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Everything You Need to Know About CA Seismic Exam

Since the state of California falls under a seismic zone, Civil Engineers should take into account seismic activities while designing structures. To earn your Professional Engineering (PE) licensure in California, you must pass the PE exam and California Civil Seismic Exam. Read on to learn more about the CA Seismic exam and tips to enhance your exam preparation.

About the Examination

The California Seismic exam is an open book exam administered by Prometric Testing. This is a computer-based test (CBT) spanning 2.5 hours and consists of 55 MCQs. You can take the test year-round during the following months:

  • First Quarter: January–March
  • Second Quarter: April–June
  • Third Quarter: July–September
  • Fourth Quarter: October–December

In the event that you fail the exam, you can retake it once per quarter.

This exam tests a candidate's knowledge of the following Engineering concepts:

  • Standards of Practice - Knowledge of the laws regulating engineering surveying and the standards of care required.
  • Equipment and Uses - The types of equipment used and their application for gathering and interpreting field data and for construction layout
  • Field Measurements - The methods and procedures for determining distances, angles, and elevations.
  • Calculations - The analytical methods for applying the mathematical relationships between measured distances, angles, and elevations
  • Data Application Procedures - The research and planning for field surveys and conversion of field data to an engineering format.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates appearing for the CA Seismic examination should:

  • Obtain an Engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program.
  • Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
  • Gain a minimum of 4 years of work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer.
  • Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam

Once you pass the PE exam and meet the experience requirements, you can submit your application for the CA seismic exam.

You can also take the PE exam and CA seismic exam in tandem, but candidates are encouraged to pass the PE exam before applying for the state-specific exam.

Tips to Ace CA Seismic Exam

The California Seismic Exam requires hard work, dedication, and good study plans to succeed. The CA Seismic Exam syllabus is vast and requires months of preparation to get good grades. Here are some things you can do to enhance your exam prep and overcome the exam jitters:

  • Check the eligibility criteria for the CA Seismic exam before applying for the exam to avoid confusion.
  • Start your prep early, at least 6 months before the examination date. Develop a solid study plan and stick to it.
  • Please ensure you cover the entire syllabus and do not skip any topics.
  • Acquire highly-rated guidebooks and reference manuals to boost your exam prep.
  • Consider enrolling in a review course on well-known platforms like School of PE to get the desired result. A good review course can significantly improve your odds of passing the exam and offers several benefits such as:
    • Access to all study materials in one place
    • Live Online or Ondemand video lectures
    • Expert instructors who can guide you and clarify your doubts
    • Access to question banks, discussion forums, and much more.
  • Create a cheat sheet filled with essential formulas and conversions. It can be helpful for easy reference during the exam.
  • Purchasing a graphing calculator is highly recommended. The additional functions on the graphing calculator can come in handy during the exam.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice - The exam is 2.5 hours long and includes 55 questions. So, on average, you have a little less than 3 minutes to solve each question. Solving time-based practice tests can help you sharpen problem-solving and time-management skills.
  • Evaluate your performance on these practice tests to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Takeaway Thoughts

Passing the California Seismic Exam can be challenging, but it is definitely not impossible. Do not try to cram the entire syllabus days before the exam, give yourself optimal time to study all the topics. Starting the prep early and creating a good preparation strategy can help you achieve a good score. Join a review course, if possible, to improve your chances of getting a high score.

Good luck with the exam!
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