The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

THE NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EXAMINATION

Regulations 13(1)(c) and 77(1)(c), accompanying the Engineering and Geoscience
Professions Act, require that applicants pass a professional practice examination prior to
being registered. Similar legislation exists in all jurisdictions in Canada.
The exam is based on professionalism, law and ethics and is administered in January,
April, July and October by most constituency associations in participating provinces and
territories, and in other centres throughout the world by special consent. The National
Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) is currently used by 11 engineering and geoscience
constituency associations. Starting in 2016, the examination will be available five times per
year.

SCOPE AND SYLLABUS OF THE EXAMINATION

The following major subject areas are included in the NPPE:
A.

PROFESSIONALISM (10%)
A.1
A.2
A.3
A.4
A.5

B.

ETHICS (20%)
B.1
B.2
B.3
B.4
B.5

C.

Definition and Interpretation of Professionalism and Professional Status

The Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals in Society
Engineering and Geoscience Professions in Canada; Definitions and Scopes of
Practice
The Value of Engineering and Geoscience Professions to Society
The Roles and Responsibilities of Professionals to Management

The Role of Ethics in Society; Cultures and Customs

Classical and Modern Ethical theories and Principles
Codes of Ethics of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists in Canada
Ethical Standards and Codes and Their Relationship to the Conduct of a
Professional
Common Ethical Issues and Dilemmas; Making Ethical Decisions

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (27%)

C.1
C.2
C.3
C.4
C.5
C.6
C.7
C.8

Professional Accountability for Work, Workplace Issues, Job Responsibilities and

Standards of Practice
Relations with Other Professionals and Non-professionals; Business Practices
Statutory and Non-Statutory Standards and Codes of Practice
Insurance, Risk Management and Quality Management; 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

The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

D.

COMMUNICATION (1%)
D.1
D.2
D.3

E.

LAW FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (23%)

E.1
E.2
E.3
E.4
E.5
E.6
E.7
E.8
E.9
E.10
E.11
E.12
E.13

F.

The Canadian Legal System

Contract Law Elements, Principles, and Applications
Tort Law Elements, Principles, and Applications
Civil Code in Quebec and Common Law in Rest of Canada
Business, Employment, and Labour Law
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Intellectual Property Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Software Issues
Copyright
Expert Witness
Construction Liens
International Law
Environmental Law
Workers Compensation and Occupational Health & Safety
Human Rights and Privacy Legislation

PROFESSIONAL LAW (8%)

F.1
F.2
F.3
F.4
F.5

G.

Legal, Ethical and Practical Aspects of Communication

The Professional Relationship
Communication Skills

The Acts, Regulations and Bylaws, Provincial and Territorial Acts

Codes of Ethics; Conflicts of Interest
Admission to the Professions
Illegal Practice; Enforcement Against Unlicensed Practice and Misuse of Title
Professional and Technical Societies

REGULATION & DISCIPLINE PROCESSES (11%)

G.1
G.2
G.3
G.4
G.5
G.6
G.7
G.8

Discipline and Enforcement Procedures

Professional Inspection; Practice Reviews of Individuals
Response to Complaints
Licensing Corporations and Practice Review of Firms
Response to Unethical or Incompetent Practice; Consequences of Unethical
Practice
Canadian and International Mobility
Continuing Professional Development
Use of Seals and Stamps

The NPPE has 110 multiple-choice questions. It is closed-book, and you have two-and-a-half
hours to complete the exam. The questions are distributed in accordance with the
percentages shown above. All applicants, regardless of whether they intend to practice
engineering or geoscience, are required to write and pass the NPPE. Some engineering
and geoscience associations have extended the NPPE in their jurisdictions by adding
multiple-choice and/or essay questions. In those cases, exam applicants are given additional

The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

time to complete the exam. Contact the association with whom you wish to register for
specific details.
The pass mark is 65*. Exam results are reported as pass or fail. Candidates who fail will
receive a report outlining the areas of the exam on which they need to focus their study
efforts. The NPPE is scored by assigning one mark for every question answered correctly.
The grade is final.
* Scores are adjusted using statistical techniques to ensure consistency and fairness over all
exam sessions.

APPLYING TO WRITE THE EXAM

To register for the NPPE, go to the Member Self-Service Centre. Payment is by credit card.
You must register on or before the deadline date for that exam. If you are a new applicant,
your application must be in the processing stage before you can apply for the exam.
Deadlines and exam dates are on the dates and deadlines page.
About three weeks after the deadline, you will receive a letter advising you of where and
when to write the exam. You will also receive an admission ticket. Bring the admission
ticket and one piece of government-issued photo ID, such as a drivers licence or
passport, to the exam site.
You will receive your exam results by mail about three to four weeks after writing the exam.
For many, a pass may be the last step in the registration process. For others, there may be
additional requirements before registration is granted. If you fail the NPPE, you will need to rewrite it. You will need to register and pay for another exam. I f you fail the exam more
than once, your engineering or geoscience association may limit the number of times you
may rewrite the exam. In addition, your engineering or geoscience association may
suspend your ability to write the exam for a period of up to 12 months.

ELIGIBILITY AND EXCEPTIONS

Most engineering or geoscience associations require applicants to have at least two years of
work experience after c o m p l e t i n g their formal education before writing the NPPE. To
write the NPPE, you must have an active membership number with your engineering or
geoscience association.
An exemption may be granted to applicants who have passed a similar exam in another
jurisdiction or who were registered by another Canadian association before the NPPE was
used. Such applicants must still 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 suggested study materials to prepare for the NPPE. The study
materials can be obtained from the APEGA website. Textbooks can be purchased through
the book publishers via the Member Self-Service Centre for a discount. Alternatively,
textbooks can be purchased from most online bookstores (e.g. Amazon, Chapters/Indigo).

The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

Basic Study Material for APEGA Exam Candidates

All applicants, with the exceptions noted, will be tested on the following primary literature:
Primary Literature
1.
2.
3.

Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice and Ethics Fifth

Edition by Gordon C. Andrews (2014 copyright).
Practical Law of Architecture, Engineering and Geoscience - Second Canadian Edition by
Samuels & Sanders (2011 copyright)
Industry Canada Guides:
- A Guide to Patents - http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#patent
- A Guide to Trade-Marks
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#patent

- A Guide to Industrial Design

http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#patent

- A Guide to Copyrights
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00026.html#patent

4.
5.
6.

The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, Regulations and Bylaws, including
the Code of Ethics - April 2012, OR, the equivalent documents for the Association in
which you wish to register with. - http://www.apega.ca/About/ACT/pdf/2012/CA-C-2012%20ACT.pdf
Guideline for Ethical Practice v2.1, June 2005 http://www.apega.ca/pdf/Guidelines/GuidelineEthical.pdf
The Concepts of Professionalism September 2004 http://www.apega.ca/pdf/Guidelines/Professionalism.pdf

7.
8.

Occupational Health and Safety Act of Alberta. Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000,
Chapter 0-2 effective October 1, 2013 http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/O02.pdf
Royal Bank Letter The Soul of Professionalism Vol.71, No. 6, December 1990
- www.rbc.com/responsibility/letter/nov_dec1990.html

SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Each question is multiple-choice with four possible answers. Previously administered and
released questions are available for purchase via the APEGA NPPE practice test site. Below
are several sample examination questions.
1.

According to most Provincial and Territorial Acts, which activity by a professional

member would be considered UNETHICAL?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Not charging a fee for presenting a speech

Signing plans prepared by an unknown person without thoroughly reviewing
those plans
Reviewing the work of another member with that members consent
Providing professional services as a consultant

B is correct. Most provincial and territorial Acts stipulate that before professionals sign
plans that were not prepared by themselves or under their direct supervision,
they must first thoroughly review those plans. Failing to do so means that the
professional failed to comply with the Act, and therefore, was in violation of the Code of
Ethics.

The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

2.

Which of the following is an example of a fraudulent, contractual misrepresentation?

A.
B.
C.
D.

A party is coerced into signing a contract by means of intimidation

A party knowingly makes false statements to induce another party into a
contract
A party induces his son-in-law to sign an unfair contract
A party unknowingly provides false information about a portion of a contract

B is correct. Knowingly providing false information to induce a contract is fraudulent

misrepresentation.
3.

Contractual disputes of a technical nature may be most expeditiously and

effectively solved through:
A.
B.
C.
D.

A lawsuit
Court appeals
Contract renegotiations
Arbitration

D is correct. Arbitration provides an effective, expeditious resolution to technical

disputes.
4.

Which type of original work below is automatically protected by copyright upon creation?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Paintings
Inventions
Clothing designs
Signatures

A is correct. Of the works listed above, only a painting is protected by copyright law.
5.

In order for compensation to be awarded to a plaintiff in a tort liability case, the

defendant must have:
A.
B.
C.
D.

Caused injury to the plaintiff

Been willfully negligent
Signed a contract of performance
Performed under supervision

A is correct. Injury is one of three criteria that must be met for compensation to be
awarded in a tort liability case.
6.

Which of the following is the most common job activity of top-level managers?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Writing and reading corporate financial reports

Developing and testing new products
Designing and implementing production systems
Directing and interacting with people

The National Professional Practice Examination

Scope and Syllabus

D is correct. Most top-level managers spend most of their time interacting with other
people.
7.

The professionals standard of care and skill establishes the point at which a
professional:
A.
B.
C.
D.

May or may not charge a fee for services

Has the duty to apply reasonable care
May be judged negligent in the performance of services
Has met the minimum requirements for registration

C is correct. The standard of care is used to judge whether a professional has been
negligent in the performance of services.
8.

To effectively reduce liability exposure, the professional engineer, geologist or

geophysicist should:
A.
B.
C.
D.

Pursue continuing educational opportunities

Work under the supervision of a senior engineer, geologist or geophysicist
Maintain professional standards in practice
Provide clients with frequent progress reports

C is correct. Maintaining professional standards of practice is the most effective

way of reducing liability exposure.