a hypothetical complex engineering problem shows true problem solving skills as an engineer.

 

[Rich2001]

The Ohio Specific PE examination in Welding is still given as an essay style exam. 2 1/2 dozen questions to answer in 8 hours. Only 5 took the welding engineering exam in Ohio last week.

 

[NickelMet]

I took the PE exam in 1998 in Lexington, KY. Back then it was the 1/2 multiple choice (choose 40 from 100 I think, in sets of 10) and 1/2 essay (choose 4 of 8). Personally, that is the way to go. I hated the multiple choice but the essay test was great. If I couldn't get to the answer, I could at least explain my way there. I passed, as has been stated, with still a fog on my brain.

Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't feel that the test appropriately addresses certain fields of metallurgical engineering. Any comments on that?

~NiM


UKCats: Are you a materials engineering grad or chemical engineering grad? Just curious because of your specialty area listed next to your nickname. (NiM = MSE 1991 UK grad ... Go CATS!)

 

[UKCats]

I passed!!! 73%

 

[Rich2001]

I passed the PE exam in Welding, 82%. Now, I am licensed in two specialities - Mechanical (1989) & Welding (2004).

 

[UKCats]

NickelMet

I'm a Chemical Engineer, UK 1980, MSChE UT 1994. Along the way I took and passed my Chem PE, Mech PE, and now Met PE.

UTCATS

 

[Maui]

I just got the test results when I came home from work today. I passed!!! My license should arrive in three weeks.

 

[metengr]

Well done, Maui

 

[Maui]

Thanks again Metengr for your suggestions and advice.


Maui

 

[EdStainless]

Great work guys. Gald to hear that we have a few more in the camp. Now, when is the party?

It is a tough test because of the range of coverage needed. With every thing from carbon steel heattreating to extraction, Ni based superalloys to corrosion, and some non-ferrous in between, there is a lot to cover.

Don't missunderstand, I think that multiple choice is a poor test format for this kind of test. It is just that I always did much better on that format.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.

http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm