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.
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
Use the suggested reading
nppexam.ca publishes a suggested reading list on professional practice, ethics and law. Read for structure, then test yourself.
- 2
Take practice exams
Practice testing is the most effective study method. Use exam-style questions to find your weak areas.
- 3
Focus on weak areas
Don't waste time re-reading topics you already know. Concentrate your study where it counts.
- 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
Sadegh Behboudian
“Using CBA Pro by CertNova Software Solutions helped me get my P.Eng. approved on the first attempt without any CBA rejections. What surprised me most was that the challenge wasn't my experience, it was how to present it properly. Having the right structure and guidance made the entire process much more manageable. Definitely saved me time and avoided the usual back-and-forth revisions.”
4 months ago
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
Nahal Nobahar
“I recently used this service to review and strengthen my competency submissions for my P.Eng. application, and I had a very positive experience. Reza and the team provided detailed and thoughtful feedback on my existing drafts, helping me clearly understand what was missing and what needed improvement to meet the expectations of the P.Eng. assessment process. They didn't just correct wording, they guided me on how to better structure my responses, highlight my individual contributions, and align my examples with the required competencies. What I found especially valuable was their ability to point out gaps in my explanations and suggest exactly what kind of technical details, context, and outcomes should be included. Their feedback made it much easier to refine my responses and present my experience in a clear, concise, and professional way. Overall, this service was extremely helpful for improving both the quality and clarity of my submission. I would recommend it to anyone who is working toward their P.Eng. designation and wants expert guidance to strengthen their application.”
6 months ago
Explore more NPPE resources
Plan your sitting and study for the NPPE, one guide at a time.
NPPE Course
A structured, adaptive course covering the full NPPE syllabus.
Learn moreNPPE Exam Preparation
A smarter prep strategy that skips what you already know.
Learn moreNPPE Study Guide
The official textbooks, key topics, and a smarter study plan.
Learn moreNPPE Exam Dates
The 2026 and 2027 sittings, deadlines and fees.
Learn moreNPPE Fast Track Course
A short-runway plan that starts from your weakest sections.
Learn morePPE Exam (NPPE)
The Professional Practice Exam explained: it's the NPPE.
Learn morePEO NPPE (Ontario)
How Ontario applicants register and prepare for the NPPE.
Learn moreFree NPPE Practice Test
Try 20 exam-style NPPE questions free, with no card.
Learn moreNPPE 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.