NPPE Topic 1: Professionalism and Ethics

Question 1

What are the characteristics of a profession?

Answer 1

1. specialized knowledge and skill
2. renders a public service
3. Bound by a distinct ethical code
4. Long and intensive preparation
5. Require Continued Study and Development

Question 2

The practice of professional engineering Act is defined by the associations as:

Answer 2

1. any act of: planning, designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting, directing or supervising
2. that requires the application of engineering principles
3. and concerns the safeguarding of life, health, property, economic interest, the public welfare and the environment
4. or the managing of such act

Question 3

Professional licensing is in _____ jurisdiction

Answer 3

provincial (or territorial) government

Question 4

The governments usually write ___ which allow the professionals to self-regulate via professional regulatory bodies

Answer 4

Acts

Question 5

The regulators write ___ that specify details of things the acts reference

Answer 5

regulations

Question 6

What are the objectives of engineering professional regulating bodies:

Answer 6

1. regulate the practice of professional engineering
2. govern the ones who do it (holders of licenses and certificates of authorization)
3. serve and protect the public interest
4. establish, maintain, and develop standards of knowledge and skill, qualification and practice, and professional ethics
5. promote public awareness of its role
6. comply with government regulations

Question 7

Types of licenses in Ontario

Answer 7

License, temporary license, provisional license, limited license, certification of authorization

Question 8

What is a license member in Ontario

Answer 8

A member (most common license)

Question 9

What is a temporary license in ontario?

Answer 9

For visiting engineer from another province, famous engineer, or past P.Eng to practice on one project

Question 10

What is a provisional license in Ontario?

Answer 10

to help internationally trained engineers get a job (lasts for a year - used to get 1 year of experience under a Canadian P.Eng)

Question 11

What is a Limited license in ontario?

Answer 11

For technologists or scientists to practice in a specific field only

Question 12

What is a certificate of authorization (CofA)/permit to practice?

Answer 12

Business license
Is needed to consult if offering services directly to the public

Question 13

Types of engineering licenses in Alberta?

Answer 13

Professional member (normal one), professional licensee (same as limited engineering license in Ontario), EIT, licensee, and Permit to Practice Holder

Question 14

What is a licensee in Alberta?

Answer 14

License given to those that are not a permanent resident or a citizen in Canada

Question 15

What does public welfare mean?

Answer 15

General goodness for everyone, what everyone is interested in, what is society’s collective best interest in having

Question 16

What is the primary obligation of an engineer?

Answer 16

protecting and enhancing public welfare

Question 17

What is the main reason for licensing and regulation of engineering?

Answer 17

So that public interest may be served and protected (to protect the public welfare)

Question 18

How can a person w/o a license still practice?

Answer 18

A professional engineer or limited license holder assumes responsibilities

Question 19

Companies without a reserve title in Alberta are not allowed to:

Answer 19

• practice engineering or geoscience
• not allowed to use reserve titles or be be called by the following words: engineering, geology, geophysics, and geoscience

Question 20

When do documents need to be sealed by a stamp?

Answer 20

When they are going out to the public.

Question 21

Divine command theory

Answer 21

morality is declared by a higher power

Question 22

Utilitarianism

Answer 22

Do what creates the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Question 23

Duty ethics (Kant)

Answer 23

do only what would always be good in any context (never lie because lying is wrong)

Question 24

Human rights ethics

Answer 24

uphold the principle of granting everyone at least a set of universal fundamental human rights

Question 25

Virtue ethics

Answer 25

A virtue is a trait that makes you a good person, so act in a way that maximizes your virtues and you’ll naturally do the right thing.

Question 26

Contractarianism

Answer 26

Rights and wrong arises naturally from agreements we’ve made with each other based on elevated means-end reasoning

Question 27

All provinces have the code of ethics while Ontario has the ___ and ___

Answer 27

Definition of professional misconduct (directly enforceable) and code of ethics (more of a set of guidelines)

Question 28

If you’ve committed professional misconduct you experience a penalty imposed by:

Answer 28

the association’s discipline committee

Question 29

What is the process of what happens when you’ve committed professional misconduct?

Answer 29

1. a written complaint about a licensed member is submitted to the association
2. a complains committee investigates the complaint and dismiss the complaint or bring it to the discipline committee
3. discipline committee holds a hearing to determine weather you’re guilty and impose a penalty if you’re guilty

Question 30

What counts as professional misconduct is ultimately decided by:

Answer 30

Your fellow association members

Question 31

The solution to secret conflicts of interest is

Answer 31

Disclose them to the client before starting a job or remove yourself

Question 32

Assume all info you learn about your employer or client while working is _____

Answer 32

confidential

Question 33

When is it ok to break confidentiality?

Answer 33

if public safety is at risk by keeping the information a secret

Question 34

When working in another countries, you must follow the laws of:

Answer 34

that country and Canadian laws and ethical principles

Question 35

Can you lose your license for actions taken outside of Canada?

Answer 35

Yes