CEA - Mental Health Challenges in Civil Engineering

Going for the FE a few years after school is already tough. But 11 years, with three failed attempts in the track record, and facing language challenges for coming from a non-English speaking country?! 😨 That’s exactly what Angela Concha did! 😮 Angela is a civil engineer in Ohio who came to the U.S. from Venezuela and passed the FE Exam as a student of The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course. In this episode, she dives into her FE prep struggles. From why self-study and other renowned (and expensive!) prep courses out there didn’t work for her…and how she turned things around. Her journey is a big lesson on the single most important trait you should have if you find yourself in the same shoes of having to retake the exam: Grit! So, if you’re in the same shoes, and especially if you’re a latino or latina engineer on your way to becoming a licensed PE in the US, this episode will inspire you to push through! 💪 Go check it out! 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: Her journeys from Venezuela to the US Her first two unsuccessful attempts at the Civil PE Exam with self-study Did PPI’s expensive course really prepare her for her 3rd try? How she found Civil Engineering Academy and finally passed the PE The biggest challenge of her entire exam prep The most difficult part of the FE Exam What The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course has that helped her the most on exam day Her little trick for the day before the exam to remember everything you studied Her favorite feature of the course…and why it made all the difference Her advice on taking practice exams leading up to the real deal What you should do immediately after you take the exam Is the Civil FE Exam becoming more theoretical? The most difficult question type on the exam The single most important trait you need to have as a repeat taker ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: CEA FE CBT Exam Simulator CEA Ep 192 With Makenzie Allen (YouTube) CEA Ep 192 With Makenzie Allen (Spotify) CEA Ep 192 With Makenzie Allen (Apple Podcasts) Good Notes App 📧 CONNECT WITH ANGELA: LinkedIn Instagram angie187c@gmail.com 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

12 Dec 202425min

Many non-civil engineers have passed the Civil PE Exam, and our latest guest, Jessica Wellcome, is another awesome example…whose journey is nothing short of inspiring! 👏 👷 Jessica finished school with a degree in Architectural Engineering Technology but found herself working in Transportation at NYS DOT, which is when she quickly realized that… She needed the PE license to get promoted! The problem? 🤔 Her path wasn’t easy — she took the exam 6 times (3 paper-based, 3 computer-based), with the COVID pandemic putting a damper on her plans. 😞 In this episode, she dives into this journey and the lessons she learned along the way (and the hard way!) after multiple exam retakes. If you’re an Architectural Engineering grad taking the Civil PE, or a civil engineer having to retake this exam, this will give you actionable advice to take to heart…and a blueprint for resilience. After all, as her no-quit mantra during her prep goes, “Don’t give up. It might not be your time now but your time will come.” TUNE IN TO LEARN: What Her Transportation Work Looks Like at NYS DOT How Important is the Civil FE to Your Career? The True Benefit of Taking the PE...And Why Decoupling Hurts It Why She Could Only Sit for the PE Exam After 6 Years of Experience Her Tip to Help you Prove Your Work Experience to the NCEES Why She Went With Civil Engineering Academy A Key Lesson She Learned the Hard Way When Prepping for the PE Exam Her Number One Tip When Solving Practice Problems for the PE How to Deal With the (Many) Codes in the Transportation Exam...Without Overwhelm How Much Prep Do You Really Need for Your Exams? The Biggest Tip for Repeater Takers...from a Repeat Taker Herself What to Do When You Don't Know How to Answer a Question The Transportation Topic That Appeared the Most on the Exam The Topic She Struggled the Most With During the Exam A Question That Caught Her off Guard on the Exam Should You Really Take a Review Course? (Plus the Benefits of It) What She Enjoyed About Civil Engineering Academy 🤝 OUR PARTNER: Audible ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: MUTCD New York State Department of Transportation PE Handbook PE Review Courses FREE FE and PE Study Groups PE CBT Exam Simulator CEA YouTube Channel 📧 CONNECT WITH JESSICA: LinkedIn Free CEA Study Group 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

6 Dec 202428min

Is it possible to work as a civil engineer in…wait for it…the US Navy?! ⚓ Well, the answer is yes. (I know… what? 😮) Today’s guest is Jason Schechter, an engineer who has spent 20 years serving in the Navy, doing all types of projects any other engineer does in the civilian world…and now works in the Pentagon. 🫡 How did he do it? 🤔 In this episode, he talks about the Navy’s program for recruiting engineers that he joined while still in college (and you probably didn’t even know existed until to today!), as well as the career progression and the (lots of ) pros and (very few) cons of working in the military. 🎖️ Oh, I almost forgot. 😅 Your experience in the military also sets you up for success after you reach the retirement age of the military. So, if one of your goals in life was to join the military, or you’re simply curious about what it’s like to take that route now, then you'll definitely want to listen to this episode. 😉 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How He Got in the Navy as an Engineer The Navy's Civil Engineering Collegiate Program for Recruiting Engineers What It's Like to Be Part of the Navy's Program The 3 Types of Work You Do in the Navy as a Civil Engineer Is the Navy's Work All Civil Engineering Work? The Worst Part of Being in the Navy and How He Handles It Why He Stayed in the Navy for 20 Years...When the Plan Was Only 4 Years The Big Benefit of Staying in the Navy Until the Retirement Age What the Career Progression of a Civil Engineer in the Navy Looks Like 2 Skills Civil Engineers Need to Excel at the Navy The Hardest Part of His Job Today at the Pentagon What Positions You Can Get Outside the Navy Afterwards His 2 Biggest Frustrations Today Working in the Pentagon How Politics Affects Your Work in the Navy How to Get Your PE When Working in the Navy All Over the World His Advice If You're Interested in Joining the Navy as an Engineer ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: CEA Podcast #260 (Kim Truong) Navy's Engineering Collegiate Program Navy's Civil Engineers Corps (CEC) Program Navy's CEC Presentation Navy's Construction Battalions (Seabees) The Fighting Seabees (1944) University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 📧 CONNECT WITH JASON: LinkedIn 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel support@civilengineeringacademy.com

28 Nov 202426min

PE Water Resources vs. PE Environmental Exam: what’s the difference? Even better, if you work in any of these two fields…which one do you take if they overlap quite a bit? 🤔 You’ve probably asked yourself those same questions, and this week’s guest, Matt Fanghella, has the answers to both! 💪 Matt is a PE and CFM (and one of our CEA Team members too!) with lots of experience in both worlds, both regarding his career and his journey to licensure. As someone who worked in Environmental early on in his career, and then transitioned to Water Resources, he found himself in the spot you’re in right now. In this episode, he dives into his process for spotting the (small) differences between the two exams, how he decided which one to take so you know how you can do it for yourself… …all the way to brand-new CEA resources he’s working on to help you tackle the Environmental FE and PE exams if you’re going that route. ✅ 🏗️ Smash that play button and get all your questions answered about these two exams once and for all! ⏯️ TUNE IN TO LEARN: Why are There 2 Separate PE Exams About Water Resources and Environmental? The Gap in the Engineering Industry That the 2 Exams Were Created to Fill How to Choose Between the Civil: Water Resources or Environmental PE Exam Matt's Experience in the Both the Environmental and Water Resources Arenas How He Decided Between the Water Resources and Environmental PE Exams Our Brand-New PE Environmental Practice Exam for You The FE Environmental Exam Teaser on CEA's (Future) Environmental PE Review Course Why You'll Want to Go Down the Environmental Career Path 🤝 OUR PARTNERS: Audible Built Bar ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam CFM® Review Course What’s a TMDL? Introducing the CFM® Review Course Matt’s PE Exam Journey NCEES PE and FE Environmental Handbooks PE Update Page 📧 CONNECT WITH MATT: matt@civilengineeringacademy.com 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 CEA EXAM PREP RESOURCES: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com

21 Nov 202427min

Did you know one of the most difficult topics in the Water Resources PE Exam is not related to Water Resources?! 😯 That’s what our guest on this episode, Kim Truong, found to be true firsthand after taking and passing this thing herself. Kim is an Environmental Scientist turned Civil Engineer who’s been working for the US Air Force in Japan. In this episode, she dives into the tactics and resources she used to study for this exam, as well as her experience with the exam itself inside the exam room…and that most challenging topic I mentioned before. If you're taking the PE Water Resources Exam soon or have plans to do so, then this episode spills the beans on everything she did right to get it done on her first try so you can, too.😉 Go check it out! 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: The Overlooked Topic That's Heavily Tested on the Water Resources PE Exam Is Theory Tested in the April 2024 Format as Much as in the Past...or Even More? Her Top-Notch Strategy to Taking Practice Exams That You Should Copy Her Top Piece of Advice to Pass the PE (Hint: It's not Related to Studying) Why She Went With a Course Instead of Doing It Alone…And Why You Should Too! The Biggest Thing That Made Her Choose Civil Engineering Academy What She Enjoyed About Civil Engineering Academy's PE Course After She Got In Why the April 2024 Changes to the PE Exam Specs was a Really Good Thing Her Experience Taking One of the NCEES Exams in Another Country The Hardest Part of Preparing for the PE Exam How the PE Review Course Gave Her Structure and Organization What She Thought of the PE CBT Exam Simulator Her 2 Tips to Build a PE Exam Study Schedule Should You Switch to Another Civil PE Exam After a Fail? 2 Reasons Why She Recommends Civil Engineering Academy's PE Review Course 🤝 OURS PARTNERS: Built Bar Namecheap ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: Civil Engineering Academy’s PE Review Courses PE CBT Exam Simulator The April 2024 Changes to the PE Exam Should You Change Your Civil PE Exam? The Best PE Exam Switches You Can Try Boston University University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) 📧 CONNECT WITH KIM: LinkedIn 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com

14 Nov 202423min

“Artificial Intelligence” gets all the buzz today. 🤖 Lots of things it could be used for, and lots of options out there. The problem? 🤔 According to Dr. Sam Zolfagharian, most AEC leaders try to implement it the wrong way! 🚨 Dr. Sam is the co-founder and president of YegaTech, an AI consulting firm focusing on helping AEC firms and executives plan and execute their AI strategy to scale their business. After years of experience as a Structural Engineer herself, she saw firsthand all the tasks that could be sped up with the help of technology…and how little AEC leaders understand what’s really at their disposal when it comes to AI. 🤯 (In case you’re wondering, it’s not simply looking at what AI tools are out there and picking a few to “give it a try.) In this episode, Dr. Sam dives into how AI will shape the future of work in the AEC industry for companies, how future AEC professionals (civil engineers included!) will need to adapt…all the way to YegaTech’s AI Innovation Framework for firms to scale with the help of AI. This framework is now already being used to develop AI strategies and AI governance across multiple AEC companies, and Dr. Sam teaches it in this very episode. Go check it out! 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: The Biggest Mistake Leaders Make When Incorporating AI into Their Companies What Leaders Should (Really) Look at When Thinking of AI for Their Firms The Future of Human Work in an AI-Driven World How AI is Being Implemented in the AEC Industry Today Where Can AI Be Implemented...That No One is Talking About? How AI Tools and Techniques Can Scale Industry-Standard Procedures How AI Will Streamline a Tedious Task in Structural Engineering Will AI Take Away People's Jobs...Only? (Hint: It's not what you think!) A Big Concern with Using AI at Work...for the Company and Employees The Biggest Risk of Relying on AI in the Workplace What Companies Need to Do to Minimize the AI Risks for the Company What Will Change for AEC Professionals in the Future Due to AI What Will Change for AEC Firms in the Future Due to AI A Brand-New Department for AEC Companies Due to AI What All This AI Talk Means to Future Civil Engineers Like You! ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: YegaTech’s Presentation on AI in the AEC Industry 5-Step Guide to Prepare for the AI-Driven Economy Georgia Tech Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) 📧 CONNECT WITH DR. SAM: LinkedIn YegaTech 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com

7 Nov 202435min

🚨 This PE Exam prep timeline defies EVERYTHING you’ve seen so far! 🚨 We always mention that 3 months is the minimum, but exemptions exist…and Connor Aycock did it in ONE month!  😱  👇 That’s exactly what you read, believe it or not.  After moving to a new state where the rules on when you can take the PE after passing the FE are looser, Connor had his chance. In May 2024, his boss challenged him to take it immediately. After realizing the timing was perfect and that the best window for him to take the test was June 2024, he went for it. 💪 He condensed his exam prep into a jaw-dropping four-week schedule (Whats?! 😨), blocked off his study time, and gathered the on-demand resources he needed to bust through the material. After 4 and half weeks, he took it…and passed it! ✅ 👷 In this episode, he dives into this (unbelievable) journey, hits on all the things he did to make it possible, talks about what the exam was like and the most challenging parts of it… …all the way to the ONE THING he would’ve done differently that you can learn from him and do it right in your own exam prep. If you’re preparing for this exam as well, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: His (Unbelievable) Deadline to Take (and Pass!) the Civil PE Exam How He Structured His Entire PE Exam Prep Into 4 1/2 Weeks His One-Line Piece of Advice for Your Own PE Exam Prep The ONE Thing He Would've Done Differently in His Exam Prep What Caught Him Off Guard During the Exam The Biggest Challenge While Taking the Exam That Really Messes up With You The Best Skill You Learn Going Through the PE Exam His Two-Step Approach to Tackling Theory Questions…Plus How Many He Got His Experience With AIT Questions on the Exam 2 Tips for You to Find Time to Prepare for Your Exam (Believe it, You Have Time!) What He Enjoyed the Most About The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course 🤝 OUR PARTNER: Namecheap ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Civil PE Starter Toolkit The Ultimate Civil PE Review Courses Test Prep Insight’s Best PE Review Courses University of Alabama 📧 CONNECT WITH CONNOR: LinkedIn Alta Southwest 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com

31 Okt 202425min

🚨 Here’s another case that will blow your mind 👉 Imagine taking the Civil PE Exam 7 (seven!) times, each time with a different exam format…and all this without a civil engineering degree! 🤯 That’s exactly what today’s guest, Justin Krishart, PE, did! 😲 Justin graduated from Penn State with a degree in Architectural Engineering with an emphasis in Structures. Needless to say, he knew very little about what’s covered in the PE Exam, except for Structural topics. After failing both the paper-based and CBT PE exam in the old breadth-and-depth format six times, the April 2024 changes turned on the light at the end of the tunnel. 💡 This episode is an awesome story of perseverance with a big lesson every test-taker needs to hear — which is what kept him going when most people would’ve given up. 👷 💸 If you’ve found yourself failing this thing multiple times already, you need to listen to his journey! How he managed to stay in the game even after feeling devastated by the past failures. What he found to be the most challenging part. How he prepared for this as if it were his second, part-time job. All the way to the resources he used that you can use too. 😉 TUNE IN TO LEARN: Does an Architectural Engineering Degree Cover What's on the Civil PE? Passing the FE Exam Two Weeks After Graduation What He's Doing Today That Motivated Him to Get The PE How a Tricky Requirement in Pennsylvania Delayed His PE Exam His First 3 Attempts at the Old, Pencil-and-Paper PE Exam His 4th and 5th Attempt at the CBT PE Exam in 2022 Prepping With a Prep Course for His 6th Try in 2023 His Final Attempt at the New, Depth-Specific PE Exam in 2024 4 Professional Benefits That Kept Him Going After Several Failed Attempts A BIG Personal Reason Why He Didn't Give Up (And Why You Shouldn’t Either) How Many Practice Exams He Needed to Take What His Study Hours Looked Like Over The Week With Work and Life How Many Months Did He Prepare for? The Single Most Challenging Part of the PE Exam Three Kinds of Alternative-Item Type Questions He Got Asked What He Enjoyed the Most About the Ultimate Civil PE Review Course ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Courses PE CBT Exam Simulator Pennsylvania (Penn) State University Penn State's Architectural Engineering Department Pennsylvania Engineering Licensing Board 📧 CONNECT WITH JUSTIN: LinkedIn 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com

24 Okt 202431min