Search results

I took Ahmed's review course Winter 2014 in preparation for the California Seismic Exam to get licensed in CA by comity. Ptatohead here highly recommended Ahmed and his texts over others. I walked into the course with 0% seismic knowledge and passed the first try! I can say with certainty I...

I would say Boniface's exams are representative of the real thing.

The best advice for the AM is same answer as the PM. Get the latest NCEES Sample Exam and note their references cited in the solution section back of booklet. Get every reference cited. Some are free online. Mark the indices first. Between the AM and PM you may answer 5 or so questions just from...

Sj - there should be a Table, it just may not be in the Section referenced - on other words the Section referenced may reference the Table location.

Ptato helps a lot of people here. His presence sure is appreciated.

That's where Allowable Stress (ASD) comes in - in my mind a more direct way of converting from nominal to allowable and visa versa. ASD is the best way to knowing just how far you are pushing the structure. I'm sure the LRFD fans are going to bombard me, but that's just based on my experience.

I used Cuomo and it was okay for me. As a PLS I can attest to some subjective errors in his text, but overall a good preparation resource Also buy Boniface's sample examinations, very good exam prep.

I received an email from Prometric about 2 to 3 days prior to my exam dates. If you did not be sure to bring your confirmation email copy with the confirmation number shown. Shouldn't be a problem. Good luck.

Same here - took my CA Seismic at Prometric in Minneapolis today. Overall felt good walking out. I didn't ace it, but felt I passed with a low margin of safety. I completed the PMP test at Prometric last year so was familiar with their protocol. Not a big deal in my opinion. I was at a newer...

ptater - what do you make of the variable Seismic and Surveying dates? I went to the Board site, but still isn't clear. Do they mean that one can schedule through Prometric within that range of dates?

Hans, post your wares in the Yard Sale section.

I agree - let's be fair to inform that the California Board changed the references from IBC 2009 to IBC 2012, from CBC 2010 to CBC 2013, from ASCE 7-05 to ASCE 7-10. Not saying a practitioner can't use IBC 2009 or ASCE 7-05, of course they are still relevant in practice, but I will not use them...

Get creative with Google searches and you will find 37-02 for free download. I never used the other two, although I recall one particular PM problem where I really wished I had read the SP-4 text more carefully, though it probably would not have mattered - the volume of that text is enormous and...

If you are doing construction then give yourself a diagnostics test first - try a former NCEES Sample Exam (AM) like 2001, 2004, etc. Take one exam and see where you are deficient. Then focus on your weaknesses. The CERM is a good way to get started. If you are like me you will eventually hit a...

Thanks tater, I signed up for Dr I.'s course for Spring 2014. I plan using his text, ASCE 7-10 (our office just purchased the copy) and IBC 2012/CBC 2013 (equivalent I believe). Jay

Palvarez, I'm taking the Seismic and Survey this spring too. What are you going with for survey text? I am an out of state PLS but would prefer a good single text specific to the CA survey. thanks, Jay

JMT - thanks for the useful info. I took a CBT through Prometric last April for the PMP exam and what you described sounds identical. It was simple and I felt more efficient than a paper exam. The only issue I had was the ear muffs provided were too tight, even with adjustment. I had to remove...

Thanks everyone. I am an out of state PE preparing for the California Seismic exam this spring. On the advice of ptatohed I signed up for EET's course with textbooks. Looking forward it. And will hold ptater head personally responsible if I do not pass :)

I would say the best approach to these problems is to recognize the direction asked (A to B, or B to A), then note the coordinate directions (i.e. Northing, Easting or Northing, Westing, etc.) and do a rough sketch, doesn't have to be exact. Once you recognize direction it's just an elementary...

I am an out of state PE who is taking the CA Seismic this April and just signed up with EET after a thorough endorsement by a frequent of this site, a California Civil PE. Looking forward to the challenge.