NPPE Curriculum Overview

This course is structured according to the official NPPE Blueprint and covers six core topic areas. Here’s a quick summary of what each section includes:

I. Professionalism (7–10 questions)

This section explores what it means to be a professional in a self-regulating field like engineering or geoscience. You'll learn about the expectations society places on professionals, including the need for advanced knowledge, ethical conduct, public service, and accountability. It also covers how professionals maintain trust and the importance of continuous development.

II. Ethics (17–21 questions)

Ethics is a major focus of the exam. You'll study how ethical principles apply to real-life situations, explore different ethical theories, and understand the codes of ethics used by professional engineers and geoscientists in Canada. This section also prepares you to recognize common ethical dilemmas and make sound ethical decisions.

III. Professional Practice (27–32 questions)

This is the most extensive section of the exam. It covers day-to-day responsibilities of professionals, including accountability, dealing with employers and clients, workplace communication, risk management, quality control, environmental responsibility, software use, and document control. You'll also learn about whistleblowing, communication skills, and more.

IV. Law for Professional Practice (23–28 questions)

This section introduces key areas of Canadian law that impact professional practice. Topics include contract and tort law, intellectual property, construction law, environmental law, dispute resolution, workplace safety, human rights, and more. It also briefly covers Quebec’s civil law system and aspects of international law relevant to professionals.

V. Professional Law (7–10 questions)

Here, you'll explore the laws and regulations that govern the professions at the provincial and territorial level. Topics include how professionals are admitted, how misuse of professional titles is addressed, and the role of technical and professional societies.

VI. Regulation of Members & Discipline Processes (7–10 questions)

This final section focuses on how professional regulatory bodies oversee and maintain practice standards. You'll learn about discipline processes, practice reviews (for individuals and firms), and requirements for continuing professional development (CPD).

Now that you know what to expect, let’s jump into the first topic and begin your NPPE preparation journey.