helping chemical engineers prepare for the pe exam on the path to registration professor n. s....

Helping Chemical Engineers Prepare for the PE Exam on the

Path to Registration

Professor N. S. Nandagopal, P.E.

Associate Professor, UH-downtown

AIChE New Orleans Section Meeting

November 11, 2003

Requirements for Registration As a Professional Engineer (P.E)

Mandated by State Laws – Can Vary From State to State.General Requirements:

•Engineering Degree From EAC Accredited

Program

•Passing the 8-hour Fundamentals of

Engineering (FE, Formerly Known As EIT) Exam

Requirements for Registration As a Professional Engineer (P.E.)

Four Years of Experience Acceptable to the State Engineering BoardPassing the 8-hour Principles and Practice in Engineering (PE) Exam.Additional requirements as mandated by the state board.

Issues Concerning Registration Requirements

• Educational Requirements: Foreign Degrees,

Technology Degrees

• Experience Requirements: Sales, Computer

Science, Administration, Management

• FE Exam: General Vs. Discipline Specific

• PE Exam: Related Areas – Environmental,

Control Systems

Importance of Registration As a PE

• Improves public perception of the engineering profession.

• Adds legitimacy to practice of engineering profession.

• Promotes stature of engineering practice similar to board

certification of doctors, lawyers and accountants.

• Improves quality of engineering practice and promotes

competence and professionalism.

• Career rewards.

PE Exam in Chemical Engineering: Exam Topics

• Mass/Energy Balances and

Thermodynamics (24%)

• Fluid Mechanics (17%)

• Heat Transfer (16%)

• Mass Transfer (13%)

• Kinetics (11%)

• Plant Design and Operations (19%)

Exam Format and Specifications

• Number of questions (80).

• Morning (40 questions) and

afternoon (40 questions) sessions.

• Exam sub-topics.

Criteria for Passing

• NCEES emphasizes “Minimum Competency”.

• Definition of “Minimum Competency”.

• No fixed percentage for passing scores.

• Key issue is to ensure the competency of the

individual.

• Raw score and standard score.

Exam Preparation Resources

• NCEES Publications.

• Undergraduate texts.

• Published prep materials.

• Review classes.

Exam Preparation (Continued)

• The Chemical Passing Zone.

• Strategy – Evenly paced review.

• Emphasis on fundamental concepts

rather than in-depth research of

topics.

Exam Preparation (continued)

• Commitment of time.

• Diagnostic test.

• Review weak areas first.

• REMEMBER: ALL QUESTIONS

MUST BE ANSWERED.

Exam Related Publications

• NCEES PE Chemical Engineering Sample

Questions & Solutions

• “Chemical Engineering Practice PE Exams” ,

Professor Nandagopal, Professional

Publications, Inc.

• “Chemical Engineering Review Manual”,

Professional Publications, Inc.

Taking the Exam: Strategy

• Build confidence first.• Attempt easy/familiar topics first.• Keep track of units – check for

consistency.• Keep track of bubbling of answer

choices !

Exam Strategy (continued)

• Avoid referring as far as possible.• Quick recall of fundamental concepts

and equations.• Watch time spent on each question.• Approximately 6 minutes per question.• Avoid panic, stay calm.

What You Will Not See in the Exam

• Stereotypical, textbook problems.

• Essay questions.

• “Plug and chug” type of problems.

What to Expect in the Exam

• Complex problem statements (but simple

solutions!).

• Questions that really test comprehension of

fundamental principles.

• Extra data, detractors designed to confuse you.

• “Back of envelope” type of analysis and

calculations.

What to Expect in the Exam (Continued)

• Questions that require use of engineering

judgment in practical situations• Detractors (answer choices) that

anticipate typical mistakes made by test

takers.

What to Expect in the Exam (Continued)

• Morning session – Mass & Energy Balances, Thermodynamics, Fluids, Heat Transfer

• Afternoon session – Mass Transfer, Kinetics, Plant Design

Helping Chemical Engineers Prepare for the Exam

• Over 15 years experience in teaching review

classes.

• Developed and Created Chemical Engineering

PE Review Class at UH-Downtown.

• Witnessed many changes in the exam format

over the years.

Experiences

• Details on Review Classes – format issues and

other challenges.

• Typical format of review class: M&EB (6 hrs),

Fluids (6 hrs), HT&HE (6 hrs), Thermo (6 hrs),

Mass Transfer (6 hrs), Kinetics (3 hrs), Plant

Design (3 hrs): Total 36 hours

Experiences

• Generating original problems and solutions.• Keeping up with changes in exam format.• Writing the Practice Exam book.

Experiences

• Advisor – Chemical Engineering Zone

(CHEPZ).• Creating original problems and solutions

(88).• Format of CHEPZ.• Q & A forum – challenges.

Role of the Chemical Engineering Profession

•Actively promote and encourage

registration.• Links / Information on Registration

Process on local and national

AIChE web sites.

Role of the Chemical Engineering Profession

• Communicate the importance of

registration.• Meetings / Seminars to discuss the

registration process.

Role of the Chemical Engineering Profession

• Registered PE s guide and mentor

prospective candidates.• Provide financial and other incentives for

acquiring a PE license.

Conclusions

• The registration process requires significant investment of time and effort.

• The chemical engineering profession must do more to encourage and promote registration.

• The goal is to have a well qualified competent work force that can compete effectively in the global market.

Useful Websites

• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying:

www.ncees.org

• National Society of Professional Engineers

www.nspe.org

Useful Websites

• Test Masters Educational Services – offers Fe and PE Review Courses

www.testmasters.com

• Professional Publications, Inc.

www.ppi2pass.com