Should I or shouldn't I do this? "Time is money", "Our most precious resource is time", "What's the return on investment?", "Is it worth it?"... Fill in the blank with your favorite cliche. You've heard these kind of things before, haven't you? From other people, or in your own mind. It boils down to: is this PE license going to be worth it enough for me to commit to achieving it? Should I do this?
For some people, this is not a choice because their job role requires certification, or their employer otherwise mandates it. For others, it's strictly an independent choice - - to potentially open new doors, opportunities, for a better life for them and their family. Perhaps, for example, you want to start your own engineering firm and need a PE license. It's very important to know your "why"--the reason you're doing what you're doing. Then, when you do decide to pursue the professional engineering certification and license, a graduate degree, or whatever it is you want to achieve, you have to fully commit yourself to accomplishing the task.
You reach an inflection point along the arc of your life at which you make a commitment. You load a program in your head called "Failure is not an option" and you lock onto the task until completion--like running a marathon to the end (for the athletic ones out there) or finishing to the last level of a really cool video game (for the not athletic ones out there). Harness your ambition and drive. Keep the end in mind. Stick it out. Endurance and perseverance. Failure is fine if you're iterating a prototype, taking risk, improving, etc., but you want to pass this test on the first go. In this context of the PE license examination, the "failure is not an option" mentality is the mindset I take. It's a positive affirmation, really: "I will pass this test because I always pass on my first try. I am well-prepared. I am calm, and cool like a cucumber. I got this." Otherwise, if you don't pass and have to re-do it, you're ego will be bruised (harming your outlook), you'll spend more time and money, and incur more stress in the long run. I don't want you to have to re-do this. Don't get "impostor syndrome" and start thinking "I'm not PE material" or "I'm not going to do this right" and that kind of self-defeating negative self talk. If you were able to get your engineering degree, THAT is harder than doing these certification exams, trust me--the standards were high and you met them. As for the PE test itself, the pass rate is about 70% so the odds are already in your favor. There is probably a certain number of people in the other 30% that didn't prepare well and/or psyched themselves out. I don't think you'll be one of those, but getting there isn't free. You will have to put forth effort and be smart. I'm writing this blog to help give you an advantage in passing the tests - through strategy, focus, study, motivation and support. Achieving your PE cert is a testament to your engineering aptitude and exemplifies not only your professional knowledge, but your perseverance and self motivation as well.
I'll explain some of the studying and testing strategies I used to pass the test in a subsequent posting. Hopefully, you're making the choice to move forward. Best of luck!
Cheers,
Andrew M Rummer, BSME, MBA, PE
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