Modified: February 10, 2023

Welcome to Seismic Design Review

Seismic Design Review (SDR) provides civil engineering candidates the most comprehensive products to help them effectively prepare for the 2.5 hour CA Civil Seismic Principles (CSP) portion of the California Civil Professional Engineers Examination.

For over 30 years, the SDR seminars and SDR workbook have been helping candidates prepare for the California Civil P.E. exam. As the CA Civil Seismic Principles (CSP) exam passing statistics show, SDR seminar participants have twice the exam passing rate of those who have taken the exam without SDR's help.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

On the December 8, 2022 Board Meeting, BPELSG approved a new CSP (seismic) Test Plan and CES (surveying) Test Plan which will become effective on January 1, 2024 (i.e., 2024-Q1). All testing quarters of 2023 will continue to use the 2019 California Building Code (CBC) as the building code reference for the CSP (seismic) exam. The 2022 California Building Code (CBC) will become the building code reference effective on January 1, 2024.

As a result of the Boards vote, the content of the current SDR Workbook and the current 2020 SDR On-Demand Webinars (based on the 2018 IBC/2019 CBC and ASCE 7-16) will remain applicable for any CSP exam taken in 2023-Q1, 2023-Q2, 2023-Q3 and 2023-Q4.

The release of the new SDR Workbook based on the 2021 IBC/2022 CBC and ASCE 7-16 is being postponed until December of 2023. The Winter 2024 SDR Live Webinars will be offered in January and February of 2024 to allow applicants to prepare for a 2024-Q1 or later CSP (seismic) exam.

NOTE: All Live Webinar participants and On-Demand Webinar - ALL Lectures participants will be provided access to a 55 question online computer-based testing (CBT) sample exam prior to their CA special civil seismic principles examination. This online CBT sample exam is timed (2.5 hours) and results will be providing immediately upon the completion of the exam. Participants will be allowed to take the online CBT sample exam twice.

Intro Video for ALL 2023 CSP Exams

Seismic Design Review – Special Civil Seismic Principles Exam Preparation Products:

Seismic Design Review Live Seminar Icon

Seismic Design Review Live Seminars

Taught by Steven T. Hiner, MS, SE, this 4-day (30-hour) intensive seminar series is specifically tailored for individuals who do not possess a strong background in structural analysis and/or principles of earthquake resistant design. Focusing on the review of exam specific areas, solving realistic exam-similar practice problems, along with tips and strategies, these seminars will help you effectively prepare the for the CA Civil Seismic Principles (CSP) examination.

There will be NO Live Seminars in 2023.

Seismic Design Review Webinar Icon

Seismic Design Review Live Webinars

The Live Webinars are presented in the same manner as the Live Seminars, but over a period of five weeks. The Live Webinars include intensive and structured review of the important topics, problem solving practice, along with the tips and strategies that will be needed to pass the exam. The Live Webinar format allows you to ask questions and participate in the course from the convenience of your desktop computer, laptop, or tablet device.

There will be NO Live Webinars until January 2024.

The Winter 2024 SDR Live Webinars will be based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2022 California Building Code (CBC), and ASCE 7-16.

The SDR Workbook - 2021 IBC and ASCE 7-16 version, which must be purchased separately from the Winter 2024 SDR Live Webinars, will be available in December of 2023.

Seismic Design Review On-Demand Webinar Icon

Seismic Design Review On-Demand Webinars

Access selected portions or all of the approximate 32 hours of video content recorded from the 2020 Live Webinars.

The On-Demand videos are bundled into four individual lecture modules that match the content presented in the four Live Seminar lectures.

To prepare for the 2023-Q1, 2023-Q2, 2023-Q3 or 2023-Q4 CA Civil Seismic Principles (CSP) exam, you may purchase access to ALL of the 2020 SDR On-Demand Webinar lectures, or purchase access to individual On-Demand Webinar lectures. The current On-Demand content is based on the 2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2019 California Building Code (CBC), and ASCE 7-16.

To prepare for the 2024-Q1 or later CA Civil Seismic Principles (CSP) exam, the 2024 SDR On-Demand Webinars will be created from the recorded and edited Winter 2024 SDR Live Webinars (dates to be determined) which will be based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2022 California Building Code (CBC), and ASCE 7-16.

The SDR Workbook - 2021 IBC and ASCE 7-16 version, which must be purchased separately from the 2024 SDR On-Demand Webinars, will be available in December 2023.

Seismic Design Review Workbook Icon

Seismic Design Review Workbook

2018 IBC (2019 CBC) version – SDR Workbooks are NOW in stock and available for order and shipping.

Workbook includes lecture notes, example problems (with comprehensive solutions), 456 multiple choice problems (similar to the exam format), multiple choice solutions, important definitions, notations, short-cut tables, TWO - 55 question sample exams, sample exam solutions, and an index for quick access to the information you will need when taking the exam.