Category: Blog

Any successful study plan must incorporate the use of resources that are rich in technical detail, sequenced appropriately, and consumed thoughtfully in order to develop the necessary knowledge and skills required for the PE Exam.  However, there are additional considerations beyond what to study and how to go about it.  Studying is a cognitive process and the quality of our thinking depends on having enough energy and mental clarity to do the work day after day.  Cultivating this state of readiness is a metaskill that creates the possibility of building new skills, and it rests on three pillars: sleep, nutrition, and fitness.   This brief article, while far from comprehensive, offers a few practical tips for engineers pursuing PE licensure. You will notice an outsized benefit for each additional tactic you…

I recently finished reading Cal Newport’s book Slow Productivity and was inspired to share how his insights can be applied to preparing for the PE Exam. Cal observes that many of us are overwhelmed by work and have a difficult time recognizing what our priorities are, so we just try to work on a lot and hope to make progress.  We have learned how to look busy from years of knowledge work in offices, but when it comes time to block out distractions and focus, many of us struggle.  The goal of Cal’s three “rules” that follow, adapted from the book, is to enable us to apply our cognitive effort and transform our time and energy into something of lasting value. Specifically for PE candidates, we wish to build the…

When you first start considering going for your PE, the possibility feels exciting!  You may find yourself dreaming of your future career, exploring possible job opportunities, researching the application process in your state, asking colleagues what their PE journey was like, and scouring the web for the best study resources. In fact, all of this may happen before you are fully committed to the process.  Even if you’re not sure whether it is the right time in your career, or you’re worried the process may be too complicated, or you’re concerned about asking your references to endorse you, you may find yourself compelled to take on the challenge in spite of these obstacles. The Start When your reasons are stronger than what could stand in the way, you feel motivated. …

Have you taken the Mechanical PE Exam and failed?  Are you committed to getting your professional engineering license but not sure what adjustments you need to make in order to pass the exam?  Here are three suggestions I've compiled from working with hundreds of candidates in the same situation, including multiple repeat takers that passed on their sixth try! 1. Recalibrate Your Expectations One of the most common questions candidates ask themselves, me, and anyone on Reddit willing to venture a response is: "How hard is the Mechanical PE Exam?"  The answer depends on a variety of factors, such as: What you studied in school How long since you were a student How accustomed you are to thinking critically for hours at a time What you work on day to…

This article is for you if you have already decided you want to get your Professional Engineering License in Mechanical HVAC & Refrigeration or Thermal & Fluids Systems and you are figuring out how to get started. Gather State Board Requirements Before you start studying, find out what the requirements are for the state you are getting your license in.  Specifically, some states require the application and approval before you sit for the exam.  Other states allow candidates to take the exam any time, even before they have met the experience requirements, then they apply later once they have enough experience.  To quickly find out how your state works, here’s a map we put together, and you can also find your state board’s official website from the NCEES website. Describe…