Upcoming Examination Dates 2021: June 14 - 16, August 30 - September 1, November 8 - 10
Charlottetown, PE
The National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) is administered by the Engineering Examinations Office of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) on behalf of Engineers Canada.
All applicants for professional registration as a Member of Engineers PEI (i.e. P.Eng.) are required to pass the National Professional Practice Examination, unless that examination or an acceptable equivalent has been written successfully in another Canadian provincial or territorial jurisdiction.
The NPPE is designed to examine applicants on the ethical considerations and obligations that accompany the privileges of professional status and the legal concepts relevant to professional engineers. Part of the examination tests the applicant's understanding of professionalism, while the remaining part tests the applicant's knowledge of engineering law and familiarity with jurisdiction-specific statutes, rules and regulations and the Engineering Profession Act and By-Laws.
Eligibility/Exceptions
It is considered beneficial for applicants to have at least one year of work experience after completion of their formal education before the examination is attempted. To be eligible to write the NPPE, you must also have an active application for Professional Membership or be enrolled as an Engineer-in-Training. An exemption will be granted to applicants who have passed the NPPE in another province or who are registered with another Canadian Association. Such applicants are still required to confirm in writing that they have read, understood, and agree to follow the Act and By-Laws and Code of Ethics of Engineers PEI.
Please read the NPPE FAQ to learn more.
SCOPE AND SYLLABUS OF THE EXAMINATION
The following major subject areas are included in the National Professional Practice Examination:
1. Professionalism (7 - 10 questions)
- Definition and Interpretation of Professionalism and Professional Status
- The Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals in Society
- Engineering Professions in Canada; Definitions and Scopes of Practice
- The Value of Engineering Professions to Society
2. Ethics (17 - 21 questions)
- The Role of Ethics in Society; Cultures and Customs
- Ethical Theories and Principles
- Codes of Ethics of Professional Engineers in Canada
- Common Ethical Issues and Dilemmas; Making Ethical Decisions
3. Professional Practice (27 - 32 questions)
- Professional Accountability for Work, Workplace Issues, Job Responsibilities and Standards of Practice
- The Rolesand Responsibilities of Professionals to Employers and Clients
- Relations with Other Professionals and Non-professionals; Business Practice
- Statutory and Non-Statutory Standards and Codes of Practice
- Risk Management, Insurance, Quality Management and Due Diligence
- Environmental Responsibilities and Sustainable Development
- Use of Software, Computers and Internet-based Tools; Liability for Software Errors
- Documentation Authentication and Control
- Duty to Inform; Whistleblowing
- Communication
4. Law for Professional Practice (23 - 28 questions)
- The Canadian Legal System
- Contract Law - Elements, Principles, and Applications
- Tort Law - Elements, Principles, and Applications
- Civil Law in Quebec
- Business, Employment, and Labour Law
- Dispute Resolution
- Intellectual Property (Patents, Trade Secrets, Copyright, Trademarks); Intellectual Property Issues
- Expert Witness
- Bonds and Construction Liens
- International Law
- Environmental Law
- Workers Compensation and Occupational Health & Safety
- Human Rights and Privacy Legislation
- Further Areas of Law
5. Professional Law (7 - 10 questions)
- The Acts, Regulations and Bylaws Provincial and Territorial Associations
- Admission to the Professions
- Illegal Practice, Enforcement Against Unlicensed Practice, and Misuse of Title
- Professional and Technical Societies
6. Regulation & Discipline Processes (7 - 10 questions)
- Discipline Procedures
- Practive Review of Individuals
- Practice Review of Firm
- Continuing Professional Development
The National Professional Practice Examination consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. It is closed-book and is two and a half hours in duration. The questions are distributed in accordance with the percentages shown above. All candidates, regardless of whether they intend to practice engineering or geoscience, are required to write and pass the National Professional Practice Examination. Some Associations have extended the National Professional Practice Examination in their jurisdictions by adding multiple-choice and/or essay questions to the NPP Exam, and in those cases, candidates are allowed additional time to complete the examination. Contact the Association with whom you wish to register for specific details.
The pass mark is 65%. The examination results are reported as “pass” or “fail” with a Mastery Report provided only to candidates who have failed, indicating the candidate’s specific performance in each category. You are not penalized for wrong answers. The grade is final.
Practice tests are available for purchase through APEGA: https://nppepractice.ysasecure.com/
Applying to Write the Examination
An application form must be used when applying. It provides additional information on fees, examination dates, and deadline dates. The application must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and must be received by the deadline date noted on the application form. Cheque or cash are accepted at the Engineers PEI office. If you wish to pay by credit card, click on the PayPal link below. Debit and Credit are NOT accepted at the Engineers PEI office.
After the deadline, you will receive confirmation of the date, time and location of the exam and any workshop that may be offered. One piece of photo-ID must be shown upon arrival at the exam location. Dictionaries are not permitted.
Approximately two weeks after the examination you will be advised of the results by letter. For many, a pass may be the last step in the registration process. For others, there may be additional requirements before registration is granted. Failure will require that the examination be repeated, with another application and fee submitted
Eligibility/Exceptions
Most Associations feel that it is beneficial for applicants to have at least two years of work experience after completion of their formal education, before attempting to write the NPPE. To be eligible to write the National Professional Practice Exam, you must have an active membership number with your home Association. An exemption may be granted to applicants who have passed a similar examination in another jurisdiction or who have been registered by another Canadian Association prior to the implementation of the NPPE, but such applicants are still required to read, and confirm in writing, that they have read the Act and Code of Ethics, and agree to practice their profession accordingly.
Study Material/Literature
The following is a list of the material required. All applicants will be tested on the primary literature but the secondary literature will be of interest. Texts are not available at the Engineers PEI office. The obtaining of all reference materials is solely the responsibility of the individual candidate for admission.
Primary Literature
Textbooks:
1. Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice & Ethics, Fifth Edition, 2014 by Gordon C. Andrews or Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice & Ethics, Sixth Edition, 2018 by Gordon C. Andrews. You can purchase these through the website: https://www.nelsonbrain.com/shop
2. Practical Law of Architecture, Engineering, and Geoscience, Second Canadian Edition, 2011 or Practical Law of Architecture, Engineering, and Geoscience, Third Canadian Edition, 2015 by Brian M. Samuels and Doug R. Sanders. You can purchase these through the website: https://www.pearson.com/ca/en.html
3. Law for Professional Engineers: Canadian and Global Insights, Fifth Edition, 2019 by Donald L. Marston. You can purchase this through the website: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca
3. The Prince Edward Island Engineering Profession Act, By-Laws and Code of Ethics - Available from Engineers PEI
Canada Booklets:
a) A Guide to Copyrights
b) A Guide to Industrial Designs
c) A Guide to Patents
d) A Guide to Trade-Marks
Secondary Literature
In addition to a general knowledge of statutes which are relevant to the listed topics, the following should be studied thoroughly:
- Prince Edward Island's Mechanics' Lien Act.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act of Prince Edward Island - Available at the Workers Compensation Board, 14 Weymouth Street, Charlottetown (902-368-5680 or 1-800-237-5049).
The following texts are noted as an additional background reference:
"Contemporary Canadian Business Law", Willes, John A., (3rd Ed., McGraw-Hill Ryerson)
Part I - Introduction, Chapters 1, 2 and 3
Part II - Torts
Part III - Contracts, Chapters 6 - 14
Part VIII - Special Legal Rights, Chapter 33 Patents, Trade Marks and Copyright.
Generally available at the TUNS Bookstore.
OR
"Law and Business Administration in Canada", Smyth and Soberman, (6th Ed., Prentice Hall)
Part I - Law in its Social Context, Chapters 1, 2 and 3
Part II - Torts
Part III - Contracts, Chapters 6 - 17
Available at St. Mary's or Dalhousie University Bookstores.
Engineering Law Workshop
A free workshop on Engineering Law is held twice per year (spring and fall). Please indicate on the application form whether you wish to attend.
Click on the PayPal link below to pay by credit card. Please note: The amount below includes an administrative fee.
Q. WHERE CAN I TAKE MY EXAM?
A. The computerized NPPE provides access to a large selection of test centres located across North America. The Charlottetown Centre is located at The Institute of Advanced Learning, 55 Grafton Street.
Q. WHO IS THE VENDOR PROVIDING THE NEW TESTING SERVICE?
A. Yardstick has been carefully selected to provide exam delivery software and services for the NPPE.
Q. CAN I FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH THE COMPUTER-BASED EXAM SOFTWARE BEFORE TAKING THE EXAM?
A. Yes. Once you register for the computer-based exam, you will have free access to a tutorial quiz prior to the exam date, which will be very similar to the actual exam software.
Q. HOW DO THE QUESTIONS APPEAR ON SCREEN?
A. The questions will appear one at a time on the screen.
Q. IF I CHANGE MY MIND, CAN I GO BACK AND CHANGE MY ANSWER?
A. Yes. You may move between questions and change answers at any time during the exam.
Q. HOW DO I TIME MY EXAM?
A. The exam supervisor at the test centre will time the exam. There will also be a timer on your monitor that lets you know how much time you have left.
Q. IF THERE IS AN INTERRUPTION DURING MY EXAM DUE TO A POWER FAILURE OR COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, WILL I LOSE ALL OF MY ANSWERS?
A. No. Your answers are saved on a central server. If the power or internet is interrupted, you will be able to continue with the exam where you left off, even if you switch computers.
Q. WILL THE NPPE BE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH?
A. Yes. The exam will be available in both English and French, and applicants can switch on the spot between English and French versions if they choose.
