APEGA NPPE Exam Check-in: Online Proctoring 2026

This guide walks you through check-in in the order you will meet each hurdle, with the fix for each one.

Everything here is built from the official NPPE Candidate Guide (version 19), your regulator’s pages, and the Meazure Learning and ProctorU help pages. Where the official sources are silent, the text says so and carries a “confirm on the official page” tag. Treat those tags as homework before exam day.

How This Exam Is Delivered

APEGA develops and oversees the NPPE for the engineering and geoscience regulators that use it (thirteen, according to the candidate guide). You do not register with APEGA unless you are applying to APEGA itself. You register through your own provincial or territorial regulator, and that regulator controls deferrals, cancellations, accommodations, and attempt limits.

The exam is delivered by Meazure Learning, the company formed from Yardstick (computer-based testing) and ProctorU (online proctoring). Since April 2020 the NPPE has been delivered almost entirely by remote proctoring. The candidate guide calls remote proctoring the preferred method and test centres an option for exceptional cases. At least one regulator, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, says in-person testing may be offered case by case for accommodation requests or for candidates who had technical problems in an earlier session.

The candidate guide does not list the countries where remote proctoring is available, and it does not say how candidates outside Canada can access a test centre (confirm on the official page). If you are writing from outside Canada, ask your regulator and Meazure Learning before you pay for a session, not after.

One note on conflicting rules: ProctorU publishes general rules for all its clients, and those rules often say “check with your testing organization.” Where the NPPE candidate guide or your regulator speaks, follow them. The differences are flagged below.

Pre-Exam Preparation

Hardware and Network Requirements

Most check-in failures are equipment failures. Work through this list a week ahead, not the night before.

• Computer: a Windows 10 (or later) or macOS 11 (or later) laptop or desktop. It must be personal. The candidate guide says work and school computers and networks are not permitted because of firewalls and install restrictions, and you may be charged a rebooking fee if your device cannot download the exam program.
• Specs: ProctorU lists 8 GB of RAM, a 4-core 2.4 GHz CPU, a 1366×768 screen, a 640×480 webcam, a microphone, and working speakers as minimums. Ports 80 and 443 (UDP/TCP) must be open.
• Internet: ProctorU’s minimum is 3 Mbps up and down, and it discourages mobile hotspots and tethering. Meazure’s own FAQ prefers a wired connection and suggests at least 10 Mbps on Wi-Fi. Plan for the higher number, because your second camera shares the same network.
• Browser: install the Guardian Secure Browser and the Guardian extension, and allow camera, microphone, and screen recording access. Meazure’s FAQ still mentions Chrome or Firefox and a pop-up blocker; your regulator’s instruction to use Guardian is the one to follow.
• One monitor only: unplug any extra screens. If you use an external monitor with a closed laptop, mirror the display, connect it directly, and avoid a docking station.
• Second camera (new): from the June 2026 session, you must use a smartphone or tablet as a second camera. A laptop does not count.
• Banned software: no virtual machines and no remote access tools such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or RemotePC. The guide also names Grammarly and Snipping Tool as restricted programs.
• Headphones: ProctorU says headphones are generally not permitted and tells candidates to check with their testing organization. The candidate guide does not address them (confirm on the official page). Do not plan to wear any.
• Not supported as the exam computer: phones, tablets, Linux, and Linux-based Chromebooks. ProctorU’s current page allows ChromeOS only in its extension workflow, while the regulator requires Guardian, so treat a Chromebook as unsupported (confirm on the official page).

Exam Tip: Uninstall remote access software and turn off Grammarly well before exam day. The candidate guide says a session with a virtual machine or restricted program running is terminated and you will not be rebooked. A browser extension you forgot about is not worth a lost fee.

You can run Meazure’s “Test It Out” system check once your login details arrive, and you should. It tests your camera, microphone, and speed. It cannot test everything: the candidate guide says the proctoring program itself cannot be downloaded until exam day, so a clean system check is encouraging, not a guarantee.

Second Camera Setup

This is the newest rule and the one most likely to catch you out. The camera should sit about 0.7 to 1.0 metres (2 to 3 feet) from you and show your profile, with your hands and face visible. Your monitor’s contents should not be in frame.

• Prop the device in landscape on a tripod or any sturdy item. A mug works. Books are not permitted.
• Turn off orientation lock (iOS) or enable auto-rotate (Android) and set Do Not Disturb.
• Connect to the same Wi-Fi as your computer.
• Keep it on power. A charging block is allowed if no outlet is in reach, and a disconnect you cannot fix may end the exam.
• You connect by scanning a QR code, with no app to install. If your device cannot scan, you can type a URL into its browser instead.

ID Requirements

The candidate guide requires a valid, government-issued photo ID that includes a signature, such as a driver’s licence, passport, or permanent resident card. Meazure’s FAQ adds that the ID must not be expired.

Name matching: the sections of the candidate guide reviewed here do not spell out the exact matching rule (confirm on the official page). Make sure the name on your regulator application and your Meazure booking is the name printed on the ID you will show, including middle names if they appear. If the two differ, fix the registration through your regulator well before the booking window.

Which ID for a global candidate: a passport is the safest choice. It is government-issued, carries a photo, and normally includes a signature. A national ID card may have no signature field, which could fail the “includes a signature” requirement (confirm on the official page). The guide does not require a secondary ID, but ProctorU says proctors may ask for an additional form, so keep a second government ID within reach.

Testing Environment

• Test in a private room where you are alone, seated at a hard-surfaced desk or table. Standing desks are not permitted, and ProctorU prefers that your back face the room’s entrance.
• Do not test from a bed, couch, car, bathroom, floor, or outdoors, or in a public place such as a coffee shop. ProctorU also bars a room with clear glass walls for professional and licensure exams.
• Light the room so your face is clearly visible, with no bright window behind you.
• Clear your desk entirely. The only objects in view should be your computer, keyboard, mouse, and second camera.
• Remove non-religious head coverings, watches, and anything in or over your ears.
• Clear space for the second camera, with a power outlet or charging block in reach.
• Children and pets: ProctorU’s general rules allow pets that do not help you, and young children as long as they do not interrupt, but the NPPE guide does not address either (confirm on the official page). Arrange to be alone.

Step-by-Step Check-in Walkthrough

The exact screens vary by exam configuration, and the candidate guide does not publish a numbered sequence. This order combines the NPPE guide with ProctorU’s and Meazure’s published exam-day steps. Meazure’s FAQ page describes an older chat-box flow and was last updated in 2024, so expect Guardian to look slightly different.

1. Log in 15 minutes early. Use the Meazure login from your booking email and open the exam in Guardian. Sticking point: you booked the wrong time zone. Meazure lists times in 24-hour format, and a missed slot from a time zone error means a second exam fee if you are rebooked. Handle it: compare the booked time against your local clock the night before, and contact your regulator at once if it is wrong.
2. Accept the rules and grant permissions. You will agree to the exam guidelines and share your screen. Sticking point: Guardian cannot install without administrator rights, or macOS blocks screen recording. Handle it: install on a computer you control, and on a Mac enable screen recording for the browser in system settings, then restart.
3. Run the equipment checks and connect your second camera. Scan the QR code, confirm landscape view and Do Not Disturb, and check that the angle shows your hands and face. The documents reviewed do not state exactly where this step falls in the sequence (confirm on the official page). Sticking point: the phone screen locks or drops off Wi-Fi. Handle it: set the display to stay awake while charging and rescan the code if the link breaks.
4. Take your face photo and ID photo. Centre both and avoid glare on the ID. Sticking point: a blurry or cropped ID. Handle it: use the Retake button until every line of text is legible.
5. Take the self-guided room photos, if prompted. Follow the on-screen angles. If you are not prompted, the proctor will do a similar scan live.
6. Wait in the exam lobby. A chat box shows your status while you wait for the proctor. The candidate guide says connecting can take up to 30 minutes, and that this wait does not eat into your exam time as long as your initial connection stays open. Sticking point: you think it froze and click the link again. Handle it: do not. Logging out and back in is treated as cancelling the session.
7. Meet the proctor. The proctor confirms your identity, reviews the rules, and may ask for another ID. Expect a request to take temporary control of your computer to close unpermitted programs; you can see everything they do. Expect a camera pan of the room and a check of your ears and wrists. Sticking point: you are asked to close a program you forgot about. Handle it: comply, and ask the proctor questions through the chat box.
8. Sign the Candidate Instructions and Statement of Understanding. You sign digitally. Your exam timer starts only after check-in is complete and you proceed to the exam.
9. Finish and sign off. Tell the proctor you are done and follow their closing instructions. Close Guardian and the chat window to disconnect, then fill in the short survey if it opens.

Exam Tip: The candidate guide compares waiting for the proctor to boarding a plane: once you are on, stay seated until it takes off. Click your exam link once, then wait. Re-launching puts you back at the end of the queue and can look like a cancelled session.

What the Proctor Looks For During the Room Scan

The scan is quick, but the proctor is checking for specific things. Knowing the list lets you fix your room before the camera does it for you.

• Four walls and the ceiling line: posters, whiteboards, sticky notes, and open doors. Take down anything with writing on it.
• Your desk and the space under it: papers, books, extra devices, and bags.
• Your monitors: only one may be active. Meazure’s FAQ says other monitors must be disconnected and turned so the screen does not face you.
• Your ears and wrists: watches, wristbands, earbuds, and anything else that could carry information.
• Your phone: Meazure’s FAQ says the proctor makes sure your cell phone is out of reach. Your second-camera device is the exception, and it must stay in its position and on the proctor’s view.
• Other people: anyone else in the room is asked to leave.

Rules During the Exam

The NPPE does not publish a warning ladder that says which behaviour earns a first warning and which ends your session on the spot. The grouping below is how to think about it, based on the candidate guide and ProctorU’s published rules. The proctor can stop or end a session for any suspected irregular behaviour, so do not rely on getting a second chance.

Tier 1: Fix It Fast

These are interruptions and setup problems. Handle them immediately and tell the proctor.

• Your internet drops: you can usually reconnect through the on-screen prompts. ProctorU says to return immediately, and that your exam may be ended if you are not back within 5 minutes.
• Your second camera falls or disconnects: reconnect right away. If you cannot, the exam may be terminated.
• You leave the camera’s view: expect the proctor to ask for another quick room scan.
• Someone walks in: ProctorU says interruptions can lead the proctor to end the session. Lock the door and warn housemates.
• Any technical problem: report it to the proctor in the same session. The guide says issues must be reported and resolved the same day, and options afterward are limited.

Tier 2: Exam Irregularity

The candidate guide lists irregular behaviour that includes:

• failing to work independently or ignoring the proctor’s instructions;
• impersonating someone else or letting someone impersonate you;
• having prohibited items;
• communicating with other candidates or anyone outside by phone, computer, internet, or any other means;
• disrupting others or creating safety concerns;
• possessing, copying, or sharing exam questions or answers before, during, or after the exam.

Running a virtual machine or restricted program leads to session termination without a rebooking.

Consequences: the guide says an irregularity may lead to invalidated results, notification of your regulator, forfeited exam fees, and restrictions on future testing. Regulators can add their own penalties. The NPPE program also runs statistical analysis after each session, and candidates flagged for possible copying have results withheld pending investigation. Candidates are obliged to report security issues they know about, and can do so anonymously to the NPPE office.

Appeals: the candidate guide does not describe an appeal process for misconduct findings (confirm on the official page). Ask your regulator, because misconduct policies sit with them. For technical disruptions that were not your fault, the guide says the regulator will review the situation and give next steps within 24 hours.

Breaks, Scratch Paper, and Drinks

You get one optional comfort break. The timer does not stop, and the proctor notes the break. If you need more than one for a medical reason, request it as an accommodation through your regulator when you register. Accommodation requests need supporting documentation and must arrive before the registration deadline, or your exam is moved to the next session. Tell the proctor before you step away, and expect another room scan when you return.

Scratch paper, a physical or digital whiteboard, and a calculator are not mentioned in the candidate guide (confirm on the official page). The NPPE is a closed-book exam on professional practice, law, and ethics. The exam interface offers question bookmarking, note-taking on each question, and adjustable font size, so use those instead of paper. Meazure’s general rules treat scratch materials as prohibited unless the exam says otherwise. Start with an empty desk.

Food and drink are not covered for remote candidates, though the guide lists food or drink for medical reasons as an accommodation, which suggests they are not routinely allowed (confirm on the official page). Drink before you log on.

Online Proctored vs Test Center

Online suits you if you have a modern personal laptop, a stable home connection, and a quiet private room. It is the route most candidates take.

A test centre suits you if you have an approved accommodation, you had technical problems in a previous session, or your home setup cannot meet the requirements. Contact your regulator before the session deadline, not after your booking window closes.

Exam Day Checklist

The Night Before

• Unplug your second monitor.
• Uninstall AnyDesk, TeamViewer, and RemotePC, and turn off Grammarly and Snipping Tool.
• Install Guardian, grant camera, microphone, and screen recording access, and run “Test It Out”.
• Check the booked time in the 24-hour format against your time zone.
• Put your passport or other ID, plus a second ID, next to your keyboard.
• Charge your phone or tablet, and find a stand, a mug, or a tripod. Not books.
• Tell everyone in your home when you will be unavailable.

60 Minutes Before

• Restart your computer and close everything except what the exam needs.
• Use a wired connection if you can.
• Clear your desk and take down anything with writing on it within the room’s view.
• Remove your watch, jewellery you can take off, and any headphones.
• Plug in your laptop and your second camera device.
• Use the bathroom and get a drink.

30 Minutes Before

• Check the lighting on your face and the placement of your second camera.
• Confirm your phone or tablet is on the same Wi-Fi, in landscape, and on Do Not Disturb.
• Open your Meazure booking email and the login page in Guardian.
• Test your internet speed one last time.
• Silence your other phone and put it out of reach.

During the Exam

• Log in at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time, and click your launch link once.
• Wait for the proctor and respond to chat requests promptly.
• Do not talk aloud, read questions aloud, or leave your seat except for your one comfort break.
• If anything goes wrong, tell the proctor straight away and call Meazure support if you cannot connect.
• When you finish, message the proctor before closing anything.

FAQ

Connection and Equipment

What happens if my internet drops?

You can usually reconnect through the on-screen prompts. ProctorU says to return right away and warns your exam may be ended if you are not back within 5 minutes. Report the interruption to the proctor in that session. The candidate guide says that if you think connection problems hurt your performance, you must raise it with the proctor on the day.

Can I use my laptop’s built-in webcam?

Yes, for the main camera. ProctorU’s minimum is a 640×480 webcam, and a built-in one meets it. Plan for a laptop you can carry for the room scan. Your second camera must be a smartphone or tablet. A laptop cannot be the second camera.

Can I use a work or school laptop?

No. The candidate guide says work and school computers and networks are not permitted, and you may pay a rebooking fee if the device cannot download the exam program.

What if my second camera disconnects mid-exam?

Reconnect immediately by scanning the QR code again. The guide says that if you cannot reconnect, your exam may be terminated, so keep the device plugged in and on Do Not Disturb.

Booking and Check-in

What if check-in times out?

The candidate guide gives you a 15-minute window to log on, after which the exam is cancelled. How that window is measured against your start time is not spelled out (confirm on the official page). If you hit technical trouble, contact Meazure Learning support immediately, and the guide recommends calling. A rebooking is a last resort and depends on availability, and candidates who did not prepare may have the result stand as an attempt.

Can I reschedule?

Contact your regulator, not Meazure. The guide says deferrals follow your regulator’s policy and can be requested up to the booking deadline in cases such as illness, a family death, a court appearance, or military duty, with documentation. After the registration deadline the fee is non-refundable.

Does my exam clock run while I wait for the proctor?

No. The timer starts only after check-in is complete and you have signed the Statement of Understanding. A long wait for the proctor does not reduce your 2.5 hours.

Do I need a second ID?

The candidate guide asks for one government-issued photo ID with a signature. ProctorU says proctors may request an additional form of ID, so have another one nearby.

References

• NPPE Candidate Guide, version 19 (official guide hosted by ASET)
• APEGA: National Professional Practice Exam
• NPPE official website: exam blueprint
• Engineers and Geoscientists BC: NPPE booking, deferrals, and technical issues
• Meazure Learning: Online Proctoring FAQ for candidates
• ProctorU: equipment requirements
• ProctorU: frequently asked questions about exam day
• ProctorU: what to expect on exam day (Guardian pre-check process)
• Meazure Learning: Guardian Secure Browser download

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