October 2021 Post Exam Wait Period - Welcome to the Suck

structurenole15 said:

So, I stumbled across this piece today on the NCEES website. It looks like with the SE exam being the only P&P administration left, they're moving to a regional model.

https://ncees.org/news/
View attachment 25833

So if someone in say, my city (Pittsburgh) wanted to take it, the closest city offering it is Richmond, VA. That's a 4 hour drive.

Click to expand...

I can't believe they were "nice" enough to make AK one of the testing locations! People always leave AK out of everything. Surprised they aren't making AK applicants travel to WA. People don't realize how expensive it is to catch a flight out of AK since the lower 48 has such cheap flights to many places.


Also.....did anyone else catch the *hint* *hint*? Registration opens on Dec 13th. Which is likely after they release the results of the Oct 2021 exam.....perhaps my prediction is spot on. Just sayin'. I said it first don't forget!

rodr said:

Fact: Results will be posted the week of Dec 13th.

Click to expand...

I'll gladly provide my venmo, I'M TAKIN TIPS ALL DAY PEOPLE!

rodr said:

I can't believe they were "nice" enough to make AK one of the testing locations! People always leave AK out of everything. Surprised they aren't making AK applicants travel to WA. People don't realize how expensive it is to catch a flight out of AK since the lower 48 has such cheap flights to many places.

Click to expand...

I think that's one of the things that if they didn't do, there would be a literal uproar over it and they don't want that amount of backlash.

For me, yeah, I can complain about the closest site to me being 6 hours away, but it's not going to make NCEES sweat. Not like it would if they left Alaska and Hawaii out of the picture.

Be-n said:

I really hope SE licensure will be gradually recognized and promoted in most states within a next decade. I even thought some structural engineers may prefer SE exam over CBT PE Civil exam in the next couple of years just because they can bring their own references to an SE exam.
However, making people drive 6+ hours to an exam site doesn’t make any good for the promotion of SE licensure. States can’t require something that is not even offered in their state.

Click to expand...

There are 4 more administrations of the P&P SE exam before it goes computer based. Something tells me they're gonna accelerate that timeline to 2023, instead of 2024.

Or, they'll offer it in more cities once they see the 2022 numbers fall drastically.

I think the SE exam struggles to adequately assess the competency of an engineer in the same way that the PE exam does. Its certainly a better judge of one's structural knowledge, but it's essentially just a more challenging hurdle. Any engineer that passes the hurdle is deemed competent for the rest of their career. I don't know what a good solution to this is, but standardized exams don't seem to be the answer. Its a tough question, how do you determine if an engineer is competent?

Spitfire6532 said:

I think the SE exam struggles to adequately assess the competency of an engineer in the same way that the PE exam does. Its certainly a better judge of one's structural knowledge, but it's essentially just a more challenging hurdle. Any engineer that passes the hurdle is deemed competent for the rest of their career. I don't know what a good solution to this is, but standardized exams don't seem to be the answer. Its a tough question, how do you determine if an engineer is competent?

Click to expand...

I think you have it backwards. There's no way that any reasonable person would agree the SE exam is less adequate at determining minimum competency than the PE exam.

The PE exam tests your knowledge across all areas of civil engineering using 80 multiple choice questions.
The SE exam tests your knowledge of only structural engineering using 80 multiple choice questions and 7-8 open-ended design questions.
There's a clear winner there as to which one tests an engineer's competence better, and it's not the PE exam.

Also, the SE exam is not just a standardized test. You have actual design problems graded by hand by practicing structural engineers.

structurenole15 said:

View attachment 25849



Sorry, 6 hours, 10 minutes! But that's also from my house which is southeast of the city. If you live out by the airport, you're making it a 7 hour drive.

Click to expand...

What does gray mean? Places where the p&p exam is held?

Liz06 said:

What does gray mean? Places where the p&p exam is held?

Click to expand...

This is not a map of where any exam is held.

This is a map of states that have legislation defining structural engineering (SE) licensure.

The gray states are states that have no legislation regarding structural engineers. The other colors have legislation regarding what structures must be designed by an SE, not a PE.

Spitfire6532 said:

I think the SE exam struggles to adequately assess the competency of an engineer in the same way that the PE exam does. Its certainly a better judge of one's structural knowledge, but it's essentially just a more challenging hurdle. Any engineer that passes the hurdle is deemed competent for the rest of their career. I don't know what a good solution to this is, but standardized exams don't seem to be the answer. Its a tough question, how do you determine if an engineer is competent?

Click to expand...

To me, just the type of structural questions asked on a PE exam makes me questioning the competency of every PE claiming to be a structural engineer. I had more trust in these letters before I prepared and passed this exam. Considering structural questions, it is way too easy.
PE definitely doesn’t test one’s ability to determine lateral loads and to design building lateral systems.
Meantime, I should spend 60-70% of my PE exam prep time to study subjects that are not difficult but irrelevant to my daily work. That shouldn’t be like that.
I agree, SE is extremely difficult. Requiring it in states where SDC is B and wind loads govern is too much. It will just result in a shortage of qualified engineers. So, it is quite a dilemma. I wish states like Florida with high wind loads would develop their own exam, similar to CA seismic exam, to test engineers in lateral design for high winds and low seismic.

structurenole15 said:

I believe you would still apply with your state board, regardless of what city you test in. So it seems to me like Chicago would be your best bet, distance-wise.

Click to expand...

It is Chicago, which is never best bet, based on the 12 page application, vs the 3 page for Nebraska. Plus, ew, Chicago. It is held near downtown (or in pervious sessions has been) so there is also more expensive hotel, parking, driving in general.

vhab49_PE said:

It is Chicago, which is never best bet, based on the 12 page application, vs the 3 page for Nebraska. Plus, ew, Chicago. It is held near downtown (or in pervious sessions has been) so there is also more expensive hotel, parking, driving in general.

Click to expand...

You wouldn't use either of those applications. You'd be applying for and gaining a license in your home state, not Nebraska or Illinois.

structurenole15 said:

You wouldn't use either of those applications. You'd be applying for and gaining a license in your home state, not Nebraska or Illinois.

Click to expand...

My state (Iowa) does not recognize the SE, so it would be Illinois or Nebraska. I have just tested previously in Iowa because it is closer, easier and, quite frankly, not Illinois. I did take the FE in Illinois. (I already have my PE in Iowa I should say - if I didn't, I could use the SE to apply for the PE here)

Morning, friends. Thanksgiving feels very unimportant compared to December starting next week. Who needs holidays when you're waiting for exam results?

tdeckcox said:

Morning, friends. Thanksgiving feels very unimportant compared to December starting next week. Who needs holidays when you're waiting for exam results?

Click to expand...

This whole year has felt unimportant to me after taking the exam in April and then again in October.

HOW IS IT ALMOST DECEMBER?!?!?!??

vhab49_PE said:

HOW IS IT ALMOST DECEMBER?!?!?!??

Click to expand...

I don't know what you're talking about. My internal calendar thinks it's about time for the calendar to turn to December 2020.

RBHeadge PE said:

I don't know what you're talking about. My internal calendar thinks it's about time for the calendar to turn to December 2020.

Click to expand...

I just saw this and my stomach turned....IT'S NINE DAYS UNTIL MY EXAM!

Oh thank God it's not 2020.

I think the suckiest part of the suck is the week of Thanksgiving, for the October exams.

Think about it: before that, you know you're not getting results, so it's easy to ignore it. After the holiday, you know results are basically gonna come any week now, provided Thanksgiving is late enough.

But DURING the week of thanksgiving, we're in limbo. We've waited so long, and we know we need to wait longer, but HOW MUCH longer? It could be a week, it could be 3-4 weeks, there's no way to truly know.

structurenole15 said:

I think the suckiest part of the suck is the week of Thanksgiving, for the October exams.

Think about it: before that, you know you're not getting results, so it's easy to ignore it. After the holiday, you know results are basically gonna come any week now, provided Thanksgiving is late enough.

But DURING the week of thanksgiving, we're in limbo. We've waited so long, and we know we need to wait longer, but HOW MUCH longer? It could be a week, it could be 3-4 weeks, there's no way to truly know.

Click to expand...

I was just explaining to my husband that this week is anxiety inducing because it's incredibly unlikely, but more probable than any week before. Next week it becomes more likely and thus, a little less anxiety inducing (on the waiting aspect.) Plus I have to see my family who are all going to ask if I know yet? Hard pass.

structurenole15 said:

I think the suckiest part of the suck is the week of Thanksgiving, for the October exams.

Think about it: before that, you know you're not getting results, so it's easy to ignore it. After the holiday, you know results are basically gonna come any week now, provided Thanksgiving is late enough.

But DURING the week of thanksgiving, we're in limbo. We've waited so long, and we know we need to wait longer, but HOW MUCH longer? It could be a week, it could be 3-4 weeks, there's no way to truly know.

Click to expand...

Ugh and not much work to do during Thanksgiving week to take my mind off of it. It's the first break I've had since taking the exam. Thankful for the breather but leaves more brain capacity to get anxious about results.

structurenole15 said:

I think the suckiest part of the suck is the week of Thanksgiving, for the October exams.

Think about it: before that, you know you're not getting results, so it's easy to ignore it. After the holiday, you know results are basically gonna come any week now, provided Thanksgiving is late enough.

But DURING the week of thanksgiving, we're in limbo. We've waited so long, and we know we need to wait longer, but HOW MUCH longer? It could be a week, it could be 3-4 weeks, there's no way to truly know.

Click to expand...

Well, I know, because grading workshop wasn't on the Oct/November Calendar, so I have at least 2 weeks left. I would guess grading workshop is Thursday-Saturday of next week, at the earliest.