National Professional Practice Exam

Upcoming Examination Dates 2025:  January 20 - 22, April 7 - 9, June 2 - 4, September 8 - 10, November 17 - 19

 

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 Exam.

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 engineering work experience prior to writing the exam. 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.

The NPPE is a closed-book exam that contains 110 multiple-choice questions.

SCOPE AND SYLLABUS OF THE EXAMINATION

The following major subject areas are included in the National Professional Practice Examination:

1. Professionalism (7 - 10 questions)

  1. Definition and Interpretation of Professionalism and Professional Status
  2. The Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals in Society
  3. Engineering Professions in Canada; Definitions and Scopes of Practice
  4. The Value of Engineering Professions to Society

2. Ethics (17 - 21 questions)

  1. The Role of Ethics in Society; Cultures and Customs
  2. Ethical Theories and Principles
  3. Codes of Ethics of Professional Engineers in Canada
  4. Common Ethical Issues and Dilemmas; Making Ethical Decisions

3. Professional Practice (27 - 32 questions)

  1. Professional Accountability for Work, Workplace Issues, Job Responsibilities and Standards of Practice
  2. The Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals to Employers and Clients
  3. Relations with Other Professionals and Non-professionals; Business Practices
  4. Statutory and Non-Statutory Standards and Codes of Practice
  5. Risk Management, Insurance, Quality Management and Due Diligence
  6. Environmental Responsibilities and Sustainable Development
  7. Use of Software, Computers and Internet-based Tools; Liability for Software Errors
  8. Document Authentication and Control
  9. Duty to Inform; Whistleblowing
  10. Communication

4. Law for Professional Practice (23 - 28 questions)

  1. The Canadian Legal System
  2. Contract Law - Elements, Principles, and Applications
  3. Tort Law - Elements, Principles, and Applications
  4. Civil Law in Quebec
  5. Business, Employment, and Labour Law
  6. Dispute Resolution
  7. Intellectual Property (Patents, Trade Secrets, Copyright, Trademarks); Intellectual Property Issues
  8. Expert Witness
  9. Bonds and Construction Liens
  10. International Law
  11. Environmental Law
  12. Workers Compensation and Occupational Health & Safety
  13. Human Rights and Privacy Legislation
  14. Further Areas of Law

5.  Professional Law (7 - 10 questions)

  1. The Acts, Regulations, and Bylaws of Provincial and Territorial Regulators
  2. Admission to the Professions
  3. Illegal Practice, Enforcement Against Unlicensed Practice, and Misuse of Title
  4. Professional and Technical Societies

6.  Regulation of Members & Discipline Processes (7 - 10 questions)

  1. Discipline Procedures
  2. Practice Review of Individuals
  3. Practice Review of Firms
  4. Continuing Professional Development

 

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.

Detailed information can be found at the link here:  National Professional Practice Examination (nppexam.ca), including recommended study materials and practice exams.

 

Applying to Write the Examination

Complete the application below and email it to Kim at info@EngineersPEI.com.  To pay by credit card, click on the PayPal link below.

 

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: 

  1. Prince Edward Island's Mechanics' Lien Act.
  2. 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.

Click on the PayPal link below to pay by credit card.  Please note:  The amount below includes an administrative fee.

 

   
Registration Fee

 

PDF icon NPPE 2024 Candidate Guide.pdf
PDF icon Fillable NPPE Exam Package January 2025.pdf