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Pennsylvania State Specific Exam Study Materials

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(@tcrim88)
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I am a professional surveyor in the state of Ohio & Kentucky and I am going to be taking the Pennsylvania state specific exam in few months.?ÿ I have very little hydraulic and storm water design knowledge which I'm told is a big part of PA's exam.?ÿ I looking for a list of any survey/engineering references that will help me prepare for the state specific exam.?ÿ

Any help would be greatly appreciated?ÿ?ÿ

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 6:23 am
(@jd_odean)
Posts: 10
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Very little stormwater material on the exam. I just took it in Feb 2019. Spend your time studying on other items.

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 7:50 am
(@dew5000)
Posts: 16
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The Knud Hermansen book related to PA practice is a good book to review. The DEP E&S and sewage manuals are also good material to have.

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 8:00 am
(@sreeserinpa)
Posts: 113
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Hermansen's book is the key to PA specific law/practice.

Stormwater, erosion control, sewer design and DOT permitting are all supposed to be on the exam.?ÿ Hearing numerous reports that the last year or so they have been missing.?ÿ If JD's experience is typical of the current exam then it is not properly testing to insure new licensees are ready for everything they may do as a Professional Land Surveyor in Pennsylvania.?ÿ That said, hopefully everyone is practicing within their area of expertise.?ÿ

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 9:22 am
(@sreeserinpa)
Posts: 113
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@jd_odean

Glad to see you were successful, but saddened to hear there was no stormwater or other minor engineering on your exam.

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 9:23 am
(@jd_odean)
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@sreeserinpa

Me to especially after i spent months preparing for it ???? Only two questions that even required the use of a calculator.

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 10:23 am
(@john-hamilton)
Posts: 3347
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I took the PA exam twice-first time without storm water class and without Hermansen's book, got a 72 (needed 75 to pass). Then I took a stormwater review course and read Hermansen's book cover to cover. Got above 90 second time around. Without the storm water questions I likely would have passed the first time.?ÿ

 
Posted : 18/12/2019 11:31 am
(@rwalker30)
Posts: 6
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@jd_odean I read somewhere (hopefully incorrectly) that you are to use the provided on screen calculator for the exam, is this correct? Or are the NCEES approved calculators allowed for the exam? Thanks

 
Posted : 24/05/2022 3:49 am
(@rwalker30)
Posts: 6
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@dew5000 Do you have a link or full title for the book?

 
Posted : 24/05/2022 3:57 am
(@sreeserinpa)
Posts: 113
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@rwalker30 Boundary Retracement Principles and Procedures for Pennsylvania by Dr. Knud Hermansen; book is only sold by the PA Society of Land Surveyors, www.psls.org?ÿ

I believe they are currently out of stock but are taking orders for an upcoming printing.

 
Posted : 25/05/2022 4:00 am
(@rwalker30)
Posts: 6
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@sreeserinpa Thank you! Good to know about availability and on how to purchase one, trying to track a copy down seems impossible.

 
Posted : 25/05/2022 4:14 am
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