I've been meaning to do this for a while now..... I thought a thread like this might be useful for future CA-Survey and CA-Seismic examinees.
[COLOR= rgb(0, 0, 205)]If anyone has additional or updated information for this post, please let me know at any time so we can keep this thread current. I'll edit this post #1 as I receive new information.[/COLOR]
Costs:
The application fee to the CA state board, BPELSG, is $125 (for either the initial or re-file application), and then $150 each for surveying and/or seismic (so, $275 for one exam, $425 for two). Prometric is the official CBT site for the surveying exam. Prometric charges $65 each for surveying and seismic. If you want to change your test date within 30 days of your scheduled test, you will be charged $40. (Fees associated with the 8-hr NCEES exam and fingerprinting are separate and not discussed here)
Useful Exam Links and Info:
- Link to the California State Licensing Board, BPELSG, homepage:
Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Direct link to BPELSG's Survey and Seismic examination information page, including the Test Plans and the state's recommended reference lists:
Examination Reference Materials - Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Link to Prometric's website:
Prometric
- Both exams are CBT (computer-based testing). You can take the exam at any Prometric test center (even outside of CA). Your application is submitted to BPELSG and your information is relayed to Prometric. Prometric will send you an Authorization to Test (ATT) form about a month prior to the testing window. You can then go on Prometric's site and sign up for the test(s) (you'll pay Prometric at this time).
- The CBT testing windows are offered two times per year - one in the spring and one in the fall at or around the NCEES 8-hr exam dates. The windows for testing are typically about 10 days before the NCEES 8-hr to about 10 days after. This can be helpful for those taking more than one exam... you can space the CA specific exams from the national exam. It is planned that, starting in 2018, the CA-Survey and CA-Seismic exams will be offered year-round. Link to the exam schedule:
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/exam_schedule.shtml
- Both exams must be passed, separately, in addition to the separate NCEES 8-hr exam, in order to be licensed as a Civil PE in California. You may pass one at a time, you do not need to pass all at once.
- Each exam has 55 multiple choice questions of equal weight.
- Each exam is 2.5 hours long.
- You are not limited to the same calculator list required for the NCEES PE exams, for these state exams. Pretty much any calculator without a "QWERTY" keyboard is allowed. TI-89, HP-48, etc. See 'The Board's Current Calculator Policy' here:
Calculator Policies for National and State-Specific Examinations - Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- The exams are open book / open notes (however, I believe you are limited to whatever can fit in one box).
- Historically, about 40% of test-takers pass.
Examination Statistics - Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- Historically, a score of about 55% (+ or -) is needed to pass.
Examination Statistics - Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
- After you take the exam(s). The wait time for results is about 6 to 8 weeks (+ or -). Results are released around the same time BPELSG releases the NCEES 8-hr results. (The Board plans to reduce the Survey and Seismic results wait time to about 4 to 6 weeks in the near future) When results are ready, two e-mails are sent out: one with a password (applicant ID #) which states that results will be e-mailed within 24 hours of this e-mail, the second e-mail contains the password protected file. A failing diagnostic report lists the exam categories and the competency level you earned in that category (Deficient, Marginal, and Proficient).
- Study/Preparation hours. For each of the survey and seismic exams, plan on dedicating about 50% of the time you'd dedicate to the 8hr exam. If the national 8hr exam requires 300 hrs as they say, figure on about 150 +/- 50 total study/prep hours for each of the CA-Survey and CA-Seismic exams. The exact hours will depend on your strengths. For instance, if you are a Structural person, you'll have an advantage with Seismic. If you are a Land Development or roadway person, you'll have an advantage with Survey.
- Study/Preparation material. See below for links to study/review/preparation resources. In general, your core review material should be a very good workbook for each CA-Survey and CA-Seismic. Along with the workbook, try to get your hands on as many practice problems/sample exams as you can. The workbook and supplemental problems alone is enough to successfully prepare and pass the exams. If you are taking a review class, the class should provide all the material you need. To be completely honest, you most certainly can be very successful on these exams without obtaining the long list of
references listed on the Board's website. Of all the references listed on the Board's site, the two most worth consideration are the CBC and the ASCE/SEI 7 for the Seismic exam. But, depending on the workbook you buy or the class you take, you may be provided all of the important excerpts from these books so you may not need to buy them separately. It should be noted that BPELSG writes their exam questions from the content in these listed references. But, again, your workbook and/or class notes should adequately cover all test topics.
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[COLOR= rgb(34, 34, 34)]- Prometric Test Centers: Small cubicles that each fit one computer, monitor, and mouse, leaving room for maybe one book on each side. Any remaining reference books have to stay in your box next to your chair (only one box worth of references allowed). Sometimes the lighting is limited. You might hear other examinees typing away as they may be taking different exams (but Prometric does provide noise cancelling headphones). Before entering the test room, you will be asked to turn your pockets inside out - nothing is allowed in the testing room. Everything else goes in a locker. If you bring a jacket, you must wear it, or put it in your locker. You will be provided a Prometric pencil and blank paper – both will be surrendered after the exam. If you need anything out of your locker during the exam, or if you need to use the restroom, you’ll raise your hand and the person watching will come over to help (your 2.5 hour clock does not stop when you get up). There is an optional tutorial before the exam begins which does not dig into your 2.5 hours. There is an optional computer-based survey asking about your experience, offered to you after your 2.5 hour exam is over.
You are permitted to visit a Prometric test center before your scheduled exam date and view the facility's layout and discuss the CBT procedures with staff. You may also try out the computers for an additional fee. You are welcome to show up early to your scheduled exam. [/COLOR][/SIZE]
Study/Reference Material and Class Information (no particular order):
EET Seismic class, book, and CBT practice simulation exam:
http://www.eet-california.com/seismic_class_info
EET Survey:
http://www.eetusa.com/classes/ca-specific/surveying
PPI Survey:
http://ppi2pass.com/shop/pe-exam/ca-civil-surveying-exam
PPI Seismic:
http://ppi2pass.com/shop/pe-exam/ca-civil-seismic-exam
Civil Survey Workshop:
http://surveyingreview.com/
Seismic Design Review:
http://www.seismicreview.com/
PassPE Survey and Seismic:
https://www.passpe.com/seismic-cbt-course
Civil PE Survey Review:
http://www.civilpesurveyingreview.com/
Caltrans LS/LSIT Video Exam Preparation Course Workbook (free!):
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/row/landsurveys/LSITWorkbook/WorkbookTOC.html
(This can be useful. A lot (but not all) of the material found in the workbook and videos includes topics found on the CA-Survey test plan.)
NCEES FS Reference Handbook:
http://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/fs_references_1013.pdf
(Could come in handy for the CA-Survey exam. Some useful conversions and formulas)
California Building Code:
http://www.bsc.ca.gov/codes.aspx (you'll need Volume 2 or Part 2)
(Free, but I think each section needs to be downloaded individually) (The California Building Code (CBC) and the International Building Code (IBC), in regard to the Seismic Exam, are essentially the same. You may use either)
[updated January 2017]
