NPPE Exam: What You Need To Know [New Data 2025]

What is the NPPE exam?

Passing the National Professional Practice Examination, known as the NPPE exam, is a crucial requirement for individuals seeking a licence to practice as professional engineers or geoscientists in Canada (excluding Quebec).

This computer-based exam, monitored remotely by a proctor connected to your computer, assesses your competency and understanding of ethics and professional law. You will take the exam at home or your workplace.

The exam is a closed book exam with 110 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 2.5 hours. You’re awarded 1 point for correct answers and there is no penalty for incorrect answers.^[1]

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Fast fact: To pass the NPPE exam, you must achieve a score of at least 65% on the questions within each topic area.

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Exam syllabus

The exam covers a range of topics detailed in the official NPPE Blueprint.^[2] The key exam topics and weights are:

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Fast fact: All applicants seeking to practice engineering or geoscience in Canada must pass the NPPE.

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What is the cost?

The cost of exam registration varies (as of May 2025, GST and HST included):^[3-12]

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If you're a Canadian-Educated Engineer (or Geoscientist), then simply register with your Association as a Member in Training (E.I.T. or G.I.T.).

Visit the CAEB (Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board) to determine if your Canadian engineering degree is accredited.

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Exam Dates

^{Main article: NPPE Exam Dates}

The dates for the 2025 NPPE Exam are:^[13]

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For most Canadian associations, the NPPE exam is offered 4 or 5 times per year. Be sure to register early, as the deadlines are typically 5 weeks earlier than the exam date.  

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‍Important updates:
‍PEO (Ontario) has formally transitioned to the NPPE Exam that is used across in Canada.
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EGBC (British Columbia) and PGO (Ontario Geologists) no longer have essay questions.

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FREE Practice Exam

The NPPE is a professional certification exam that is legally defensible, meaning it follows the psychometric principles of fairness and reliability.^[3]

The regulatory associations use these highly confidential examinations to help assess the competency of individuals seeking to practice professionally.

Your association takes rigours measures to secure and protect its exam bank through copyright law. Unfortunately, old exams are not available, and finding quality practice questions is challenging.

Here we offer 10 quality exam questions, complete with answers and explanations.

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Zero-cost tool: FREE NPPE Practice Exam

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NPPE Exam Preparation [New Data 2025]

Given the continual evolution of the NPPE exam, we have initiated a tracking effort to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its current state. Our approach involves surveying our customers and drawing upon the recent experiences of exam writers.

Continue reading to discover our findings and strategies to help you prepare for and pass the exam this year.

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High exam pass rates for the NPPE

Real exam experiences, from those that have written the NPPE, are difficult to come by.

We collected data on our customers' overall pass rates for the year 2023 through a money-back guarantee program. For customers who did not pass the exam and provided their notice of failure, we refunded the cost of their preparation materials.

This initiative showed that 97% of our customers passed the exam (3% reported receiving a Notice of Failure from their Association).

Looking to the regulators, minutes from a Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Council Meeting indicate that 1,191 applicants wrote the NPPE in June 2020, with a reported pass rate of 90%.^[14]

Furthermore, an informal Reddit survey of 119 examinees who took the November 2024 NPPE exam revealed that 104 self-reported passing, resulting in an 89% pass rate.^[15]

While exact pass rate conclusions drawn from self-reported data have inherent limitations, this data consistently confirms high pass rates for the NPPE.

Therefore, the key consideration is not whether you can pass the exam, but rather how efficiently you prepare for it.

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Fast Fact: The vast majority of individuals pass the NPPE exam. Your focus should be on preparing efficiently.

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You can be NPPE exam ready in 5-8 hours

We have long claimed that you can prepare for the NPPE exam in 5-8 hours. Now it’s time to substantiate the claim, once again, with 2025 data.

For this experiment, we analyzed behavioural data (from Google Analytics, our in-house platform, and purchase records) for students preparing for the exam for the June 2025 exam.

Here are our findings for our course:

73% of students completed their exam preparation within 4 - 7 hours. This represents actual preparation time, calculated by adding up each study session on the platform. But how did students distribute their study sessions?

This year, our analysis of purchase and our in-house platform data revealed that over 77% of students began actively preparing on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday immediately preceding the exam. This corresponds to a preparation window of 1-4 days before the exam.

In summary, this study indicates that preparation times are lower than those observed in our previous analysis. For now, we will retain our claim:

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Fast Fact: You can be NPPE ready in 5-8 hours, now adding that most individuals achieve this within 4 days.

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How to pass the NPPE exam efficiently

First, choose a resource crafted to align with the official NPPE syllabus. This minimizes unnecessary reading and redundant information found in textbooks, which can take two weeks of evenings to read.

A targeted approach prevents wasted study time and ensures efficient preparation. The PPE Headquarters course prioritizes the syllabus for you, saving you time to focus on core exam topics.

Second, a thorough investigation of PEO meeting mintues, and of high-stakes exam development literature, reveals important insights.

For instance, the NPPE caters to multiple jurisdictions (provinces and territories) and two professions (engineers and geologists).

Minutes from a Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Council Meeting indicate that many questions are deemed unacceptable for the official exam bank "because they are too discipline- or profession-specific."^[14]

With these two facts in mind, you can apply strategies:

• Do not memorize your association’s Act, Bylaws, or Regulations. Instead, focus on general principles common to all jurisdictions and the two professions.
• Do not memorize your association’s Code of Ethics. Instead summarize the common themes of each association’s Code of Ethics.
• Do not spend time reviewing your province’s OH&S act. Each province and territory has its own act, and the questions relating to this subject will be generic.
• Do not spend time reviewing province-specific material.

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Another insight: it’s exceptionally unlikely you'll encounter case studies, or other memorization of fatcs, from the textbooks.

The Professional Practice Exam Committee (PPEC) rejects exam questions that "do not meet the standard criteria for a high-stakes examination; that is, they are too easy or are merely 'trivia' questions that require memorization of the textbook rather than complex, critical thinking."^[14]

This insight about case studies is corroborated by Reddit posts from past examinees and remains true today.^[15]

With these facts, you can approach the exam strategically and utilize your time effectively.

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Choosing the right course for you

The chart below is a summary of what's available for study packages on the market today. Note that PPE Headquarters platform removes the need to buy or read the 2 textbooks.

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With PPE Headquarters save $250+ on textbooks, and prepare efficiently in 4 days, not 2 weeks.

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I want to help you avoid the biggest mistake made when preparing for the exam. Most people prepare by reading the textbooks cover-to-cover, rather than planning their studies around the syllabus. I made this mistake, and it cost me a lot of precious time.

I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I took 2 weeks of time to prepare for the NPPE exam. Yes, 2 weeks of my hard-earned vacation. 

I started by ordering the material and making study notes of the subjects I enjoyed, like patents and copyright. It wasn’t until I was 60% of the way through the material that I realized I messed up.  

I wasted so much time making study notes of the OH&S manual and the CIPO documents only to find out they were worth less than 5% of the exam. Super Disappointed!

There are many sections of the textbooks and suggested material that you shouldn’t bother reading at all. There's also an extreme amount of overlap between the two textbooks. The materials proposed by your Association amount to ~1000 pages and take 2 weeks of evenings to read. So be strategic about your preparation time.

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This is our 8th year of Canadian Engineering exam preparation at PPE Headquarters. Last year we set out to improve our products, so went back to basics and started preparing students with classroom tutorials.

So in early 2018 we put 100 students through a pilot program and here is what we learned:

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The overwhelming feedback from our pilot program was:

"I work and don't have time to read 1000 pages of study materials, (20 hours, 2 weeks of evenings)."

"The textbooks are too expensive ($250) and I'll never use them again."

"Reading about ethics and professionalism is mind-numbing."

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So that year we launched a revised product:

• NPPE Study Guide: This concise, 60-page guide, removes the burden of reading 1000 pages from the two textbooks and the suggested materials.
• NPPE Practice Exams: 110 exam questions come complete with answers and thorough solutions. We use conversational based software to tackle boredom of material.
• Video Strategy Sessions: These sessions ensure you can prepare in 5 hours and help answer questions you may have.‍
• NPPE Audiobook: This allows students to study on the go and tackle the boredom of the material.

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Since then, we've put 10,000+ students through the program and achieved a 98% pass rate. More importantly, we've been able to reduce the preparation time in a big way:

• Students are consistently preparing in 5 hours or less.
• Students no longer need to read the textbooks, reducing the preparation time from 2 weeks of evening to 5 hours that most students accomplish in 1 or 2 days.

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You can easily prepare for the exam in 5 hours:

• Step 1: Read the Study Guide (1 hour)
• Step 2: Jump into the Practice Exams (3-4 hours)
• Step 3: Watch the Strategy Videos (30 minutes)

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Question: Should I buy the textbooks?

^{Main Article: Should I buy the PPE Textbooks}

Many students inquire about whether they should purchase the NPPE textbooks. These books are expensive, ranging from $250 to $400 CAD. Additionally, they entail a significant amount of reading of around 1000 pages.

It can be difficult to trust that you don't need to read the textbooks, particularly if English is your second language. Here are the criteria crucial in making a well-informed decision of whether to buy the textbooks.

First and foremost, prioritize English skills as an important factor for success in this exam. Excellent command of the English language is essential. If your English skills are not strong, it will require additional effort on your part. A practical approach to putting in that extra work is by reading the recommended textbooks.

Here are a few zero-cost tools, back by science-backed, so that you can measure your English skills.

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Zero-cost tool: Duolingo English Test is a tool that you can assess your English skills for free.

Zero-cost tool: The Government of Canada, Language Portal is a collection of resources with a free assessment tool.

Zero-cost tool: CLB-OSA Self-Assessment tool, is a result of a collaboration between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

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Note, the exam is said to function at an English readability level of grade 10 to grade 11. To be more descriptive, many Associations require a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 100 or more.

PS: don't forget to take a break for a laugh with these funny engineering jokes.

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Sample exam questions

Unfortunately, old exams are not available, and your Association takes rigours measures to protect its exam bank. Yet, APEGA and the other Associations provide 8 sample questions.

Let's have a look at the first question and examine the structure.

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According to most Provincial and Territorial Acts, which activity by a professional member would be considered UNETHICAL?

A. Not charging a fee for presenting a speech
B. Signing plans prepared by an unknown person without thoroughly reviewing those plans
C. Reviewing the work of another member with that member’s consent
D. Providing professional services as a consultant

B. is correct. Most Provincial and Territorial Acts stipulate that before professionals sign plans that were not prepared by themselves or under their direct supervision, they must first thoroughly review those plans. Failing to do so means that the professional failed to comply with the Act, and, therefore, was in violation of the Code of Ethics.

(source: APEGA)

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Each of the exam questions you'll face in the exam will consist of four choices. It is important to note that advanced multiple choice exams are rarely as straightforward as having one correct choice and three incorrect choices. Generally, there are three different methods employed to test the understanding of the examinees.

• Four correct choices: The first method involves presenting four correct answers to the question. In this scenario, the examinees must select the most appropriate and comprehensive answer. Often, the most correct answer includes multiple courses of action that the other three choices lack.
• Four incomplete choices: The second method is to provide four incomplete answers. In this case, examinees must choose the answer that is most correct. A recurring theme in the NPPE study material is public safety. The most correct answer is typically the one that prioritizes protecting the public.
• Four negative choices: The third method involves choices that all involve four negative action choices. One of these negative actions is not applicable to the question at hand. An example of this method can be seen in the previously reviewed question. While it is indeed your professional duty to charge for professional services, as stated in choice A, it is not directly related to the ethical code being addressed in the question.

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Here is a free collection of sample exam questions, complete with answers:

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Zero-cost tool: NPPE Sample Questions is a sample of 10 questions that we provide completely free.

Frequently asked questions

What grade do I need to pass the NPPE?

A grade of 65% in each section is required to pass the exam. Your Association will take approximately 2–4 weeks to notify you of a pass by email.

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Are the PPE Headquarters courses enough to pass the exam?

Our products are sufficient to pass the NPPE exam without reading the textbooks. You'll have to work hard and focus, but the pass rates for the exam are high. So often times it's more about how to prepare efficiently, rather than being a decision about passing or failing.

Some people have purchased additional materials. Here's a comment from an examinee in July, “I realized no further studying would help, and I’m glad I took that remaining time to focus on my [exam] performance. It’s a long exam, and so I focused on getting a good sleep, and packing a small snack.”

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Where do I get further information?

See the NPPE exam page for further details of the course, or write us.

The Study Guide keeps you from having to read the textbooks (~1000 pages and 2 weeks of evenings). We've worked hard to keep the reading down to 60 minutes with the Study Guide. The real power is in the Practice Exams, we supply 110 questions complete with answers, thorough solutions, with unlimited attempts.

So our focus is to prepare you in 1–2 days (5-8 hours study time).

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Is the NPPE exam the same for each Association, Province, and Territory?

Yes, it's now the same for each jurisdiction. The NPPE exam is a closed book exam with 110 multiple choice questions to be completed in 2-1/2 hours. British Colombia (EGBC), and Geologist Ontario (PGO) have now discontinued the additional essay question(s).

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Is this course designed for the PEO NPPE? The APEGS NPPE? The PEGNL NPPE? The EGBC NPPE?

Yes. This course is designed for the PEO NPPE, the APEGS NPPE, the PEGNL NPPE, and the EGBC NPPE. The NPPE is the same for all provinces now, excluding Quebec.

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I’m a G.I.T. with PGO. Is the best product for me?

Of course. All geoscientists registered with PGO now write the same NPPE exam, excluding Quebec. PGO has discontinued the additional essay questions.

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How often do you update your products?

We update the Study Guide and Exam Questions after each writing of the exam, based on feedback from our examinees.

There's typically 4 exams per year, so we update every 3 months as a minimum.

Best wishes with your studies.

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Do I need to take the NPPE or FE Exam to practice in Canada or the USA?

— A shout-out to Giancarlo Mendoza —

Depending on where you wish to practice, you have different routes to become a licensed professional engineer.

You will need to write the NPPE exam to practice in Canada as a licensed professional. You will have to write the FE exam to practice in the United States as a licensed professional.

Each country has a process to confirm your engineering education from your country.

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Article Sources

1. NPPE.ca. Exam Format
2. NPPE.ca. The NPPE Blueprint
3. Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). National Professional Practice Exam.
4. ‍Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba
5. ‍Engineers and Geoscientists New Brunswick
6. ‍Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS)
7. ‍Engineers Nova Scotia
8. ‍Engineers PEI
9. Engineers Yukon
10. Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG)
11. Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL)
12. Professional Engineers of Ontario, (PEO)
13. NPPE.ca. NPPE Exam Dates
14. Professional Engineers Ontario, 536th Meeting of the Council, page 10, archived June 2025.
15. Reddit, Subreddit r/NPPEexam, Nov Exam Results Poll November 2024, archived June 2025.
16. Reddit, Subreddit r/NPPEexam, June 3nd - NPPE Exam-Review, archived June 2025.