The Path to Professional License: Isabellah von Trapp, LG

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Isabellah von Trapp, Licensed Geologist (LG)

Test taken: October 2021

Results given: November 2021

Isabellah at Mt. Rainier demonstrating how she felt when she received her LG exam results.

Where did you start with your test prep?

I got out some construction paper and my favorite markers and drew a big, beautiful geologic time scale and geologic diagrams (e.g., fault blocks, Bowen’s Reaction Series, etc.). I hung them on the wall adjacent to my desk so it would be a constant reminder to study. Helpful? Not really. But it was a nice and fun way to ease into reviewing what initially felt like a very daunting amount of material.

What were your study tactics?

Practice tests, reviewing the study guide, flipping through flash cards, desperately seeking ASBOG advice on Reddit (r/geologycareers for curious minds), etc.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I woke up around 8 am. The test didn’t begin until early afternoon, so I tried to sleep in as much as my body would let me. Despite the nerves and not feeling hungry at all, I forced myself to eat something. I opted for oatmeal, a clementine, and some coffee. I put on my favorite jeans (for style) and favorite flannel (for comfort). Perhaps unsurprisingly for a geology exam, the exam room, as I would later find out, was full of people in very similar outfits.

Having an intense fear of being late, I left Seattle around 9:30 am for a 1pm exam in Olympia. On the drive down I listed to all my favorite music. Upon arrival, my extra time – given the dramatically early arrival – was spent reviewing the study guide in my car. I don’t think I learned anything new at that point but it eased my mind to have one last look at things.

There was a lot of nervous energy in the exam room leading up to the test. I remember the first page of questions being fairly easy, which inspired initial confidence, but they seemingly got harder as the exam progressed. Afterwards, I genuinely felt pretty bad about the way it went. I drove home semi-deflated but happy to be done in the interim. Later that evening I met my friends at a cabin on a lake for the weekend. It was nice to get my mind off the test.

How did you feel when you got the results?

Honestly, I was shocked. One of my old college classmates took the exam at the same time. He called me one Thursday night (after I had just landed in New Orleans for a short, extended weekend vacation) to see how I did as he had just received his passing results. Anxious, I checked my email. Nothing! I refreshed my email approximately every 10 minutes for a few hours but didn’t hear anything that evening. At this point, I assumed I failed and would be a recipient of the “We regret to inform you” email the next day. Much to my delight, I got a congratulatory email and a digital copy of my newly minted license the next day. A sunny Friday in New Orleans was the perfect time and place to receive this news. You can bet I took myself out for a beer (or two) after that!

What was the best piece(s) of advice you got from others who’d done this before?

• Life does in fact go on if you don’t pass the exam on the first try.

• Even if you do pass, you will probably feel like you didn’t afterwards so there’s no sense in stressing during the approximate 45-day period it takes to get your results. Think “ignorance is bliss” purgatory.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

Depending on how you study/absorb material, you probably won’t have much of a life for a month or two leading up to the test. However, you probably will not set yourself up for success if your mental batteries are drained at the expense of your physical and social health. I think it’s critically important to give yourself a break. About 3 weeks before my exam, I skipped a weekend study session to go backpacking through the Enchantments with my friends. This was probably the best thing I could have done.  

Any parting advice for those getting ready to embark on this journey?

The LG exam is offered twice per year – once in March and again in October. If possible, try to take the exam in March so you can spend the rainy winter months inside studying instead of the coveted, sunny, August/September days. Also, have a treat on deck to enjoy immediately after the exam is finished. I did not anticipate how hungry I would be afterwards. Unfortunately, I did not heed either piece of my own advice in this instance, but that is okay. Hindsight is indeed 2020.

The Path to Professional License: Ida Fischer, PE

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Ida Fischer, Professional Engineering (PE) License

Test: 5/17/2021  Awarded: 6/3/2021

Ida at Rialto Beach.

When did you start with your test prep?

My PE test timeline was largely dictated by COVID. I began studying in January 2020, and was rolling along when COVID struck and everything shut down. So, I put studying on the back burner until December 2020 with the goal of taking the test before summer 2021—since I was taking the Environmental PE test, which is administered on a computer, you have to schedule it based on testing center availability (rather than the biannual pen and paper tests). I started to feel the pressure and kicked my test prep into high gear mid-March 2021.

What were your study tactics? How did you get started?

Generally, for standardized tests (SAT, GRE) I like to review testing strategies, but I couldn’t find much discussion of strategy for the PE test any other than “study as much as you can.” Taylor Dayton generously shared her study materials with me, which included a box of various books, practice tests, and some notes. I don’t have an undergraduate in engineering, so I thought a comprehensive review book was a good option to make sure I saw all the possible topics. I worked my way through the entire book (PE Environmental Review by Lindeburg), then about a month before the test, I switched to practice problems. I also used flash cards to drill general info and problem types I was consistently missing. In hindsight, I think it would have been more time-efficient to focus on the problems and then read up on topics that weren’t feeling familiar rather than reading the entire book. Problems force you to engage with key concepts in a different way.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

For most people, studying is a significant time commitment which will likely impact all other areas of your life. It is important to set your own expectations and get the other significant people in your life onboard with what your studying is going to look like. My studying experience was largely impacted by COVID – I didn’t have to cut back on socializing in a significant way since I was already at my maximum Zoom capacity.

Mentally, you have to find a time when you are able study productively. This will look different for everyone – I was a hybrid after work and weekend studier. Physically, I was studying while concurrently training to cycle across Washington. I think the physical activity provided an important mental break. I benefitted from multiple routine activities reinforcing each other.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I woke up early enough to have time to have a good breakfast and coffee and allow for traffic on the way to the testing center, but not so early that I had any time to review or extra time to work up any nerves. The Environmental PE test is administered at standard testing centers, so there is the usual review of how to check in and out and use the computer. As I was working through the problems, I kept track of the ones I was confident in, those that I was less confident in, and those that I had to guess on. I had some extra time when I was done, so I reviewed all problems I was less confident in and some of the others as well. Overall, the test felt easier than I expected. On the way home, I celebrated with a cookie. That night before bed, I did not review my flashcards and that felt like relief.

How did you feel when you got the results?

While studying for the PE exam, Ida was also planning a cross-state bike trip. She and her dad and uncle rode from Seattle to Idaho over 6 days along the Palouse to Cascades Trail and smaller country roads. This picture is on PCT either along Keechelus Lake or Lake Easton (hard to keep track on the trail). She was on the trail when she found out she’d passed the exam.

I was delighted. I did a victory cartwheel even though I had biked 70 miles that day. The test results were supposed to be ready in about 10 days, so I had been checking my email even though I was on a bike trip and generally like to eschew email while on vacation.

What lessons did you learn that you’d want others to know?

I believe I could have achieved the same result (passing) with less studying. I think I was so concerned about the possibility of not passing that I didn’t weight the opportunity cost of the amount of studying I was doing.

Washington requires an application and Board approval to even register for the test. I put this off until the 11th hour and the application process was more work than I expected and consequently more frustrating than it needed to be. I’d say as soon as you’re thinking about taking the test, get the application out of the way.

The Path to Professional License: Amelia Oates, LG

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Amelia Oates, Licensed Geologist (LG)

Test: Originally scheduled for March 2020 – test taken on October 20, 2020.

Awarded: November 25, 2020

Amelia Backpacking in Cispus Basin

Where did you start with your test prep?

I was originally scheduled to sit for the test on March 20, 2020. I was lucky enough to sign up to take it with a couple of my friends from grad school and we formed a study group, which made the whole experience a lot easier.

My first step was to gather all that info and wrap my head around it. I had the review course the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) offers and their review book and accompanying practice test booklets, which circulate around to the aspiring geologists in Aspect’s Seattle office. I was lucky to have it; it had a lot of personalized touches from those who’d used it before – old flash cards and other helpful pointers.

Next I took the practice tests to gauge where I was at with the material. If I was really deficient in one area, I focused on that for my studies rather than that material I already knew and was already practicing in my day-to-day work.

How did COVID affect your test prep?

March 2020 was a super unknown moment – we were just about to be in COVID lockdown. The week of the test, Washington State put into effect the mandate that no group over 50 people could meet in person. Uncertain about what would happen, we frantically emailed ASBOG, who also run the test.

Two days before the exam, they announced that the test had been cancelled until further notice. That was jarring. We’d just spent so much time studying; we had been at it every weekend from January to March. The test is only offered twice a year, so they moved us all to October 2020.

How did you feel when you found out you’d be taking the test months later than expected? How did it change your study tactics?

I was mad. I had scheduled my test intentionally so I wouldn’t have to waste a beautiful Seattle summer studying, but then I was forced to do that anyway. I put off studying until about August, when I resumed reviewing the material in earnest – every night of the work week plus one weekend day.

Most of the general concepts I quickly recalled from my previous round of studying, but I found I needed to brush up on some of the finer details. Also, in the time between March and October 2020, I’d done a lot more intense technical hydrogeologic work at Aspect, where I was actually using the calculations in the example problems in real-world situations. That really helped clarify and solidify some fundamentals I needed for the test.

What was the best piece(s) of advice you got from others who’d done this before?

There’s a great collective of people at Aspect and in my cohort of grad school colleagues that had gone through this before. Getting their take on the test was really helpful. I heeded their advice to take the practice tests to set my standard, then grade myself to see how I did, take another midway through studying, then take one more right before the exam. These were good check-ins to focus my studies.

I also learned there are people who I respect as geologists who didn’t pass the test the first time. That was a serious turning point in my studying journey and showed me the importance of giving myself some grace in the moment, especially with COVID. I was able to step back and not be too hard on myself, no matter the outcome. I reassured myself, “If you don’t pass in October, it’s ok. This year has been so much more difficult than expected, and at least you tried.”

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

Mentally, you need to prepare yourself to ingest a lot of knowledge. Some of it you may be learning for the first time, some of it you might just be refreshing, but you have to make time and space for that in your life. Prioritizing the studying over backpacking or other trips was initially a let-down, but ultimately helped me stay focused. I also enjoyed making a routine of studying—it helped me say no to social engagements and focus on the task at hand.

I was definitely physically stressed out during my year-long studying endeavor. When I was doing the bulk of my studying, I had a lighter workload with more flexibility. But the second time around, likely as a result of general COVID stress, I could tell my body was tense. Prioritizing walks, bike rides and runs here and there to clear my mind, and nourishing my body with all my favorite study snacks made everything much better.  

Thankfully, I was able to socialize as part of my test prep with my friend group, which was so beneficial to me through all of it. Zoom study sessions took the place of our pre-COVID 3 to 6 hours Sunday sessions, and having people to commiserate about the COVID parts of the experience was especially helpful.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

The test was at the Red Lion hotel in Olympia. We checked in, they took our temperature and went over the protocols—a combination of COVID considerations and not-cheating-on-your-test considerations. There were about 30 other people in the room with us. We had to wear our masks and we were socially distanced at long tables, more than 6 feet apart. The social distancing and mask wearing was a different level of physical tax I wouldn’t have considered before 2020, and it brought a heightened level of awareness to every sniffle or cough in the testing facility.

The test is a four-hour exam. You have a calculator, a protractor, a pencil, some scrap paper, and that’s it. You have those four hours to answer to answer around 150 questions, on a classic Scantron. A lot of the test prep resources tell you to go through the whole test first, answer the questions you know, then go back to the ones you struggled with. I did this, but if there was a problem that I could narrow down to two answers, I just picked the one that seemed most logical. There were a few I was really unsure of that I skipped and came back to. I ended up finishing the whole thing about 20 minutes from the end.

After the test, we waited for each other in the parking lot and hung out with others who had also just taken the test. It was weird standing in the parking lot debriefing about what we’d just been through and asking each other what questions others found easy or challenging versus our own experience, especially given we seen this many people in the same place in months.

How did you feel when you got the results?

When the test was over, I immediately felt like I had failed. I remember thinking, “Oh, that was terrible!”  and feeling really despondent knowing how bad it would be to have to take the whole thing over again, given all the time I put into it. There were some questions where I thought, “Oh, wow ok, I could probably have studied a little bit harder.” Questions on concepts that I had never taken classes in or had struggled with before seemed more frequent than I wanted them to be. So I thought for sure, 100 percent, that I’d failed. 

It took a little over a month to get the results. I was out in the field at an excavation, and my friends who I’d sat for the exam with started texting me. They released the results in alphabetical order, so my friend with a last name at the beginning of the alphabet got her results and was trying to temper our expectations. It was two hours of not knowing—but when we all found out and we all passed, it was such a relief.

Any parting advice for those getting ready to take the test?

Be patient and compassionate with yourself through the process. It’s tenuous, and there’s A LOT of material to get through. Setting aside dedicated time each week was really important for my overall success. I recommend being organized, find your routine, and stick to it.

The Path to Professional License: Mari Otto, PE

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Mari Otto, Professional Engineering License

Test: October 2020

Awarded: December 2020

Mari on the Skyline trail at Mt. Ranier

Where did you start with your test prep?

I started thinking about my PE test early in 2020 when I was making my New Year’s resolutions (Item 1: pass the PE). I did a bunch of Googling to see what people were saying about the exam – there’s a lot out there (Editor’s note: including Aspect’s own License Prep Series!) Some people say you need 300-400 hours of study, some people say you barely need to study at all – it was a little overwhelming, but I figured I could find a happy middle somewhere.

I spent some time outlining everything I’d need for my test application and researching study materials. The Washington State Board of Registration requires you to submit an application with an engineering law review exam, proof of experience (including transcripts from school and an experience verification form signed by a supervisor PE), and pay an application fee before you are approved for the exam. I decided to get my application in and buy my study materials early (like, in July) so later on I could focus just on studying. I’m grateful that Aspect is very supportive of the PE process and I was able to expense all my study materials and application fee. Thanks Aspect!

I started studying in earnest in late August 2020 for my exam on October 23, 2020.

What was the best piece(s) of advice you got from others who’d done this before?

• Do as many practice exams as you can.

• Do the actual test in passes:

Pass 1 = Go through the entire exam and answer the questions you know how to answer quickly.

Pass 2 = Go through the exam again and answer the questions you know how to answer but will take more time.

Pass 3 = Review any remaining questions.

This strategy helped me because I wasn’t panicking during the exam. I could look at my answer key and have a good idea of what my percentage score would be for that portion of the exam. Building up my score early on helped reduce anxiety as the clock ran down.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

I initially tried studying after work so I could keep my weekends free. That plan unraveled pretty quickly. It just wasn’t sustainable for me to work a full day and then hit the books. If you can make that work for you, then great! But go into it knowing that unless you’re a superstar time manager, you’ll probably have to give up at least some of your weekends to studying. That being said, I found it was really important for me to rest between long study sessions.

My schedule generally followed this timeline:

• Saturday: Practice exam (full 8-hour practice test)

• Sunday: Rest day – go on a nature walk or do a water activity

• Throughout the week: light practice problems if schedule allows

• Saturday and Sunday: ~4 hours study sessions to review practice exam and study weak material. Prep for another practice exam the next week.

• Repeat

I’m lucky that the people in my life had just the right mix of being understanding of my study schedule and being pushy enough to drag me outside every once in a while.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

The test was in Puyallup, so I got a hotel nearby and got a good night’s rest before the exam. I woke up early and did some light stretches and ate some yogurt and fruits. I made sure that I had my lunch packed and that I had plenty of water and granola bar snacks.

I felt pretty well-prepared for the exam from all my practice exams, so I just took my time and did my best. It actually wasn’t too bad. During lunch, I had a great big salad and took a walk around the neighborhood and listened to a podcast. I made friends with a neighborhood cat on my lunch walk, so that felt auspicious.

After the exam, I drove home and had vegetarian burgers and beer and just chilled. It was great. I then took that Friday off for a long weekend trip down to the Oregon coast for some surfing.

How did you feel when you got the results?

I did my best to put the test out of my mind after taking it, knowing that it would be a couple months before I got my results. When I finally got my results in December and saw that green “Pass” icon, I felt a huge sense of relief and gratefulness – I could relax! It was the middle of a winter week during COVID-times, so I really went wild with my celebrations – I spent the evening drinking peanut butter whisky and watching Schitt’s Creek.

Any parting advice for those getting ready to take the PE?

1. Lots of people love to talk about the PE and share their experience / give advice. I loved hearing people’s stories, but I found it important to not compare myself to others too much, ESPECIALLY when people talk about how many hours they are studying/have studied. You can listen to what worked for others, but in the end, you’ll have to find what works for yourself.

2. I spent a lot of time at the beginning of my studies trying to do a deep dive into the subjects that would be on the breadth morning exam – it was NOT necessary. When I started doing practice exams, I noticed that the Geotech questions on the breadth exam were really basic. It’s reasonable to assume that the breadth questions for the other subjects would be considered really basic by someone who specializes in that particular subject. Realizing that helped me relax about the breadth exam – I identified common questions using the NCEES Examinee guide (use it - they tell you exactly what kind of questions will be on the exam) and used that to guide my breadth studying. It helped me to not get too into the weeds subjects that were not Geotech.

3. Do lots of practice exams. The NCEES practice exam is the closest you’ll get to the actual exam. I did that exam at the beginning of my studies in late August and again at the end of my studies the weekend before the exam. I found other practice exams online. I took practice exams every other weekend and tried to simulate exam conditions – quiet environment, 4-hour morning exam, 1-hour lunch break, 4-hour afternoon exam. I even wore my facemask during my later practice exams to make sure I was used to having it on.

4. In addition to the huge CERM book, I would recommend getting the little CERM Quick Reference. It has 99% of the equations you might need for the morning exam and probably like 60% of the equations you might need for the afternoon exam (at least for Geotech).

The Path to Professional License: Kirsi Longley, PMP

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Kirsi Longley, Project Management Professional (PMP)

PMP awarded February 2018

What the heck do the initials PMP stand for?

Pretty Marginal Pianist? Nope! PMP stands for Project Management Professional. It’s a certification administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the internationally recognized association “for those who consider project, program or portfolio management their profession.” Pretty fancy, huh!

Having PMP certification can give you a great advantage in a variety of careers, including environmental consulting. When clients see PMP on your resume, it shows you’re a professional and among the cream of the crop of project managers. In Aspect’s realm of work, some public agencies, like King County, strongly encourage or even require PMPs to be included on project teams to be considered for contracts. You also receive recognition from fellow PMPs who know and appreciate the hard work and diligence that goes into the certification.

How does one become a PMP?

The process of becoming a PMP is not as long as what’s required for a PE or LG in terms of meeting the qualifications, testing and studying, but it is still pretty rigorous. For me, it was a very intense six weeks.

In-Person Course Work

The first step is to complete 35 hours of in-person project management education. Several organizations offer classes with curriculum approved by PMI. I went through the Project Management Academy, which I highly recommend. I took a week off from Aspect (thanks Aspect!) and met with the class in a hotel conference room over four long days. On the last day of the in-person class, we took a practice test to gauge how well we’d absorbed the material. Let’s just say that I did not ace the practice test, meaning I had a lot of studying ahead of me.

Application

It was recommended to me that I take the in-person course first, and then fill out the PMP application. This might seem counterintuitive, but once you’ve gone through the course, you have a solid grasp on the terms PMI uses and can then incorporate that language in your application to talk about your experience. It also makes it easier for you to go through your work history and identify pieces they are looking for.

The application takes hours to complete. In order to be considered a candidate for PMP certification, you must document at least three years managing projects during the five stages of the project lifecycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing. You have to document this experience in great detail and provide references for those who oversaw your work over the years. This takes a lot of time and research to track all of it down and complete the application.

After you’ve completed the course work and application, it’s time to start studying for the 4-hour exam.

How did you study to prepare for the exam?

I’ve heard the passing rate for first try is 50-60 percent, so the pressure was “on” to really absorb the material. I studied for about 5 weeks before taking the exam. The Project Management Academy and PMI have a lot of Study Guides and other materials to review, including all of the slides from the course, and some mock exams. There are Laminated Study Guides – double-sided sheets that cover the key concepts, work flow charts, vocabulary, and equations – that you can write on and mark up as needed. Those came in quite handy. There are also PMP apps that have flash cards and quizzes to help. I made myself some flash cards too, mostly to help memorize vocabulary with definitions specific to PMI.

Over those 5 long weeks, I ran flash cards or studied on the app on the bus to and from work, then would come home and study for a few hours each night. I studied in 4- to 8-hour blocks on the weekends, including taking practice tests – which meant sitting for 4 hours at a time on a Saturday.

To help me focus on the weekends and remove household distractions, I would set up camp in the local library with snacks, white-noise sounds playing through my headphones, and my study materials. 

What is the best piece of advice you got during your study process?

The best piece of advice I got from those who’d gone through this was to take the practice exams repeatedly until you get at least 80 percent correct. The practice exams are the best gauge of how well you understand the material. The exam results break down how you did on each section – showing what you got wrong and what the correct answer was, and summarizing all incorrect questions so you can review and know what material you need to focus on in your next study section.

I took five practice tests in all. On the last one, I got 81 percent. I knew then I was likely as ready as I could be to take the real thing.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I was assigned to take the exam at a testing center north of Seattle, so I stayed at my parents’ house the night before to save some commuting time and get a better night’s sleep (unfortunately, my dog Cooper had other ideas about getting sleep that night).

On Test Morning, I went to a coffee shop a few hours beforehand to wake up with some caffeine and a bakery treat while getting in some last-minute studying. At this point, I was very ready to have it all be done. Then I drove to the center and sat for the 4-hour exam.

Kirsi and her dachshund, Cooper

The test itself was at times excruciating. It’s multiple choice, but there are nuances in answers that require you to really sit with them and think about the right choice. There are also math equations.

How did you feel when you finally got the results?

One great thing about the PMP certification exam is that it’s scored in real time and the results are immediate – no waiting in agony for weeks to find out how you did. After I submitted the answer for my last question, a pop-up appeared letting me know I’d passed. I felt a rush of mixed emotions as weeks of anxiety lifted off my shoulders. I closed my eyes and raised my arms in victory. This drew the attention of a test proctor, who came over to ask if I was ok. I just gestured at the screen, and they nodded approvingly. I left the testing center and cried in my car with relief that this was no longer hanging over me. The journey was over, and I’d earned that certification.

Any parting advice?

I would pass on the advice I got to keep taking the practice tests until you’re getting at least 80 percent correct. You don’t want to take the test, fail, and have to go through prep all over again.

The Path to Professional License: Matthew Lewis

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Matthew Lewis, Hydrogeology License (LHG)

LHG awarded October 2019

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Matthew in the field at a gravel mine in Shelton

What was the best piece of advice you received as you started your LHG journey?

The best piece of advice I received was to keep this test in perspective and not let it stress me out. That the worst-case scenario would be to just take it again. Failure is feedback, not the end of the world.

Given this advice, what would you tell those about to begin?

My first piece of advice to anyone starting out is to treat the application as an important task itself, not just a formality. You will need to take time to coordinate with your project managers, who will have to take time to submit their own forms on your behalf. The application also requires a lot of information about projects you’ve worked on to prove evidence of your experience. I found that remembering relevant projects and describing my contributions were more time consuming than I initially thought they would be (what was that 5-year-old-project’s name again?), and I had some unexpected issues arise in gathering information about the projects as well. I was glad I started work early and submitted my application well ahead of time –a small road bump can turn into a critical failure when you’re up against a hard deadline.

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Matthew and his high-energy family

My second piece of advice is to assess ahead of time how studying will impact your work/life balance. I have three high-energy kids at home, none of whom like to go to bed, and post-bedtime was the only time I could hope to squeeze in some study time. So I knew I had to start studying months in advance and plan for smaller, bite-sized study sessions. This early start helped me manage my time and stress and allow some flexibility in my study routine.

How did you study strategically?

I made sure to lock in the fundamentals like calculating a groundwater gradient by hand from a few wells, determining hydraulic head across an earthen dam from a flow-net diagram, and even just memorizing common unit conversions. Since I’m typically working with spreadsheet models and calculation software, it was easy to let some of those basic skills get rusty.

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I knew from my days playing guitar that the best way to make progress is to practice towards your weaknesses. At work, I typically work on pumping tests, construction dewatering, and infiltration analysis, etc., so I focused my study efforts on areas of hydrogeology that I don’t work with every day. Even so, I was caught off-guard by several questions about aquifer tracer tests that I didn’t have that specific background knowledge in. This was a little discouraging, but I did so well in the other areas that it balanced out in the end. So, I recommend that once you have the fundamentals down, find the areas of hydrogeology you have the least exposure to and put your energy there.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

My main focus on Test Day was to manage my stress levels and keep my mind clear. My LHG test was in the afternoon, so I made sure to get a good night’s sleep (no cramming the night before!) and eat breakfast with my family. I arrived at The Evergreen State College with plenty of time to find my testing location and listen to a bit of my favorite music. When I finally took the exam, I flew through half of it in less than an hour, and then spend the rest of the period taking my time on the more complex problems. I left feeling cautiously optimistic, but I also knew that test results don’t come for three loooooong months, so it’s best not to dwell on it—just let it go. Also, why does a scantron test take so long to process?!

How did you feel when you got the results?

I was thrilled to find out I had passed the exam. I was expecting a letter, but the email was just sitting there in my inbox one morning. I immediately called my wife with the news, and then I called my studio lead.

Obtaining my LHG was an important career milestone that helped pave the way for my Project Manager position. It also feels good now to see my LHG stamp on Aspect reports; it communicates a specialized knowledge background to our clients.

Matthew Lewis, LHG is a Project Hydrogeologist in Aspect’s Seattle office.

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The Path to Professional License: Taylor Dayton

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. A professional license is a proof statement that communicates that the people charged with designing roads and buildings; solving water supply challenges; cleaning up contaminated soil and water; and successfully managing project quality are qualified and ethically accountable professionals. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

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Taylor Dayton, Professional Engineering License

October 2019 – Tested; January, 2020 – Awarded OR PE; May, 2020 – Reciprocity WA PE.

There comes a point in every engineer-in-training’s life where you have to face the music. Eight years into my field of practice, I had my own hardhat, leather-bound hydraulic flow data quick reference manual, and a fancy metal scale ruler sitting on the corner of my desk. I’d written hundreds of pages worth of technical reports and wiled away long afternoons in AutoCAD wondering why the newest version hid all the buttons I needed to pull together a construction plan set. I’d even replumbed part of my own home successfully after mistakenly spilling a can full of black beans down my garbage disposal – confirmation that my skills can fix real-world problems.

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Eight years in, it seemed like my career was going well, but there was one specter looming. The state licensing board has chosen the eight-year mark as the best time for a casual spot check of your developing skillset through a 9-hour NCESS-administered examination of every engineering concept you’ve ever learned. If you are successful, you gain the privilege of ordering new business cards with two tiny letters at the end of your name.

Where did you start with your test prep?

I started studying in March 2019 in preparation to take the October 2019 exam. My goal was to hit 300 hours of dedicated study time. Because of my degrees (undergraduate in biochemistry and master’s in civil engineering, with water and wastewater focus) I knew I would be strong in chemistry, pumps, and pipes, but not have as much experience with air engineering or landfill design.

Knowing the test material is just one part of the experience. What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social aspects of test prep?

This was my general approach to the exam. Season your preparation approach to taste.

1. Philosophy: Failure was not an option. I was committed to temporarily sacrificing elements of my work/life balance to make sure I would nail this exam on the first try.

2. Time Management: I evaluated my performance at work, talked to my manager, and adjusted my commitments to what was realistically possible knowing that I would need enough mental energy to hit the books just about every day before or after work. I minimized travel where possible and dialed down on my business development efforts while I was preparing for my exam.

3. Friends and Family: I notified everyone in my life of my six-month commitment to a disgruntled hermit lifestyle. I set up a dedicated study space and committed up to two hours a day during the week and up to 12 hours on the weekends. If this sounds like a HUGE time commitment, it was. I’m not really geared for partial commitments to things.

4. Mental/Physical Health: I blocked out and prioritized a time to hit the gym four times a week. This is absolutely critical. You will be consuming many study snacks and disappointing your daily step counter of choice during the study process and it’s easy to let that inertia get you down.

5. A Pre-Test Reward: Plan a trip or mini-adventure for two weeks prior to your exam. Stop studying when you hit that point and do a lot of fun things in the two weeks leading up to your exam.

What was the best piece of advice you received as you started your PE journey?

I appreciated everyone who was humble enough to reveal that it took them two or three times to pass the exam. It was comforting to know that their lives didn’t fall apart immediately and that it didn’t hinder their journeys to becoming respected scientists and engineers. They just refocused, studied better, and got it done.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

After months and months of preparation, test day approached in October. I recommend doing the following to help keep your peace of mind before/during/after the test:

• Book a hotel as close to your testing location as possible. Take a half-day from work and travel to the hotel. Go pick some great snacks for your lunch break the next day, eat a good dinner, and watch a great movie.

• Plan to take off work the day after the exam to de-stress and start getting your life back in order.

• Reconnect with whatever friends and family will have you back, notice your pets are a little overweight from all the hikes you haven’t been taking them on, and go outside to see what season it is in nature now since you probably missed at least one while studying.

Ten days later, you will receive your results and can send them on to the State Engineering Board for verification.

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Here I am repping my top of the line safety gear and the North Central Washington Beekeepers Association, cracking open the overwintered beehives for the first time this season.

How did you feel when you finally got the results?

“All right! Time to go after that beekeeper certification!”

Any parting advice?

In retrospect, was the amount of time I dedicated to this crazy? Could I have gotten away with only 150 hours of preparation or one quick scan of my old college binders the night before? It’s possible, but I think this approach was helpful on three levels.

1. Preparing the PE is an introspective journey. You get to retread eight years of growth and affirm that you’re not the freshman barely treading water in differential equations anymore.

2. The process reminded me of the breadth of the skillset I’ve built as a professional and encouraged me to reach out to PMs I don’t usually work with to utilize some of that skillset in new ways. Aspect does water system planning now!

3. The (over) preparation made exam day a straightforward and easy experience. There were a few questions on topic areas I have never encountered in my day job, but they were a very small portion of the exam. I’d practiced 95% of the test in my review process and was familiar enough with the process that I didn’t have to waste time browsing the reference manual. That allowed plenty of time to make some educated guesses on the material I didn’t know and knock out the exam a couple of hours early.

Taylor Dayton is a Project Engineer at Aspect Consulting in Wenatchee, Washington. Contact her to share any test-taking tips you have.

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Favorite Study Resources

PE exam-specific guides:

The NCEES reference manual – Free. This is your only lifeline to the outside world during the exam. Print it out and become familiar with every page and table.

The NCEES practice exam - $30. This is your bible and only insight from the test provider on the actual content of the exam. I recommend attempting this exam once at the start of your studying process and again near the end. Use this to gauge the difficulty of the problems you may encounter on the exam.

PE Environmental Review by Michael Lindburg - $290. The golden standard reference for PE preparation. I committed to reading a few sections of this book each study session. I found it helpful to recall the topics I was familiar with in graduate school, but have not encountered in my current practice. There are other resources available in this series of books if you need additional problem sets to work through (PE Practice, PE Practice Exams), but I did not find them very true to the actual questions on the exam.

School of PE On Demand Lectures and Problem Sets - $340 for one month. I highly recommend the School of PE course to help structure your study approach. They have a much more expensive live version of the course, but one month of the On Demand course was enough for me to review all the lecture video content, annotate the provided course notes, and make a binder of the practice problems they provide. I used the practice problems as the core of my study sessions and they prepared me very well for the test.

Textbooks to Flip Through:

Introduction to Environmental Engineering. Any variety of this kind of textbook will do, but I like the intro book by Gilbert Masters and Wendell Ela. You can find it for a cool $20. It includes great primers on climate change and ozone depletion, risk assessment, indoor air quality, source-reduction and recycling, and groundwater contamination.

Hazardous Waste Management by Michael LeGrega. Your one stop shop for landfill questions.

Water Quality and Treatment by James Edswald. The absolute best handbook for drinking water treatment.

Biological Wastewater Treatment: The golden standard is the Metcalf and Eddy textbook, but I found I preferred Biological Wastewater Treatment by Grady, Dalgger, Love, and Filipe. There are very good comprehensive chapter summaries that I read through that addressed every wastewater question I encountered on the exam.

Trusty Calculator Companion?

I brought along the same loyal TI-36X that I used on the FE exam. I even bought a second one to bring along as a backup, which the test proctor thought was very cool. I’m pretty sure that’s what her expression meant anyway.