In Canada, most engineering associations use the National Professional Practice Exam (NPPE) exam for their law, ethics and professional practice exam. Participating associations include PEO (Ontario), APEGA (Alberta), APEGBC* (British Columbia), EGM (Manitoba), APEGNB (New Brunswick), APEY (Yukon), PEGNL (Newfoundland), Engineers Nova Scotia, Engineers PEI, NAPEG (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and PGO* (Geoscients in Ontario). Those marked with an “*” write a slight variation of the exam.

The NPPE itself is a 2.5 hour exam consisting of 110 multiple choice questions covering 6 major syllabus sections that have 40 minor topics. The exam is a closed book and evaluates the comprehension of Canadian law, ethics and professional practice related to engineering.

Some jurisdictions write a more provincial-specific exam. These include APEGS (Saskatchewan) which is a 3-hour exam with T/F, multiple-choice and essay questions; OIQ (Quebec) a 110-question multiple-choice exam that can be written in English or French; and OACETT applicants write a 3-hour exam consisting of a mix of multiple-choice and case study questions.

The most commonly used textbooks for the above-mentioned associations (except for OIQ and OACETT) are:

• Ethics book: Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice & Ethics; AND
• Law book: Practical Law for Architecture, Engineers, and Geoscience.

Although the professional organizations offer the exams regularly, they limit their preparation assistance. Old exams are not freely available and results are generally only shared on a pass/fail basis. Candidates have a couple of study methods available to them: 1. Self-study; 2. Online/on-demand course; 3. In-person session.

Most associations have limited exam information on their web sites, so many candidates rely on independent preparation services providers. Here are three providers of exam help. Prices vary using the following notation ($ = under $200; $$ = $225 to $280; $$$ = $300-$600;

1. ($) Practice PPE Exams has created engaging online courses that allow aspiring engineers to practice mock exams and develop confidence before writing the real thing. Learn the key law, ethics and professional practice concepts through embedded flashcards, step-by-step checklists, exam simulation and much more. On-demand courses offered by this company include: NPPE Total Prep Online Course, BC PPE Total Prep Online Course for EGBC writers, SK PPE Total Prep Online Course for APEGS writers and PPE Total Prep Online Course for OACETT writers. On its homepage, there is a link to the company’s Google Local page with 100+ positive reviews from past exam writers that have taken its courses.

2. ($) PPE Headquarters out of Calgary, provides reasonably priced study guides and exam questions for the NPPE Exam and the PEO Exam. They also offer ten free questions on the homepage.

3. ($$) Focussedconsulting provides two-day in-person seminars for those located in Toronto and occasionally offered in Winnipeg. It is highly interactive, well-received (see feedback from participants in the website) preparatory course.