Training

Resources and Continuing Education for Structural Engineers

I’ll admit that I’m biased, but structural engineers have the best job in the world. We’re needed to create safe sound structures while factoring in the effects of environmental forces using a combination of physics and experience. It takes a really well rounded individual to do all of that.

In my opinion, the key to being a well rounded professional is to never stop learning or seeking out new resources in your industry. I thought I’d share with you some resources that may be helpful to you as a structural engineer, from my own experience:

Continuing Education Webinars

Attending webinars online is a great way to get Continuing Education credits you need. Webinars enable you to stay sharp on topics that are continually changing and that you may need to adapt to in our industry.

Some of the resources engineers at Simpson Strong-Tie go to for webinars and CECs include:

ACI – American Concrete Institute

AISC – American Institute of Steel Construction

ASCE – American Society of Civil Engineers

AWC – American Wood Council

CFSEI – Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute

NCSEA –  National Council of Structural Engineers Association

SEAOSC – Structural Engineers Association of Southern California  

Engineering Associations

Training
Structural engineering associations often offer in person trainings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping in touch with fellow structural engineers means that you can talk shop and get some great advice about issues you face on the job. Some associations you can look into:

SEAINT- Structural Engineers Association – International 

NCSEA- National Council of Structural Engineers Associations 

SEAOC- Structural Engineers Association of California

SEAOSC- Structural Engineers Association of Southern California 

SEAOCC- Structural Engineers Association of Central California 

SEAOSD- Structural Engineers Association of San Diego

SEAU- Structural Engineers Association of Utah

ASCE- American Society Of Civil Engineers

ACI- American Concrete Institute

AISC- American Institute of Steel Construction

PCA- Portland Cement Association

PCI- Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

CRSI- Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

AISI- American Iron and Steel Institute

Simpson Strong-Tie also offers great software resources for structural engineers and other building industry professionals. What resources do you recommend? Let us know in the comments below.

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Author: Paul McEntee

A couple of years back we hosted a “Take your daughter or son to work day,” which was a great opportunity for our children to find out what their parents did. We had different activities for the kids to learn about careers and the importance of education in opening up career opportunities. People often ask me what I do for Simpson Strong-Tie and I sometimes laugh about how my son Ryan responded to a questionnaire he filled out that day: Q.   What is your mom/dad's job? A.   Goes and gets coffee and sits at his desk Q.   What does your mom/dad actually do at work? A.   Walks in the test lab and checks things When I am not checking things in the lab or sitting at my desk drinking coffee, I manage Engineering Research and Development for Simpson Strong-Tie, focusing on new product development for connectors and lateral systems. I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and I am a licensed Civil and Structural Engineer in California. Prior to joining Simpson Strong-Tie, I worked for 10 years as a consulting structural engineer designing commercial, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use and retail projects. I was fortunate in those years to work at a great engineering firm that did a lot of everything. This allowed me to gain experience designing with wood, structural steel, concrete, concrete block and cold-formed steel as well as working on many seismic retrofits of historic unreinforced masonry buildings.

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