ABOUT
THE EXAM
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.
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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%)
- Definition and interpretation of professionalism
- The role of the professional in society
- A professional's responsibilities to management
- Ethical standards and codes
- Environmental responsibilities
B. Professional Practice (17%)
- Professional accountability for work, workplace issues, job
responsibilities and standards of practice
- Continuing professional competence
- Professional business practices
- Insurance and risk management
- Professional and technical societies
- Non-statutory standards and codes of practice
C. Regulatory Authority Requirements (7%)
- Occupation Health and Safety Regulations
- Workers' compensation regulations
- Other statutory standards and codes
D. Law and Legal Concepts (21%)
- Canadian legal concepts
- Contract Law - elements, principles, types, discharge, breach,
interpretation, etc.
- Tort Law - elements, application of principles, interpretation,
liabilities of various kinds
- Intellectual Property Law - patents, trademarks, software issues,
copyright
- Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- The Professional as an Expert Witness
-
Business Organizations
- International Law
E. The Act (13%)
- Definitions of the profession and scope of practice
- The Provincial Acts
- Regulations and By-Laws
- Registration
- Discipline and Enforcement
- Use of stamps and seals
F. Geoscience Practice in Ontario (17%)
- Acts and Regulations governing major areas of geoscience practice
in Ontario
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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
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Eligibility/Exceptions
APGO feels that it is beneficial for applicants to have at least two years of work experience after completion of their formal education before the examination is attempted. 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 or Examination Candidate. 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.
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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 $210 + $10.50 GST = $220.50 and must be received by the Registrar at least 60 days before the candidate's preferred date for an examination as outlined below.
Download the Application Form
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.
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PPE Exam Schedule and Application Dates
The schedule for PPE examinations in 2008 is as follows:
| January 19, 2009 |
|
Deadline to apply - December 5, 2008 |
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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 most major centres of Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa, London, Waterloo, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Timmins and Thunder Bay). If you live outside these areas or outside the province/country, please contact the Registrar for alternative arrangements (If the location is outside of Canada, the applicant will also be resposible for courier costs). 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.
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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.
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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 and Ethics”, Andrews,
G.C., 3rd Edition, 2005. (Textbook available for on-line
purchase directly form the publisher at http://www.andrews.nelson.com)
2. “Law for Professional Engineers”, Marston D.L., McGraw-Hill Ryerson
Ltd, 3rd Edition, 1996 (view info and download order form at http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/highereducation/php/bookinfo.php?isbn=007552628X&pNumber=185445)
3. Smyth Soberman and Esson, The Law and Business Administration in
Canada and Study Guide. (Textbook available for on-line
purchase directly form the publisher at http://vig.pearsoned.ca/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0132042754,00.html)
Note: All of the textbook related questions in the national PPE
are taken from either the text by Andrews and Kemper or the text by
Marston. The text by Smyth, Soberman and Easson (which was initially
selected by the APGO as the "recommended text" for PPE study) covers
much of the material in Marston in a less legal/technical format.
However the Smyth, Soberman and Easson text does not cover important
material on Professional Practice; this material is only covered in
Andrews and Kemper.
4. The Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000, Regulations including
the Code of Ethics and By-laws.
View/Download Page for Act, Regulations
and By-laws
5. 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
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Some additional references include:
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/DBLaws/Statutes/English/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
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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. Listed below are a number of support providers that the APGO has been made aware of, which offer seminars and workshops that may be of interest to members. 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.
PLEASE NOTE: that the listing of courses, workshops or study manuals on this website does not imply that the APGO has approved or sanctioned in any way any of these products or services.
1. Advance Professional Workshops (www.advancepro.com)
2. Delta Seminars Inc. (www.deltaseminars.com)
3. University of Toronto (www.pdc.utoronto.ca)
4. Conestoga College Centre of Engineering (519-748-5220 ext. 3304)
5. Seneca College (www.senecac.on.ca)
The University of Waterloo offers a video and study manual for about
$35 plus taxes, shipping, etc. (519-888-4567 ext. 5797). 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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