NPPE Study Guide 2026

Canada provides a 12-month grace period: a patent application must be filed within 12 months of the inventor's own public disclosure, otherwise the disclosure becomes prior art that destroys novelty.

Unauthorized use of a professional's name on a report is fraudulent and must be immediately corrected to protect the public and the engineer's accountability.

In all Canadian jurisdictions, the professional engineering seal belongs to the individual licence holder. Even when services are delivered through a corporation, only the licensed engineer may sign and seal documents, and they retain personal professional accountability for sealed work. A certificate of authorization allows the corporation to offer engineering services, but does not transfer the sealing obligation to the corporate entity.

Professional accountability means that an individual is answerable for their professional judgments, decisions, and actions. This includes taking personal responsibility for their own work and for the work of others under their direction and supervision. [2, 3] It is a cornerstone of maintaining public trust.

A professional engineer may delegate technical work but must exercise direct and adequate supervision. Stamping drawings certifies that the work meets professional standards; doing so without adequate supervision is professional misconduct.

In a general partnership, each partner is jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the partnership, including professional negligence by any partner acting within the scope of the partnership business. This means a client can pursue either partner — or both — for the full amount of damages, regardless of who performed the work.