Scope and Syllabus

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


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


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 driver’s 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).


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 member’s 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.


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


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

The professional’s 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.

Scope and Syllabus

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