General Exam Tips:

-for all questions failed, write down how/why you failed

-tab your notes

NCEES Exam-Specific:
https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/civil/
Exam Specs: https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-Str-April-2015_combined_with-codes.pdf
-no loose paper, must bind loose paper
-scores usually received 8-10 weeks after exam
-Exam on April 13, 2018 this year
-register prior to: 3:00 p.m. EST on February 15, 2018

Professional References:
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/faq_pe-ref.pdf
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/pe_errf_instructions_2010.pdf
-Need 5 currently licensed references that can reflect the character and diversity of my experience, and
are personally acquainted with my professional reputation
-can be 4 according to BPELSG
-cannot be related to me by blood or marriage
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/pe_errf_instructions_2010.pdf

License:
-licenses are valid for 2 years from assigned renewal date
-if you don’t renew on time you will get a delinquent penalty

Supplementary Exams:
1.) Seismic Principals
2.) Surveying
-can take the state-specific exams the quarter following the quarter in which my application is approved
by the board

Principles & Practices (P&P) Exam:

-exam reference materials: http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/refs.shtml

Application:
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/ceapp.pdf
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/appintrope.shtml

BPSELSG.ca.gov:
-must complete on computer in Adobe, not handwritten!, need mail signed form
-must wait to file until you have full qualifying experience!
-must wait until have passed the NCEES Principles & Practice (P&P) exam
-can apply on a continuous basis
-must allow minimum of 60 days for Board to process your application, can contact them after if haven’t
heard from them
-cannot contact board to verify receipt of application, must get tracking on delivery method
-payment by: check or money order
Application Includes:
-4 envelopes from references with their professional seal/stamp on the envelope
-take home exam (California Laws and Board Rules Exam)
-2-page application form
-check/money order
-Live Scan fingerprint scans
-http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/live_scan_form.pdf
-official, sealed college transcripts for all engineers degrees
-Engagement Record and Reference Form: minimum of (4) completed forms required

For Civil Engineer Applicants:

-Civil Engineer applicants must pass the California Special Civil Examinations, consisting
of the Seismic Principles examination (Part III) and the Engineering Surveying
examination (Part IV), as well as Part I and Part II.
- National Council of Examiners for Engineering and
Surveying (NCEES) examination (Part I) and this Take Home examination (Part II)

Questions:
1.) Can a licensed PE other than civil qualify as one of my 5?
a. Is it 5 or 4 references required? Says 4 on the BPELSQ
b. Can some of the references be from different jobs/internships?
c. Says here that individuals from any other discipines may submit references from anyone
who is qualified to appraise skills as an engineer:
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/pe_errf_instructions_2010.pdf
2.) Can I put internships, or use internships/coops as work experience?
3.) If I get my PE and I take some time to try another job or travel and not use my PE, how to
maintain it? License Renewal?
a. Are there further education requirements?
b. Do I have to pay the fee every 2 years, and what is it?
4.) When would my application be approved by the board for PE? If I take the exam on April 13,
2018, will I be approved in that same quarter (Q2)? When will I be notified, and how soon in
advance would I need to sign up for these exams?
5.) When will I know my score on the PE?
6.) Do civil engineers have to do a Take Home Examination (Part II) in addition to NCEES test and
survey and seismic tests?
a. If you don’t pass the take-home with 70% or greater, how many times can you retake
and do you have to pay?
b. How to study for this exam? Is the content the same as the one online? :
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/pe_takehome.pdf
7.) What are the supplementary exams one must take to qualify for the PE? Surveying, seismic, and
the NCEES exam?
a. Do you have to sign up and pay for these, if so how much? Do I pay in the PE application,
or pay the state agencies separately?
b. If you don’t pass, do you have to pay, and how much?
8.) What does “postmarked by the final filing date” mean? Per the “Professional Engineer
Engagement Record and Reference Form”? Is there a final filing date necessary?
http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/perefsfrm.pdf
 a. http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/final_filing_dates_pe_ls.shtml
9.) Whats the timeline to become licensed?
a. How long until I find I passed? 60 days?
b. How long until I can submit my application? What takes the longest? Is there a
deadline?
c. When do I take the take-home, and the state-exams: surveying and seismic?
d. When do I finally hear if I passed?
10.) Do I have to list all my engagements? Do I have to give a reference from each engagement I list?
Is there any advantage to giving 4 engagements rather than 6?
a. Do I have to give a reference by a licensed civil engineer in responsible charge
11.) Are there any other exam prep resources other than the one single practice exam books?
https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep/

Contacts:
BPSELSG: Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
-toll free: 1-866-780-5370, regular: 916-263-2222
- BPELSG.Application.Information@dca.ca.gov
-License Renewal contact: BPELSG.Renewal.Information@dca.ca.gov
-Questions about the laws BPELSG.Enforcement.Information@dca.ca.gov

Website: http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov
Contact: Richard "Ric" Moore P.L.S.
Email: http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/about_us/contact.shtml
Phone: (866) 780-5370
Fax: (916) 263-2221
Address:2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 300
Sacramento, California 95833-2944
United States

NCEES:
800-250-3196, clientservices@ncees.org

Emails:

Dear Member of the BPELSG,

As I was reading on the website some of the requirements for the PE license, I had some
questions that I could not find answers to online (questions annotated by, “Q” and highlighted
yellow).

1.) General Application Questions:

Q: After how much time beyond the renewal date is my license still valid?
Q: Should I try another career that doesn’t require my PE license, or travel for an extended
period of time (beyond the 2 year renewal period), can I still pay renewal dues and retain my
license?

Q: Are there any continuing education requirements to maintain the California civil PE license?

Q: If, after obtaining my PE, I did not pay dues or do anything for beyond 5 years after it has
expired, would I need to take the PE exam again, or would I just need to re-apply?

Q: is there a “final filing date” that the application needs to be postmarked by (as seen in the
application: http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/perefsfrm.pdf)?

Q: What is the general timeline that I am looking at from the day that I take the PE on April 13,
2018, to when I officially get my license? When could I take the survey and seismic exams, and
how long from those would I be able to submit my application and how long until it would be
approved?

2.) Engagement Record/References Questions:

Regarding my past work experience, by the time of the Spring, 2018 exam on April, 13, 2018, I
will have:
a.) 9 months of civil engineering internship experience, before my completion of my B.S.
degree
b.) 6 months of full-time civil engineering experience between my B.S. and my M.S.
c.) 1 year and 2 months full-time mechanical engineering experience working at NASA
JPL
d.) 6 months of full-time civil/structural engineering experience after my M.S.

Q: Which of the above could count for my 12 months experience for the PE application?

Q: Do I need to include all of these experiences as my Engagement Record, and do I need to

include at least 1 reference from each, and does the licensed engineer have to be specifically of
the civil discipline, and do they have to have been responsible in charge of me?

My preferred choice for my 4 references would be: 1.) coworker during b.), 2.) supervisor of d.),
3.) coworker of d.), and 4.) coworker of d.).

Q: Would this be okay to neglect a.) and c.) and take three of my references from d.)?

3.) Exams Supplementary to the P&P Exam (Take-Home, Seismic, and Surveying):

Q: How/where/when do I sign up and pay for the seismic and survey exams, and when are they
offered?

Q: If I didn’t pass the seismic or survey exam, when is the next time I could take them?
Q: How do I sign up for the take-home exam, and where do I get it/is it this?:

http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/applicants/pe_takehome.pdf

Q: Where can I find study materials/how can I study for the take home exam/what will it cover?

Q: If I didn’t pass the take-home exam, would I just repeat the exact same test, or would it be
different?

Thank you for your time,

Spencer