Picture this — you spend months working on the design and construction of a project, and next thing you know, another engineer is on the news poking holes in it for everybody to see. How'd you feel? 🤔
In this episode, we dive into a situation like this that happened in real life in a state highway project. What started as a difference in technical opinion only became a full-blown ethics investigation…that even resulted in formal disciplinary action! 😮
This story is a perfect reminder that being a civil engineer isn’t just about being good at the technical craft only. Instead, it’s also about ethical conduct — professionalism, integrity, and knowing when (and how) to speak up.
The problem? Most engineers don’t take the ASCE Code of Ethics seriously. They feel like it’s one of those things that “only matter in theory.”
Well, it may be…until it doesn’t. And this real-life situation makes it pretty clear.
If you’ve ever questioned the importance of ethics in real-world practice — not just on the FE or PE exams — this one’s a must-listen. All of us deal with it. Project after project.
So, tune in to learn from this real case and make sure you never end up on the wrong side of the ethics line.
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
The Story Behind This Real-Life Ethical Misconduct in a Nutshell (And How It Ended)
Why This Misconduct Violated 2 Canons of the ASCE Code of Ethics
Is It a Problem to Have Other Engineers Review Your Work?
What Not to Do When Reviewing Another Engineer's Work
Why It's 100x Easier Today to Make the Same Ethical Mistake
The Canon of the ASCE Code of Ethics That You Need to Live By
What's a Letter of Censure?
The Biggest Take Away of This Real-Life Case
The One Time Mark Got "Called Out" for His Design (And What He Did)
How to Review the Work of Other Engineers Correctly
What Should You Do When Less Experienced Engineers Call You Out?
3 Guardrails to Handle Professional Disagreements Ethically
2 Tricks to Deal With Criticism of Your Work Without Hurting Your Reputation
The Ethics Topic on Your Professional Exams
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Ever imagined passing the FE on the first try 7 years after school, doing the same with the PE just 2 years later…and all of this without having started out in engineering in the first place?!
That’s exactly what today’s guest did! 😮
Sierra Patrick was on a pre-med track before realizing engineering suited her better. Two years ago, she joined our Civil FE Review Course to finally tackle the FE exam after putting it off since college.
Fast forward to today, she’s officially a licensed PE after knocking out the PE Exam this year with our Civil PE Review Course as well. (Yep, another double-win with CEA! ✅ 👷)
From that bold career pivot to prepping for her exams, Sierra’s journey is packed with hard-earned lessons you’ll want to steal for your own exam prep.
Whether you’re gearing up for the FE or the PE, this episode has lots of study and exam-day tips from someone who’s walked the walk…and made it to the end. Just listen. 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
Her Transition Into Civil Engineering from a Pre-Med Track (And Why)
Her Experience Skipping the Civil FE Exam While in School
Which One Is Harder: The FE or the PE?
Which Civil PE Exam Discipline She Chose And Why
How She Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Stuck With It)
What She Enjoyed the Most About The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course
Her Advice on Taking Practice Exams That You Should Take to Heart
What Caught Her Off Guard on the Exam (And We Talk About It All the Time!)
2 Tips to Prep for Theory Problems the Right Way in Her Opinion
How She Went About Identifying and Improving on the Topics She Wasn't Good at
How the AIT Questions Can Trip You Up Without You Even Noticing
Her Experience Waiting to Take the PE After the FE (And Why You Shouldn't!)
The Number One Piece of Advice That Can Make of Break Your PE Exam Prep
How Her Work Supported Her Throughout Her PE Journey
Her Advice for Women in Engineering
Why She Recommends Civil Engineering Academy's PE Course
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
FREE PE Water Resources Problems
💬 CONNECT WITH SEIRRA:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Here’s a fact in the professional civil engineering exams world — most test-takers don’t fail because they're not smart enough. They fail because they study for their exams the wrong way!
Over our 10+ years helping 1,000+ civil engineers crush their FE and PE exams (some after multiple failed attempts!), we’ve spotted 4 BIG exam prep mistakes most of them make…and it kills their chances of passing.
After seeing those mistakes beat up a lot of civil engineers, we set out to change that.
We analyzed them deeply, created a 4-step study strategy that prevents each one, and built it into our courses to help civil engineers finally cross the finish line.
We call it The CEA PASS™ Method, and in this episode, we’ll be breaking it down for you to use it, too! 😉
If you’ve been grinding for weeks and still feel stuck in your FE or PE prep, not seeing progress, or unsure how to study…use this.
That’s how you PASS™! ✅ 👷
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
What’s The CEA PASS™ Method?
The 4 Steps of the Method — Preview, Apply, Solidify, Simulate
How to Go About Studying Your Exam Prep Material the Right Way
How to Make Sure You Dedicate Study Sessions to Solving Problems
How to Schedule Review Sessions in Your Study Plan (And When)
When to Take Practice Exams in Your Prep (And What to Do After Each)
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Practice Testing Study Technique
Time Management Strategy to Find Time to Study
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH US!
What does it take to become a successful woman civil engineer? 🤔 For multi-award winning Structural Engineer Najwa Jawahar, it all comes down to the “civil engineer” part only.
Najwa is a Chartered Structural Engineer in the UK with nearly 13 years of experience. She’s worked on multiple types of projects and become one of the top voices and role models in Structural Engineering for women who want to go down the route.
The result of these contributions?
She’s been named one of the top 50 rising stars in Science and Engineering and received the Best Young Woman Engineer award at the European Women in Construction and Engineering organization. 😲
Now, in this episode, she dives into the details of this success journey in this field packed with men, her tips for other women to succeed as well, and the biggest enemy they’ll need to beat if they want to do so. (Hint: it’s not men. 😉)
So, if you’re a woman in civil engineering intimidated by being the only one in the room, tune in to hear Najwa’s story and the hard-learned career lessons she passes on.
Her story is proof that you don’t have to blend in to build an extraordinary career. In fact, it’s just the opposite — you have to stand out. (You’ll understand that once you listen. 😂)
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
💬 CONNECT WITH NAJWA:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Ever looked around at your career and thought, “How the heck did I end up here?” Yeah — and you’re not alone. But that’s because your career was happening to you…instead of you making it happen.
In this episode, we chat with Bryce Batts, a recruiter specialized in the AEC industry who’s helped over 800 professionals land jobs that actually fit their life and align with their values.
After years of coaching and recruiting engineers, she put all her best career tips and advice into The Career Architect — a book that cracks the code of how to build a career you're proud of from the get-to…or get unstuck if you feel miserable where you’re at.
The simple secret? 🤔
According to her, a fulfilling career doesn’t fall into your lap — it’s something you build!
If you’re stuck in a rut, thinking about making a switch, or just tired of “going with the flow,” then this is for you. Why?
It will help you rethink how you approach and achieve professional success — and she gives you the best tips straight out of her book on how to do this as well. 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
3 Key Principles to Building a Career You're Proud of
What Should You Do If You've Chosen the Wrong Career Path?
4 Big Factors That Companies Need to Consider Offering to Their Engineers
Is Job-Hopping the Only Way to Get a Raise?
The 2 Worst Aspects of a Company That Cause Engineers to Switch Jobs
4 Simple Benefits That Make Engineers Fight Over a Job...and Stay Forever!
How the PE License Impacts Your Career Opportunities on the Eyes of a Recruiter
The Story Behind Her Book and What Made Her Want to Write It
Her Biggest Rule That Serves Both Your Career And Life
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The Career Architect Book, by Bryce Batts
Wine After Work Podcast (Spotify)
Wine After Work Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
North Carolina State University
💬 CONNECT WITH BRYCE:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
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📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
If you’re in your 30s or more and think it’s “too late” to become PE, I’d like you to meet Jimmy Draughty. He passed the most brutal PE exam on the first try…and he did it at 58 years old! 😮
Since graduating, Jimmy’s worked on massive projects around the world, collected as many licenses as you can think of, and even worked for himself for about 10 years. At 58, that’d be enough, right?
Wrong!
Even with all this experience that blows all the newly licensed PEs (combined!) out of the water, he noticed the PE license still mattered big time for his career.
In this episode, he dives into his journey passing the Construction PE Exam at this later stage in life. Why the PE still matters even if you’re way past your 20s, how he (re)learned topics he hadn’t used in years…all the way to the tools and resources he used to pull this off.
If you’ve ever told yourself “it’s too late for me,” Jimmy’s story proves it’s a lie. Your age or how long you’ve been out of school doesn’t matter. What matters is the weight of having the PE license in the civil engineering world…at any stage of life.
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
Why He Wanted the PE License Even at 58 Years Old!
The 2 Biggest Challenges He Faced Prepping for the PE Later in Life
How Organized (and Tracked) His Exam Prep Like a Real Project Manager
What Helped Him Get a Handle of the Topics He Hasn't Used in Decades
Should You Prioritize Experience or Pass Rates When Choosing a PE Exam?
What Caught Him Off Guard on the Construction PE That Almost Led to a Fail
How to Handle All the Codes & Standards Required for the Construction PE Exam
His Approach to Taking Practice Exams (And Doing It is a Must!)
The Reason He Wouldn't Have Passed Without a Course (And It Applies to You, Too)
His Advice at 58 Years Old to Those Who Think It's Too Late to Become a PE
How He Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Why He Chose It)
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
💬 CONNECT WITH JIMMY:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
We’ve interviewed engineers in many different fields that don’t even come to mind for those in civil engineering, and here’s a brand-new one you’ve never heard of — spill prevention plan!
Our guest today is Travis Keener, aka the Spill Plan Man. He’s a licensed PE in 42 states who’s built his entire career around what’s called Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans.
Today, he runs his own business doing it to keep oil-handling facilities compliant with the EPA, and has personally stamped more than 600 of them. Now, the best part?
This is something he contracts out a lot of civil engineers to help, and that licensed civil engineers can do as well!
So, this episode is a peek into one of those “hidden corners” of engineering most of us are not told about in school.
Tune in to learn how he ended up in this world, what the work entails on a daily basis…plus why it could be a rewarding career path for a civil engineer just like you.
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
What He Does as the "Spill Plan Man"
What SPCC Plans are And Why They Require Licensed PEs
How SPCC Plans Grew to Become His Career Path
Is Spill Control a Possible Career Path for Civil Engineers?
How He Manages PDHs Being Licensed in 42 States
The Biggest Misconception About the EPA's Oil Spill Rule
Why the Rule of 110% for Rain is Misleading
Do You Really Need to Change Your Spill Plan Every 5 Years?
How He Runs His Spill Plan Business (And Hires Civil Engineers to Help!)
His Tip for the PE Exam That Still Works Today
His Advice for Young Engineers to Find Their Path After School
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
💬 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS:
Phone Number: 918 766-9359
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
If you’re in the floodplain management arena and want to build a successful career in it, then this episode with Scott Pelath, CFM, is a must-listen! Here’s why. 👇
Scott started his career dealing with public affairs related to Water Resources. Then, he transitioned into one of the highest positions in floodplain management in his area — the Executive Director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission.
In this episode, he shares his journey to create a successful floodplain management career…plus his experience getting the certification that matters most in this field — the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM®)!
Scott’s story proves that the CFM isn’t just another set of letters after your name. Instead, it’s a tool that can move you up to executive-level jobs.
So, whether you’re preparing for the CFM® exam yourself or just curious about where this certification can take you, this episode is packed with insights from a CFM himself who’s been in your shoes..
Hit play and let Scott’s journey inspire your own path to becoming a CFM, too! 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
His Career Journey from Legislation to Floodplain Management
Why He Felt the Need to Get the CFM® Certification
What He Loves the Most About His Job in Floodplain Management
Why the CFM® Certification Matters Big Time (Especially Nowadays)
Why He Chose CEA's CFM® Review Course to Help Him Prep
What Future CFM Examinees Need to Be on the Lookout For
His Exact Study Routine for You to Copy (+ What He Would've Done Differently)
How Difficult is the CFM® Exam?
What He Enjoyed the Most About the CFM Review Course & Material
A Test-Taking Tip You Need to Remember on Your Exam Day
The Value of the CFM Beyond Just "Passing an Exam"
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
CFM Course Launch Interview With Matt Fanghella (CEA #207)
Association of State Floodplain Managers
Quizlet Flashcards for the CFM
Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission
Indiana University Bloomington
💬 CONNECT WITH SCOTT:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Outdated education with low pay, but worn out infrastructure and sustainability needs? 🤔
These are the two sides of civil engineering today — and nobody has lived and breathed the field as much as Dennis D. Truax to know the right way to look at it. 👇
Dennis is a civil engineer who has spent decades shaping the profession in leadership positions. From leading Mississippi State University’s civil department to serving as ASCE President in 2022!
In this episode, he shares the harsh truths and the hidden opportunities he sees today for civil engineers. And if that’s not enough, he also gives us a sneak peek into a new platform that challenges the old work model of one company, 40-hour workweeks.
(Yep. You read that right. 😨)
If you want to hear wisdom from someone who’s been in the trenches, led at the highest levels, and is still working to shape the future of civil engineering even after “retirement,” you’ll love this conversation. 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
The High-Level Professional Roles He's Held Over His Career
Has Today's Civil Engineering Education Fallen Behind?
Broad But Difficult: The Positive and Negative Side of Civil Engineering
The Hesitation of Young People to Go into Civil
A Groundbreaking Concept in Water Resources and Environmental for the Future
The Biggest Challenge (And Opportunity) in Civil Engineering Today
The Role of ASCE in the Political Battles for Investments in Infrastructure
Is US Infrastructure Improving?
Why the Wastewater Field Scores a D (And What Can Be Done About It)
What Changed in the Past That Makes Today a Great Time to Be a Civil Engineer
A New Civil Engineering Work Model (And the Platform to Leverage It)
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
ASCE 2022 President Dennis Truax Video
The Infrastructure Report Card
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IJA) Act
💬 CONNECT WITH DENNIS:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Most people kick the PE exam down the road when life gets busy, but Mudasir Gulzar?! He did the opposite! He pulled his exam date forward, leaving him with only one month left to study with…wait for it…a baby on the way! 😮
Crazy? Maybe. But it worked!
In this episode, he dives into his “rushed” journey to pass the tough, code-heavy Geotechnical PE Exam…while sharing the hard-earned lessons he learned on the way that can save you months of trial and error in your own prep (and get you to pass sooner!)
From two study tips he lived by to the game-changer for those taking the Geotech exam to how he used practice exams to maximize his learning…all the way to the one thing you should keep in mind when studying for the PE..
If you’re staring down the PE (especially the Geotech PE Exam), his story hits home. It’s not about having endless time — it’s about having the right approach and the right tools to get it done.
Tune in now to learn how he pulled this off — and how you can, too. 👍
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
How He First Found Out About the Existence of the FE and PE Exams
How He Prepped for and Passed the FE Exam on His Own
Why He Picked Geotechnical Engineering for His Career
A Game-Changing Piece of Advice If You Want to Pass the Geotech PE Exam
How He Prepped in 1 Month After Pulling His Exam Date Forward
2 Study Tips He Lived By to Pass
What He Would Do After Finishing Practice Exams That You Must Do as Well
3 Reasons Why He Chose (& Stuck With) CEA's PE Review Course
Hard-Earned Lessons for Those Taking the Geotech PE Exam
The ONE Thing You Should Keep in Mind When Prepping
The Single Feature of The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course He Enjoyed the Most
What He Thought of CEA's PE CBT Exam Simulator
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
NCEES Official Geotech PE Practice Exam
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
💬 CONNECT WITH MUDASIR:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FEvir Envirnmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
After passing the FE after 5 tries, Ryan Turley circled back to CEA for the PE exam…and knocked that one out too! 🥊 In this episode, Ryan shares his tips and experience to pull this off. 👇
If you’re taking the FE or have just got it done, he shares what happens in between the two exams. He organized himself to start studying for the PE. Why (and how) he chose the Water Resources PE over Transportation. And a lot more.
For those taking the PE, Ryan drops some gold nuggets on everything he learned by going through this twice himself. The biggest exam surprise that caught him off guard. The test-taking strategy he used. A simple hack to make studying feel way less like pulling teeth. And more.
Whether you’re stuck on the FE or staring at the PE as your next milestone, this one’s packed with tips you can swipe and use right away. 😉
Hit play and let Ryan show you how he went from five FE fails to a PE pass on the second try — and how you can, too! ✅ 👷
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
How He Organized His Study Schedule for the PE Exam
Is the PE Easier Than the FE?
Why He Picked the Water Resources Over the Transportation PE Exam
His Biggest Surprise on the Exam You Need to Be Aware of!
The 2 Water Resources Topics Examinees Fear (and How to Prep for Them)
How Deep Do You Need to Go on the Codes & Standards for the Water Exam?
How Our PE Water Resources Review Course Helped Him Study for the PE
The Biggest Thing About Passing the PE That We Bake into Our Course
How He Prepped for Theory Questions on the PE
What Score Should You Be Getting on Practice Exams to Be Ready for the Real Deal?
His Test-Taking Strategy to Finish Each Session 20 Minutes Early and Review It
His Simple Trick to Boost How Much You Retain of What You Study
The Real Commitment Needed to Pass the PE (And It's Easier Than You Think!)
The Secret to Make Studying for the PE a Habit You Actually Enjoy
Why He Recommends Civil Engineering Academy's PE Courses
What to Do If You've Been Failing the PE Multiple Times
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
First Interview With Ryan (CEA # 239)
The Ultimate Civil PE Water Resources Review Course
💬 CONNECT WITH RYAN:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
We know. Failing the PE Exam stings. 😬 Especially after hours of studying and no-fun weekends. When this happened, you wanted to jump ship and switch to another discipline, right? 🤔
That’s everybody’s knee-jerk reaction, but here’s the kicker — that move might actually set you back instead of moving you forward! 😨
In this episode, I dive into my hot take on one of the most common questions we get here at CEA from PE test-takers like you: Should I switch exams after failing?
My answer will not surprise you. Instead, it goes against everything you used to believe about this…but it comes straight from my own experience as a repeat taker who’s been exactly where you are right now.
If you’ve failed once, twice, or even a few times already and feel like running to another Civil PE Exam discipline, this one’s for you. 🎧
Give it a listen before you make a decision that could delay your license even longer!
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
My Hot Take on Switching PE Exams After a Fail (and Why)
4 Advantages You Earned Prepping for Your Failed Attempts
7 Advantages You Now Have for Having Taken the Exam Before
My Personal Story as a Repeater Taker at This Crossroads Myself
5 Downsides of Switching Exams You Don't Even Consider
3 Things to Fix That Works Better Than Switching Exams
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Tucker Stafford Interview (CEA #255)
Makenzie Allen Interview (CEA #192)
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Here’s one of the biggest decisions in a civil engineer’s career — do you keep the hard hat on and stay technical…or swap it for a suit jacket and go full-on manager? 💼👷♂️
In this episode, we’re diving deep into the details of the “Engineer vs. Manager” post we did on LinkedIn that racked up almost half a million views and hundreds of shares. 😲
The main point of the post? Most engineers think they want to be managers...until they become managers and realize they actually didn’t. 😨
So, today, Mark jumps back on the show so we can both share our own journeys going into management. We break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of the manager role so you can figure out whether it truly is for you. 👍
If you’ve been wondering whether to climb the management ladder or double down on your engineering craft, this is the conversation you need before making the leap. 😉
Hit play and get the inside scoop before you make a move you’ll regret. 🎧
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
How Most Engineers End Up in Management (And Why Some Don't)
The Type of Engineers Most Suited to Become Managers
The First Problem You Face Going into Management
The Real Functions (and Challenges) of the Manager in an Organization
People Problems Managers Face Daily
The Battle the Manager Has to Fight for His Employees
Why Most Engineers Feel Pressured to Get into Management
What Makes Engineers Switch Back to Technical Roles
What You Need to Be Effective as a Manager
The Best Way to Prepare Yourself to Take the Manager Role
Resources and Trainings You Should Get Before Becoming a Manager
The Positive Side of Management (And Who Thrives in It)
The ONE Skill You Need No Matter If You're an Engineer or Manager
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Engineer vs. Manager LinkedIn Post
Atomic Habits, by Jamer Clear
Radical Candor, by Kim Scott
The Manager's Path, by Camille Fournier
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
No engineering project is a success without one crucial aspect. What is it? 🤔 According to our guest, a powerful leadership tool most people neglect. 👇
Today, we chat with W. Jeff Williams, a civil engineer turned mayor of Arlington, Texas. If you think of some of the biggest projects in the state, he’s the guy behind them. Either working on them as a civil engineer or bringing them to the state as the Mayor! 😯
Jeff’s done it all and seen it all. After decades of in-the-trenches engineering and leadership work (and wins!), he learned the real secret sauce that makes or breaks engineering projects: unity — aligning people and purpose to transform outcomes.
In his book coming out in September, he dives deep into this concept. But today, he gives us a sneak peek into it (plus a lot of other hard-earned lessons for civil engineers in the same shoes). 😉
If you’re managing a team at your company, leading a government agency, or in charge of a community organization, this one’s packed with wisdom from a guy who's worn all those hats. 💡
Hit play and learn how unity isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s your competitive edge. 🎧
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
The Most Crucial Aspect of Any Successful Engineering Project
What the “Unity” Principle Really Is
2 Tips to Create Unity as a Leader
A Sneak Peek at One of the Book’s Important Lessons for Engineers
Why He Moved Into the Public Sector
2 Skills You Need to Work in the Public Sector
His Tips for the Future Generation of Engineers with the Tech Revolution
3 Pieces of Advice for Young Civil Engineers to Succeed
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The Unity Blueprint Book (Pre-Order on Amazon)
AT&T StadiumSouthlake Town Square
National Medal of Honor Museum
💬 CONNECT WITH JEFF:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Double-digit, billion-dollar investments into infrastructure projects going down the drain with them? 😨
In this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into the wave of mega infrastructure projects built by China across the globe that are already cracking, leaking, and flat-out shutting down.
These are massive, government-funded projects that were supposed to last 50+ years…but instead, they’re turning into billion-dollar blunders. Why?
Why are they failing so fast? What went wrong during design and construction (and politics)? And most importantly, what can we civil engineers learn from it? Especially now with the U.S. pouring billions into infrastructure upgrades after the 2021 bill? 🤔
🎧 Hit play and let’s break down what happens when quality takes a backseat in civil engineering and what we can learn from it to avoid making the same mistake in the US. 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
We said it before — prepping for the PE usually takes 3-6 months. But today’s guest? He missed that memo and managed to pass this thing with less than 2 months of studying! 🤯
Kenneth (Kenny) Winston is a drainage engineer at Consor Engineers who joined us to share his unbelievable 1.5-month journey to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam. (Yes, you read that right!)
How, you ask? 🤔
Here’s the secret — he knew exactly how he learns best, and that self-awareness made all the difference.
In this episode, he talks about how he found The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course, why it was the perfect match for his learning style, and what strategies helped him go from overwhelmed to confident in record time.
If you feel like your prep just isn’t clicking, this episode shows you that passing fast isn’t about shortcuts. It’s just a matter of knowing yourself…and finding the right-fit resources to help you. 😉
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course
💬 CONNECT WITH KENNY:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
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No matter how hard you study, on exam day, nerves kick in, you worry about time, and one tough question can throw you off. But what if you had a test-taking plan to avoid all of that? 🤔
In this episode, I break down our CEA Test Strategy™, a 3-phase test-taking hack that allows you to do what really matters to pass your FE, PE, or CFM® exam — get as many questions right as possible. ✅
How? By tackling the right questions, at the right time during the exam. 😉
I used this approach when I took my exams myself. I taught it to every CEA team member who was once a student. And I teach it to every single student of our review courses. Now, I’m sharing this test-taking hack with you as well. 😉
If you're gearing up for any of these exams, you need to practice this strategy with practice exams to stop feeling overwhelmed the moment the clock starts ticking.
So, just hit play, and let's get you “exam-day ready”…step-by-step. 🏆
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
The CEA Test Strategy™
Step 1: “Quick Wins” to Build Momentum
Step 2: The “Brain Burners” You’ll Want to Pace Yourself Through
Step 3: The “Smart Guesses” That Could Make or Break Your Score
Why This Strategy Works to Get You Passed (And Has for Years)
Why You Should Use it…100%!
How to Practice This Strategy in Your Prep
🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:
📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
🚨 Here’s by far the most asked question inside our FE and PE courses: “Should I use the Ultimate or Net Bearing Capacity to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity?” 🤔
That question comes up in our student-only community every single year, multiple times, and rightfully so.
Reference manuals tell you to find the Net value and then use it to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity. But then, in the solutions to the problems, it uses the Ultimate value directly.
Like, “What the heck?!” 😨
But don’t worry….we’ve got your back. 😉
Over the years, we’ve shared a little-known trick with our students so they know which one to use on exam day. And in this episode, we’re sharing it with you as well. 😉
Tune in to learn about this trick…and you’ll never get this wrong anymore in your exam prep. That’s a promise. 👍
Side note: Do you like this format diving more into the exam content itself and sharing tips and tricks about it? It would mean the world to us if you could let us know in the comments! 👇
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
What's the Bearing Capacity of Soil?
What Ultimate Bearing Capacity is All About
How to Calculate Ultimate Bearing Capacity
What Net Bearing Capacity is...And How It Differs from the Ultimate Value
The Allowable Bearing Capacity
The Big FE/PE Dilemma: Two Ways to Find the Allowable Bearing Capacity
The Little-Known Trick We Share With Our Students That Solves This Dilemma
🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:
📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Want to work in “the CSI of Civil Engineering?” 🤔 That’s the best way to describe the little-known career path of Forensic Engineering — and in this episode, we’re diving headfirst into it. 🕵️♂️💥
Our guest for this one is Peter Marxhausen, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience and 10,000+ building investigations under his belt. Peter has now seen it all — cracks, collapses, fire…and the courtroom drama that follows.
If you’ve never heard of this field before, or just assumed it was something only "experts" do at the end of their careers, Peter’s here to break it all down. How to get into it. What the work of a Forensic Engineer entails. The credentials you need. And a lot more!
Whether you’re just starting out trying to figure out what career route to take or considering a career shift, this episode’s got all you need to know about a career Forensic Engineering that most civil engineers don’t even know they can have. 😎
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
How What Every Civil Engineer Avoids Got Him Into Forensic Engineering
The Engineering Type of Work a Forensic Engineer Does the Most
The Non-Engineering Type of Work Forensic Engineers Have to do Regardless
A Third Task That Also Makes up a Forensic Engineer's Workload
3 Requirements to Pursue a Career in Forensic Engineering
What You Need to Know Before Getting into Forensic Engineering
Do You Need Any Credentials in Forensic Engineering?
Do Old Buildings Have More Problems Than New Ones?
Design or Construction: Who's to Blame When a Structure Fails?
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
📧 CONNECT WITH PETER:
🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:
📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!
Every one of us is guilty of procrastinating on our exam prep. Whether it’s just “a little bit” or “a lot” is not the problem — the cost of it to our career is. But the good news? It’s beatable! 💪 👇
In this episode, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to help us unpack the real reasons we drag our feet when it comes to studying for our exam.
We’re not here to beat you up about it – we’ve been there. 😅 Instead, we’re here to dig into what’s actually happening behind the scenes, and why it shows up the most when you’re chasing a big goal like the FE or PE.
From the science behind procrastination to the sneaky habits that make it worse all the way to the practical strategies to help you move past it and finally build momentum, we break it all down.
So, whether you’re putting off taking your exam, dreading those study sessions, or just stuck in neutral after a failed attempt, this one’s going to feel like a much-needed kick in the pants (in the best way possible 😉).
Hit play to stop waiting and start passing. 👍
🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:
🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:
🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:
📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:
FE Environmental Practice Exam
PE Environmental Practice Exam
📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!