How to Prepare for PE and CA Seismic/Survey Exams

[CarmenIsCivil]

I just registered for the NCEES PE Exam. It'll be the new CBT so I can take it whenever, but was planning on scheduling it for March 28, 2021. I signed up for the EET Civil Breadth and Transportation Depth Webinars, which go from Dec 4 to Mar 15. Is this a good schedule, or should I plan on taking the exam later than that?

From what I understand, you can't take the Seismic/Survey courses until the PE is passed and the Board approves you, correct? I'm seeing people on the forum say that they took all 3 exams at the same time, so I'm a bit confused; has this changed recently or can people still take all at once? Regardless, my main question is how I should prepare/schedule for ALL the exams. Should I get PE out of the way then start studying for CA-specific exams afterward? Should I study for all the exams concurrently? How long should I plan to study for the CA exams if I'm putting aside 4 months for the PE? (I read in the pinned post you should allot 50% of the time spent on the PE to each exam). I definitely think the EET will be helpful for the PE because I need a structured study schedule and don't have the discipline to just set a study schedule myself and determine how to best manage my study time. Based on that, are the EET courses great for the CA exams as well, or would buying a reference book and doing practice problems be sufficient?

I've just moved to California and had already done a ton of research on the PE exam before realizing that I have to take these 2 extra exams as well, so I'm just wondering what the "tried and true" method of studying is for all 3 exams.

 

[MambaMentality24]

I just registered for the NCEES PE Exam. It'll be the new CBT so I can take it whenever, but was planning on scheduling it for March 28, 2021. I signed up for the EET Civil Breadth and Transportation Depth Webinars, which go from Dec 4 to Mar 15. Is this a good schedule, or should I plan on taking the exam later than that?

From what I understand, you can't take the Seismic/Survey courses until the PE is passed and the Board approves you, correct? I'm seeing people on the forum say that they took all 3 exams at the same time, so I'm a bit confused; has this changed recently or can people still take all at once? Regardless, my main question is how I should prepare/schedule for ALL the exams. Should I get PE out of the way then start studying for CA-specific exams afterward? Should I study for all the exams concurrently? How long should I plan to study for the CA exams if I'm putting aside 4 months for the PE? (I read in the pinned post you should allot 50% of the time spent on the PE to each exam). I definitely think the EET will be helpful for the PE because I need a structured study schedule and don't have the discipline to just set a study schedule myself and determine how to best manage my study time. Based on that, are the EET courses great for the CA exams as well, or would buying a reference book and doing practice problems be sufficient?

I've just moved to California and had already done a ton of research on the PE exam before realizing that I have to take these 2 extra exams as well, so I'm just wondering what the "tried and true" method of studying is for all 3 exams.

@AEI

 

[CAPLS]

You should prepare for and pass the national PE Civil exam first prior to submitting your application to the California Board. Once that application is approved, you'll be instructed on how to register for the two California state Civil exams. Time is fast approaching where you will be required to pass the national PE first prior to applying.

 

[Assistant to the RM]

I just registered for the NCEES PE Exam. It'll be the new CBT so I can take it whenever, but was planning on scheduling it for March 28, 2021. I signed up for the EET Civil Breadth and Transportation Depth Webinars, which go from Dec 4 to Mar 15. Is this a good schedule, or should I plan on taking the exam later than that?

From what I understand, you can't take the Seismic/Survey courses until the PE is passed and the Board approves you, correct? I'm seeing people on the forum say that they took all 3 exams at the same time, so I'm a bit confused; has this changed recently or can people still take all at once? Regardless, my main question is how I should prepare/schedule for ALL the exams. Should I get PE out of the way then start studying for CA-specific exams afterward? Should I study for all the exams concurrently? How long should I plan to study for the CA exams if I'm putting aside 4 months for the PE? (I read in the pinned post you should allot 50% of the time spent on the PE to each exam). I definitely think the EET will be helpful for the PE because I need a structured study schedule and don't have the discipline to just set a study schedule myself and determine how to best manage my study time. Based on that, are the EET courses great for the CA exams as well, or would buying a reference book and doing practice problems be sufficient?

I've just moved to California and had already done a ton of research on the PE exam before realizing that I have to take these 2 extra exams as well, so I'm just wondering what the "tried and true" method of studying is for all 3 exams.

I would keep all of your focus on the PE first, you'll have plenty of time to prepare for the CA exams during the application & approval process, and whenever you get approved by CA you'll be scheduling those exams in the next quarter. You schedule each CA exam separately in the same quarter, so you can space those 1-2 months apart to prepare for each separately.

If you are taking the Transportation depth, I would plan on taking the Surveying exam first, as there should be a lot of similarities in the content. If you were taking the Structural depth, I would say the Seismic exam would have the most similarities.

 

[PassPE]

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[ManuelDLemmons]

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