Table of Specifications: Principles of Structural Analysis and Design

$Current PSAD Scope$

The March 2026 CELE program assigns 35% relative weight to PSAD and places it on the first day from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The program lists Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Theory of Structures, reinforced and prestressed concrete, steel beams/columns/connections, footings, construction-materials testing, and application of governing codes of practice. Timber design and construction management are not listed in the current PSAD program.

$Official PSAD Competency Map$

Competency	Weight	No. of Items	Type (No. of Items)	Topic Link
1 ENGINEERING MECHANICS
1.1 Solve reactive forces on a body in static equilibrium	4%	3	Application (3)	Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies
1.2 Compute friction forces resisting motion of a body in equilibrium	4%	3	Application (3)	Friction
1.3 Calculate reactive forces in non-coplanar force systems	4%	3	Application (3)	Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies
2 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
2.1 Classify material properties affecting load capacity	4%	3	Comprehension (3)	Simple Stress & Strain
2.2 Calculate stresses due to axial loads and flexure	4%	3	Application (3)	Axial Deformation
2.3 Differentiate stresses resulting from elastic deformation	4%	3	Analysis (3)	Strain & Hooke's Law
3 THEORY OF STRUCTURES
3.1 Compute maximum reactions and deflections	4%	3	Application (3)	Deflection of Structures
3.2 Calculate maximum/minimum loads and forces using influence lines	4%	3	Application (3)	Influence Lines
3.3 Distinguish internal shear, moment, and torsion	4%	3	Analysis (3)	Determinate Structures
3.4 Define structural indeterminacy	4%	3	Knowledge (3)	Structural Analysis Introduction
3.5 Compute maximum reactions with and without pattern loading	4%	3	Application (3)	Influence Lines
3.6 Analyze structures for maximum deflection, flexure, shear, and torsion	4%	3	Analysis (3)	Indeterminate Structures
4 REINFORCED / PRESTRESSED CONCRETE
4.1 Compute load capacity of concrete beams	4%	3	Application (3)	Beams: Flexure
4.2 Design flexural, shear, and torsion reinforcement in concrete beams	4%	3	Evaluation (3)	Shear & Torsion
4.3 Determine load capacity of concrete columns	4%	3	Synthesis (3)	Columns
4.4 Design reinforcement in concrete columns	4%	3	Evaluation (3)	Columns
4.5 Calculate effects of prestressing in members	4%	3	Application (3)	Prestressed Concrete
5 STEEL BEAMS AND COLUMNS
5.1 Compute load capacity of steel beams	4%	3	Application (3)	Steel Beams
5.2 Calculate load capacity of steel columns	4%	3	Application (3)	Compression Members
5.3 Solve stresses in steel beams/columns due to eccentric loads	4%	3	Application (3)	Beam-Columns
6 JOINTS AND CONNECTIONS
6.1 Determine bolt loads and stresses	4%	3	Synthesis (3)	Bolted Connections
6.2 Determine weld loads and stresses	4%	3	Synthesis (3)	Welded Connections
7 FOOTINGS — ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
7.1 Design spread footings	4%	3	Evaluation (3)	Shallow Foundations
7.2 Determine loads on piled foundations	4%	3	Synthesis (3)	Deep Foundations: Piles
8 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING
8.1 Distinguish equipment/apparatus used in testing construction materials and proportioning concrete mixes	4%	3	Application (3)	Testing Standards
SUBTOTAL (PSAD)	100%	75	K(3), C(3), AP(39), AN(9), S(12), E(9)

$How to Use This Map$

Each row is an official competency target. The linked repository topic is the closest study entry point, but code-based design competencies often require several related lessons plus the governing code provisions identified by the current examination guidance.

Key Takeaways

PSAD carries 35% of the current CELE and contains 75 TOS items.
Current PSAD scope does not list timber design or construction management.
The largest preparation risk is not formula volume alone but integration of mechanics, analysis, member design, connections, foundations, testing, and current code provisions.