DBIA Certification Practice Questions
(Original)
Section 1: Guiding Principles & Foundations
of Design-Build Done Right (Q1–20)
1. What is the fundamental defining characteristic of design-build project delivery?
A) The owner contracts separately with a designer and a constructor
B) A single entity holds a single contract with the owner for both design and construction
C) The designer reports directly to the construction manager
D) Construction begins only after design is 100% complete
Answer: B — The hallmark of design-build is a single point of responsibility for both design
and construction.
2. What is the passing score for the DBIA certification exam?
A) 60%
B) 66%
C) 72%
D) 80%
Answer: C — The passing score is 72% or above.
3. How many questions are on the DBIA certification exam?
A) 75
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200
Answer: B — The exam consists of 100 questions with a 2-hour time limit.
4. Which topic domain carries the highest weight on the DBIA exam?
A) Guiding Principles
B) Foundations of Design-Build Done Right
C) Procuring Design-Build Services
D) Contracting for Design-Build Services
Answer: C — Procuring Design-Build Services represents 30% of the exam, tied with
Executing Design-Build Projects.
5. How many Best Practices are included in DBIA's Universal Best Practices?
A) 5
B) 8
,C) 10
D) 15
Answer: C — The Universal Best Practices categorizes 10 best practices into three areas.
6. Into which three areas are DBIA's Best Practices organized?
A) Planning, Design, Construction
B) Procurement, Contracting, Execution
C) Ethics, Legal, Technical
D) Owner, Designer, Builder
Answer: B — The three areas are Procuring, Contracting, and Executing.
7. What is the primary purpose of the DBIA certification exam?
A) To test legal knowledge only
B) To measure mastery of design-build best practices and their application
C) To evaluate construction estimating skills
D) To test marketing abilities
Answer: B — The exam measures a candidate's mastery of design-build best practices and
its application.
8. Which of the following is NOT a DBIA Guiding Principle?
A) Universal Ethical Conduct
B) Demonstrated Competence
C) Lowest Price Guarantee
D) Sustainable Professional Development
Answer: C — The Guiding Principles are Universal Ethical Conduct, Demonstrated
Competence, Sustainable Professional Development, and Supporting Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion.
9. What does "Design-Build Done Right" emphasize?
A) Lowest initial cost
B) Integrated, collaborative team approach
C) Strict separation of design and construction
D) Maximum owner control over every detail
Answer: B — Design-Build Done Right emphasizes the collaborative, integrated team
approach.
10. What is the purpose of co-location or the "Big Room" concept?
A) Reduce office rental costs
B) Foster collaboration, rapid communication, and proactive problem-solving
C) Provide formal meeting space for disputes
D) Allow owner oversight of daily work
Answer: B — Co-location breaks down silos and facilitates real-time communication.
, 11. Which delivery method creates the greatest potential for value engineering during
design?
A) Design-Bid-Build
B) Design-Build
C) Construction Manager at Risk
D) Multiple Prime Contracting
Answer: B — Design-build allows early construction input into design decisions.
12. What is the primary differentiator between Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build?
A) DB uses lowest bidder selection
B) DB has one entity accountable for both design and construction
C) DBB allows construction to begin before design completion
D) DB always uses cost-plus contracts
Answer: B — In DB, one entity is accountable for both design and construction under one
contract.
13. What does the DBIA Code of Professional Conduct require regarding marketing?
A) Exaggerate qualifications to win work
B) Accurately represent qualifications, capabilities, and experience
C) Hide past project failures
D) Take credit for teammates' work
Answer: B — Rule 5.1 requires accurate representation of qualifications.
14. According to the DBIA Code, what is prohibited regarding influencing decision makers?
A) Normal hospitality
B) Payments or gifts intended to influence judgment
C) Campaign contributions
D) Networking events
Answer: B — Rule 4.1 prohibits payments or gifts with intent to influence judgment.
15. What does the DBIA Code say about competing fairly in procurement?
A) Competing fairly is optional
B) Professionals should always compete fairly
C) Only owners need to compete fairly
D) Fair competition applies only to public projects
Answer: B — Comment 5-C states professionals should always compete fairly.
16. What is the DBIA position on bid rigging and price fixing?
A) Allowed if disclosed
B) Prohibited as anticompetitive conduct
C) Permitted for small projects
D) Allowed with owner consent
Answer: B — Rule 6.2 prohibits price fixing, bid rigging, and anticompetitive conduct.
(Original)
Section 1: Guiding Principles & Foundations
of Design-Build Done Right (Q1–20)
1. What is the fundamental defining characteristic of design-build project delivery?
A) The owner contracts separately with a designer and a constructor
B) A single entity holds a single contract with the owner for both design and construction
C) The designer reports directly to the construction manager
D) Construction begins only after design is 100% complete
Answer: B — The hallmark of design-build is a single point of responsibility for both design
and construction.
2. What is the passing score for the DBIA certification exam?
A) 60%
B) 66%
C) 72%
D) 80%
Answer: C — The passing score is 72% or above.
3. How many questions are on the DBIA certification exam?
A) 75
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200
Answer: B — The exam consists of 100 questions with a 2-hour time limit.
4. Which topic domain carries the highest weight on the DBIA exam?
A) Guiding Principles
B) Foundations of Design-Build Done Right
C) Procuring Design-Build Services
D) Contracting for Design-Build Services
Answer: C — Procuring Design-Build Services represents 30% of the exam, tied with
Executing Design-Build Projects.
5. How many Best Practices are included in DBIA's Universal Best Practices?
A) 5
B) 8
,C) 10
D) 15
Answer: C — The Universal Best Practices categorizes 10 best practices into three areas.
6. Into which three areas are DBIA's Best Practices organized?
A) Planning, Design, Construction
B) Procurement, Contracting, Execution
C) Ethics, Legal, Technical
D) Owner, Designer, Builder
Answer: B — The three areas are Procuring, Contracting, and Executing.
7. What is the primary purpose of the DBIA certification exam?
A) To test legal knowledge only
B) To measure mastery of design-build best practices and their application
C) To evaluate construction estimating skills
D) To test marketing abilities
Answer: B — The exam measures a candidate's mastery of design-build best practices and
its application.
8. Which of the following is NOT a DBIA Guiding Principle?
A) Universal Ethical Conduct
B) Demonstrated Competence
C) Lowest Price Guarantee
D) Sustainable Professional Development
Answer: C — The Guiding Principles are Universal Ethical Conduct, Demonstrated
Competence, Sustainable Professional Development, and Supporting Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion.
9. What does "Design-Build Done Right" emphasize?
A) Lowest initial cost
B) Integrated, collaborative team approach
C) Strict separation of design and construction
D) Maximum owner control over every detail
Answer: B — Design-Build Done Right emphasizes the collaborative, integrated team
approach.
10. What is the purpose of co-location or the "Big Room" concept?
A) Reduce office rental costs
B) Foster collaboration, rapid communication, and proactive problem-solving
C) Provide formal meeting space for disputes
D) Allow owner oversight of daily work
Answer: B — Co-location breaks down silos and facilitates real-time communication.
, 11. Which delivery method creates the greatest potential for value engineering during
design?
A) Design-Bid-Build
B) Design-Build
C) Construction Manager at Risk
D) Multiple Prime Contracting
Answer: B — Design-build allows early construction input into design decisions.
12. What is the primary differentiator between Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build?
A) DB uses lowest bidder selection
B) DB has one entity accountable for both design and construction
C) DBB allows construction to begin before design completion
D) DB always uses cost-plus contracts
Answer: B — In DB, one entity is accountable for both design and construction under one
contract.
13. What does the DBIA Code of Professional Conduct require regarding marketing?
A) Exaggerate qualifications to win work
B) Accurately represent qualifications, capabilities, and experience
C) Hide past project failures
D) Take credit for teammates' work
Answer: B — Rule 5.1 requires accurate representation of qualifications.
14. According to the DBIA Code, what is prohibited regarding influencing decision makers?
A) Normal hospitality
B) Payments or gifts intended to influence judgment
C) Campaign contributions
D) Networking events
Answer: B — Rule 4.1 prohibits payments or gifts with intent to influence judgment.
15. What does the DBIA Code say about competing fairly in procurement?
A) Competing fairly is optional
B) Professionals should always compete fairly
C) Only owners need to compete fairly
D) Fair competition applies only to public projects
Answer: B — Comment 5-C states professionals should always compete fairly.
16. What is the DBIA position on bid rigging and price fixing?
A) Allowed if disclosed
B) Prohibited as anticompetitive conduct
C) Permitted for small projects
D) Allowed with owner consent
Answer: B — Rule 6.2 prohibits price fixing, bid rigging, and anticompetitive conduct.
