PE Exam Tip – Choose the Right Exam

Whether you’re a civil engineer or a mechanical engineer, choosing the right exam to take can make all the difference. And not all exams are created equal! Some have a wider range of topics, problems types and references that make them more difficult to prepare for and pass. Others require familiarity with fewer references and have topics the are more closely related to each other, narrowing the range of problem types, which makes them easier to prepare for and pass. Your work experience is also a vital factor in the decision, but sometimes not the deciding one.

Before you decide, I invite you to take a look at my FREE Exam Strategy Videos for the Civil PE Exam and the Mechanical PE Exam. In them, I outline the factors you should consider when making your exam choice. Let’s get you off on the right foot and on your way to being a PE!  - Dr. Tom

Civil Exam Strategy Videos • Mechanical Exam Strategy Videos

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Wintertime Is the Right Time to Get Your PE.

It’s cold outside, but you can keep warm and busy inside with your DTC Review for the PE Exam. And DTC’s structured and targeted FAST TRACK reviews will keep you on track all the way to through the spring thaw until the day of the April exam.

“Dr. Tom's Classroom is ideal for professionals with challenging work-loads. The structured classes that focus only on the information vital to passing the test save valuable time studying topics that are unlikely to be included in the test.”
- Nick Viviano, Black & Veatch, Overland Park, KS

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Extreme Remote Engineering

The only way to be more remote than booking a room at the Sheldon Chalet would be to book a room in the abandoned moon lander of the Apollo 11 mission. The Sheldon Chalet is located north of Talkeetna, Alaska, only 35 miles from the summit of Denali, some 6,000 feet elevation. The chalet is anchored to an elevated outcropping of rock providing a 360 degree view of the spectacular surroundings. The only way in and out to the chalet is by helicopter. There is no cell surface or WiFi, however the breathtaking views keep your mind and soul at the chalet. By the way, the cost is $2,300 per night, which includes all meals by a 5-star chef, and the helicopter service.

The Sheldon Chalet has gotten a great deal of publicity since it opened in February 2018. The 5-acre location in the Denali National Forest was purchased by Don and Roberta Sheldon before Alaska became a state. The children and grandchildren of the original owners and their families built and run the chalet. Don Sheldon built a considerably less comfortable "mountain cabin" about 50 yards from the chalet on the same outcropping. It is a short, but potentially very dangerous stroll away.

Of course you are amazed at first, but then the engineering questions start flowing. How did they anchor the chalet to the rock? How did they get the construction materials to the site and then put in place? How do they deal with the extremes of wind and bitter cold. How do they power the chalet, and more importantly, heat the chalet? What about the waste, not to get too specific? In my search and watching at least a dozen YouTube videos, I've only found the answers to a few of these questions.

The design and construction company was BEK of Alaska and it took 3 years to complete. Materials were delivered by plane or helicopter from Talkeetna, then helicopters were used to lower beams and all the materials into place. The windows are actually standard Marvin windows, but their frames have been strengthened. The chalet has been designed to withstand 200 mph winds and keep the occupants warm in -100 degree temperatures. I was not able to find out any specifics of the water and heating system, nor about the waste disposal. I've sent an email to the chalet asking where additional information could be found. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, the mind, especially an engineering mind, boggles at the technology and design considerations that had to be solved. - Dr. Tom

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

FEATURED TESTIMONIAL - Thumbs Up for the Fast Track!

“I thought the Fast Track Review Course was excellent. It provided the structure, practice, and review that I needed 25 years after receiving my mechanical engineering degree. I loved Dr. Tom's teaching - his style & strategy tips made the learning process very enjoyable. The class format and hand-outs were also excellent.  I  would strongly recommend it to others taking the ME PE exam.”
- Joel Lemke, PE, Emerson, Chanhassen, MN

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

The Scarf Measure of Train Delays

We traffic engineers have numerous ways to measure transportation system effectiveness: level of service, delay, queue length, and others have been used. Should we add a new measure? The scarf? A commuter in Germany chronicled the frequent delays on her daily train trip to work on a scarf she knitted throughout 2018, giving us a very accurate and visual representation of her transportation woes. - Daniel Findley, DTC Civil Transportation Instructor

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Achieve the Extraordinary. Become a PE.

You have achieved a lot in your career as an engineer, but you know that you are capable of more. Getting your P.E. license will open up a world of possibilities for you to achieve the extraordinary. And we can help you make those possibilities a reality with our Reviews for the Civil and Mechanical PE Exams and our comprehensive plan to prepare you to pass the exam.

Professional Engineers are changing our world for the better every day with amazing achievements. We can’t wait to see what you will do with your PE!



“Dr. Tom’s 20-Week Review provided the structure and the solid foundation I needed to pass the PE exam. Learning to quickly identify the type of problem and using Dr. Tom’s back-to-basics method of problem solving helped me feel confident in my ability to do well. The quality, exam day references provided, exam day strategies, and the confidence I have in Dr. Tom’s program makes it easy for me to recommend Dr. Tom’s Classroom others preparing for the PE exam. Thanks for getting me over the hump and helping me to accomplish a major goal of mine!” 
- Clint A., P.E., Tulsa, Oklahoma

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

ATTENTION Mechanical Engineers - Change Is Coming in 2020

The three Mechanical PE Exams are scheduled to covert to the year-round Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format starting in 2020 (https://ncees.org/exams/cbt/). This change in the testing method for the PE Exam has huge consequences for anyone taking the exam. To help you understand how this will affect you, I have outlined the implications of the CBT exam and here’s the bottom line up front – take the Pencil-and-Paper exam in 2019, before it’s too late.

Change Is Coming!

You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Diamonds - A Drone's Best Friend?

Lasers, shot through diamonds, may be able to provide the power needed for drones to complete the variety of tasks they've been called into service to perform. According to a Wired article, a network of these lasers and manmade diamonds may be able to power drones operating within their range and could have applications for other functions. While this technology is still being developed, the developers are also selling their diamonds for jewelry and to help fund their drone research. - Daniel Findley, DTC Civil Transportation Instructor

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

FEATURED TESTIMONIAL - No Frantic Searching

“I didn’t finish college. Having history as a CAD drafter for architecture firms, I got a job at a small civil engineering firm in Florida. I stayed there 4 years, learning and growing into a design engineer before moving to California where I remained in the field for another ten years. However, without a degree, I never gave much thought to getting licensed. When I finally realized I needed licensure to move forward, self study for the EIT was brutal. I made it though, but realized I couldn’t do the same for the PE. Dr. Toms was very helpful in covering the broad ranges of the Civil AM and PM portion, especially helpful in areas that I had no experience in and, of course, no recent school. The notebook organization and material were beyond helpful in the test, I knew where all the information was and wasn’t, there was no frantic searching. It didn’t help with all the questions on the PE, I doubt anything could, but I passed my first try. So did my coworker that also took the class. Thank you very much for your class!”
- Justin Blackwell, PE, San Diego, CA

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Propelled Flight with No Moving Parts

An amazing technology, known as electroaerodynamic propulsion, offers the potential power drones or even larger aircraft without any moving parts. Researchers at MIT have developed a plane using this technology that is capable of flying. This technology could alleviate noise complaints from residents who live near airports, improve safety, and reduce maintenance needs. - Daniel Findley, DTC Civil Transportation Instructor

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.

Hit the Ground Running with a Fast Track Review

It’s a new year and a new chance for you to achieve an important life goal: becoming a licensed professional engineer. With one of Dr. Tom’s Fast Track Reviews and a good bit of focused effort on your part, you can be prepared for the April 2019 PE Exam in just 3 months.

You don’t have any time to waste, and our reviews help you get organized, target your preparation, and learn exactly what you need to know to pass the exam. So sign up today and hit the ground running on your way to your PE.

“Dr. Tom's Fast Track Review has an aggressive schedule. However, I worked hard (30-40 hours a week) to "knock off the rust" my skills had collected over the years, tackling it at MY pace and on MY schedule (weekday lunch and evenings, weekends). I can say with absolute certainty that Dr. Tom’s review course was the key to my success. The organized approach (study schedule, practice problem selection, and reference binder structure) allowed me to focus on learning the content for the exam instead of wasting time trying to figure those out on my own. I was doubtful that I could get back up to speed on so many of the subjects that I spent years studying in college, but it worked!”
-Brent V., PE, Houston, Texas

Dr. Tom's Classroom - Achieve the Extraordinary

Save $25 with discount code: achieve25B

Change Is Coming! You Should Take the PE Exam Now.

Learn the Latest Here.