The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Did you know that policies to blend the PE license with other types of professional work, such as hairstylists, have been going around?! 😲 Today’s guest is Jennifer Ziegler, a civil engineer who’s been on the policy side of the profession, including on Capitol Hill. She dives into how these laws and acts affect your day-to-day, the current actions to make sure they serve the profession, and how you can — and why you should — help shape them as well. Tune in to Learn: How public policy impacts civil engineering — more than most civil engineers realize How to get involved in shaping civil engineering policies...without being a politician Jennifer's education journey into the policy side of the profession on Capitol Hill What she does today for her water and environmental engineering work Becoming the Vice-President of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute 6 mind-blowing, career-boosting reasons why you should become an ASCE member FREE Resource: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) ASCE The Water Institute Neel-Schaffer John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Kristina Swallow, PE., F. ASCE ASCE New Face of Civil Engineering Awards Nevada Department of Transportation ASCE Mississippi Section ASCE Certificate Programs Build America Buy America NSPE WTS EPA Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Mississippi State University University of New Orleans Connect With Jennifer: LinkedIn CEA Exam Prep Materials: Main Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses CEA Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free CEA Community YouTube Channel Instagram TwitterLinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Mark Oakeson, expert in civil engineering, discusses the top 10 best places for civil engineers to work and live in 2023 according to the ASCE. He explains the factors used to come up with the list and highlights the highest-ranked place, which is attractive for those in Water Resources. Surprisingly, two places in the top 10 were unexpected this year. The podcast also explores the aspects that make these places ideal for civil engineers and offers advice for those considering a move.

Here’s news you don’t hear every day: passing the Civil PE Exam as a mechanical engineer. Yeah, that’s what our guest today did…after 15 years out of school. 😲 Brett Van Hazel is a mechanical engineer who found himself working in more civil-related jobs his whole career and decided to switch his exam to Civil PE — and it worked! If you’re in the same situation but think you're stuck with the Mechanical PE, you need to listen to this episode! Tune in to Learn: Brett's journey to crush the Civil PE Exam...as a mechanical engineer The Civil topics mechanical engineers tend to struggle with — and how to master them How he managed to find time to study every day with wife and two kids The breakdown of his 6-month exam prep plan you can steal What caught him off guard on the exam that you should pay attention to What made him choose CEA's PE review course that other courses don't deliver One aspect of the course he couldn't believe was true — but worked on exam day The importance of the PE license for every engineer's career goals and job opportunities One key component of the course he knows is the main reason he passed the exam What those preparing for the PE should have in mind while going through it Our Partners: Audible FREE Resource: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course Civil PE Construction Specifications OSHA PMP Certification Connect With Brett: LinkedIn bvanhazel@gmail.com CEA Exam Prep Materials: Main WebsiteThe Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses CEA Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free CEA CommunityYouTube ChannelInstagramTwitter LinkedInisaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Adrienne Burrows, an engineer at Black and Veatch, discusses her journey into environmental engineering, the importance of people skills, differences working in smaller vs larger firms, engineering's impact on daily life, and encourages engagement with the podcast.

Not sure whether to go to grad school? Our guest today is Riley Post, a PhD Candidate who has been heavily involved in Water Resources for 10+ years operating reservoirs, locks, and dams! 😲 In this interview, he touches on how to decide between work experience versus academia, what may cause you to choose one over the other, and the value of the PE license for both (yes, you read that right…both!) Tune in to Learn: Riley's unusual path into Water Resources coming from Structural Engineering Flood control reservoirs vs locks and dams (hint: most people get this wrong) Why he went for a PhD and his research on the country’s flood control infrastructure One question to ask yourself to decide whether you should go to graduate school The definitive best time to tackle your Civil FE Exam Why the PE matters even to those in academia — and especially to those out of it Our Partner: Audible FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: University of Iowa US Army Corps of Engineer Top-Ranked R1 (Research) Universities Connect With Riley: LinkedIn Website riley-post@uiowa.edu CEA Exam Prep Materials: Main Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses The Ultimate California Seismic Review Course CEA Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free Newsletter Free Facebook Community YouTube Channel Instagram Twitter LinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

You can pass the Civil PE Exam as a repeat taker…if you go about it the right way. Today’s guest is Wade Broussard, who failed it on his first try, but instead of going on a downward spiral of negativity, he came up with a plan, became obsessed with it, and crushed his PE Transportation exam. In this episode, he dives into everything he did, from the headspace he was into his exam prep routine to test-taking strategies he used on exam day. Tune in to Learn: How Wade laid out a plan for his success on the PE Exam after failing it How much preparation time he had and how he balanced work and study Tips to those taking the Transportation depth section How the codes are given to you on exam day (Hint: it's not what you think) Time management tips for test day to keep you at ease during your exam How The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course helped him and his experience with it The secret to passing the PE Exam — and you're probably not doing it enough What your mindset should be if you're a repeat taker His guidelines for taking practice exams to put exam-like pressure on himself How the CEA Community of students helped him keep the momentum in his exam prep Logistics and lunch break tips for your exam day you should take to heart Why should you choose Civil Engineering Academy over other courses? Our Partner: Built Bar FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course CEA PE Breadth Practice Exams CEA PE Depth Practice Exams The PE CBT Exam simulator 20 Bonus Theory Questions FREE CEA Community AASHTO’s Green Book Hydraulic Design of Highway CulvertsNCEES Transportation Practice Test McLin Taylor Engineering Louisiana State University Connect With Wade: LinkedIn wbrous96@gmail.com CEA Exam Prep Materials: Main Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses The Ultimate California Seismic Review Course CEA Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free Newsletter Free Facebook Community YouTube Channel Instagram Twitter LinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Learn from Scott Wible, a structural engineer turned business owner, as he shares his journey and tips on passing exams. Discover the benefits of starting your own engineering firm, balancing work and life, and the pros and cons of being a solopreneur. Find out how to grow your business and get client work flowing in by niching down. Connect with Scott for more information.

If you think you need to be studying every free second you find on your day in order to pass the PE Exam, think again. “What?! 😲” Here’s proof: Hannah Copeman crushed her Structural PE Exam on her first try doing the opposite. How, you ask? In this episode, she shares what worked for her, the realistic way to go about preparing for this thing, and how to kill it on exam day. It’s all in here! 😉 Tune in to Learn: How she balanced full-time work with studying and passed the PE Exam on her first try How much time do you need to prepare for the exam? I mean, the bare minimum? Is the Civil FE harder than the PE? (Hint: It may be!) The hardest part of the Civil PE exam — and it's not the technical content The approach you should use to tackle questions on exam day One aspect of the search function for the codes and standards you didn't know about Why crushing the morning portion is the key to passing the exam Her tips for those taking the Structural depth exam What type of Structural Engineering theory questions you can expect on your exam What score do you need on your practice exams to know you're ready? Why your exam prep shouldn't be only about studying (yes, you read that right!) Her 3 favorite things about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate PE CBT Exam Simulator 20 Bonus Theory Questions Previous Episode With Hannah CEA Quick Tip Video: Is the Civil FE Harder than the PE? NCEES Civil PE Structural Practice Exam NCEES Civil PE Exam Structural Specifications Connect With Hannah: LinkedIn CEA Exam Prep Resources: Main Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses The Ultimate California Seismic Review Course FE and PE Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free Newsletter Free Facebook Community YouTube Channel Instagram Twitter LinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

If you keep failing your exams over and over again and have started to think you don't have “what it takes,” stop…right now! Our guest today is Makenzie Allen, who took her FE exam three times and her PE exam twice! What made all the difference in her final, successful attempts at each? She did something during her studies that set herself up for success — and you should do too. Tune in to Learn: Her journey from the hair salon to the civil engineering world Tips for women to make it through engineering school Her experience passing her FE and PE exam with our courses after failing multiple times The right way to deal with failure on your exams One thing you should do if you keep failing your exams over and over again 2 little-known tips for those taking the Transportation depth exam How can you prepare for conceptual problems on the PE Exam? How to solve questions starting with the answer choices…not the problem statement Do you still need the Civil Engineering Reference Manual in the CBT exam era? Her biggest secret to passing the PE Exam that will hit you hard, but it's true! What she enjoyed the most about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course Our Partner: Built Bar FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate PE CBT Exam Simulator The Ultimate Homework PlannerCivil Engineering Reference Manual20 Bonus Theory QuestionsAASHTO’s Green BookHighway Capacity ManualRoadside Design Guide BookSix-Minute Solutions (Transportation Depth Exam)Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

Ever wondered how you can work as a civil engineer for the federal government? Then check this out: my guest today is Alex Kolkena, a professional civil engineer who worked his way into the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In this episode, he details his own steps, dives into the pros and cons of working for the US government, and answers all your questions about how you can do the same! 😉 Tune in to Learn: Alex's journey into civil engineering from the military side How to land a job at the US Army Corps of Engineers — and what it's like working there The two most notable military projects he worked on as an engineer in the armed forces The biggest challenge of the Civil FE Exam and his top 2 tips to prepare for it The tricky secret of the Civil PE Exam that makes you fail if you don't get it How you should deal with failing your exams and how to go about your next attempt Pros and cons of working for the federal government FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide Resources Mentioned: US Army Corps of Engineers Defense Threat Reduction Agency Ramstein High School ROTC Scholarship Brigham Young University USA Jobs Clark Construction U.S. Customs and Border Protection Civil Engineering Reference Manual Civil FE Exam Specifications Federal Employees Retirement System Thrift Savings Plan US Air National Guard US Department of Defense Connect With Alex: LinkedIn YouTube Channel CEA Exam Prep Materials: Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses FE and PE Practice Exams Join the CEA Family: Free Newsletter Free Facebook Community YouTube Channel Instagram Twitter LinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com