SE License Exam Changes, SE I, SE II

There are upcoming changes to the SE Licensing exam that could impact engineers who are looking to earn the SE License. These changes are still being finalized, but below is my current understanding of the situation. (For more information, please refer to the NCEES press release at http://www.ncees.org/news/index.php?release_id=47. )

1. There will no longer be an SE I and SE II exam. There will be 1 single 16 Hour SE Exam. Each 8 hour section could be passed separately.

2. Passing the first 8 hours will not allow you to qualify for a P.E. (in many states now, if you pass SE I, you can get registered as a PE)

3. The first 8 hours of the exam will cover gravity systems and the second 8 hours will cover lateral systems, including extensive seismic.

4. There is an effort to get states like CA and WA to agree that passing the new SE 16 hour exam will be sufficient to become licensed as an SE in those states such that their state specific exam would not be required.

5. If you have passed SE I, but haven’t taken SE II, you will need to do that before the new requirements take place if you want to only take SE II. After the new requirement takes effect (anticipated for 2011), the new exam would have to be taken (the entire 16 hours) in order to get licensed as an SE.

If you have any additional information/comments/feedback on this topic, please let me know