getting licensed as a CA S.E.

biged · Nov 18, 2010

I just read this notice on the CA Board website regarding getting licensed as a structural engineer in CA after April 2011.

http://www.pels.ca.gov/about_us/meetings/a...ate_se_exam.pdf

Yes, I understand that CA will be using the new NCEES 16-hour exam and the CA S.E. Seismic Exam is supposedly going away. However, as I read on, it seemed as if there will be still a state-specific exam as the new test takes effect.

Am I missing something?!? Anyone care to help me understand?

If member CAPELS is reading this, I'd love to hear any clarifying information he may have. In particular, I would love to know if we would now be required to take NCEES 16-hour S.E. Exam + that awful S.E. III again.

kevo_55 · Nov 19, 2010

Yes, things are changing but no one knows what it will be just yet.

The CA state government requires a state specific exam for their SE license. With the new 16 hour SE exam, they may simply still keep that good old 8 hour SE3 exam or remake it into something smaller. (maybe a 2.5 hour or 4 hour state specific exam.)

I suppose that we should all just stay tuned for now.

McEngr · Nov 19, 2010

kevo_55 said:
Yes, things are changing but no one knows what it will be just yet.
The CA state government requires a state specific exam for their SE license. With the new 16 hour SE exam, they may simply still keep that good old 8 hour SE3 exam or remake it into something smaller. (maybe a 2.5 hour or 4 hour state specific exam.)

I suppose that we should all just stay tuned for now.

Personally, I'm tired of the elitist CA PELS board and/or policy makers. It's ridiculous.

biged · Nov 19, 2010

kevo_55 said:
Yes, things are changing but no one knows what it will be just yet.
The CA state government requires a state specific exam for their SE license. With the new 16 hour SE exam, they may simply still keep that good old 8 hour SE3 exam or remake it into something smaller. (maybe a 2.5 hour or 4 hour state specific exam.)

I suppose that we should all just stay tuned for now.

Thanks kevo_55. I guess the only option is to sit tight. Unfortunately, I feel like I'm staying tuned for a horror movie.

MA_PE · Nov 23, 2010

My understanding from sources close to topic is that the intent of the change to the 16-hour NCEES format is to unify the SE designation across the US. Thus state specific SEIII exams will go away and comity between states should be more streamlined. Of course the final say is at each state level.

mjbikes · Dec 1, 2010

Page 3:

http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/bulletin34_fall_2010.pdf

biged · Dec 1, 2010

mjbikes said:
Page 3:
http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/bulletin34_fall_2010.pdf

I just read this today too. I'm still not sure about a special SE III in addition to the 16-hour. I think I need to contact Susan Christ. Thanks mjbikes!

McEngr · Dec 2, 2010

biged said:
mjbikes said:

Page 3:
http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/bulletin34_fall_2010.pdf

Click to expand...

I just read this today too. I'm still not sure about a special SE III in addition to the 16-hour. I think I need to contact Susan Christ. Thanks mjbikes!

I'm pretty sure it's only the CA Seismic and Survey in addition to the SE 2-day.

biged · Dec 2, 2010

McEngr said:
biged said:

mjbikes said:

Page 3:
http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/bulletin34_fall_2010.pdf

Click to expand...

I just read this today too. I'm still not sure about a special SE III in addition to the 16-hour. I think I need to contact Susan Christ. Thanks mjbikes!

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's only the CA Seismic and Survey in addition to the SE 2-day.

... in my case, that would be sweet! Thanks McEngr

mjbikes · Dec 2, 2010

McEngr said:
biged said:

mjbikes said:

Page 3:
http://www.pels.ca.gov/pubs/bulletin34_fall_2010.pdf

Click to expand...

I just read this today too. I'm still not sure about a special SE III in addition to the 16-hour. I think I need to contact Susan Christ. Thanks mjbikes!

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's only the CA Seismic and Survey in addition to the SE 2-day. + PE license.

That's how I interpreted the article.

kevo_55 · Dec 14, 2010

FYI: http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/se_faqs_12_08_10.pdf

It looks like if you have already passed the SEII exam you'll have one last shot at the SE3 before it's gone forever.

I think we just got lucky!

arty-smiley-048:

biged · Dec 15, 2010

kevo_55 said:
FYI: http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/se_faqs_12_08_10.pdf
It looks like if you have already passed the SEII exam you'll have one last shot at the SE3 before it's gone forever.

I think we just got lucky! arty-smiley-048:

Read this just last night. Thanks for posting kevo_55

kevo_55 · Dec 16, 2010

^^ No problem.

Heck, I'm just glad that if I don't pass that I'll have another crack at it.

biged · Dec 16, 2010

kevo_55 said:
^^ No problem.
Heck, I'm just glad that if I don't pass that I'll have another crack at it.

Let's just hope you and I did. Personally, I don't relish the thought of taking my books from NC to So. Cal. I'm having real trouble convincing myself that this is all worth it. I guess we'll see in a couple of months.

kevo_55 · Dec 17, 2010

biged,

Fingers are crossed for the both of us!

zhoutt8 · Dec 21, 2010

Hi, Guys: I am trying to catch the last shot of SEIII next October. But I got stuck by Reference. It is really hard to find 3 reference with SE in CA for people out of sttae. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

kevo_55 said:
biged,
Fingers are crossed for the both of us!

:mf_bounce8:

kevo_55 · Dec 21, 2010

zhoutt8,

Are you trying to take the CA SE3? While I agree it is quite hard to get your references, I would recommend taking a look at the last page of this PDF: http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/seappinst.pdf

You can contact SEAOC and get your signed reference papers simply by having them review some of your work.

I hope this helps!

zhoutt8 · Dec 22, 2010

Thanks for your suggestion. I will try.

kevo_55 said:
zhoutt8,
Are you trying to take the CA SE3? While I agree it is quite hard to get your references, I would recommend taking a look at the last page of this PDF: http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/seappinst.pdf

You can contact SEAOC and get your signed reference papers simply by having them review some of your work.

I hope this helps!

zhoutt8 · Dec 29, 2010

Has anybody tried SEAOC before? Is it as simple as just sample work review? I read their detail, looks like they need you be there for an interview, which is not convenient for out -of state people like me.

http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/seappinst.pdf

biged · Dec 29, 2010

zhoutt8 said:
Has anybody tried SEAOC before? Is it as simple as just sample work review? I read their detail, looks like they need you be there for an interview, which is not convenient for out -of state people like me.

http://www.pels.ca.gov/applicants/seappinst.pdf

Way back when I emailed Lee Adler (I think) and he told me their review through SEAOC was pretty thorough. He recommended that I try getting references from people I know, which is what I eventually did even though the people I knew didn't know me all that well.

I believe that if you have a decent body of work, you shouldn't have a problem with SEAOC members signing off on your reference sheets. I look at it this way, what have you got to lose? Might as well give it a try, right? All they can do is say no.

Hope this helps.

getting licensed as a CA S.E.

Help Support Professional Engineer & PE Exam Forum:

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

The Beer Baron

Well-known member

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

engine near

Active member

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

Well-known member

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

Active member

The Beer Baron

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

The Beer Baron

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

The Beer Baron

Member

The Beer Baron

Member

Member

Mild Mannered Civil Engineer

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!