Top 10 Reasons DTC Is the Best!
As part of our 10 Extraordinary Years celebration, we are counting down the Top Ten reasons that DTC is the best.
#10 – More Free Videos.
From the beginning, Dr. Tom wanted to offer free videos because, as he says, “I just love to see the light bulb go on when a student finally understands how to solve a problem.” He started with videos on topics in the MERM and NCEES Practice Exam that needed greater clarification. These videos quickly became very popular – the video on Distributed Loads has been watched over 54,000 times and other top videos have been watched many thousands of times.
Then Dr. Tom added Exam Strategy Videos to give Mechanical Engineers tips on how to choose the right PE exam and how to approach problem-solving on the exam. We add new videos whenever we see a need.
We also offer Sample Video Lessons from our Mechanical PE Exam Reviews. These videos allow folks to see what they’ll be getting when that take our courses – what a typical lesson looks like and how each of our instructors teach.
We will keep adding new free videos as we come across topics that need them. The more we’ve worked with mechanical engineers, helping them prepare for the PE Exam, the more we understand what a difference getting your PE can make in a person’s life. That really is what we enjoy most about all this, helping to change people’s lives.
“After two failed attempts, I believe that Dr. Tom’s course was just what I needed to get on the right track. I found out about the course from the free YouTube videos, and I was sold on the presentation style; confident and up-beat, very unlike the other course DVDs I had purchased before.”
Bill, PE, Texas
#9: Online Training Expertise
Not all online courses are created equal. What sets DTC apart is the effectiveness of our courses, which is a direct result of our collective expertise in and focus on teaching via an online platform.
Dr. Tom’s Classroom was started with one goal in mind, to create the best online PE Exam Review possible. It began with Dr. Tom’s decades of experience teaching all the basic mechanical engineering undergraduate course: statics, dynamics, solids, fluids, thermal I and II, heat transfer. With that foundation, he began to teach live and webinar-based Mechanical PE Exam reviews. That was great, but he had a vision that he could help more people via an online class.
Enter the rest of the DTC team, who brought their own decades of experience with distance learning, instructional design, and video training. Partnering with one of the highest-rated learning management systems, Dr. Tom and the team developed the tried and true structure and method that we offer in our online reviews today.
Our courses take the maximum advantage of the flexibility of online learning. Available 24/7, they allow you to work through your review when it’s most convenient for you, without having to worry about missing a class.
At the same time our courses provide you with structure. Given the scope of the material that must be mastered, having a clear and targeted review is essential. No time wasted on low probably high difficultly topics. More time spent on “low hanging fruit” that will help you get the points you need to pass the exam.
And most importantly, we give you strategies for success. Passing the exam is about much more than understanding concepts. You need to have an approach that will serve you well on exam day, that’s what we offer.
We continue to improve our online courses every day, using the new tools that become available and adapting to meet the challenges of the new CBT Exam format.
“I initially was planning to attend a live class offered by another company. However, sitting through 4 days in a row of 8 hour classes (for three weekends) did NOT appeal to me or fit my learning style. Tackling it at MY pace and on MY schedule (weekday lunch and evenings, weekends), focusing on solving examples, and shoring up trouble areas before progressing to new lessons was the only way I could effectively learn the material. Doing, not merely watching is the key for me.”
-Brent V., PE, Houston, Texas
“Having never taken an online course, I was initially very skeptical. After taking Dr. Tom’s course, I realize the many benefits of an online course. There is great value in being able to pause, back up watch the material multiple times if you need to do so.”
Bill, PE, Texas
#8: Extended Access
In the ten years that we’ve been offering DTC PE Exam reviews, we’ve learned that fitting exam prep into an already busy life is always a challenge. Add in a family emergency, a work crisis, or an unexpected heath issue, and your review can be delayed for a time. That’s why we decided to celebrate our 10 Extraordinary Years by extending access to all our courses for up to a year.
Dr. Tom developed his 20-Week Reviews to provide you with the maximum exposure to the material needed to pass the exam in the most advantageous time frame. 20 Weeks is ideal to promote comprehension as you review and retention of the material on exam day. So ideally, you want to complete your review following the 20-Week schedule.
But we understand that the perfect time frame is not always achievable. With access for a full year, you will have time to complete your review, even if life throws you a few curves along the way.
“Been out of college for more than 18 years and getting back into the habit of studying for long hours, relearning subjects, remembering concepts, learning techniques to solve problems and more importantly juggling family commitments and work would have been an impossible task until I came across Dr. Toms Classroom course. While looking for online PE classes, I came across a few major ones which were more expensive and offering courses for shorter duration of time as compared to DTC. The DTC course which is spread across 20 weeks and accessible for a year, is well structured with videos on different topics, enough practice problems and short duration exams. I am grateful to Dr. Tom and his team for coming up with such detailed course especially tailored for computer-based testing that helped me pass the PE-Mechanical (TFM) exam. I highly recommend Dr. Toms Classroom course.”
Jinu George, PE, PGDBA, Nassau County Department of Health, New York
#7: Flexibility
Maximum flexibility is built in to DTC PE Exam Review courses in multiple ways because we understand that you are a very busy person, and that finding time to prepare for the PE Exam is a big challenge. We give you the structure, you choose the schedule.
First, our courses are available 24/7 online and 100% self-paced, so you can study when and where it works best for you. And you can move at your own pace, working quickly through the topics that you know well and taking more time on those you need to review more carefully.
We’ve also broken our lessons down into short videos that focus on a single topic, followed by assigned practice problems that immerse you in a topic in manageable chunks that promote understanding and make it easier for you to fit them into your busy schedule: before work, on a lunch break, after dinner, whatever works for you. You can keep moving through your review without having to block out hours of time at once.
And we give you lots of time for your review. Dr. Tom recommends that you take 20 weeks to prepare for the PE Exam, and he is especially wary of “crash courses.” That’s why all our courses are based on a 20-week schedule. But you have access to the courses for a full year, allowing you the flexibility to take longer if you need to.
We’ve even introduced flexible payment options – Pay Up Front and save money or Pay-As-You-Go and spread your payments out over time.
Flexibility is one reason DTC’s courses are so effective for so many people, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to make our courses the most effective PE Exam reviews out there.
“I’m a father with two young children and a demanding job. I wasn’t going to be able to commit hours mid-day or on the weekend to studying. This was the right program for me. The structure and organization provided by the course, your frank commentary on what or what not to study, your logic for taking the thermal/fluids pm concentration, and your comforting demeanor in the videos were all critical in my success. I can’t comment on any other study programs out there, but I can say with complete certainty that the Dr. Tom program ensured my ability to pass the exam. I can’t thank you enough!”
– Aaron John Tippie, PE
Westwood Professional Services, Inc., San Antonio, Texas
“If you have been out of school for so long, with Dr. Tom’s review course you can’t go wrong. I’ve been out of school for 24 years and I got a pass in the PE Mechanical Thermal & Fluids System exam!!!!! I worked hard for almost year to get up to speed on the math and solving the correct problems needed to pass the exam and it finally paid off. I’m a happier person today, thanks to Dr. Tom and his team, this was a lifetime goal I have just achieved.”
– Jose A Rodriguez, PE
Johnson and Johnson, Raynham, Massachusetts
#6: It’s All We Do
We are small company that is laser focused on one objective – to make our courses the best preparation possible for the Mechanical PE Exams. It really is all we do.
Dr. Tom and his team worked diligently for many years to develop and refine the highly effective Dr. Tom Method of preparing for the pencil-and-paper Mechanical PE Exam.
Then in 2019 and 2020, we developed a whole new Method for the Mechanical CBT Exam. Dr. Tom worked tirelessly to make sure the method and every lesson is effective for this challenging exam format.
Brand new courses for Machine Design & Materials and Thermal & Fluids Systems using this new method were rolled out in 2019, and for HVAC & Refrigeration in 2021.
We also listen to the participants in our courses, and often make improvements based on their suggestions. Whatever it takes to make sure we’re offering you the best exam review we can. When you’re only doing one thing, it’s important to do it well. Everyday, we strive to be the best out there to help you achieve the extraordinary.
– A. Hill, PE, Arkansas
#5: Better Prices & Payment Options
We realize that buying a PE Exam Review is a major purchase that can be challenging to manage. That’s why we’ve worked to keep our prices as low as possible, and why we have three flexible payment options. With our Pay-As-You-Go option, you can spread out the cost by purchasing each module of the course when you need it. With our Test Drive Option, you can try before you buy. Or you can save money by choosing our Pay Up Front option and buying the full course at once.
But don’t let our lower prices fool you. DTC has the best PE Exam review courses out there. And with all our courses, you get 12 months’ access, making it possible for you to take the time you need to complete your review.
We want you to become a PE, and we are committed to make our courses, not only the best out there, but the most affordable and accessible. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Listen to our many successful participants.
“With better than competitive prices, effective teaching ability, and proven results, Dr. Tom’s Classroom is undeniably the best value in PE exam preparation, thanks Dr. Tom!”
– Andrew Lipetzky, PE, Duke Energy, New Hill, NC
“Why choose Dr. Tom over the other courses available? 1. Easy to understand instructors. 2. Concise study plan. 3. Cost. Compare it to other courses out there like I did. I think you will be glad you saved several hundred dollars and got a better review course.”
– Evan Tinker, PE, Argus Consulting Inc., Overland Park, KS
“The cost of the program is well worth it. Dr. Tom’s plan is extensive, intensive, and organized. The online lectures are perfect for the professional that must do his/her best to put the hours in during their “free time.”
– Motes, PE, Blythewood, SC
“Dr Tom’s course content alone is worth the price, but the real value for me came from having a rock solid structure that I know is absolutely tailored for the PE exam.”
– Tommy S. PE, Las Vegas, NV
“DTC gave me a plan, helped me prioritize the key areas of study, not get bogged down into too much subject-matter detail, and spend my time effectively. It’s priced right, and has great content.”
– Lance Way, PE, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Texas
“DTC’s step by step course really did make all the difference! The course is one of the most reasonably priced courses I could find and discovering that it was also so amazing was really a pleasant surprise.”
– Erica Kerr, PE, North Las Vegas, NV
#4: Always Improving
Our online PE Exam Review courses have changed a lot from the first courses Dr. Tom offered in 2009. That’s because with every session, we have looked for ways to improve the effectiveness of our courses.
Early on we added study plans, challenge problems and assessment quizzes. When the number of participants really started to grow, we added a participant forum to allow Dr. Tom to answer participant questions in a way that made those answers available to all participants.
Dr. Tom listened to participants requests for quick reference during the exam and created his Dr. Tom’s Exam Day Companion, which many participants found to be the key to their success on the exam. It was the final piece in the puzzle that made up the Dr. Tom Method.
When the Mechanical Exam format changed in 2017 from the AM breadth/PM depth format to three separate exams, Dr. Tom and his team reworked our reviews, adding new material when needed to make sure the reviews were effective for the new exams.
In 2019, we faced our biggest challenge yet, the conversion of the Mechanical PE Exam to the CBT exam format in 2020. With this new format, no outside references are allowed, so a whole new method was needed. Dr. Tom brought his experience teaching for other CBT exams to the creation of a whole new Dr. Tom Method. Dr. Tom and his team spent two years completely remaking our Mechanical courses from the bottom up to put the new “CBT” Dr. Tom Method into practice.
Now we’re very excited to be offering those new CBT Mechanical courses to our participants. And we’ll keep listening and improving these courses, because we’re committed to making them the best PE Exam preparation out there.
2016: “Dr. Tom has done a great job establishing a curriculum focused on passing the exam. The problems, videos and study plans were vital to reinforce the concepts learned each week. The elements that I found most beneficial were the Exam Day Companion (EDC) and practice problems. The EDC was my first reference during the exam and provided the equations and concepts needed for the majority of exam day questions. I also found the Participant Forum to be a useful tool to post questions and see other students questions and concerns throughout the 20 weeks.”
– Chris F, PE – Westinghouse Electric Company, Irmo, SC
2017: “Your program is absolutely spot on – even with the recent format changes to Th/FL section – you adapted the program to include compressible flow and combined cycles to perfection. Thank you for building my confidence and staying with us during the prep period. I will totally will recommend your program to my peers.”
– Michael Mastice, PE
2018: “If a retired US Navy test pilot who has not looked at undergraduate engineering for over 30 years can pass using this course, then this is positive proof that the DTC method is effective. I followed the course to the letter and even built in an extra 2-weeks of review following the 20-week course. In retrospect, the only thing that I could have done differently was to trust in the review and the Dr. Tom process for test taking. I am now a believer in the DTC method.”
– Steve, PE
2019: “It had been 12 years since the last time I was in a college classroom. I didn’t even remember what enthalpy or entropy was. Nearly everything in the Dr. Tom course was new to me because I had forgotten so much. If this sounds like you then have courage, you can pass the PE too! I followed the course, watched the lectures, worked the problems, did the quizzes, submitted questions on the online forums and then I passed the test.”
– Evan Tinker, PE, Argus Consulting Inc., Overland Park, KS
– Andy Musselwhite, US Navy. Boston, Massachusetts
#3: We Know the PE Exam
– Andrew Lipetzky, PE, Duke Energy, New Hill, NC
– Eche, PE, Richmond, VA
#2: The Dr. Tom Method
Dr. Tom Method of successfully preparing for and taking the PE Exam didn’t happen overnight. It was built on the foundation of Dr. Tom’s decades of experience teaching undergraduate mechanical engineering courses. It was born of Dr. Tom’s desire to use that experience to help more mechanical pass the PE Exam and benefit from the opportunities that having their professional license could bring them. It was developed through years of teaching live PE Exam prep classes and online courses.
Ten years ago Dr. Tom launched Dr. Tom’s Classroom and, with the help of his experienced distance learning team, he began offering the DTC courses and refining the Dr. Tom Method for the pencil-and-paper exam format. Ten years later, Dr. Tom developed a new Method for the computer-based-testing format tailor-made to meet the distinct challenges of this very different exam format.
Passing the PE exam requires more than just understanding the fundamentals. It requires a plan of attack. The Dr. Tom Method provides you with a solid foundation of engineering knowledge plus successful strategies and skills for passing this exam.
The Dr. Tom Method for the CBT format Mechanical PE Exams provides you with a plan to make the most of the onscreen Reference Handbook, which will be the only reference you will have during the exam, and to be prepared for the gaps in what is provided in that reference. This exam format will require you to rely on your memory more than ever, so this method works to help cement everything you learn into memory.
• Lessons are focused to bring you up to speed on fundamental topics quickly and then apply that knowledge to exam-type problems.
• Topics are taught in a logical instructional order to help you build your knowledge and improve your problem identification skills.
• There are many ways to solve any given problem, and careful thought has gone into providing solutions that apply across many problems, giving you less to learn and more efficient problem-solving during the exam.
• Vital review structure and focus is provided with weekly study plans, challenge problems and assessment quizzes.
• Critical exam-day strategies are outlined, and opportunities to practice them are provided.
• Because being able to ask questions when you get caught up on a problem is so important, access to instructors is provided throughout your review via a participant forum.
The bottom line is that the Dr. Tom Method is focused on that one goal – helping you to pass the PE Exam. And that’s exactly what it does.
“The way Dr. Tom prepares students for the exam is absolutely priceless. The problems are presented in the clearest method possible (or explained how to make sense of unclear problems) and a single, definite path presented to solve all problems.
When the exam day arrived I was able to maintain the correct and necessary mindset thanks to all the coaching tips Dr. Tom had presented throughout the past 20 weeks. As I went through the exam I could solve the vast majority of the problems. Like Dr. Tom says, there will be problems on the exam you will not know how to solve. But, if the Dr. Tom Method is followed, these will not hang a student up.
I cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Tom’s PE preparation course. I completely attribute my exam I performance to Dr. Tom (and dedicating the appropriate amount of time to the course). Taking the exam is not only about solving problems, but it’s about how to solve problems and about keeping to a strategy. Dr. Tom teaches all aspects of taking the PE exam to the highest level possible.
Thank you, Dr. Tom!”
– Karl Peter Gubert, P.E., Peaker Services, Inc. – Woodward Industrial Channel Partner, Brighton, Michigan
#1: Dr. Tom
“I have a unique insight to Dr. Tom’s philosophy on exam preparation. I attended NC State University about 20 years ago where Dr. Tom was my instructor in an instrumental review class intended to get one ready for the FE exam. He was able to sum up four years of education in a succinct way that most people cannot. He got me ready to pass the FE on the first try.
