Discuss APEGS NPPE Exam Topic 2 Question 7

A professional engineer employed at a mining company is asked to design a cost-effective bridge on a mine site to be used exclusively by company personnel. The professional's bridge design knowledge is limited to academic studies, with no post-graduation education or experience in bridge design.

Which of the following actions would be best for the professional to take?

AObtain relevant civil engineering codes and standards and design the bridge accordingly.

BAssign the project to a member-in-training structural engineering graduate and mentor them through the design.

CRefuse to design the bridge as it is beyond the professional's scope of practice and recommend using a qualified and experienced professional.

DEnsure the company's end-use specifications are documented so the bridge can be designed accordingly.

Suggested Answer: C

NPPE Codes of Ethics require professionals to practice only in areas where they are competent by virtue of education, training, and experience. Academic exposure alone is insufficient to establish competence for independent professional work in safety-critical structures such as bridges.

Option C is correct because the professional recognizes the limits of their competence and acts to protect public and worker safety by recommending a qualified and experienced professional. Options A, B, and D involve undertaking or supervising work without sufficient competence, which would violate ethical and professional obligations.

Get Premium NPPE Questions as Interactive Web-Based Practice Test or PDF Real Exam Format Detailed Explanations Instant Access Get Your Practice Test

12 comments · newest first

Stephania 3 months ago

A is a good option too, but codes alone won't guarantee safety without experience.

Sarina 3 months ago

I lean towards B. Mentoring a graduate could be beneficial for both.

Franchesca 3 months ago

I think option C is the safest choice. No experience means high risk.

Mirta 3 months ago

D is important, but they still need a pro for the design.

Lisandra 3 months ago

B sounds like a great way to build skills while getting it done!

Vincent 4 months ago

Wait, can someone really design a bridge with just academic knowledge?

Donte 5 months ago

I think A could work if they research enough.

Jerlene 5 months ago

C is definitely the safest choice here.

Rolf 6 months ago

I’m leaning towards option A, but I’m a bit uncertain. I remember a case study where a lack of experience led to serious issues in a project.

Janey 6 months ago

I feel like documenting the specifications is important, but I wonder if that alone is enough without proper design knowledge.

Anglea 6 months ago

I think option C makes sense because if the engineer lacks experience, it's better to recommend someone qualified. I’ve seen similar questions in practice exams.

Lynelle 6 months ago

I remember discussing the importance of adhering to civil engineering codes in class, but I'm not sure if that's enough experience for this situation.

APEGS NPPE Exam - Topic 2 Question 7 Discussion