The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Isaac Oakeson

The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast empowers engineers to pass their exams, accelerate their careers, and become exceptional professionals. Through expert insights and conversations with industry leaders, we explore FE and PE exam strategies, career development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the latest innovations shaping the engineering profession. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reach the next level, you'll find practical advice and inspiration to help you succeed.

  1. 2d ago

    The Hidden Value of a PE License to Your Career (Beyond the Salary)

    With all the schooling, work, and studying it takes, you'd hope the “P.E.” initials would lead to a fat paycheck. But what happens when it doesn’t amount to what you expected? 🤔 Here’s the thing. 👇 A recent LinkedIn post we made got 270,000+ impressions, and really soon sparked quite a discussion about civil engineering salaries and whether getting your PE is really worth the trouble. Therefore, in this episode, we take a closer look at that debate and share why we believe we're missing a much bigger piece of the picture when it comes to the PE license. Actually, all this discussion is missing the REAL value of the PE license, which is not reflected in your next paycheck, as most people expect. Instead, it’s reflected in something much bigger, just a little bit down the road. So, is the PE still worth it in 2027 and beyond? Well, tune in to learn what this real hidden value of the PE actually is, the doors that open up when you do have those initials next to your name, and a breakdown of that salary discussion we mentioned before. 😉 🎧 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: My Personal Story With the PE Exam 3 Ways the PE Initials Can Increase Your Salary The Career Opportunities That Open Up to You After the PE How the PE Makes You More Valuable in the Marketplace Does Every Single Engineer Need a PE License? The Big Hidden Value of the PE That You Cannot See As Soon As You Get It The CEA Salary Post That Generated a Lot of Discussion The Average Salary Level per Years of Experience According to Our 2024-2025 Surveys So, is the PE License Still Worth it? 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED CEA LinkedIn Post CEA’s Civil Engineering Jobs Survey 2026 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE MATERIALS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    The Hidden Value of a PE License to Your Career (Beyond the Salary)

  2. Oct 29

    Engineering Success Isn't Everything: Why This Structural Engineer Started Actively Human

    You got your degree, built your career, and checked all the boxes you're supposed to. So why does it feel like something's still missing? 🤔 That’s exactly what Jake Kennington is here to help you with. 👇 Jake is a licensed PE and SE who achieved every professional achievement every engineer strives for…but still felt pulled toward something more. The tricky part? He couldn't quite put his finger on what that "more" was — just like many engineers feel today.  You’ve achieved many things you were supposed to, but you’re still not living that life you actually want. In this episode, Jake opens up about the wake-up call that changed his perspective about this, why being good at your job isn't always enough, and how you can (and should) make room for personal fulfillment without throwing your professional life out the window. If you’ve ever found yourself asking the question, “Is this what my life turned out to be?,” this episode is for you. 👍 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How He Got Into Civil Engineering by Accident and What He Does Today Why He Felt Like There Was Something Missing in Life, Despite His Career Success The Reason Why You Feel Drawn to Doing Something Else Outside of Work Why We Run CEA on the Side of Our Day Jobs How the "Strong Beam, Stronger Column" Principle Applies to Your Career & Life A Real-World Example of How Engineering Success Alone is Not the Goal How to (Re)Gain Your Personal Life...Without Letting Go of Your Professional Life His Wake-Up Call That Made Him Realize His Was Living His Life All Wrong The Gratitude-Ambition Paradox That Motivated Him to Write His Upcoming Book What He Would've Done Differently in His Life That He Tells All Young Engineers Today How Jake Can Help You and How to Connect With Him 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED The Second Summit Playbook Group Coaching Program Early Book Reader Signup Page Brigham Young University (BYU) California State University, Fresno 💬 CONNECT WITH JAKE: LinkedIn Actively Human Website 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    Engineering Success Isn't Everything: Why This Structural Engineer Started Actively Human

  3. Oct 21

    ALL You Need to Know About the Civil FE Exam to Crush It!

    Gearing up for the Civil FE for the first time? 🤔 Before you dive into studying, there are a few crucial things you should know about it so you can prep accordingly — and then take the exam effectively. 👇  In this episode, we break down all these basics of the FE exam so you know exactly what you’re up against. From what the exam tests you on, how it’s administered, and when and where you can take it…all the way to practical tips on how to prepare for these exact exam aspects so your exam day goes as smoothly as possible. Whether you haven’t started your FE journey yet or are getting ready to schedule your exam already, this episode will help you get the basics straight before test day so nothing gets in your way. 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: What’s Covered on the Civil FE Exam The Exam Format & Interface Where You Take the Civil FE Exam References You Can Use on the Exam When Can You Take the Civil FE Exam? How Long is the Exam? Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Breaks When You (Actually) Finish Each Session How Many Questions are There on the Exam? Do You Need to Solve the Questions Sequentially? When and How You Get Your Results What to Do After Your Get a Passing Score What Score Do You Need to Pass? 📄 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Civil FE Exam Specifications Pearson VUE’s Test Center Searching Tool MyNCEES Account NCEES Video on Alternative Item Type (AIT) Questions 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    ALL You Need to Know About the Civil FE Exam to Crush It!

  4. Oct 15

    4th Down & 3 Yards to Go: How Gracie Johnson Scored a PE Touchdown

    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 bought totally obsolete. Then, she tried a review course that left her second-guessing herself.  Now, add in wedding planning, an unexpected apartment flood, and full-time job…and you've got quite a few curveballs to deal with. 😅 In this episode, she dives into how she managed to pull that off even with all of this going on, and everything she learned along the way. From how she organized her study time around her life and her insane cadence for taking practice exams that worked really well (+ why)...all the way to the biggest surprise she’s had on the exam that may be the reason why the Transportation pass rates plummeted in latest stats. If you’re taking the transportation PE exam, especially if you’re a repeat taker, you’ll want to listen to this one. There’s a lot of wisdom you can apply to your own prep, from someone who walked the walk. 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How Her PE Exam Prep Started off on the Wrong Foot The Second Review Course She Signed up for...And What Was wrong With It Why She Took Transportation Even Though She Doesn't Work With It How She Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Went With It) Why She Didn't Switch Exams After a Few Failed Attempts Her Advice for Repeat Takers Questioning Whether They Should Switch Exams How CEA Helped Her Pick Herself Back Up After Her Third Failed Attempt An Unexpected Life Curveball That (Almost) Put a Damper on Her Studies What Her Study Schedule Looked Like With a Full-Time Job and Life How The Ultimate PE Course Planner Helped Her Stay on Track During Her Studies Her Insane Approach to Practice Exams Most People Would Call "Crazy," But Works! The Biggest Surprise on the Transportation Exam That Caught Her Off Guard What May Have Caused the Nosedive in the Latest Transportation PE Pass Rates What She Enjoyed About the CEA PE Course That Got Her Across the Finish Line How the Weight of Having to Pass the PE Carried Over Even After She Had Passed The Immediate Impacts of Passing the PE That She's Noticing at Work 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED CEA PE Course University of Oklahoma Dunaway 💬 CONNECT WITH GRACIE: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE MATERIALS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    4th Down & 3 Yards to Go: How Gracie Johnson Scored a PE Touchdown

  5. Oct 8

    How Laser Scans Can Make Tank Thickness Testing Smarter With Travis Keener

    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 working with SPCC plans and tank inspections, he’s been exploring with a brand-new method to measure tank wall thickness that could change the way engineers approach tank inspections forever. In this episode, he breaks down what this method is, how it works, its limitations, and what it means for the traditional ultrasonic thickness (UT) meters. Go give this episode a listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full interview on YouTube. 😉 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: The Longview Tank Disaster: What, How, and Why It Happened What Causes the Deterioration of Tank Thickness Over Time How Tank Thickness is Evaluated Today (And What's Wrong With it!) A Brand-New (and More Effective) Way to Measure Tank Thickness How the Standard UT Meters Work How Laser Scans Compare to UT Meters Do These Laser Scanners Use LiDAR? How to Use Laser Scanners in Different Tank Conditions The Theoretical Inaccuracy of Laser Scans That Didn't Happen in the Real World When Laser Scanners Started Being Used (And What the Future Looks Like for It) When Tanks Typically Fail — and Why Are There Any Limitations to Using Laser Scanners to Measure Tank Thickness? Do Laser Scanners Mean the Death of Traditional Methods? The Primary Standards for Tank Safety & Who Sets Them The Cost to Use Laser Scanners (And How to Find a Way Around It) How to Use Laser Scanners With Floating Roof Tanks The Standard Method That Will Be Used 10 Years from Now….With Laser Scanners What the Repair of a Corroding Tank Looks Like 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED CEA Podcast #305 (Travis Keener) Longview Tank Disaster CSB Investigation Update Document Leica RTC360 OSHA Process Safety Management API STD 653 STI SP001 Standard 💬 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS: LinkedIn pe@traviskeener.net (+1) 918 440-0136 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    How Laser Scans Can Make Tank Thickness Testing Smarter With Travis Keener

  6. Oct 1

    A Career Journey in Structural Engineering With Zach Bowden

    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 what he learned working on every complex project from seismic design to mass timber...all the way to the need for the PE vs SE license if you want to build a career in structural engineering. Do you really need the SE? Zach answers that question. On top of that, there’s another side to Zach’s career that’s just as interesting: Structural Engineering educator. He also dives into why he started The Structural Engineering Podcast, and how talking with other Structural Engineers from across the industry has helped him in his own career, as well as given back to the next generation of Structural Engineers. If you’re a Structural Engineer — or thinking about becoming one — this conversation is packed with real-world lessons about building and growing a career in this field. So, go give this one a listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full interview with Zach on YouTube. 👍 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How Road Cycling Got Him into the Civil Engineering World What Made Him Pick Structural Engineering Over the Other Civil Disciplines The Aspect of Structural Engineering Most People Fear...But That's Why He Went for It When Can Structural Engineers Have Only the PE...and When Do They Need the SE? His Experience With the SE Exam So Far Is Structural Engineering a Good (and Lucrative) Route for a Civil Engineer? How The Structural Engineering Podcast (SEP) Got Started 2 Big Ways That Doing a Podcast Helped Him Both Professionally and Personally What Turns a Good Engineer into a GREAT Engineer? Why Engineers Do Make Good Leaders...But Engineering Alone Won't Be Enough 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED The Structural Engineering Podcast (Website) The Structural Engineering Podcast (YouTube) StructurEd AppMax Loeb, PE (SEP Co-Host) Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, by Gary Vaynerchuk What Got You Here Won't Get You There, by Marshall Goldsmith SEP Episode with Ron Klemencic Washington State University 💬 CONNECT WITH ZACH: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    A Career Journey in Structural Engineering With Zach Bowden

  7. Sep 26

    Crushing the FE and PE Exams Just 36 Days Apart With Angello Murekye

    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 segment of transportation.  At the time, skipping the FE made total sense for his unique situation to get licensed in the US…until it didn’t. 😅 In this episode, he shares the details of this unique journey to get the PE license by passing the FE second (and why!), while not holding back on exam prep tips that worked for him to get this done so soon (and so fast!) either. Whether you’re working toward your FE or PE, there’s a lot to take away from Angello’s story to apply to your own journey. And if you’re an international engineer, his journey offers even more useful pieces of advice for you on navigating the US path to license to supercharge your career. So, go give this episode a listen wherever you get your podcasts and go hear how Angello managed to pass both PE and FE just 36 days apart — and the lessons he picked along the way. 🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN: How a Civil Degree in His Country is Regarded Differently from That in the US The Big Challenge Civil Engineering Students Face in Europe...Like He Did Why He Made It a Goal to Get His PhD What International Civil Engineers Need to Do as Soon as They Get to the US His (Unique) Situation of Sitting for the PE Exam Before the FE — and Why How He Found Civil Engineering Academy One Aspect of CEA That He Liked Even Before He Signed up 3 Things He Enjoyed the Most About the Course That Made Him Pass How His Exam Prep Went in Terms of Time How Much He Scored on Practice Exams to Feel Ready for the Real Deal The 3 Non-Studying Aspects That Help You Pass the PE Faster (and More Easily) A Feature of the CEA PE Review Course He Thinks Helped Him a Lot How the PE License Immediately Helped Him in His Career The Most Honest Non-Studying Tip He Has for Anyone Gearing up for the PE 3 Proven Study Tips for Anyone Prepping for the FE and PE Exam What Getting the PE Meant for Him as an International Engineer in the US 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED Antony Fasano’s PE YouTube Channel Official NCEES YouTube Channel Official NCEES Practice Exams Virginia Tech 💬 CONNECT WITH ANGELLO: LinkedIn 🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU The Civil FE Startup Guide The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE Floodplain Manager Course Module 🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Course Floodplain Manager Review Course 📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS: FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Bonus Theory Questions PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator Floodplain Manager Practice Exam FE Environmental Practice Exam PE Environmental Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH CEA Website Newsletter FREE CEA Community LinkedIn YouTube Channel isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

    Crushing the FE and PE Exams Just 36 Days Apart With Angello Murekye

  8. Sep 18

    A PE in the Philippines to a PE in USA with Jonathan Espiritu

    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 their NCEES exams and do the same! 😉   Tune in to Learn: His journey from the Philippines to oil & gas in Saudi Arabia to a civil engineer in the USThe main differences between the Philippines and the US in the civil engineering fieldHis FE exam prep as a stay-home dad with 3 kids (yes, you read that right!)A time management technique he used to find study time he didn't think he hadHow he found Civil Engineering Academy — and why it was crucial to his successHow a career opportunity led him to change his depth exam3 tips for those taking the Civil PE ExamThe astonishing difference in difficulty between breadth and depth questionsWhy you already have what it takes to crush theory problems on the PETips for Filipinos interested in becoming licensed PEs in the USWhat is the NCEES approval process like for international applicants?  Our Partner: Audible   FREE Download: The Ultimate Civil PE Exam Startup Guide   Resources Mentioned: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course AASHTO’s Green Book The Highway Capacity Manual Roadside Design Guide Book Texas Department of Transportation University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao Saudi Aramco Petroleum   Connect With Jonathan: LinkedIn CEA Exam Prep Materials: Website The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course The Ultimate Civil PE Depth Review Courses FE and PE Practice Exams   Join the CEA Family: Free Newsletter Free Facebook Community YouTube Channel Instagram Twitter LinkedIn isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

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The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast empowers engineers to pass their exams, accelerate their careers, and become exceptional professionals. Through expert insights and conversations with industry leaders, we explore FE and PE exam strategies, career development, leadership, entrepreneurship, and the latest innovations shaping the engineering profession. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reach the next level, you'll find practical advice and inspiration to help you succeed.

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