Passing the PE Exam: Advancing Your Career
The Significance of a PE License
In the world of engineering, few accomplishments hold as much significance as earning a Professional Engineer (PE) license. This prestigious certification demonstrates an engineer's expertise, dedication, and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in their profession. The exam itself is computer-administered all year consisting of 80 questions with 9 hours to complete. There are different civil engineering PE exams determined by which area an engineer specializes in. The different areas include Civil: Construction, Civil: Geotechnical, Civil: Structural, Civil: Transportation, and Civil: Water Resources and Environmental. Passing a PE exam allows engineers to apply for registration to stamp civil engineering plans in the state in which they are licensed.
Learn More About Our Newest PE
Today, we are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of an engineer who has successfully passed the PE exam, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Barry Talkington, PE said, "Riku joined Barghausen 3.5 years ago and works on the Residential Development Team. His willingness to learn anything and take on any challenge to meet a deadline is greatly appreciated. What is most impressive is Riku’s unwavering dedication to providing superior service to our clients and team members while studying for the PE Exam; which he passed this winter. Having your professional license is a major achievement in an engineer’s career and something that they should be very proud of. Congratulations Riku!"
Riku Kusakabe, PE
Riku graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Environmental Engineering, and he has been working at Barghausen for about 3.5 years. He chose to pursue engineering because he has always excelled at problem-solving, and felt that engineering was a field of work that complemented those strengths.
"In preparation for the PE exam, I typically studied 10-20 hours weekly for 3 months. I used the School of PE On-Demand classes, and the NCEES practice exam and found it useful. The most challenging aspect of the exam process was trying to maintain a good work/life balance while studying. I made it a goal to study for at least an hour every day from Monday to Thursday and dedicate an entire day to studying on the weekend. If you are planning on taking the PE exam, my advice is to give yourself at least 2-3 months to study. Also, do as many practice tests and problems as possible. Obtaining my PE license allows me to be involved in more advanced projects that help me showcase my skills and how much I have learned and grown since I started working as an engineer. I’m still relatively early in my career, so I want to keep learning from those around me and be involved in as many projects as I can that will help me fine-tune my skills and grow into a stronger engineer. It opens many more opportunities for me to be challenged and grow outside my comfort zone. I think this is critical to me gaining more experience and advancing my talents."
