The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Passing the PE exam isn't always a straight play to the end zone. Gracie Johnson knows that firsthand. After 3 attempts off by 1-2 questions, she was down to one more run — and this time, she scored the touchdown! 👇 Gracie is a civil engineer in Texas who had a very turbulent experience with the PE exam. She got off to a rocky start in 2024, when the specs changes made the course she had boug...

Failure of tanks that store highly hazardous chemicals can be huge, like the Longview Tank Disaster this year. The problem? The current method used to keep track of the structural integrity of the tanks is from 1967! 😲 There’s another way to spot thinning tank walls before they become a serious problem, and that’s exactly what Travis Keener, PE, jumps back on the show to talk about! After years w...

What does a career in Structural Engineering look like? 🤔 Most people think it’s only the (demanding) technical side, but that’s not the case — and Structural Engineer Zach Bowden, P.E. is here to prove it. 👇 In this episode, Zach jumps on the show to pull back the curtain on what a career in Structural Engineering looks by diving into his own journey into the field. From how he got into it to w...

The normal path is getting the FE first and the PE second…but who said you can’t do it the other way around? 🤔 That’s what Angello Murekye did — and he passed both exams just 36 days apart! 😳 👇 Angello is a civil engineer who has practiced, taught, and conducted research in Uganda, Europe, and the United States. He came to the US for a PhD at Virginia Tech and built a career in the pavement seg...

Picture this: you’re a stay-home dad taking care of three kids while preparing for your exam. Interesting? That’s exactly how today’s guest started his journey toward becoming a PE in the US! In this episode, Jonathan Espiritu dives into the steps he took to get licensed in the US as a Filipino engineer, and dives into the tips fellow Filipinos and international engineers alike can use to crush th...

Transportation is changing fast. From sustainability concerns to climate resiliency to EVs, the systems we use today will look very different very soon. That’s what Christy Mihyeon Jeon joins us to talk about. 👇 After 24 years in transportation planning and engineering, working on everything from major highway projects to electrification of transportation systems, as well as being named one of th...

Not finding reliable engineering talent for your projects when you need it? After 20 years running his AEC firm, Brian Sullivan knows that problem all too well — and he’s now set out to tackle it from a completely different angle. 👇 In this episode, Brian talks about his journey from starting, scaling, and selling his own civil engineering firm to building an engineering tech company called GigBe...

Freaking out trying to choose the exam prep resources for the Transportation PE that are actually worth your money? 🤔  With so many options, it's easy to go down a rabbit hole…but you don’t have to. 👇 In this episode, we’re sharing our hand-picked list of the top Transportation PE study materials worth considering for each one of the main aspects of an exam prep to help you cut through the n...

What if you could pass the FE exam on your first try…totally on your own? Clara Feitoza did exactly that — and she says CEA played a huge role in helping her get there. Here’s how. 👇 After nearly three years out of college, Clara had to juggle work, graduate school, and an insanely intense 2.5-month study plan. She listened to our podcast in every way she could and used the strategies she picked...

Passing the PE is tough enough on its own. Now, throw being a first-time mom of a newborn with three failed past attempts into the mix, plus a job. That’s exactly where Jennifer Caron found herself. 👇 After trying other review courses, she failed the exam twice. For the third time, she joined Civil Engineering Academy and, even though she had another failed try, this time was different. She reach...

If you're planning to take the Civil PE Structural Exam in 2027, then this episode is a must-listen for you to stay on top of all the exam changes you’ll be dealing with on exam day. 👇 In this one, we wrap up our 2027 PE exam specifications review series by taking a closer look at the Structural Exam. We compare the current specs with the new ones and break down what's actually changing —...

Ever wondered whether you're on the right career path for you — or if there's a better opportunity out there you just haven't found yet? 🤔  In both cases, figuring it out alone is overwhelming…and that’s when this week’s guest comes in. This week, we bring back Jeff Perry on the podcast. After years of helping engineers build intentional careers through his coaching, he’s expanded int...

Are you an international engineer looking to build an engineering career in the US? 🤔 It may feel impossible, but our latest guest did it…and without any background in engineering whatsoever. 😲 👇 This week, we sit down with Shahzaib Bangash, who left his Architecture career in Pakistan to build an Engineering career in the US. That’s when he first learned what becoming a PE in the US actually e...

If the Geotechnical PE Exam is on your radar for 2027, then this next episode in our walkthrough series on the upcoming 2027 NCEES specification updates is for you! 👇 For this one, we dive into the geotechnical specifications and do what we did for the Water Resources, Transportation, and Construction exams — compare the current specs with the new one so you know exactly what's changing in 20...

Taking the Construction PE Exam? 🤔 Then check out this next episode in our series breaking down the upcoming 2027 NCEES specs for all civil PE exams. This time focused on Construction. 👇 In this one, just like we did for the Water Resources and Transportation exams, we compare the current 2024 specs with the new ones effective April 2027 so you know exactly what's changing — and what isn&#39...

What do the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Interstate Highway System have in common? 🤔 Here it is. 👇 They weren’t just projects to solve specific problems — they helped shape America into the huge, powerful country it is today! 🇺🇸 And since America just turned 250 years old last Saturday, we thought it'd be fun to look back at some of these greatest civil engineering marvels tha...

After diving into the new specs for the Water Resources PE, it’s time to do the same for the Transportation PE Exam and figure out what’s actually changing in 2027 if you’re taking this one. 👇 The good news? You can breathe a little easier. 😅 The exam itself isn't getting turned upside down (yet), but there are some important changes you need to know. Especially when it comes to the codes an...

Have you heard the Water Resources PE Exam is changing in 2027 and are now wondering if it’s time to panic already? 😅 Don’t worry — you can put the paper bag away because we did the work for you. 👇 In this episode, we do a deep dive into the new exam specifications effective in April 2027! We break down exactly what's changing, what's staying the same, and why a lot of engineers are maki...

Gearing up for the Construction PE Exam and wondering which materials are actually worth your money to get this done? 🤔 If yes, then here’s something you need to keep in mind. 👇 Even though the exam is closed-book, using only the PE Civil Reference Handbook and codes listed in the specs won’t cut it! ❌ With Construction having the lowest pass rates among all five Civil PE disciplines, you need...

Ever found yourself staring at the NCEES website wondering why there seems to be two exams for Structural Engineering folks — the PE Civil: Structural Exam and the PE Structural Exam? 🤔 You're definitely not alone!  This is one of the most common points of confusion for structural engineers.  In fact, just some time ago, one of our own students emailed us asking if they were supposed to use t...

Imagine this: you step away from civil engineering for years to raise your kids, and then come back to the profession and have to pull off one of the biggest achievements in everybody’s career right off the bat? 🤔 That's exactly the road Anellise Deters traveled on her way to becoming a licensed PE. And there’s more — she did that all while being a mother of three kids! Exactly. I reacted the...

Picking your study materials for the Water Resources PE exam is like going down a rabbit hole. 😵‍💫 Everybody swears by a different resource and, before you know it, you’ve got 30+ options and no clue where to even start. That’s exactly why we put this episode together! In this one, we break down our top picks for PE Water Resources study materials for each one of the three main aspects of any go...

Ever wondered what civil engineers working in land development actually do? 🤔 That’s a possible career path most civil engineers never hear about…until now! 👇 For this episode, land development & stormwater management specialist Jason Cherami, PE, jumps on the show to break down the career path that turns raw land into functional spaces for both residential and commercial uses. In this episo...

You've probably been hearing all the AI buzz in civil engineering over and over again. A new tool here. A possible new use there. But how is all the new tech being actually implemented at AEC firms? 🤔 That’s why this episode with Bhragan Paramanantham is so enlightening!  He started as a civil engineer out in the field doing normal, day-to-day tasks while asking himself “There’s gotta be a better...

From dreaming of the Air Force to finding his calling in civil engineering and becoming a PE, today’s guest is a testament to the twists life throws at us…and some of them can be a blessing! 👇 In this episode, we have Jared Foulk on the show. He’s a civil engineer in Washington who recently passed the Water Resources PE Exam, and is here to spill the beans on everything he learned on this journey...