NCARB Exam | Verified Exam Questions and Answers | Latest Updated
Study Material 2026
Question:
1. A firm fires an employee for well-documented pro-
fessional negligence and harassment of subordinate
employees. Months later, one of the firm's principals
receives a call from a different architecture firm seek-
ing a reference check for the former employee and
inquiring about why the employee left the firm.
In order to avoid legal ac-
tion (known as a negligent
referral) from the other
firm in the event that the
employee commits negli-
gence or harassment as
an employee, the principal
must disclose work-relat-
ed issues that would im-
pact a hiring decision.
Answer:
B. Disclose that the in-
dividual was fired after
a well-documented history
of negligence and harass-
ment of subordinates.
How should the principal respond to the reference
check?
A. Confirm that the individual is a former employee of
the firm, but do not disclose that they were fired.
B. Disclose that the individual was fired after a
well-documented history of negligence and harass-
ment of subordinates.
C. Provide a "no comment" response to avoid any ac-
cusation from the former employee of defamation.
Question:
2. A municipality hires an architecture firm to provide
construction documents for a new public library. The
firm has completed 35% of the design and has seven
months to deliver a 95% set for bidding, per the con-
,contractors bid the project
The municipality notifies the firm that they need to
accelerate the bid schedule by four months in order to Bidding a 65% set is fea-
have an accurate cost for the next municipal budget
submission. The firm needs to maintain a good work-
ing relationship with the municipality without increas- rate enough for the bud-
ing risk to the firm.
Answer:
B. Negotiate with the mu-
nicipality to provide a bid
set at 65% design comple-
tion and recommend the
tract.
as a guaranteed maximum
price.
sible, and GMP will en-
sure the bids are accu-
get submission.
Which of the following responses meet the needs of F. Send the municipality a
both the firm and the municipality? Check the two that request for additional ser-
apply. vices to hire a third-par-
ty cost engineer who will
A. Negotiate with the municipality to provide a bid set perform a cost estimate at
at 65% design completion on the accelerated schedule 65% design.
and recommend that contractors bid the project as This responds to the
cost-plus. client's request without
B. Negotiate with the municipality to provide a bid adding risk to the archi-
set at 65% design completion and recommend the tect.
contractors bid the project as a guaranteed maximum
price.
C. Accelerate the design to meet the new bid sched-
ule only if the municipality agrees to waive the firm's
liability should the acceleration result in errors and
omissions.
D. Accelerate the design schedule by hiring two ad-
ditional staff members to complete the bid set as re-
quested.
E. Decline to change the 95% submission schedule and
provide a 35% estimate to the municipality.
F. Send the municipality a request for additional ser-
vices to hire a third-party cost engineer who will per-
form a cost estimate at 65% design.
, Question:
3. A firm that specializes in senior housing is contacted
by a developer who wants to build 50 townhouses for
residents over 55 years old. The developer is asking
for a fee proposal to provide the overall preliminary
design as well as construction documents for all the
units. Project details follow:
- The project will be permitted and constructed in five
A fixed fee for the
preliminary design is
Answer:
B. A fixed fee for the pre-
liminary design, a fixed fee
for the construction docu-
ments for each unit type,
and a reuse fee for all sub-
sequent units.
phases.
- The project will be built in clusters of four-, five-, and
six-townhouse units. an eflcient compensation
- The units will have three-, four-, and five-bedroom method and appropriately
options. compensates for the archi-
- The firm wants to make sure that their fees capture fee for the construction
flow and profit. type also eflciently covers
the cost of the base con-
Which fee proposal structure is most appropriate? struction documents; and
A. A fixed fee for the preliminary design and a fixed fee the reuse fee is a fair way
per unit for the construction documents, based on the to compensate for repeti-
number of units in each phase. tive use.
B. A fixed fee for the preliminary design, a fixed fee for
the construction documents for each unit type, and a
reuse fee for all subsequent units.
C. A time and materials fee for the preliminary design
and a fixed fee per unit for the construction docu-
ments, based on the number of units in each phase.
D. A time and materials fee for the preliminary design,
a fixed fee for the construction documents for the first
phase, and a reuse fee for all subsequent phases.
Question:
4. An architecture firm must increase profits for the up-
coming year and has a current backlog of projects
Study Material 2026
Question:
1. A firm fires an employee for well-documented pro-
fessional negligence and harassment of subordinate
employees. Months later, one of the firm's principals
receives a call from a different architecture firm seek-
ing a reference check for the former employee and
inquiring about why the employee left the firm.
In order to avoid legal ac-
tion (known as a negligent
referral) from the other
firm in the event that the
employee commits negli-
gence or harassment as
an employee, the principal
must disclose work-relat-
ed issues that would im-
pact a hiring decision.
Answer:
B. Disclose that the in-
dividual was fired after
a well-documented history
of negligence and harass-
ment of subordinates.
How should the principal respond to the reference
check?
A. Confirm that the individual is a former employee of
the firm, but do not disclose that they were fired.
B. Disclose that the individual was fired after a
well-documented history of negligence and harass-
ment of subordinates.
C. Provide a "no comment" response to avoid any ac-
cusation from the former employee of defamation.
Question:
2. A municipality hires an architecture firm to provide
construction documents for a new public library. The
firm has completed 35% of the design and has seven
months to deliver a 95% set for bidding, per the con-
,contractors bid the project
The municipality notifies the firm that they need to
accelerate the bid schedule by four months in order to Bidding a 65% set is fea-
have an accurate cost for the next municipal budget
submission. The firm needs to maintain a good work-
ing relationship with the municipality without increas- rate enough for the bud-
ing risk to the firm.
Answer:
B. Negotiate with the mu-
nicipality to provide a bid
set at 65% design comple-
tion and recommend the
tract.
as a guaranteed maximum
price.
sible, and GMP will en-
sure the bids are accu-
get submission.
Which of the following responses meet the needs of F. Send the municipality a
both the firm and the municipality? Check the two that request for additional ser-
apply. vices to hire a third-par-
ty cost engineer who will
A. Negotiate with the municipality to provide a bid set perform a cost estimate at
at 65% design completion on the accelerated schedule 65% design.
and recommend that contractors bid the project as This responds to the
cost-plus. client's request without
B. Negotiate with the municipality to provide a bid adding risk to the archi-
set at 65% design completion and recommend the tect.
contractors bid the project as a guaranteed maximum
price.
C. Accelerate the design to meet the new bid sched-
ule only if the municipality agrees to waive the firm's
liability should the acceleration result in errors and
omissions.
D. Accelerate the design schedule by hiring two ad-
ditional staff members to complete the bid set as re-
quested.
E. Decline to change the 95% submission schedule and
provide a 35% estimate to the municipality.
F. Send the municipality a request for additional ser-
vices to hire a third-party cost engineer who will per-
form a cost estimate at 65% design.
, Question:
3. A firm that specializes in senior housing is contacted
by a developer who wants to build 50 townhouses for
residents over 55 years old. The developer is asking
for a fee proposal to provide the overall preliminary
design as well as construction documents for all the
units. Project details follow:
- The project will be permitted and constructed in five
A fixed fee for the
preliminary design is
Answer:
B. A fixed fee for the pre-
liminary design, a fixed fee
for the construction docu-
ments for each unit type,
and a reuse fee for all sub-
sequent units.
phases.
- The project will be built in clusters of four-, five-, and
six-townhouse units. an eflcient compensation
- The units will have three-, four-, and five-bedroom method and appropriately
options. compensates for the archi-
- The firm wants to make sure that their fees capture fee for the construction
flow and profit. type also eflciently covers
the cost of the base con-
Which fee proposal structure is most appropriate? struction documents; and
A. A fixed fee for the preliminary design and a fixed fee the reuse fee is a fair way
per unit for the construction documents, based on the to compensate for repeti-
number of units in each phase. tive use.
B. A fixed fee for the preliminary design, a fixed fee for
the construction documents for each unit type, and a
reuse fee for all subsequent units.
C. A time and materials fee for the preliminary design
and a fixed fee per unit for the construction docu-
ments, based on the number of units in each phase.
D. A time and materials fee for the preliminary design,
a fixed fee for the construction documents for the first
phase, and a reuse fee for all subsequent phases.
Question:
4. An architecture firm must increase profits for the up-
coming year and has a current backlog of projects
