The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Passing the PE Exam is one thing, but doing it as an immigrant, with language barriers, and after hitting a wall multiple times before already?! That’s a whole nother story — and it’s real! 😲In this episode, Hadi Al Azzawi jumps on the show to share his journey climbing a crazy steep hill to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam as an immigrant civil engineer in the US.From understanding the English used in the problems to juggling study time with family life, Hadi’s journey is full of hard-earned lessons for any international civil engineer out there in the same shoes right now.Also, if you’re taking the Civil PE Water Resources Exam, he has some top-notch resources and tips he learned after going through this thing himself…five times!If you’re an international civil engineer going through the hoops of getting your PE and feel like the odds are stacked against you, this episode gives you the tips to beat them. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:A Tip for Immigrants to Overcome the Language Barrier on the PEDid He Have to Take the Civil FE as an Immigrant?What You Really Need to Pass the FE That He Learned the Hard WayThe One Thing All Test-Takers Have in Common Regardless of Life DifferencesHow to Prep for the FE/PE With a Spouse and FamilyHis Tip to Fellow Repeat Takers to Stay in the GameHow He Used AI To Get Back on the Saddle After a FailWhat He Did to Pass as Repeat Taker After 5 TriesA Sneaky Exam Question That Caught Him Off GuardHis Go-To Method for Learning the Water Resources CodesHis Tip to Prep for the Most Feared Topic in the Water Resources ExamThe PE Resources That Helped Him the Most Among All the Ones He UsedA Tech Tool That Helped Him Learn All the Exam Prep Material🤝 OUR PARTNER:Built Bar🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:All-in-One Civil Engineering PE Exam Guide, by Dr. GoswamiAll-In-One Civil Engineering PE Practice Exams, by Dr. GoswamiSix-Minute Solutions (Water Resources Problems), by PPIKindle ScribeIsaac Wait Youtube ChannelASCE PE CoursesSchool of PEWashington State University📧 CONNECT WITH HADI:LinkedInalazawi.hadi@gmail.com🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Prepping for your exam isn’t a walk in the park. It’s hard. It  takes discipline. And you’ll want to quit more than once. (Been there. 😞) So, how can those who pass possibly keep going?! 😟It’s not a fancy study schedule, more study material, or some natural-born talent you weren’t blessed with.The real secret? 🤔Your “Why!”In this episode, I talk about why passing isn't just about studying. Instead, it starts with a compelling reason that matters to you.When your “Why” is strong, the "What” turns from a fuzzy goal into something real, and you do the “How” (aka the grind) even when you don’t feel like it.So, here, I share my own “why” back when I was grinding for the PE exam with a full-time job and a growing family…plus the top 5 reasons I hear from our own students why they’re chasing the FE or PE themselves. 🎯If you’ve been dragging your feet on studying or wondering how other people keep going when life gets crazy — this one’s for you!🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What Passing Your Exam Really MeansMy Own “Why” for Taking the PE ExamThe Truth About Exam Prep Nobody Tells YouHow Purpose Fuels PersistenceThe Top 5 "Whys" We Hear From Our Students4 Ways to Keep Your Why Front and Center🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:2025 Civil Engineering Salaries Update🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH US!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.

From frustrated PE examinee after 4 failed tries to…wait for it…future firm owner?! 😲 That’s exactly what you read!Our guest today is Colin Tinsley, who took the Construction PE exam not once, not twice...but five times before finally seeing the big, green “PASS” on the screen. 😅 Two paper-based attempts. Two more tries after the switch to CBT. Then, finally, with the help of our Ultimate Civil PE Construction Review Course, Colin crushed it on his fifth try. ✅ 👷In this episode, he dives into his journey as a repeat taker himself and how he managed to stay in the game at a point where most people would’ve quit…so you can, too.Also, he dives into how the PE license changed his career trajectory. He was questioning his “place” in the field, but when he finally passed, he started to plan the launch of his own engineering firm. 💪So, whether your next attempt will be your first or fourth try, this episode shows it can be done…plus what’s possible for your career when you stay in the game until you get it done. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:His First Four Failed Attempts at the Paper-Based and CBT PE ExamsHow He Got it Done on His Fifth Try With CEAHis Own Engineering Business That Made Him Choose the Construction PEThe Passing Score on the PE...and Why You Shouldn’t Worry About ItWhat the Construction PE Exam Focuses and The Key to Get Over ItWhy You Shouldn't Change Your Exam After a Fail (From a Repeat Taker Himself!)His Biggest Tip for Those Taking the Construction PEHow He Managed to Fix His Self-Doubts After Multiple FailuresWhat He Liked About The Ultimate Civil PE Construction Review CourseHow Mentorship Can Also Help With Your ExamsHis Biggest WARNING for Those Who Want a Pass the Construction PEHow You Should Go About Answering and Reviewing Theory QuestionsHow the PE Changes Your Career TrajectoryWhat Part of Our Construction PE Review Course Helped Him the Most🤝 OUR PARTNER:Built Bar🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Should You Change Your Civil PE Exam?100 Bonus Construction Theory Problems📧 CONNECT WITH COLIN:ctinsley@th-consultingservices.com🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

The concept of “Smart Cities” is here! 🚨 Immersive digital twins to replicate and augment reality with real-time data is not the future — it's happening right now at the Port of Corpus Christi! 😱In this episode, I’m joined by Darrell Keach, Business Systems Manager for the Port of Corpus Christi, and Rex Hansen, Principal Project Manager at Esri, to show a live demo of their cutting-edge digital twin project…. 👇A massive 3D replica of the port that pulls in REAL-TIME data to track ship movement, enhance safety, boost operational efficiency…and even preview future activity in the port!Yeah…you read that right. This isn’t theory. They built it. And it’s working.It started with ports, but the tech they built for this can be replicated for other uses, from individual transportation hubs like railway stations and airports…all the way to entire counties! 😲This is one of those rare episodes that gets you thinking: “Dang, is this where we’re headed?” And the answer is…yes. 👍Check this out and see how your role as a civil engineer might change in the (very) near future.🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:Why the Port of Corpus Christi invested in a digital twinHow digital twins fit into the "Smart City" conceptThe rise of game engines in the civil engineering industryHow they pulled in real-world data into a living 3D modelA sneak peek at their live demo (yes, they show what it actually looks like!)How they got around the problems of dealing with a big data setUsing the model to prevent incidents before they even happenWhere digital twins are heading next in civil, transportation, and beyondWhat this means for you as a civil engineer (and how to future-proof your skillset)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Digital Twin TechnologyWhat is GIS (Geographic Information Systems)?Keynote About the ProjectEsriPort of Corpus ChristiUnityUnreal EngineThe Acceleration Agency (TAA)TAA's OPTICS Project📧 CONNECT WITH REX:LinkedInrhansen@esri.com📧 CONNECT WITH DARRELL:LinkedIndkeach@pocca.com🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

🚨 Attention! 🚨 The ASCE just dropped their latest Infrastructure Report Card…and in this episode, we break it down for you so you know where the work (and money!) is headed! 😉The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is an in-depth analysis of the conditions of 18 major infrastructure categories across the US. The current overall grade? 🤔A solid C — which, believe it or not, is actually a step in the right direction — but it’s not all good news either. 😞Some categories crucial to our own economy and day-to-day life — or worse, our safety — saw grades slip, and there’s still a big investment gap to make sure our infrastructure is not in bad shape…or even close to a complete crash! 😨So, this is a great way to understand where more civil engineers will be needed, where the money is going, and what kinds of projects are likely to take off in the coming years…so you can position yourself in the right place, at the right time. 😉 💰🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What the Different Infrastructure Grades MeanWhat the Findings of the Report Card Means for Civil EngineersThe Overall Grade for America's Infrastructure...And WhyThe 2 Categories That Received a Lower GradeA BIG Trend That's Getting into All Aspects of the IndustryThe Future of the Energy Industry With Increasing DemandA Non-Technical Bottleneck Slowing Things DownThe Infrastructure Factors ASCE Considers to Come Up With the GradesAll the Grades of Every Infrastructure CategoryThe Reason Why the Lowest-Graded Categories Got the Lowest GradesThe Investment Gap for Each Category...And How to Solve It3 Action Items the ASCE Recommends to Improve US InfrastructureThe Biggest Threat to US Infrastructure (And What to Do About It)One Aspect of Infrastructure Projects That HAVE to Get Better🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:ASCE Infrastructure Report Card Website2025 Infrastructure Report Card (Complete)2025 Infrastructure Report Card (Executive Summary)Map for America's Infrastructure Conditions🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

What’s it like to crush the Civil FE Exam on the first try, with less than two months of exam prep…all while still juggling a full course load in grad school?! 😮Just ask Aggie Li. 👇Aggie is a civil engineering master’s student at UMass Amherst who became an EIT using The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course, and is now headed for an internship position at Burns & McDonnell.In this episode, Aggie brings all the good energy as she shares her decision to take the FE early, why she felt she needed a course even with university resources provided for free, and how she carved out study time in an already packed weekly schedule.If you’re a student in either undergrad or grad school and needs that motivation to lock in and get this done before work and life get in the way, this episode will fire you up! Aggie’s got a bright future ahead, and after listening, you will feel like you do, too. Guaranteed! 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:Her Decision to Take the FE While Still a Student (And You Should, Too!)Why She Wanted a FE Review Course Even With Free University MaterialHow Much Prep Time Do You Need for the FE as a Student?The ONE BIG Reason She Picked Civil Engineering AcademyWhat Her Weekly Study Schedule for the FE Looked Like While in SchoolThe Things She LOVED About CEA’s FE Review CourseThe 2 Topics She Struggled With the Most on the FEAre the AIT Questions Really "Bran-New" Question Types?Her Take on Taking Practice Exams That Most People Don't GetWhat Score Should You Aim for When Taking Practice Exams?Why the FE CBT Exam Simulator is One of the BEST Features of the CourseA Down-to-Earth Tip For Those Prepping for the FE...But Unsure About ItHow She Triumphs as a Woman in STEM (And How You Can Too)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:FE Review Courses Ranking, by Test Prep InsightPE Transportation Course WaitlistUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst📧 CONNECT WITH AGGIE:LinkedIn🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEAWebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Here’s a career path that doesn’t even come to mind when you hear “Structural Engineering,” but uses the same basic knowledge and it’s just as lucrative — Telecommunications. 📡 👇This week, we sit down with Sudarshan Kasera, P.E., PMP, a Structural Engineer by education who now applies all that knowledge of the design of buildings and bridges to designing communication towers across the US at Crown Castle. 📶In this episode, Sudarshan breaks down how he managed to get into this “niche of a niche” career (almost)…and why it’s a good idea for other civil engineers to consider as well — plus how to do it.What codes and standards do you need to know? Which software do you need to learn? What licenses do you need to get? 🤔Whether you're a young engineer looking for a career path that’s not the traditional fields, or a practicing engineer curious about a new direction, it’s all in here for you! 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What Makes Telecom a Good Career Choice — Money-WiseWhat He Does Today as a Structural Engineer in the Telecom WorldThe Fascinating Aspect of Working in Telecom (And It's Not What You Think)4 Codes You Need to Know If You Want to Get into TelecomWhat are the Foundation Types Used to Support Telecom Towers?The Most Used Software Tools in the Telecom WorldWhich Licenses Do You Need to Work in Telecom?His Top PE Exam Prep Tip That Made His Journey (Way) EasierHow a Review Course for the PE Helps You Balance Work and Study TimeThe Easy Way Companies Can Get Their Engineers Licensed...FasterThe Importance of a Good Support System When Prepping for Your ExamsIs the PMP a Good Addition to the PE License?His Tips for Young Civil Engineers to Get Into Telecom (+ How to Do It)🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:California Civil Engineering ExamsPMP CertificationTIA-222-IInternational Building Code (ICC IBC-2024)ASCE-7AISC 360tnxTowerMStowerRISA-3DMathcadCrown CastleUniversity of Cincinnati📧 CONNECT WITH SUDARSHAN:LinkedIn🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

If you’re the entrepreneurial type of civil engineer with (big) plans to open your own “shop” some day and scale it, this episode pulls the curtain on everything you need to know for that journey.For this one, we sit down with Kevin Franson, one of the owners and the General Manager at Franson Civil Engineers — a water resources engineering firm based in Utah.Kevin gets into the real stuff that helped scale the firm to two offices and a growing team — hiring strategies, company culture, handling conflict, how to stay competitive, and a lot more to apply at your firm, now or when you start it. 😉 📈Also, he dives into the ONE thing you need to get crystal clear about before going down that route: the difference between being a great civil engineer…and being a great civil engineering business owner. 💡(Hint: you cannot be both! 😣)So, if you’ve ever thought about starting your own firm someday, this is your roadmap.No fluff. No textbook theory. Just in-the-trenches advice from someone who’s been doing it since the 90s! 💪 🥾🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:2 Things You Needed to Know Yesterday If You Want to Start a FirmThe 4 Quadrants of Civil Engineering Firms to Know Before Getting StartedThe Engineering vs Business Side of a Firm: Which One Are You in?Why You Should Start a Firm With the End in Mind...From the Get-GoThe BIG Problem Firms Are Facing Today in the Civil Engineering Industry2 Ways Civil Engineering Firms Can Stay Competitive TodayThe One Skill Firms Are Looking for in Job Candidates (And Yours Should Too!)The SINGLE Interview Question Structure to Filter the Competent CandidatesThe Importance of Company Culture to Building a Firm (And How to Create It)The Right Way to Recognize the Work of Employees…And It's Not MoneyHow a Company Should Manage Conflicts and Arguments🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)Brigham Young UniversityUtah State UniversityThe University of UtahUtah Valley University📧 CONNECT WITH KEVIN:LinkedInFranson Civil EngineersFranson Civil Engineers Contact PageOpen Positions at Franson Civil Engineers🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

How’s the AEC industry currently doing with lots of Government funding…but high interest rates, inflation, and (even worse) tariffs? 🤔 That’s exactly what we cover in this episode!For this one, we sat down with Mark Oakeson to unpack the key insights from the annual Utah Business’s AEC roundtable he’s part of — where AEC leaders came together to discuss the biggest challenges, trends, and opportunities (and hopes) shaping the industry today.From the lack of skilled workers problem we need to solve (and how) to how publicly and privately funded projects are doing in the current economic climate, this episode covers it all. 😉So, if you want to stay ahead of industry shifts and understand where the AEC is struggling and where it’s headed, this episode is for you. 👍🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Key Takeaway From the Event That's the Biggest Issue Right NowHow AEC Leaders Are Currently Feeling About the FutureA Surprising Point Affecting Construction Workers Big Time...And WhyHow to Take Care of This Problem Affecting WorkersThe Lack of Skilled Workforce Problem (And the Industry's Effort to Solve It)The Big Gap on the Design Side of the Industry That`s Costing Big MoneyWhat the AEC Leaders Talked About the Implementation of AIWhere AI is Already Being Used in Civil EngineeringHow Design Professionals Feel Towards the Changes to the ACI 318-19🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Utah Business Magazine2025 Building, Construction & Design Roundtable SummaryUtah's Associated General ContractorsACI 318-19CEA Episode #223 (State of the Industry in 2024)CEA Episode #179 (State of the Industry in 2023)CEA Episode #234 (Drones for Inspection with Eric Bitzko)CEA Episode #216 (Drone Uses in Construction)CEA Episode #115 (Performance-Based Design)🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Running an engineering firm is already hard enough. Why make it worse by using static spreadsheets, many disconnected apps, or (even worse) century-old methods your grandpa used to run his shop? 🤔That’s why we sat down with Robert Yuen, the CEO and co-founder of Monograph — a business management software designed specifically to help architects and engineers run their firms smoothly and profitably.As a professional in the AEC industry like all of us at the time, Robert saw firsthand and discussed with coworkers the biggest challenges and mistakes his own firm experienced that held it back. Until one day…During a happy hour on a Friday night, they asked themselves what it would take to solve those challenges — and that’s when Monograph was born. 💡Whether you have your own firm, run the firm you work at, or have plans to venture out and start your own thing, you’ll want to listen to this interview. Why?You'll learn everything Monograph has to offer to streamline your business. 😉 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What's Monograph All About?The Solution to the Biggest Problem AEC Firms Face That Sets Monograph ApartA Huge Business Management Mistake AEC Firms Still Make to This DayHow Monograph Leverages AI to Make Your Firm Runs SmoothlyTransitioning from Employee to Business Owner...And How You Can TooHis Piece of Advice to Starting a Business That Goes Against What You Expected2 New Features Coming to Monograph That Will Make You Wanna Sign up Right AwayWho Monograph is for Based on Firm Size and Operations to Help You DecideWhat's a Day in the Life of the CEO of an Engineering Software Company Like?🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Monograph SoftwareMonograph LinkedIn PageUniversity of Illinois, ChicagoUniversity of MichiganSkidmore Owings & Merrill📧 CONNECT WITH ROBERT:LinkedInrobert.yuen@monograph.com🎁 CEA FREEBIES:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com