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Episode 131 – The PE Exam Isn’t Hard; Your Approach Is.

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Manage episode 522117827 series 3510457
Content provided by Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers and Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers and Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Passing the PE exam isn’t about being the smartest engineer in the room—it’s about having a strategy. In this episode, Jake breaks down the exact system he used to pass the Power PE while working full-time, raising a family, and refusing to waste months in overbuilt study courses. This isn’t theory—this is practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to get licensed without burning out.

Key Topics Covered

• Why your PE prep starts on Day 1 of your engineering career, not 4 years later • How to track every project so your PE application basically writes itself • The two categories of project documentation engineers ignore—and why both matter • What PE reviewers actually look for in your experience narrative • How to record decision-making, trade-offs, and technical judgment that prove growth • A simple, repeatable process to build your personal “experience database” • The study approach that saves you months: identify weaknesses before studying • A practical, momentum-first test-day strategy that reduces stress and boosts accuracy • How to categorize exam questions into easy/medium/hard, lookup vs. math • Why building judgment around order-of-magnitude checks can save you on tough questions

Actionable Steps

• Start documenting every project today—scope, dates, fees, cost, square footage, systems • Capture factual statements (“designed X,” “calculated Y”) after each project • Capture decision-making—trade-offs, constraints, who you coordinated with, and why • Keep a running list of supervising PEs and which projects you completed under each • During PE prep, spend the first 1–2 weeks only on problems to find your weak areas • Build a ranked study list based on where you struggle—not what a course tells you • Create your own “fundamentals card” of the few core equations you actually need • On exam day, scan all questions and label them: easy / medium / hard + lookup / math • Complete all easy questions first to build momentum, then tackle medium, then hard • If stuck, set a cutoff time, eliminate obvious wrong answers, choose the most logical option, and move on

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers preparing for the PE exam (any discipline) • Early-career AEC engineers who want a roadmap before they start studying • Engineers overwhelmed by the application process or unsure how to track experience • Busy professionals balancing PE prep with work, kids, and life • Anyone who wants a clear, proven, no-BS strategy instead of anxiety and guesswork

Why It Matters

Your PE license isn’t just a test score—it’s a signal that you can think clearly, make sound decisions, and document real engineering judgment. When you build the right system—project tracking, strategic study, and a test-day plan—you remove the guesswork and take control of your career. The result? More credibility, more opportunity, and more leverage in every role you take on.

Where to Listen

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Share

If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

  continue reading

131 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 522117827 series 3510457
Content provided by Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers and Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Steve & Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers and Jake Maxey - The Impactful Engineers or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Passing the PE exam isn’t about being the smartest engineer in the room—it’s about having a strategy. In this episode, Jake breaks down the exact system he used to pass the Power PE while working full-time, raising a family, and refusing to waste months in overbuilt study courses. This isn’t theory—this is practical, tactical advice for engineers who want to get licensed without burning out.

Key Topics Covered

• Why your PE prep starts on Day 1 of your engineering career, not 4 years later • How to track every project so your PE application basically writes itself • The two categories of project documentation engineers ignore—and why both matter • What PE reviewers actually look for in your experience narrative • How to record decision-making, trade-offs, and technical judgment that prove growth • A simple, repeatable process to build your personal “experience database” • The study approach that saves you months: identify weaknesses before studying • A practical, momentum-first test-day strategy that reduces stress and boosts accuracy • How to categorize exam questions into easy/medium/hard, lookup vs. math • Why building judgment around order-of-magnitude checks can save you on tough questions

Actionable Steps

• Start documenting every project today—scope, dates, fees, cost, square footage, systems • Capture factual statements (“designed X,” “calculated Y”) after each project • Capture decision-making—trade-offs, constraints, who you coordinated with, and why • Keep a running list of supervising PEs and which projects you completed under each • During PE prep, spend the first 1–2 weeks only on problems to find your weak areas • Build a ranked study list based on where you struggle—not what a course tells you • Create your own “fundamentals card” of the few core equations you actually need • On exam day, scan all questions and label them: easy / medium / hard + lookup / math • Complete all easy questions first to build momentum, then tackle medium, then hard • If stuck, set a cutoff time, eliminate obvious wrong answers, choose the most logical option, and move on

Who This Episode Is For

• Engineers preparing for the PE exam (any discipline) • Early-career AEC engineers who want a roadmap before they start studying • Engineers overwhelmed by the application process or unsure how to track experience • Busy professionals balancing PE prep with work, kids, and life • Anyone who wants a clear, proven, no-BS strategy instead of anxiety and guesswork

Why It Matters

Your PE license isn’t just a test score—it’s a signal that you can think clearly, make sound decisions, and document real engineering judgment. When you build the right system—project tracking, strategic study, and a test-day plan—you remove the guesswork and take control of your career. The result? More credibility, more opportunity, and more leverage in every role you take on.

Where to Listen

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Or wherever you get your podcasts.

Share

If this episode hit home, send it to someone. The Impactful Engineer grows by word of mouth—just like the best careers do.

  continue reading

131 episodes

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