APEGS NPPE Exam - Topic 3 Question 2 Discussion

Actual exam question for APEGS's NPPE exam

Question #: 2
Topic #: 3

[All NPPE Questions]

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.

Show Suggested Answer

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.

by Ronald at Jan 27, 2026, 08:27 AM

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1 month ago

I'm not sure I have the right experience to design this bridge. I think option C is the safest choice.

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