Beam types, load paths and idealization
Recognize five beam systems, then choose supports and compare results in one guided activity.
You produce Three checked results, support choices and an automatic activity recap.
Preview this complete lesson →Online CPD / PDH learning for engineers
Practical Beam Analysis Continuing Education Course
Turn loads into checked reactions, shear and moment diagrams, deflection and elastic stress. Work through practical examples and build a review process you can use again.
- 6 applied modules
- Written & self-paced
- Certificate on completion
Connect the load to the response.
Your professional development hours
Estimated learning time: 3 hours.
The course has a 180-minute learning plan, including the assessment. Work through the lessons and calculations at your own pace, record your actual study time, and complete the required activities to receive your certificate.
How many hours can you claim? Record your actual learning time and report the portion allowed by your Canadian regulator or U.S. licensing board. The planned course duration is not a guarantee of accepted credit. Check your jurisdiction before enrolling.
What is included in the 3 hours?
- Lessons, worked examples & calculation records
- 140 min
- Five module knowledge checks
- 25 min
- Final assessment
- 15 min
- Total planned workload
- 180 min
Your completion package includes a numbered certificate, actual-time log, saved calculation workbook and syllabus. It distinguishes planned hours from learner-reported time. View the course outline →
What you take away
Your certificate.
Your work. Your learning record.
Finish with your personalized certificate and the evidence for your CPD / PDH record. Complete the six calculation records, five module checks and the final assessment at 80% or higher to receive your completion package.
- 01 Personalized completion certificate
- Your name, course, completion date, assessment result and unique verification link. Print it or save it as a PDF.
- 02 Your calculation workbook
- Keep your numerical results, engineering reasoning and a reusable eight-check beam-review form.
- 03 CPD / PDH supporting records
- A syllabus and actual-time log distinguish the planned 3-hour workload from the learning time you report.
The certificate documents course completion; credit acceptance depends on your regulator. Check CPD / PDH eligibility →
Certificate previewSample · not issued
Certificate of completion
Professional Engineering
Continuing Education
This certifies that
Your name
has completed the course requirements and assessment for
Practical Beam Analysis
3.0 hoursEstimated learning time
OB-CE-BEAM-101 · Version 1.1
Tamer Hijjawi, P.Eng.Instructor · Optimal Beam Inc.
Your completion dateUnique certificate ID & verification link
Your issued certificate also shows your assessment result and recorded study time. CPD / PDH acceptance is determined by your regulator.
Learn by producing a calculation
A course you work through.
A review process you keep.
The engineering guides supply the references. This course adds a connected project, guided activities, worked answers, feedback and an automatically filled workbook.
Your guided activities
An 8 m floor beam
2.5 kPa floor pressure · 3 m tributary width · 0.5 kN/m self-weight · 20 kN equipment load at x = 3 m.
Turn that brief into a checked set of results. Then transfer the same process to stiffness decisions, a flawed report and an uplift-sensitive overhang.
- 01
Build the load path
Choose credible supports, turn pressure into line load and independently close equilibrium.
- 02
Explain the response
Derive shear and moment, locate the true maximum and connect stiffness to deflection and stress.
- 03
Make the review decision
Diagnose an error, test a changed load case and record what is verified—and what is still outside scope.
A good fit if you…
Analyze or review beam-like members and know basic statics, algebra, units and the meaning of E and I. Suitable for practising engineers, EITs and advanced students.
Know the boundaries
This is written instruction with figures and calculator labs, not video or individual coaching. It teaches elastic analysis and verification—not a full material-code beam design. Use a desktop or laptop for the labs.
The six-module curriculum
Your 3-hour beam analysis course, module by module.
Each module follows the same steps: a supplied example, calculations with worked answers, short understanding checks and one finish action. The 180-minute plan includes the final assessment; optional references and extensions add depth.
35 min
Loads, reactions and equilibrium
Translate physical loading, establish sign conventions, and close the equilibrium check.
You produce An 8 m floor-beam load take-down, reactions and independent equilibrium check.
Shear and bending moment
Follow beam cuts step by step to derive, draw and check shear and moment diagrams.
You produce Three checked results and guided choices explaining the diagram and peak.
Stiffness, deflection and stress
Connect E, I, span, curvature, boundary conditions, deflected shape and elastic bending stress.
You produce A deflection check, required stiffness and elastic-stress calculation.
Verification and software failure modes
Use independent checks to detect unit, support, loading, and interpretation errors.
You produce Three comparison results and a review note built from guided choices.
Integrated calculation review
Review an overhanging beam, identify uplift and hogging at an interior support, and complete the assessment.
You produce Four checked overhang results, a guided review decision and the final assessment.
Read or print the complete syllabus →Five-beam reference · Six guided activities · Worked examples
Canada & United States
CPD and PDH eligibility for professional engineers.
Use the course for relevant technical learning, then retain the evidence required for your professional-development record. Check course format, subject and provider requirements before purchasing for renewal credit.
Check eligibility before purchasing for renewal
Continuing-education eligibility, reportable hours and documentation requirements vary by jurisdiction. Confirm suitability with your licensing regulator before purchasing for renewal purposes.
No regulatory approval or endorsement is claimed unless expressly stated. Where required provider or course approval is absent, this course is offered for educational use and is not represented as qualifying renewal credit.
This course does not replace mandatory ethics or regulator-specific training. Keep your syllabus, saved calculation records, completion certificate and actual-time log.
Standalone course access
Your hours.
Your certificate and records.
For $99 USD, follow the complete 3-hour learning plan and receive your certificate after successful completion. Keep your study-time log, workbook and syllabus for your CPD / PDH records.
- All six lessons, worked workshops and prepared calculator labs
- Saved answers, activity recaps and actual study time
- Assessment retakes, printable workbook and completion certificate
- Ongoing course access and version 1.x corrections
No recurring software subscription. No individual grading or guaranteed regulatory credit.
Before you start
Beam course, CPD hours and PDH questions.
Still unsure whether the course fits your learning needs? Contact us.
How many CPD or PDH hours is this beam analysis course?
The course is planned for 3 hours (180 minutes), including the learning activities, five module checks and final assessment. Your completion record distinguishes this planned workload from your actual learner-reported time. Record only the hours permitted by your regulator; purchasing or passing the course does not by itself guarantee 3 accepted hours.
Can I use this course for renewal in Canada?
Continuing-education eligibility, reportable hours and documentation requirements vary by province or territory. Confirm suitability with your licensing regulator before purchasing for renewal. No regulatory approval or endorsement is claimed unless expressly stated. This course does not replace mandatory ethics or regulator-specific training.
Can I claim PDH credit in the United States?
Requirements vary by state. Confirm eligibility, reportable hours and required documentation with your licensing board before purchasing for renewal. Where required provider or course approval is absent, this course is offered for educational use and is not represented as qualifying renewal credit.
What proof of completion is supplied?
Successful learners receive a uniquely numbered certificate, public verification page, course code and version, completion date, learning outcomes, instructor information and a printable audit record.
Is this a beam-design code course?
No. It is a code-neutral structural-analysis and calculation-verification course. It does not establish member capacity or compliance with CSA, AISC, ACI, NDS or another material design standard.
Do I need a paid Optimal Beam subscription?
No. The calculator is used as a learning laboratory, but the course purchase is separate and the required exercises do not require a recurring software subscription.
Who should take the course?
It is designed for practising civil, structural and mechanical engineers, EITs and advanced engineering students who analyze or review beam-like members.
How does the assessment work?
Submit six calculation records with your reasoning, complete the five module checks, then answer 20 applied questions covering every module. A score of 80% is required. A new question set is available after additional review.
How does enrollment work?
Create or sign in to a free Optimal Beam account, review the $99 USD price, and complete a secure one-time Stripe checkout. The course then appears in your account immediately. No software subscription is required.