Washington will let you sit for the PS before you have the years

I was exempt from Fundamentals in MD because of my years of experience. I had to take Principles and Practice and both State exams. Past first time through.

Fast forward to PA, they actually made me go back and take Fundamentals then the State exam !

I believe that the main reason for the change is so that board staff doesn't have to vet applicant qualifications until it has been demonstrated that it is actually necessary to do so. 

For me, I don't think that taking the P & P exam earlier would have been an advantage. I am skilled at sitting for tests. If I have the knowledge, I don't suffer from test anxiety or whatever it is that causes people who know the material to fail at an exam. I think the on-the-job experience went a long way in driving home the lessons I learned in my college program. I might possibly have passed the exam if I had taken it a few years earlier. I knew I would pass it taking it when I did.

I posed that question to the MO board and no one would venture an answer. MO does not require NCEES to request permission for an applicant to sit, but some states do I believe. I had my time in before sitting for the FS. I could not get an answer for the PS, so I took a chance and sat for it. My thinking was I'd have it all out of the way and be able to sit in January for the State Specifics Part 1 and 2. Although I passed the PS in July, I believe, my time wasnt fulfilled until Dec. 7. I applied immediately thereafter, but they told me the January session was full, so I still had to wait until April anyway. It's been an incredible journey, very rewarding in all aspects.

I have no problem with someone taking the test early if it gives them the needed incentive to continue on and get licensed. It would also show a future employer that you have some knowledge (enough to pass the bloody test!) and motivation for the job. 

Posted by: @jbw

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but they told me the January session was full,

What a crock of manure. There is no reason to refuse someone based on how many people are taking the test. That is purely trying to limit qualified providers of the service. "It is too cumbersome to evaluate 5 more test takers' answers" is a pathetic excuse for denying someone the opportunity to pass the exam. 

PA wanted you to take the FS because they do not waive any part of the NCEES exam and expect those of us applying for comedy to have satisfied their exam requirements.  I'm licensed in NJ and have been for 33 years after passing both the FS and PS and all I need to do in PA is pass the state specific which would require me to learn their drainage design, not worth the effort at my age.

PA was not much help for me but when I was looking at FLA, their board was very easy to communicate with but I decided not to pursue either license at my age.