The rhythm of a new summer day was familiar. Jacob Fleck was getting the kids ready for daycare.
Not so routine was the email Fleck received that mid-July morning with a subject line stating: “Your exam results are ready to be viewed.”
After a few nervous moments, Fleck opened the email. It contained the happy news indicating he had passed the exam to become a licensed engineer.
“After I saw I passed, it was a huge wave of relief to know that the studying was worth it,” he said.
His test preparation began in March, and Fleck invested between eight and 10 hours of weekly study in the final weeks leading up to the exam.
Fleck took the eight-hour, 80-question, online test on July 7. He learned he passed on July 12, and the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions issued Fleck’s license on July 21.
To meet the requirement of working with a professional engineer for at least four years before taking the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam, Fleck mainly worked with TSP Electrical Engineers Darrell Bren and Kelli Osterloo.
“I definitely learned a lot from Darrell and Kelli, especially in terms of understanding the National Electrical Code,” he said, estimating that about 20 percent of the PE exam questions were related to codes.
PE licensure is the engineering profession’s highest standard of competence, a verification of achievement, expertise, and assurance.
Fleck graduated from O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 2019.
Since joining TSP in May 2019, he has worked on a variety of projects across the firm’s footprint.
His favorites include the Monument Health Dialysis Center in Rapid City and the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Community Center.
While he is keeping an open mind toward additional certification, Fleck is going to take some time to enjoy his accomplishments.
“I think I’ll take a break from eight-hour tests for a little bit,” he said.