Practice PPE Exams

We are proud to celebrate the 32 Practice PPE Exams clients who have officially earned their licenses.

Your dedication, persistence, and hard work have led to this well-deserved achievement.

Cheers to the June 2026 graduating class!

Ismael Ncharre Njoya, M.Eng, P.Eng,(PMP)® (ENS)
ALICE MACASAET, PMP®, C.E.T., LEED GA (PEO)
Saleh Hamdan, P.Eng., PMP (PEO)
Shirien Nouri, P. Eng (APEGA)
Ranjini Harish, PEng (PEO)

+ 28 more. For the full list, see our LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7468344776380067840/

Thinking about leaving Canada but want to keep your P.Eng.?

This comes up a lot, and the options are less obvious than they look.

Engineers usually ask some version of:
“I’m moving outside Canada for a few years. What should I do with my P.Eng. licence?”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: there is no single “out‑of‑country” membership category in Canada. What you can do depends heavily on your regulator, and the choices have real consequences for fees, CPD, and how easy it is to come back later.

At a high level, most paths fall into three buckets:

1. Keep your licence active and declare “not practising.”
You stay licensed, but:
-You may still owe full dues.
-You may still have to complete certain annual declarations / modules (even if CPD is reduced or waived).

2. Move to a formal non‑practising / reduced‑fee category (if it exists)
-EGBC, for example, has a true Non‑Practising status at about 25% of full fees with no CE requirement, but you must use a qualifier like “P.Eng. (Non‑Practising)” and later meet reinstatement criteria.
-PEO and APEGA have narrower routes for any fee relief (retirement, parental leave, disability, unemployment, full‑time studies).

3. Voluntarily cancel and try to reinstate later
-Possible everywhere, but often means a new application or extra steps under whatever rules exist when you return.
-Easier to avoid if there’s any realistic chance you’ll want to practise in Canada again.

In a new article, I walked through what PEO, EGBC, and APEGA actually offer today, with direct links to each regulator so you can verify details and use the same questions for your own association:
https://practiceppeexams.ca/blog/moving-out-of-canada-maintain-peng-licence/

If you do stay licensed and keep a practising status, your CPD obligations follow you abroad. Most regulators accept CPD done anywhere in the world, but you still need a plan and a clean record.

That’s exactly why we built CPD Companion – to help licensed engineers (including those working outside Canada) plan, find, and track CPD without scrambling at renewal or during an audit:
https://practiceppeexams.ca/cpd-companion/

If you’re a P.Eng. working abroad or planning a move, I’d be curious:
How are you handling your licence and CPD right now?

5 STEM Scholarships in July You Should Apply For

These STEM scholarships offer students funding, recognition, and opportunities to support your academic and professional goals.

1. Canadian Posture & Seating Centre Scholarship (University of Waterloo)
Who: Engineering or Science student in their second, third, or fourth year, or in Graduate Studies, at the University of Waterloo
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Amount: $1,000 to $2,500
Details: https://uwaterloo.ca/student-awards-financial-aid/awards/canadian-posture-seating-centre-scholarship

2. David M. Forget Memorial Award in Geology (University of Waterloo)
Who: Year Two student in Earth Sciences, Geological Engineering, or another Earth major program at the University of Waterloo
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Amount: Up to $1,500
Details: https://uwaterloo.ca/student-awards-financial-aid/awards/david-m-forget-memorial-award-geology

3. GeneTex Scholarship
Who: STEM majors (including engineering) enrolled at an accredited postsecondary institution, based on academic standing
Deadline: July 13, 2026
Amount: $2,000
Details: https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/search/genetex-scholarship/

4. Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education Undergraduate Scholarship (University of Waterloo)
Who: Full-time undergraduate students in CEAB-Accredited Engineering programs at the University of Waterloo
Deadline: July 15, 2026 (1B Winter & Spring Terms)
Amount: $1,500
Details: https://uwaterloo.ca/student-awards-financial-aid/awards/ontario-professional-engineers-foundation-education

5. University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary
Who: High school students entering their first year at the University of Manitoba in any direct entry faculty (including engineering)
Deadline: July 15, 2026
Amount: from $400 to $1,000
Details: https://umanitoba.ca/financial-aid-and-awards/bursaries

If this helps you or someone in your network, feel free to share it so more future engineers can benefit.
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I’m Gavin Simone, P.Eng. (AB), LEED AP, founder of Practice PPE Exams.

We help EITs across Canada get their P.Eng. up to 50% quicker, with fewer delays and less back‑and‑forth with their association, so they can support their families and careers sooner.

👉 Start with a free licensing mini‑course here:
https://g.practiceppeexams.ca/stem_fb

Note: Always double‑check deadlines and eligibility on the official pages before applying; details can change year to year.

Big news for engineers‑in‑training in Ontario.

PEO has approved a change to reduce the minimum P.Eng. experience requirement from 4 years to 2 years, starting July 1, 2026.

https://www.peo.on.ca/apply/become-professional-engineer/application-requirements

If you’re an EIT, here’s what it actually means:
✅ You may be eligible to apply in roughly half the time, once this is in force
✅ The competency standard hasn’t changed – you still need to demonstrate all 34 CBA competencies
✅ Two years is a minimum, not a promise – it removes some “waiting time” for people who are genuinely ready

In other words, PEO is saying: if you can clearly demonstrate competence, the calendar shouldn’t be the main barrier.

A few important details:
→ Pre‑graduation experience (co‑op, internships) does not count toward the 2‑year minimum
→ Graduate study (master’s, PhD) may count toward both the minimum and your CBA, depending on your situation
→ Ontario and Quebec will be the only provinces at 2 years; most other regulators still use 4+ years of experience

For high performers who hit their competencies early, this can be a real accelerant.

For everyone else, the path is the same as before – just with a lower floor on the time requirement.

If you’re an EIT planning your NPPE or CBA under the new rules, what questions do you have?

Two recent questions from engineers‑in‑training that many NPPE and CBA candidates struggle with.

On the NPPE
Q: What’s the real difference between being unprofessional and being incompetent?

A: They’re not the same thing, and the distinction matters on the exam.
Unprofessional = how you act. Rudeness, disrespect, ignoring policies or codes of conduct. It’s a conduct issue.

Incompetent = what you can (or can’t) do. Repeated technical mistakes, poor judgment, and not meeting the standard of practice. It’s a capability issue.

You can be skilled but unprofessional. You can be well‑intentioned but incompetent. On the NPPE, you’re expected to recognize which is which in a scenario and what the association should do about it.

On the CBA
Q: I held two short‑term roles early in my career (~6 months combined, both under a P.Eng.) but I’ve lost touch with those supervisors. Do I need to include competencies from those jobs?

A: No. You can write competency examples from any experience, as long as you have a suitable validator for it.

In your application, you’ll still list those short‑term roles in your work history. But for competency examples, it’s completely fine to focus on your current (or most recent) role if that’s where you can be properly validated.

The real question is: Can you score a 3 or better on all competencies using only that experience?

Start there:
1. Review the rating scale:
https://www.egbc.ca/getmedia/1fbd065e-0c88-4286-826a-0ec416278fd7/Competency-Rating-Scale-Summary.pdf.aspx
2. Look back at your full work history.
3. For each competency, pick the hardest, most complex problem you solved that best demonstrates it.
4. Then choose the validator who actually saw you do that work.

Questions like these come up constantly. If you’re working through licensing steps like the NPPE or CBA, you don’t have to figure it out alone:
https://g.practiceppeexams.ca/fb-cq

✈️ Engineering the Skies—One Fold at a Time Happy National Paper Airplane Day!

From classrooms to boardrooms, folding and flying a paper airplane sparks wonder and inspires us to explore the principles of aerodynamics, design, and innovation. Here are three engineering grads who embody the spirit of innovation and flight:

Jas Barmi, P.Eng. Jas is a structural analysis engineer at Boeing, specializing in stress analysis and design engineering, with a passion for advancing aerospace and sustainable energy technologies. He led the University of Manitoba SAE Aero Design team to a first-place finish, demonstrating leadership and innovation in aircraft design competitions that inspire future engineers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jas-barmi/

Ashraf Othman, P.Eng. DAR A seasoned aerospace engineer and Transport Canada Design Approval Representative (DAR), Ashraf is a Senior Engineering Specialist (R&D) at De Havilland Aircraft of Canada and the founder of Othman Aviation Ltd., an independent engineering consultancy specializing in aircraft design and certification. His career includes pivotal roles at Viking Air and over two decades as an Airworthiness Engineer at the National Research Council's Flight Research Laboratory. His expertise in airworthiness and flight research has advanced rigorous engineering standards and inspired innovation in aeronautical design. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashraf-othman-p-eng-dar-10145211/

Karthik Dhanabalan, P.Eng., M.Eng., PMP Karthik is an engineering lead at FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd., specializing in aircraft certification engineering and having over 10 years of experience in aerospace structures and composites. He combines expertise in finite element analysis, damage tolerance, and aircraft structural repair with a strong background in project management and research, having led innovative projects such as the development of a low-cost subsonic ramjet engine and natural composite materials. https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthikdhanabalan/

These professionals exemplify how the foundational concepts learned from folding paper planes can evolve into careers that keep our skies safe and innovative. Let's take a moment to appreciate the engineers who turn simple ideas into soaring realities.

These individuals are not affiliated with or endorsing Practice PPE Exams; we simply admire their contributions to engineering in Canada.



Inspired to engineer new possibilities from a single sheet of paper? Take the next step towards your P.Eng. designation! Practice PPE Exams proudly supported over 4,000 EITs as they navigated the licensing process last year. Visit us at https://practiceppeexams.ca/ to get .

Here are 5 common barriers that slow EITs down on the path to their P.Eng.:
“Does my experience even count?”
Many engineers work slightly outside their degree or original discipline and are unsure if that experience is acceptable for licensure.

Uncertainty about technical exams.
International grads often hesitate to apply because they do not know if (or when) technical exams will be assigned.

Confusing association websites.
Licensing pages can be hard to navigate, with dense wording and scattered PDFs. The information is there, but not always easy to find or interpret.

Volunteer-based review process.
Associations rely on volunteer members, which can mean slower replies, longer review queues, and unpredictable timelines.

Very long processing times.
Steps like CBA reviews can take months. Some applicants try applying in another province and then transferring back, but this is rarely faster and usually costs extra time and money.

If you’re running into any of these, you do not have to figure it out alone.

To get clear, step‑by‑step help and stay on the quickest path to your ., visit
https://g.practiceppeexams.ca/peng-fb-home

A client asked me a smart CBA question: “Should I use short‑term employment as examples in my Competency‑Based Assessment (CBA) if I don’t have a validator?”
Short answer: No – and that’s actually good news.

You must list short‑term roles in your work history, but they do not have to appear in your competency examples.

Here’s why:
If you can’t find a suitable validator for a role – a P.Eng. for Canadian experience or an appropriate equivalent for international work – skip that job when choosing examples.
Only use roles where someone (supervisor, lead, client, or consultant) can confidently confirm what you did.

What actually matters in your CBA:
-Quality over quantity. You do not need examples from every job you’ve had. A smaller number of strong, validated examples is far better than a long list no one can verify.
-One employer can be enough. If your current role gives you good situations across most of the 7 competency categories, that’s perfectly acceptable.
-Align with the framework. Know the 1.1–7.3 competencies and the 0–5 rating scale.

Aim for 3 or higher on each, and choose examples that show judgement, risk management, and complex problem‑solving.

The takeaway:
Your CBA examples should highlight validated, higher‑impact work, not every job on your résumé.

If you’re unsure whether a role or example is strong enough, that’s normal. Most engineers only do this once.

For structured help on NPPE, CBA, and the rest of your P.Eng. steps, visit
https://g.practiceppeexams.ca/fb-cq

You’ll see questions on the exclusive scope of practice and right to title on the NPPE (Topic I.3).

This visual breaks down how they differ for engineering and geoscience so you can remember:
-who can legally use titles like P.Eng. / P.Geo., and
-who is allowed to practice and where the legal limits are.

If you find visuals like this helpful, please pass it along to an who’s getting ready for their ethics exam.

If you’re the EIT, you can start our NPPE course for free here:
https://g.practiceppeexams.ca/fb-nppe-start

Your Phone Is Now Part of the NPPE. Here's What You Need to Know.

If you're writing the NPPE this year, there's one new requirement that might catch you off guard: your smartphone or tablet is now part of the exam setup.

Starting with the June 2026 administration, all NPPE candidates are required to use a mobile device as a second camera during the exam. It's a meaningful upgrade to how remote proctoring works — and if you're not prepared for it on exam day, it could slow down your check-in or create unnecessary stress before you've answered a single question.

Here's how it works.
No app download required. You connect your phone by scanning a QR code when you start your exam session. The process is built into the Meazure Learning proctoring platform and takes only a moment to set up.

Position matters. The second camera should be placed 2–3 feet away from you in landscape orientation, capturing your profile — your face and hands should be visible, but your monitor screen should not appear in the frame. Think of it as a side-angle view of your workspace.

Keep it charged. Have your phone or tablet plugged in, or have a charging block nearby — a power source during the exam is required. A dead phone mid-exam isn't a technical issue Meazure will absorb on your behalf.

Why the change? A single we**am looking straight at a candidate has always had a blind spot: everything to the side and behind. A second camera closes that gap and gives proctors a fuller view of the testing environment. It's the same logic behind multi-angle invigilation at in-person test centres — just adapted for remote delivery.

For candidates, the practical impact is small. Set up your space with enough room for both your computer and your phone on the side, do a dry run of the positioning before exam day, and you're covered.

The NPPE has been 100% remote since 2020. Requirements like this are how the program maintains the integrity of a credential that matters — your P.Eng. or P.Geo. licence. It's worth taking the five minutes to get familiar with the setup before the day arrives.

Further reading: The full second-camera setup requirements are documented in the NPPE Candidate Guide V19 (updated April 2026), available through your provincial regulator or at nppexam.ca.

Preparing for the NPPE? Practice PPE Exams offers exam prep courses built specifically for Canadian EITs — https://practiceppeexams.ca/nppe-exam-course/