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NPPE exam guide

The NPPE Exam: What It Is and How to Pass It

The NPPE is the professional practice exam used by 14 Canadian engineering and geoscience regulators. Here is what it covers, how it is scored, and how to prepare for it.

Independent NPPE prep, built by CertNovaAll six sections of the NPPE blueprintQuestions you miss come back until you get them rightShort daily sessions you can do on your phoneIndependent NPPE prep, built by CertNovaAll six sections of the NPPE blueprintQuestions you miss come back until you get them rightShort daily sessions you can do on your phone

At a glance

110

Multiple-choice questions

2.5 hrs

Time limit

65

Scaled pass mark, not a percentage

Online

Remotely proctored

What Is the NPPE Exam?

The NPPE (National Professional Practice Examination) is the exam 14 Canadian engineering and geoscience regulators use to test professional practice. P.Eng. and P.Geo. applicants with those regulators must pass it as part of licensure.

It tests Canadian professional practice, ethics, accountability and law. Your technical knowledge is assessed elsewhere in your application. The exam has 110 multiple-choice questions, 100 of them scored, in 2.5 hours, and it is closed book and remotely proctored. The result is pass or fail, set at a scaled score of 65, which is not the same as 65 percent.

NPPE Exam Format and Topics

The blueprint has six sections, which fall into two broad areas.

Professional Practice and Ethics

Professionalism, ethical obligations, professional accountability, and social and environmental responsibility.

Engineering Law

Contracts, torts, employment law, intellectual property, and business structures.

How to Prepare for the NPPE Exam

  1. 1

    Use the suggested reading

    nppexam.ca publishes a suggested reading list on professional practice, ethics and law. Read for structure, then test yourself.

  2. 2

    Take practice exams

    Practice testing is the most effective study method. Use exam-style questions to find your weak areas.

  3. 3

    Focus on weak areas

    Don't waste time re-reading topics you already know. Concentrate your study where it counts.

  4. 4

    Plan around exam dates

    Register early, then work backwards from your sitting to build a realistic study timeline.

Why Candidates Choose NPPE Pro

NPPE Pro is an online NPPE course: lessons on all 52 topics, 580 practice questions with every answer explained, flashcards, and full mock exams on the real 2.5-hour timer. A question you miss comes back until you answer it right twice in a row, and your readiness shows by blueprint section, so you can see where the remaining study time should go.

NPPE Pro is an independent exam preparation platform developed by CertNova and the team behind CBA Pro. It is not affiliated with any official exam administrator or regulator.

Three plans, each paid once

Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, and no card is needed. Prices are in Canadian dollars, before tax.

  • Practice Questions, $97 for 1 month: the full question bank and flashcards on every topic, with one timed mock exam.
  • Pass Assurance, $197 for 3 months: adds lessons on all 52 topics, all four timed mock exams and a mind map.
  • Guided, $297 for 4 months: everything in Pass Assurance, plus two 30-minute, one-on-one sessions with a P.Eng.
  • Pass Assurance and Guided: Complete everything and don't pass? Get your money back, plus free access to prepare again.†
  • Sitting in less than three weeks? Practice Questions fits the time you have.

† Pass Assurance: finish every lesson, answer every practice question, review every flashcard and complete all 4 mock exams before your sitting, then claim within 30 days of your official result. One claim per person. Read the Pass Assurance terms

What P.Eng applicants across Canada say

M

M. Ibrahim

“This was a wonderful experience. Hossein and Jenny were very helpful and prompt to reply to my emails and questions. Hossein got on a call with me before enrolling just to answer my questions. The review for my CBA questions was detailed, thorough with clear direction on what needs to be done to improve, which made it very easy for me to fix my answers. They gave me a time for looking into my CBA questions. They ended up delivering earlier than promised. Finally, they are very fairly priced. Definitely recommend their service for anyone looking to get someone to assess their CBA answers.”

1 month ago

NPPE exam FAQ

The NPPE (National Professional Practice Examination) is a standardized exam required by Canadian engineering and geoscience regulators for P.Eng. and P.Geo. licensure.

The NPPE consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. Candidates are given 2.5 hours to complete the exam.

Six blueprint sections: Professionalism, Ethics, Professional Practice, Law for Professional Practice, Professional Law, and Regulation of Members and Discipline Processes. Professional Practice and Law for Professional Practice carry the most questions.

The pass mark is a scaled score of 65, which is not the same as 65 percent. The result is reported as pass or fail, about 2 to 3 weeks after the sitting.

Combine reading the official textbooks with active practice using adaptive resources such as NPPE Pro, prioritising your weakest topics.

Yes. You can register for a later sitting through your regulator. There are five sittings a year. Use the time to work on the blueprint sections that cost you marks.

In short

The NPPE (National Professional Practice Examination) is a 110-question, 2.5-hour, closed-book, remotely proctored exam used by 14 Canadian engineering and geoscience regulators for P.Eng./P.Geo. licensure. It tests professional practice, ethics and law across six blueprint sections, and the result is pass or fail at a scaled score of 65 (not 65 percent). It runs five times a year. NPPE Pro is an independent online NPPE course by CertNova with lessons on 52 topics, 580 practice questions and full timed mock exams, and a 14-day free trial.

Start preparing for the NPPE today

Adaptive practice, structured lessons, and a study plan built around your weak spots.