IMPORTANT:
Please review the following information for NPPE exam administration details and resources.
For specific exam dates and fees, please refer to the 'Apply to Write the Exam' section and the NPPE exam application form at the end of this webpage.
To be eligible for the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE), candidates must:
1. Have an active application for Full Practicing or Limited Practicing Registration.
2. Be enrolled as a Geoscientist-in-Training (GIT) and have submitted an application to change your designation.
An applicant does not have to take the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE) if:
1. They are applying for registration under the Inter-Association Mobility Agreement and are a Professional Geoscientist in good standing with another Canadian association/ordre; or
2. They have previously passed the NPPE for Engineers Canada in any jurisdiction or through a constituent association/ordre of Geoscientists Canada.
ABOUT THE EXAM
An applicant must pass the National Professional Practice and Ethics (NPPE) examination before being granted professional registration. The exam is 2.5 hours long and consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. It is designed to test the applicant's knowledge of ethics, professional practice, business law, professional liability, and their responsibility to the public. Each question is multiple choice, with four possible answers.
The examination is graded as either a 'pass' or 'fail.' Applicants who fail will receive a report detailing their performance in each category of the syllabus. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, and the grade is final. An applicant may take the NPPE examination up to three times. Please note that the examination fee must be submitted each time the exam is taken. Registration may not be granted to applicants who fail to pass the NPPE exam.
The passing cut score is 65. Exams are scored using equated scoring, which may be slightly adjusted for individual sessions based on valid psychometric factors. This is done to ensure that pass-fail decisions remain consistent over time and across different groups of applicants.
The National Professional Practice and Ethics (NPPE) exam is computer-based and administered through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). The exam will be administered online by Meazure Learning (https://www.meazurelearning.com/), a company formed through the merger of Yardstick (online testing) and ProctorU (remote proctoring).
Remote proctoring will be the primary method for taking the NPPE. This process involves a proctor who authenticates and monitors the applicant while they take the computer-based exam remotely, using a web camera and audio.
NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EXAM WEBSITE
To find out more about the National Professional Practice Examination such as FAQs, deadline dates to apply, the candidate's guide and preparation tips, please visit www.nppexam.ca.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact examinations@pgo.ca or nppe@apega.ca.
BURSARY AVAILABLE FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EXAM
APGO Education Foundation (APGOEF) recognizes that financial barriers can make accessing the PPE exam difficult for many. To help internationally trained PGO GIT's and provisionally accepted P.Geo.'s, a $1500 exam support bursary is available for application. For more information, visit our PPE exam bursary information page here.
APPLY TO WRITE THE EXAM
To apply to write the exam, download the application form by clicking the 'NPPE EXAM APPLICATION FORM' link below. Submit the completed form directly to APEGA.
Once APEGA’s Examination team receives your application, they will register you and create a myAPEGA account for you. Please do not create your own myAPEGA account. You will then receive further instructions to make the $262.50 (GST included) application fee payment online. Payment must be received within 24 hours. Please ensure your application is submitted by the deadline to be accepted
NPPE EXAM APPLICATION FORM
