S1 Exam level of difficulty

[StructuralPoke]

I guess nobody read my topic on the subject Maybe I should have come up with a better title?

Nah -- I usually only head to Shoot the Breeze, so, yeah I missed it.

It talked with my boss -- he's on the board in my state -- and he said that if you are going to practice in a state where the SE2 is required, then, yes, take it now. If you wait, you WILL have to retake the SE1 along w/ teh SE2. If you are in a typical midwestern state like me, and have already passed the PE (SE1) and you will still be able to practice. So, since my long-term goals don't involve Cali or others like it, I'm still good w/ my SE1. I will still be able to practice, all the "old guys" will still be able to practice, it's just the new grads that will get bent over.

He was just wondering why someone who will be designing a CMU building will have to take a 16 hour test while the nuclear engineers will only need an 8 hour one. (yes, we all do more than one thing, but he was making a point.)

 

[Jennifer]

If I could offer one bit of advice to all those considering taking the Structural 1 exam - DON'T DO IT. PARTICULARLY if you have already taken it and failed. It is an extraordinarily difficult test and the odds of you passing on any attempt are less than 2 in 5.

Why thanks. You are just a bundle of encouragement.

 

[Roy T.]

very few practicing "structural engineers" have either taken or passed either SE1 or 2. It's a good credential but as a practical matter, enforcement - who can and can't seal what - has pretty much been ignored. If you have a civil pe and have some experience designing buildings - you are a structural engineer. most state boards simply aren't going to fight that battle. particularly not in this economy.

 

[Jennifer]

very few practicing "structural engineers" have either taken or passed either SE1 or 2. It's a good credential but as a practical matter, enforcement - who can and can't seal what - has pretty much been ignored. If you have a civil pe and have some experience designing buildings - you are a structural engineer. most state boards simply aren't going to fight that battle. particularly not in this economy.

Almost all the PEs in my office have passed the SE1.

 

[kevo_55]

very few practicing "structural engineers" have either taken or passed either SE1 or 2. It's a good credential but as a practical matter, enforcement - who can and can't seal what - has pretty much been ignored. If you have a civil pe and have some experience designing buildings - you are a structural engineer. most state boards simply aren't going to fight that battle. particularly not in this economy.

This really depends on the state. Most states, I would say yes. But if you practice in: CA, IL, WA, OR, NV, NE, LA, HI, AZ, or MA you better have taken the SE1, SE2, both the SE1 and SE2 or some state specific exam in order to be called and practice as a structural engineer.

Just my :2cents:

 

[Jennifer]

now is not the time to criticize people's choices. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are signed up for an exam, that's the one you are taking. So as helpful as you are trying to be, those of us who have aleady signed up for the SE1 are not changing our minds now. We have been studying and preparing for an exam in less that TWO weeks. So, now would be a good time for encouragement, not criticism.

 

[kevo_55]

^^ True! :appl:

Come to the SE section of EB. There is Less negitivity there.

 

[StructuralPoke]

I guess nobody read my topic on the subject Maybe I should have come up with a better title?

I think we ruined your other post. It really was a good topic -- sorry about that.

 

[Roy T.]

This really depends on the state. Most states, I would say yes. But if you practice in: CA, IL, WA, OR, NV, NE, LA, HI, AZ, or MA you better have taken the SE1, SE2, both the SE1 and SE2 or some state specific exam in order to be called and practice as a structural engineer.
Just my :2cents:

And in all of those states, there is only a very specific restriction as to what types of work only "structural engineers" can perform such as hospitals and high-rises about 10% of all structural work. And if you're at that level - you had better have a PhD as well.

In the ENTIRE state of Texas only 26 people passed the STR1 exam in april. TWENTY-SIX! Even fewer in Florida. look at everything that gets built around you in every city and town - every mid-rise, bridge, rehabbed building, facility etc. etc. (off-shore oil platforms - things you don't think about) and then do the math. Also, only 6 - that's right SIX, people bothered taking the se2 in texas. No word on how many of them passed.

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_stats/ppbydis_4_08.htm

I am not trying to be negative at all - I am only trying to be helpful, seriously. And any structural firm where "most" of the P.E.'s have passed the st1 is VERY rare - and very small office indeed.

Good Luck - If you pass you TRULY have something to be proud of. Just don't bet your career on it. That's my only advice.

 

[Jennifer]

And in all of those states, there is only a very specific restriction as to what types of work only "structural engineers" can perform such as hospitals and high-rises about 10% of all structural work. And if you're at that level - you had better have a PhD as well.
In the ENTIRE state of Texas only 26 people passed the STR1 exam in april. TWENTY-SIX! Even fewer in Florida. look at everything that gets built around you in every city and town - every mid-rise, bridge, rehabbed building, facility etc. etc. (off-shore oil platforms - things you don't think about) and then do the math. Also, only 6 - that's right SIX, people bothered taking the se2 in texas. No word on how many of them passed.

http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/exam_stats/ppbydis_4_08.htm

I am not trying to be negative at all - I am only trying to be helpful, seriously. And any structural firm where "most" of the P.E.'s have passed the st1 is VERY rare - and very small office indeed.

Good Luck - If you pass you TRULY have something to be proud of. Just don't bet your career on it. That's my only advice.

Yes, 26 people passed and I was one of the others who just barely failed. I'm very familiar with the statistics. Texas doesn't require a SE licensce to do anything. I'm taking the SE because I have a degree in Structural Engineering only. Not civil. So, my education and ALL my experience is in structures. No water resources, transportation, environmental, geotech, etc. Taking the civil exam would mean learning all new subjects for me.

People have their reasons and they are committed to taking this exam by now, so any "help" you are trying to give is too little to late. Have you taken the SE1?

 

[Roy T.]

Yes, 26 people passed and I was one of the others who just barely failed. I'm very familiar with the statistics. Texas doesn't require a SE licensce to do anything. I'm taking the SE because I have a degree in Structural Engineering only. Not civil. So, my education and ALL my experience is in structures. No water resources, transportation, environmental, geotech, etc. Taking the civil exam would mean learning all new subjects for me.
People have their reasons and they are committed to taking this exam by now, so any "help" you are trying to give is too little to late. Have you taken the SE1?

Yes, I also took the SE1 in Oct. of '07 - my first attempt and did NOT pass. I came in around 50% correct. I took the Civil/Str exam in April and passed. Seriously, I don't mean to bring you down, anyone who takes that test deserves all the encouragement they can get and big props if they pass. Just know the risks and rewards before diving in.

Also, my wife is taking her PE in Env. so I get to live through it by proxy all over again oh joy!

 

[Jennifer]

Yes, I also took the SE1 in Oct. of '07 - my first attempt and did NOT pass. I came in around 50% correct. I took the Civil/Str exam in April and passed. Seriously, I don't mean to bring you down, anyone who takes that test deserves all the encouragement they can get and big props if they pass. Just know the risks and rewards before diving in.
Also, my wife is taking her PE in Env. so I get to live through it by proxy all over again oh joy!

Do you seriously think that anyone taking the SE1 doesn't know what they are getting themselves in to? If you don't mean to bring anyone down, keep your mouth shut.

 

[Mike in Gastonia]

Yes, 26 people passed and I was one of the others who just barely failed. I'm very familiar with the statistics. Texas doesn't require a SE licensce to do anything. I'm taking the SE because I have a degree in Structural Engineering only. Not civil. So, my education and ALL my experience is in structures. No water resources, transportation, environmental, geotech, etc. Taking the civil exam would mean learning all new subjects for me.
People have their reasons and they are committed to taking this exam by now, so any "help" you are trying to give is too little to late. Have you taken the SE1?

serious question for you. Where did you get your degree? Does it really say you have a BS in Structural Engineering? I thought I heard somewhere that there aren't any ABET structural programs only civil programs with structural emphasis. just curious.

 

[Jennifer]

serious question for you. Where did you get your degree? Does it really say you have a BS in Structural Engineering? I thought I heard somewhere that there aren't any ABET structural programs only civil programs with structural emphasis. just curious.

Didn't say I have a BS, just that I have a degree in Structural Engineering. Technically I have a MSCE, but all my coursework is in Structures. The others in my situation typically have degrees in Architectural Engineering.

 

[Mike in Gastonia]

Didn't say I have a BS, just that I have a degree in Structural Engineering. Technically I have a MSCE, but all my coursework is in Structures. The others in my situation typically have degrees in Architectural Engineering.

Not trying to parse words here, but if you say you have a degree in structural engineering, to me that implies that the university conferred upon you a diploma which says, "a degree of Bachelor (or Masters) of Science in Structural Engineering".

But I will yield to the court of public opinion on this (other EBers) if I'm off base here......

 

[Roy T.]

Do you seriously think that anyone taking the SE1 doesn't know what they are getting themselves in to? If you don't mean to bring anyone down, keep your mouth shut.

someone needs to relax. this is a message board and I am only offering my comment on the topic at hand. If someone had warned me sufficiently BEFORE taking the SE1 in Oct of 07 i would have been ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. As it was, prior to taking the structural exam - I came away thinking taking it was a smart choice. It was not. As it was I wasted 6 months and had to study before and after my honeymoon for the next exam - no fun. I also am aware of at least one person in Orlando (where i used to live) who took the SE1 3 times and failed every time then had to return to college to take 12 more hours before being allowed to sit for ANY pe exam (in florida, other states are different). These are things people should know. there ARE risks

Also, Mike is right - I know of only one bonified strucutral engineering undergrad degree in the county - I think it's at a school in california. I also focused on structures in undergrad and grad school. It took me 2 weeks to brush up on the other civil topics which were quite straightforward in the morning section of the civil exam.

again - good luck to you

 

[MEPE2B]

I had a friend who had dropped out of college try to talk me out of going to college after he had flunked out himself. In fact, I remember him trying to talk a number of people out of "wasting their time with college". After flunking out of college, he had decided he was going to make a bunch of money by selling computer software, rather than "waste his time on a bunch of crap that wasn't going to mean anything in the real world." He went so far as to show me some of his math on the investment in time and money versus expected reward for getting a college degree, his point being that college was a waste of time, money, and effort. Years later, the easy-money path he chose of selling software dried up, and I now earn several multiples of what he makes in his latest easy path career. You know, easy come means easy go. As it turns out, I sure am glad I decided to accept the challenge of college instead of run from it. There are definitely rewards for being persistent and accomplishing difficult things that other people rationalize are "not worth it anyway".

 

[Jennifer]

someone needs to relax. this is a message board and I am only offering my comment on the topic at hand. If someone had warned me sufficiently BEFORE taking the SE1 in Oct of 07 i would have been ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. As it was, prior to taking the structural exam - I came away thinking taking it was a smart choice. It was not. As it was I wasted 6 months and had to study before and after my honeymoon for the next exam - no fun. I also am aware of at least one person in Orlando (where i used to live) who took the SE1 3 times and failed every time then had to return to college to take 12 more hours before being allowed to sit for ANY pe exam (in florida, other states are different). These are things people should know. there ARE risks
Also, Mike is right - I know of only one bonified strucutral engineering undergrad degree in the county - I think it's at a school in california. I also focused on structures in undergrad and grad school. It took me 2 weeks to brush up on the other civil topics which were quite straightforward in the morning section of the civil exam.

again - good luck to you

I have a masters of science in civil engineering, that's what my degree says, but all my coursework is in structures. ALL. So, by saying my degree is in structural engineering, I mean that I have NO other civil coursework. To imply that I do is lying. I wasn't trying to tout my degree, I was trying to explain why I do not think that the Civil exam would be easier for me.

All my point is with respect to your "advise" is that there isnt' any changing your mind on what to take two weeks prior to the exam. If you feel compelled to help/offer advice, choose a better time.

 

[Jennifer]

I had a friend who had dropped out of college try to talk me out of going to college after he had flunked out himself. In fact, I remember him trying to talk a number of people out of "wasting their time with college". After flunking out of college, he had decided he was going to make a bunch of money by selling computer software, rather than "waste his time on a bunch of crap that wasn't going to mean anything in the real world." He went so far as to show me some of his math on the investment in time and money versus expected reward for getting a college degree, his point being that college was a waste of time, money, and effort. Years later, the easy-money path he chose of selling software dried up, and I now earn several multiples of what he makes in his latest easy path career. You know, easy come means easy go. As it turns out, I sure am glad I decided to accept the challenge of college instead of run from it. There are definitely rewards for being persistent and accomplishing difficult things that other people rationalize are "not worth it anyway".

Good point!

 

[Jennifer]

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE). A student specializes in one of the principal subdisciplines of civil engineering (e.g., environ­mental engineering, structural engineering, etc.) in this degree program. Two degree options are available: the thesis-option student completes 24 hours of coursework, performs 6 credit hours of independent research, and writes a thesis based on the findings of the research; the report-option student completes 33 hours of coursework and writes a report on a selected topic.

Let me correct my first oh so errounious statement...I have a masters of science in civil engineering with a specialty in Structural engineering. So, taking the Civil exam would mean having to learn all the civil subjects from scratch.