PE ETHICS EXAM ANSWERS BASED ON THE TEXAS
ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT AND BOARD RULES
LATEST UPDATE
PART 1 – DIRECT SUPERVISION AND SEALING OF WORK (Q1–Q10)
Scenario 1 : Maria, a graduate engineer, works under John, a licensed PE.
John seals drawings without adequate review, and an error in load calculations
is overlooked. John also allows a contractor to use sealed drawings for a
different project.
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Q1. Which board rule most directly addresses John's responsibility to provide
direct supervision over Maria's engineering work before sealing it?
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A) §137.55(a)
B) §137.59(a)
C) §137.63(b)(2)
D) §137.33(b)
E) §139.17
ANSWER: D) §137.33(b)
Rationale: §137.33(b) requires that a PE only seal work performed under his
"direct supervision" as defined in §131.2. John's failure to review before
sealing violates this.
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Q2. Which section most clearly prohibits a license holder from affixing their
seal without adequate review?
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A) §137.63(c)(1)
B) §137.33(f)
1
,C) §137.55(b)
D) §1001.004
E) §137.65(a)
ANSWER: B) §137.33(f)
Rationale: §137.33(f) requires that the seal and signature be placed on the
"final version" of the work, with full professional responsibility. Sealing
without adequate review means it is not a final version for which the engineer
can take responsibility.
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Q3. By allowing a contractor to use sealed drawings prepared for a different
project, John may have violated which provision?
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A) §137.63(a)
B) §137.33(i)
C) §137.59(a)
D) §137.65(b)
E) §139.13
ANSWER: B) §137.33(i)
Rationale: §137.33(i) prohibits misuse of engineering documents, including using
them outside the scope for which they were prepared without proper
authorization
and re-sealing.
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Q4. If Maria, an unlicensed graduate engineer, signs off on calculations as
"Engineer," which part of the Act is most directly violated?
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A) §1001.301
B) §137.59(a)
C) §137.63(c)(1)
2
,D) §137.65(a)
E) §139.17
ANSWER: A) §1001.301
Rationale: Texas Occupations Code §1001.301 prohibits the practice of
engineering
without a license. Signing off as "Engineer" constitutes unlicensed practice.
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John also provides Maria's calculations to a subcontractor without Maria's
knowledge, and later the subcontractor uses them to justify a change order.
Q5. Under Board Rules, what is John's responsibility regarding the distribution
of engineering documents prepared by a subordinate?
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A) He may distribute them freely because he is the responsible PE.
B) He must ensure that the documents are complete and accurate before release,
and that they are used only for the intended purpose.
C) He must get Maria's written permission for each distribution.
D) He must not distribute any documents without client approval.
E) He must rely solely on the subordinate's representations.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: As the supervising PE, John is responsible for all work released
under his seal, and he must ensure that documents are not misused. He must also
maintain control over the distribution and ensure they are used only for their
intended purpose.
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Q6. If the subcontractor modifies the calculations without John's knowledge and
uses them, who is responsible for the accuracy of the modified documents?
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A) Maria, because she prepared the original calculations.
3
, B) John, because his seal is on the original documents.
C) The subcontractor, because they made modifications without authorization.
D) Both John and the subcontractor are equally responsible.
E) No one, because the modifications were done without knowledge.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Under §137.33(i), anyone who modifies sealed engineering documents
without authorization assumes responsibility for the changes. John's seal on the
original does not cover unauthorized modifications.
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Scenario 2 – Supervisory responsibilities (Q7–Q10)
A licensed PE, Sarah, supervises a team of 15 engineers and technicians. She
cannot personally review every calculation, so she delegates final checking to a
senior engineer who is not licensed. Sarah seals the final design.
Q7. May Sarah delegate final checking to an unlicensed engineer?
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A) Yes, as long as she has full confidence in that person.
B) Yes, but she must take full responsibility for the work and have adequate
quality control procedures in place.
C) No, the final checking must be done by a licensed PE.
D) No, because she must personally perform all calculations.
E) Yes, only if the unlicensed engineer has a master's degree.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: §137.33(b) allows delegation but requires that the work be performed
under the PE's "direct supervision" and that the PE takes full responsibility.
Final checking can be delegated as long as the PE exercises adequate oversight
and quality control.
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Q8. What constitutes "direct supervision" under Board Rule §131.2?
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ENGINEERING PRACTICE ACT AND BOARD RULES
LATEST UPDATE
PART 1 – DIRECT SUPERVISION AND SEALING OF WORK (Q1–Q10)
Scenario 1 : Maria, a graduate engineer, works under John, a licensed PE.
John seals drawings without adequate review, and an error in load calculations
is overlooked. John also allows a contractor to use sealed drawings for a
different project.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q1. Which board rule most directly addresses John's responsibility to provide
direct supervision over Maria's engineering work before sealing it?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) §137.55(a)
B) §137.59(a)
C) §137.63(b)(2)
D) §137.33(b)
E) §139.17
ANSWER: D) §137.33(b)
Rationale: §137.33(b) requires that a PE only seal work performed under his
"direct supervision" as defined in §131.2. John's failure to review before
sealing violates this.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q2. Which section most clearly prohibits a license holder from affixing their
seal without adequate review?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) §137.63(c)(1)
B) §137.33(f)
1
,C) §137.55(b)
D) §1001.004
E) §137.65(a)
ANSWER: B) §137.33(f)
Rationale: §137.33(f) requires that the seal and signature be placed on the
"final version" of the work, with full professional responsibility. Sealing
without adequate review means it is not a final version for which the engineer
can take responsibility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q3. By allowing a contractor to use sealed drawings prepared for a different
project, John may have violated which provision?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) §137.63(a)
B) §137.33(i)
C) §137.59(a)
D) §137.65(b)
E) §139.13
ANSWER: B) §137.33(i)
Rationale: §137.33(i) prohibits misuse of engineering documents, including using
them outside the scope for which they were prepared without proper
authorization
and re-sealing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q4. If Maria, an unlicensed graduate engineer, signs off on calculations as
"Engineer," which part of the Act is most directly violated?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) §1001.301
B) §137.59(a)
C) §137.63(c)(1)
2
,D) §137.65(a)
E) §139.17
ANSWER: A) §1001.301
Rationale: Texas Occupations Code §1001.301 prohibits the practice of
engineering
without a license. Signing off as "Engineer" constitutes unlicensed practice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John also provides Maria's calculations to a subcontractor without Maria's
knowledge, and later the subcontractor uses them to justify a change order.
Q5. Under Board Rules, what is John's responsibility regarding the distribution
of engineering documents prepared by a subordinate?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) He may distribute them freely because he is the responsible PE.
B) He must ensure that the documents are complete and accurate before release,
and that they are used only for the intended purpose.
C) He must get Maria's written permission for each distribution.
D) He must not distribute any documents without client approval.
E) He must rely solely on the subordinate's representations.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: As the supervising PE, John is responsible for all work released
under his seal, and he must ensure that documents are not misused. He must also
maintain control over the distribution and ensure they are used only for their
intended purpose.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q6. If the subcontractor modifies the calculations without John's knowledge and
uses them, who is responsible for the accuracy of the modified documents?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A) Maria, because she prepared the original calculations.
3
, B) John, because his seal is on the original documents.
C) The subcontractor, because they made modifications without authorization.
D) Both John and the subcontractor are equally responsible.
E) No one, because the modifications were done without knowledge.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Under §137.33(i), anyone who modifies sealed engineering documents
without authorization assumes responsibility for the changes. John's seal on the
original does not cover unauthorized modifications.
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Scenario 2 – Supervisory responsibilities (Q7–Q10)
A licensed PE, Sarah, supervises a team of 15 engineers and technicians. She
cannot personally review every calculation, so she delegates final checking to a
senior engineer who is not licensed. Sarah seals the final design.
Q7. May Sarah delegate final checking to an unlicensed engineer?
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A) Yes, as long as she has full confidence in that person.
B) Yes, but she must take full responsibility for the work and have adequate
quality control procedures in place.
C) No, the final checking must be done by a licensed PE.
D) No, because she must personally perform all calculations.
E) Yes, only if the unlicensed engineer has a master's degree.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: §137.33(b) allows delegation but requires that the work be performed
under the PE's "direct supervision" and that the PE takes full responsibility.
Final checking can be delegated as long as the PE exercises adequate oversight
and quality control.
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Q8. What constitutes "direct supervision" under Board Rule §131.2?
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