I applied to the PA board June 2011. I finally received a letter in the mail today that says I am approved to take the state-specific exam.
Does anyone have any advice as to what I should focus my studies on or a list of references that would be helpful? Thanks.
I have a syllabus somewhere that they sent me a few years ago. It should still apply. When I get a chance to dig it out, I will send it to you. If you are taking the test in Pittsburgh, I will buy the first round after the test.
I will be there. Sounds like a plan.
Everything but surveying. Hydrology, sediment control, culvert design. I'll be there also.
TR-55
> ...I'll be there also.
Sounds like a party. :beer:
Erosion & Sedimentation Control, stormwater with a little sewage facilities. Time management is the key to survival.
Best of luck!
"TR-55", Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, sewer and road grades, vertical curves and "The Municipal Planning Code". All minor engineering.
Paul in PA
Here are two documents that I was given to help prepare for the exam:
Dropbox File (Private or Invalid)
Dropbox File (Private or Invalid)
It's the toughest state specific exam I've ever taken, but I got it on the second try.
i have taken the state specific exam a few times i will admit, i would be embarassed to admit but i am not alone in my quest to slay the mighty pa state specific exam. i can tell you that you want to go to the pa society of land surveyor page and download the exam sylabus. you will want to order the some of the books they recommend and buy the exact books they recommend such as the state plane book. boundary retracement principles by knud hermansen is a must. find and download the following from the net, erosion and sediment pollution control manual, act 537 sewage facility act, municipality planning code act 247. but dont stop there. you need to know everything you can learn about sewer line placement and extensions. its important that you become very familiar with mannings equation. i have met guys who have a license in several states and they show up and this test crushes them and i believe that is our states intention. we use to have a whole lot of surveyors and now we have few and the want ads are proof of that. I can only guess that because in the past their were a lot of less than perfect surveyor that it was the states intention to raise the bar and they have done that. i have been missing the passing grade by one or two questions and i will admit that it is the storm water and hydrology questions that have held me back. the few survey questions are at this point are easy for me. i really wish they would have a different test to take and an additional test to take to be able to design storm water facilities. I live in fayette county PA and if any local future test takers want to get together and study let me know. i will know soon if i passed but right now i can only hope:-|
Where are you in Fayette County? I am also in Fayette. We probably know each other. Send me an e-mail.