Updated June 5, 2010



2010 PE Exam Review Course

Six Saturday Sessions, Four-Hours Each
$295 for ISA Los Angeles Section members
$311 for ISA members of other sections
Non-members add $85 for 1 year ISA membership
Plus study materials

Below is information about ISA web seminars, links to study materials, and links to the official California PE exam website. To sign up for the current class or for more info, please contact
John Prince at (714) 968-5501. Note that you are not registered until your payment has been received.

Site Map

General Information
Important Dates
Course Schedule
Course Locations
Registering for the Class
About the Instructors
About the California Exam and PE Registration
Class Textbook

Links
Study Materials
Official State of California Exam Info Site
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PE License Exams (NCEES)
ISA Webpage for CSE: General Info, Exam Specifications, Exam Passing Rates (1992-2007), Study Materials
What is covered in the exam? (PDF, NCEES)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about EIT/FE Exams (NCEES)
California Legislative Council of Professional Engineers (ISALA is a member)
2007 PE Review Class
2006 PE Review Class
2005 PE Review Class

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General information

The Section will provide breakfast pastries, orange juice, coffee and bottled water at the beginning of each class. If you would like any other snacks or refreshments other than these, please bring them from home. Note that a refrigerator may not be available.

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Important dates

For exam dates and information on the exam, visit the State of California PE Exam webpage.

The classes will be held on Saturdays. There will be no classes on Labor Day weekend, but may be a class on Columbus Day weekend if needed if the schedule changes. Also, we may hold additional problem-working sessions during October if is enough interest; however, there may be no instructor at the optional sessions. click here for the complete schedule.

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Class Meeting Locations

When specific class topics and meeting locations have been confirmed, they will be posted here.

All classes will be held in Fountain Valley, near the 405 Freeway, between Beach Blvd and Harbor Blvd, which is a central location for those driving from Bakersfield and San Diego.

Please confirm class location before driving to the class in case there has been a last minute change.

For information about meeting locations, please contact John Prince at (714) 968-5501.

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Registering for the class

The PE Review Course is presented by the ISA Los Angeles Section. Certificates of Achievement will be awarded to all who complete the course.

The base registration fee for the course is $295 for ISA regular and student members in the Los Angeles Section. Add $16 for members of other ISA sections. Add $100 for non-members (includes one year ISA membership, $100 value). To pay by credit card, add 3%. The registration fee includes all sessions and hand-outs. The ISA study guide is used in the class and can be purchased along with other study materials. These are available directly from ISA. See "Books" below.

The class will be limited to the first fifteen (15) who register. Those who have not submitted an application to the State for taking the 2010 PE exam may register in the class, however this course is specifically for exam preparation. In the rare event that there are more students than space, priority will be given to those who have submitted an application. To register for the class, please contact John Prince at (714) 968-5501. Checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted.

Please note that registration is not complete and your seat will not be reserved until payment has been received. Should you change your mind by the first session or if the course is cancelled for any reason, your full registration fee will be refunded (less 3% if paid by credit card).

To join ISA or for more information about its benefits, please CLICK HERE.

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Books and study materials

Each class member is required to have a copy of Control Systems Engineering Study Guide , which can be purchased directly from ISA. For info on other study materials, Click here.

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Course outline

Please note that the class sessions and content as listed below is subject to change, so check by phone or email if you need the latest information.

*** These are listed in no particular order ***

Final Control Elements
This session will give you a quick review of control valve types, characteristics, installation, and application, as well as valve sizing and selection, with references for additional study. Relief valves will be reviewed briefly with additional reference material noted. (Related ISA Webinar)

Burner Management, SIS/SIL, Ladder Logic
This session will cover various topics not listed as being included in the other sessions, including burner management, ladder logic, safety instrumented systems as they apply to control systems. (Related ISA Webinar)

Control Systems Analysis
This session will give you a quick overview of the most likely exam topics in control loops, methods of loop documentation, various loop types, characteristics of control function, and some loop problems. Controllers and their function are included in the application portion of the review. Some advanced control techniques are also surveyed. (Related ISA Webinar)

Measurement, Part 1
This session will give a quick review of the base primary measurement of pressure, level, and analytical properties. The review topics include units of measurement, sensor types, transmitter fundamentals, applications and calculations. (Related ISA Webinar)

Control Systems Implementation
This session will give a quick review of control loop tuning, control system implementation, architecture, configuration, programming, and safety instrument functions, as well as open and closed loop tuning, system layout, and considerations for safety integrity levels (SILs). (Related ISA Webinar)

Standards and References
This session will focus on the Control Systems Engineer (CSE) Professional Engineer (PE) exam in general. It will give control systems engineers an introduction to the background and format of the CSE PE examination produced by NCEES and administered by the state professional license boards. The exam specifications, knowledge areas, and skill requirements are outlined. References, test taking tips, and standards/codes are included in this session. (Related ISA Webinar)

Measurement, Part 2
This session will give you a quick review of the base primary measurement of flow and various signal types and transmission. The topics include units of flow measurement, sensor types, transmitter fundamentals, and applications. Signal types, transmission methods, and installation considerations are also reviewed. (Related ISA Webinar)

Optional Sessions: Review and Problem Working Session
If needed, optional sessions may be scheduled later for additional review of any topics or for working problems.

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About the instructors

Joe Hohn is an I&C engineer with Dynalectric in San Diego and has over 25 years of experience in the application, commissioning and troubleshooting of instrumentation. Among Joe's recent projects was the 16,000 point Biogen Idec (now Genetec) plant in Oceanside, California, where he served as design lead for instrumentation and valves. He will review traditional analog and discrete equipment and circuits as well as the more common of the fieldbus technologies. Joe is a 1977 graduate of the University of Maryland. He has taught the ISALA review course a number of times and is an exam writer for the ISA CAP exam. Joe has also taught ISA seminars, including "Field Buses and the Controls Technician," an overview of the more common buses, their applications, troubleshooting techniques, configuration and diagnostic tools and best practices for maintaining both the bus infrastructure and the instruments, valves and I/O that are routinely connected to the buses.

Victor Wegelin, P.E., is owner of PMA Concepts, an independent consulting firm based in Westminster, California, and has over 25 years experience in the design, implementation and support of Industrial Networks, total integrated solutions that include measurement, control, operator interface, and business system links. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, and an MBA from The University of Chicago. He is a licensed professional Control Systems engineer. Victor joined ISA in 1983, and was recently named a Fellow. Victor began teaching for ISA in 1990, and now specializes in the teaching and development of many popular courses dealing with industrial network technologies. He also helped develop and now teaches the Industrial Controls Certificate program at California State University, Fullerton., and a Wonderware HMI course for Texas State Technical College.

Paul Darnbrough, P.E., C.A.P. is a registered Electrical Professional Engineer and Certified Automation Professional with KDC Systems in Los Alamitos, and has over 15 years of experience in design, engineering, programming, and construction of electrical systems and process automation projects. He is a 1989 graduate of UCLA. His industry experience includes plastics, food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, while his process experience includes material handling, batch and continuous processing, scaling/metering, extrusion, evaporation, and the development of OEM equipment. Paul's recent experience include I&C design and programming on two 10,000+ I/O DeviceNet and Foundation Fieldbus pharmaceutical projects, and he is currently acting as lead project engineer on a large DN and FF water treatment project.

Instructor in the Webinars

Gerald Wilbanks, is the instructor who presents the web seminars in the videos that will be shown at each session. (He will not be present in person during the class.) He is Vice President of Documentation & Engineering Services at ISA and has over 36 years of experience in engineering, management, consulting, and design in heavy industry. He served in progressive positions of increasing responsibility as an Instrument Design Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Engineering Manager Control Systems, and Vice President Quality Improvement with Union Carbide and Rust Engineering before becoming a principal of his own firm. Mr. Wilbanks is a registered professional engineer in 14 states, a member of NSPE, ASQ, and an International Former President (1995) of ISA -The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society. Gerald is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and was recognized as the Engineer of the Year in 1991 by the Engineering Council of Birmingham. He serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Engineering at Mississippi State University and is a Distinguished Engineering Fellow of the university. The Birmingham Section of ISA accorded Mr. Wilbanks the Engineer of the Year award in 1996, as well as the Distinguished Society Service recognition in 1997 and Young Engineer of the Year award in 1978. He has served as an instructor in many courses, classes and other educational sessions.

Additional information about the instructors will be added here as it is received.

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About the California Exam and PE Registration

The Official State of California PE Exam website, contains examination and application information, future exam schedules and filing deadlines for both PE and EIT/FE exams, downloadable forms, laws and regulations, a searchable PE licensee database, publications and links, exam sites and maps, and exam reference materials, and statistics of past examinations since 1998.

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For information about advertising in the local section ISA newsletters or regional directory, please call (714) 478-8816 or (714) 968-5501.


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