What is the NPPE?
The National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) is an exam that all Canadian engineering students (except Quebec) must need to pass in order to get their certification in engineering. It is a computer-based test, and among the exam’s specifics are:
With the exception of any circumstances, you generally have 2.5 hours to complete 110 multiple-choice questions at a pace of 1.25 minutes for each question. The Geologists Ontario (EGO) and British Columbia (EGBC) (PGO) may add more questions to their examination so be prepared to give yourself more time to answer them.
In general, there are 72 questions, and you need to answer 65% of the questions correctly in order to pass and get your certification. All answers that are good are marked as 1 point while wrong answers are not penalized.
What topics are covered in the NPPE?
Preparing for an evaluation means that you must know what subjects will be tested with your knowledge. It really helps to know in advance as well as contribute to better planning for your studies. In most examinations, the topics they cover include:
- Professionalism (7 to 10 questions or 10% of the exam)
- Ethics (17 to 21 questions or 20% of the exam)
- Professional Practice (27-32 questions or 30% of the exam)
- Law for Professional Practice (23-28 questions or 20% of the exam)
- Professional Law (7-10 questions or 10% of the exam)
- Regulations of Members and Discipline Processes (7-10 questions or 10% of the exam)
How to Prepare?
The first step is to make sure that you have registered for a date to take your exam. This can be done by applying through your association’s website in general. The cost varies by province, and you can register easily. Just make sure to follow the proper processes in registering for your exam. In addition, if you are a Geoscientist or a Canadian Educated Engineer, you must verify if your degree is valid and that you are registered with your respective association.
As for studying, it is better to have a blueprint for what subjects and theories could be found in the exam. By relying on a blueprint or study guide, you will be able to build off your study routine based on the content needed for the exam. There are several resources online that will help you orient your studying criteria toward the goal you seek to achieve.
Here is a list of accessible study materials you can use:
- An article by the Royal Bank of Canada, “The Soul of Professionalism” : https://www.apega.ca/assets/PDFs/rbc-professionalism.pdf
- Guide to Copyright: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html
- Guide to Industrial Designs: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html
- Concepts of Professionalism: https://www.apega.ca/assets/PDFs/professionalism.pdf
- Guide to Patents: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00001.html
- A Guide to Trademarks: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02360.html
- Guideline for Ethical Practises: https://www.apega.ca/assets/PDFs/ethical-practice.pdf
Finding resources that are specifically related to your regions such as the Engineering and Geoscience Act, Practice Standards and Guidelines, or the Occupational Health and Safety Act is also recommended in your preparations. As for textbooks, try to rephrase the content you read in smaller paragraphs or summaries as a way to facilitate your studying. This method may help, as it is difficult to memorize hundreds of pages from textbooks. Using flashcards as well may be another strategy that can contribute to your preparations.
Recommendations for textbooks:
- Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice & and Ethics, 5th or 6th Edition, 2014/2018 by Gordon C. Andrews, Patricia Shaw, John McPhee
- A Practical Guide to Ethics and Professional Practice for Engineers and Geoscientists, First Edition, 2022 by Brian M. Samuels and Doug R. Sanders
- Practical Law of Architecture, Engineering, and Geoscience, 2nd or 3rd Canadian Edition, 2011/2015 by Brian M. Samuels and Doug R. Sanders
- Law for Professional Engineers: Canadian and Global Insights, 5th Edition, 2019 by Donald L. Marston
Finally, another important key in your preparation is to find tools that will help you practice for the NPPE. Your textbooks, the course load from your classes or study resource such as practice sheets are all tools that will help you practice for the exam. It is essential that you exercise your brain as practice does make it perfect. There are online websites that can provide exercises related to the topics you will study for the exam. Some may be free while others will require to be purchased. At the end of the day, this will depend on the choices you are willing to make. The website https://www.nppexam.ca/en/preparation/practice-test-site/ offers online tests that will help you focus on a simulation that is similar to the real computer-based test required for your certification.