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Do you want to write the PPE exam? To apply for the PPE exam you must first submit an application to APGO for a Practising, Limited or Temporary membership. You may apply to write the PPE exam as a Geoscientist-in-Training if you have applied for a change of designation.
Download the PPE Exam
Application or Apply Online |
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Next
scheduled exam accepting applications - July 15, 2013
Deadline for Applications - May 31, 2013 |
About the Exam
Overview
Scope and Syllabus
Sample Questions
Eligibility/Exceptions
Applying to Write the PPE Exam
PPE Exam Schedule and Application Dates
Locations for Writing PPE Exam
Results of Examination
Application Package and Study Material
Some additional references
Other Study Aids
Overview
An applicant for registration in Ontario must successfully
complete the PPE examination requirement unless an equivalent
exam acceptable to the Registration Committee has been written
and passed in another jurisdiction. The PPE examination will
cover ethics, professional practice, business law, professional
liability and responsibilities to the public.
The 3-hour Ontario PPE examination is closed book and comprises
120 multiple-choice questions (2 ½ hours) and an essay question
(additional ½ hour). The first 100 questions are based on
Categories A to E as shown in the syllabus below. The last 20
questions, in Category F, are specific to Ontario – 8 questions
on the APGO Act, and 12 on various Ontario Acts and Regulations.
The essay question is designed to test the applicant's ability
to communicate effectively and is not meant to test an
applicant's technical expertise. The PPE exam administered by
APGO is based on the National Professional Practice Exam
developed by the Association of Professional Engineers,
Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA).
The examination is graded as a "pass" or "fail". Candidates who
fail will receive a report showing their performance in each
category of the syllabus. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
The grade is final.*
The pass mark is 65%. Pass marks may be slightly adjusted for
individual sessions based on valid psychometric factors designed
to ensure that over time, and among groups of candidates,
pass-fail decisions are made on a consistent basis.
Scope and Syllabus
The national PPE exam syllabus, as adopted by the APGO, covers
the major subject areas (excluding the essay question) as
follows:
A. Professionalism (25%)
1.
Definition and interpretation of professionalism
2.
The role of the professional in society
3.
A professional's responsibilities to management
4.
Ethical standards and codes
5.
Environmental responsibilities
B. Professional Practice (17%)
1. Professional accountability for work, workplace issues, job
responsibilities and standards of practice
2.
Continuing professional competence
3.
Professional business practices
4.
Insurance and risk management
5.
Professional and technical societies
6.
Non-statutory standards and codes of practice
C. Regulatory Authority Requirements (7%)
1.
Occupation Health and Safety Regulations
2.
Workers' compensation regulations
3.
Other statutory standards and codes
D. Law and Legal Concepts (21%)
1.
Canadian legal concepts
2.
Contract Law - elements, principles, types, discharge, breach,
interpretation, etc.
3.
Tort Law - elements, application of principles, interpretation,
liabilities of various kinds
4.
Intellectual Property Law - patents, trademarks, software
issues, copyright
5.
Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
6.
The Professional as an Expert Witness
7.
Business Organizations
8.
International Law
E. The Act (13%)
1.
Definitions of the profession and scope of practice
2.
The Provincial Acts
3.
Regulations and By-Laws
4.
Registration
5.
Discipline and Enforcement
6.
Use of stamps and seals
F. Geoscience Practice in Ontario (17%)
1.
Acts and Regulations governing major areas of geoscience
practice in Ontario
Sample Questions
Each question, except for the essay question, is multiple-choice
with four possible answers. Old examinations are not available,
however, sample test questions are provided below:
Review sample PPE exam questions
Download sample PPE exam questions
(PDF)
Eligibility/Exceptions
To be eligible to write the PPE exam, the applicant must have an active application for Professional Membership or be enrolled as a Geoscientist-in-Training and have submitted a change of designation request. An exemption may be granted to applicants who have passed a similar examination in another jurisdiction. However, such applicants are still required to read and confirm in writing that they have read, and agree to practice their profession in Ontario in accordance with the Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000, Regulations, including the Code of Ethics, and By-Laws.
Applying to Write the PPE Exam
The form, Application To Write the Professional Practice and
Ethics Examination, must be used when applying. The completed
application must accompany the fee of $250 plus applicable tax and must be received by the Registrar BY THE DEADLINE TO APPLY DATE.
Download the Application Form or Apply Online
Want to pay by credit card? No problem! Download this PDF and
mail it to us!
APGO Credit Card Card Payment Form
Approximately 10 days before each sitting of the exam,
applicants will receive a letter indicating the time and
location of the sitting along with an admission slip which must
be brought to the examination with one piece of
photo-identification, e.g. Driver's License.
Please note that you will not receive a receipt or confirmation
of application until after the deadline date for your exam.
PPE Exam Schedule and Application
Dates
The schedule for upcoming PPE examinations is as follows:
July 15, 2013 Deadline to apply – May 31, 2013
October 21, 2013 Deadline to apply – September 6, 2013
Locations for Writing PPE Exam
When an application to write the PPE is accepted, the applicant
will be advised of the nearest examination location, along with
the place and time. APGO holds the exam sessions in five major
centres of Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa, London, Sudbury and Thunder Bay). Locations other than those
specified on the application form are subject to approval. The
exam will be written simultaneously at all examination centres.
Candidates who, prior to the deadline date, request a deferral
to the next exam session will be credited the fees to the next
exam session. Candidates who cancel after the deadline, or fail
to write or pass the exam may not have their fees refunded, nor
will a credit be carried to the next exam session.
Results of Examination
Results of the examination will be sent by mail not later than
60 days after the date of the examination. For many, a pass may
be the last step in the registration process. For others, there
may be additional requirements before membership and
registration is granted. Failure will require that the
examination be repeated. For those who are required to repeat
the exam, an exemption to apply for the following exam past the
deadline date to apply, will be granted. Another application to
write will be required along with another examination fee.
Applicants who fail the exam may re-write the exam an additional
two times. If an applicant does not pass the exam after three
attempts, membership and registration will not be granted.
Application Package and Study
Material
The recommended study material has been divided into two
categories – Recommended texts and other reference material.
Apart from the textbooks, other suggested study material may be
downloaded from the websites provided.
Recommended Texts and Related Acts/Regulations:
1. “Canadian Professional Engineering and Geoscience: Practice & Ethics”, Andrews, G.C., 4th Edition, 2009. (Textbook
available for on-line purchase directly form the publisher at http://www.andrews4e.nelson.com)
2. “Practical Law of Architecture, Engineering and Geoscience”, Samuels & Sanders, Second Canadian Edition, 2010. (order at
http://www.amazon.ca/Practical-Architecture-Engineering-Geoscience-Companion/dp/0132111713)
3. The Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000, Regulations
including the Code of Ethics and By-Laws.
View/Download Page for Act, Regulations and By-Laws
4. Acts and Regulations governing major areas of geoscience
practice in Ontario.
View page with links to Acts and Regulations governing major
areas of geoscience practice
Additional References:
A Guide to Patents:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/patents/patguide-e.pdf
A guide to Trade Marks:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/patents/pat_gd_main-e.html
A Guide to Industrial Designs:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_protect-e.html
A Guide to Copyrights:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/id/id_gd_intro-e.html
The Canada Labour Code:
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/
Quick Guide to the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Act:
http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/ReferenceQuickGuide
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90o01_e.htm
Additional useful reference material is posted on many of the
other professional engineering and geoscience association
websites. Two such examples on the APEGGA website are:
A guideline for Professional Practice:
http://www.apegga.org/members/ProfDev/professional.html
Manual of Professional Practice Under the Code of
Ethics/Appendix A:
http://www.apegga.org/pdf/Guidelines/03.pdf
Other Study Aids
A number of independent companies, colleges and universities in Ontario offer seminars and workshops that prepare candidates for PPE exams. Most of the seminars and workshops available at present are more tailored for the PPE exam set by Professional Engineers of Ontario for those who are in the process of registering as a P.Eng. However, as the APGO PPE exam is based on the National Professional Practice Examination, much of the material covered in these seminars would be directly relevant. Also in a number of locations in Ontario, groups of members of APGO are independently approaching course providers to arrange workshops or are organizing local study groups.
The current listing of courses, workshops and additional references on this website have not been approved or sanctioned in any way by APGO, but are provided as a service to interested PPE exam applicants.
Applicants requiring assistance preparing for their Professional Practice Exam (PPE) may seek additional resources on the Internet using their preferred search engine.
Suggested search term: Professional Practice Exam
There are also Law and Ethics Education CDs than can be
purchased from APEGBC (http://www.apeg.bc.ca/prodev/distance_ed/distance_ed.html).
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