NCARB PCM EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the levels of a corporation? - ....ANSWER ...-Stakeholders
Directors
Officers
AIA B101 requires which insurances? And for what? - ....ANSWER ...-1 - General
Liability - Covers the physical office space
2 - Professional Liability - Covers errors and omissions
3 - Workers' Compensation Insurance - Covers employee injuries or illness-medical care
and lost wages.
4 - Auto Liability - Covers company vehicles and personal cars used for business
purposes
Standard of Care - ....ANSWER ...-Expected quality of service for architect by area.
Format types for specifications - ....ANSWER ...-MasterFormat: classifies by
material: concrete, masonry, metals, etc. (older format, more commonly used)
Uniformat: classifies by system: substructure, shell interiors, etc. (newer format, better
for BIM)
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) - ....ANSWER ...-Insurance to
protect from wrongful termination
Intellectual Property Insurance - ....ANSWER ...-Insurance to cover claims based
on copyright/intellectual property infringement
The Owner is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-Pre-existing site conditions
(geological, hazardous materials, surveying)
Paying Contractor
Paying Owner's subs
Change orders
With or without cause hiring and firing of Architect
Aggregate Limit - ....ANSWER ...-Total coverage amount
Premium - ....ANSWER ...-Monthly/Yearly BIll
Deductible - ....ANSWER ...-Amount you must pay before you begin receiving any
benefits from your insurance company
Tail Insurance - ....ANSWER ...-Covers the architect's projects after the architect's
retirement
The insurance is liability insurance for the projects the architect has already done prior
to retirement which are still within the relevant statutes of limitations/repose
What is the process to file an ethical complaint against an architect? -
....ANSWER ...-1. File the complaint through AIA National
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,2. Advisory board and chair will be chosen
3. Pre-hearing, hearing, start, claim, defense, end, judgement
Who are the most common ethics complainants? - ....ANSWER ...-Other architects
Homeowners
Does the architect have a fiduciary duty to the client: a legal obligation to act in the
owner's best financial interest? - ....ANSWER ...-No, architects do not serve as an
owners fiduciary
Fiduciary Duty is the obligation a professional has to act in the best interest of their
client
Retainer - ....ANSWER ...-Regular services for a fixed fee, more efficient than
hourly over the long term
Are architects agents of the owner? - ....ANSWER ...-The agent creates a legally
binding relationship between third party and principal, for instance in a CM as Agent
project, the principal is the client and the Contractor is the third party.
Architects are NOT agents of the owner (unless the owner would like them to be and a
formal agreement is drawn up). That means, the architect can't, while walking the site,
claim to speak for the owner when talking to the contractor!
Who contracts directly under the Architect? - ....ANSWER ...-MEP, Lighting
Consultant, Civil Engineer (Utilities, Land Contouring and all things related to the
improvement to the land with the new building), Landscape, Architect/Engineer, Cost
Estimator, Code Consultant
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, Who contracts directly under the Owner? - ....ANSWER ...-Zoning, Traffic, Site,
Geotechnical (underground), Surveyor, Civil Engineer (for duties related to permitting
and documenting the existing condition of the site)
The Contractor is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-"Perfection" in construction
Nothing outside the contract
Paying and coordinating sub-Contractors
Providing Owner with operation manuals
Some design of specific systems (delegated design) for things like curtain wall details,
concrete formwork, and steel fabricator shop drawings
The Architect is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-- The project being on time
and on budget
- The instruments of service
- The standard of care and protecting the health, safety, and wellness of the public
- Coordination and administration of project team and processes
- Enforcement of contract terms (as able)
- Adherence to applicable codes
- NOT means and methods of construction, existing site conditions, safety on the job
site, anything outside the contract (additional services)
Fair Labor Standards Act - ....ANSWER ...-Regulates minimum wage, overtime
pay and child labor
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the levels of a corporation? - ....ANSWER ...-Stakeholders
Directors
Officers
AIA B101 requires which insurances? And for what? - ....ANSWER ...-1 - General
Liability - Covers the physical office space
2 - Professional Liability - Covers errors and omissions
3 - Workers' Compensation Insurance - Covers employee injuries or illness-medical care
and lost wages.
4 - Auto Liability - Covers company vehicles and personal cars used for business
purposes
Standard of Care - ....ANSWER ...-Expected quality of service for architect by area.
Format types for specifications - ....ANSWER ...-MasterFormat: classifies by
material: concrete, masonry, metals, etc. (older format, more commonly used)
Uniformat: classifies by system: substructure, shell interiors, etc. (newer format, better
for BIM)
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 1
,Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) - ....ANSWER ...-Insurance to
protect from wrongful termination
Intellectual Property Insurance - ....ANSWER ...-Insurance to cover claims based
on copyright/intellectual property infringement
The Owner is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-Pre-existing site conditions
(geological, hazardous materials, surveying)
Paying Contractor
Paying Owner's subs
Change orders
With or without cause hiring and firing of Architect
Aggregate Limit - ....ANSWER ...-Total coverage amount
Premium - ....ANSWER ...-Monthly/Yearly BIll
Deductible - ....ANSWER ...-Amount you must pay before you begin receiving any
benefits from your insurance company
Tail Insurance - ....ANSWER ...-Covers the architect's projects after the architect's
retirement
The insurance is liability insurance for the projects the architect has already done prior
to retirement which are still within the relevant statutes of limitations/repose
What is the process to file an ethical complaint against an architect? -
....ANSWER ...-1. File the complaint through AIA National
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 2
,2. Advisory board and chair will be chosen
3. Pre-hearing, hearing, start, claim, defense, end, judgement
Who are the most common ethics complainants? - ....ANSWER ...-Other architects
Homeowners
Does the architect have a fiduciary duty to the client: a legal obligation to act in the
owner's best financial interest? - ....ANSWER ...-No, architects do not serve as an
owners fiduciary
Fiduciary Duty is the obligation a professional has to act in the best interest of their
client
Retainer - ....ANSWER ...-Regular services for a fixed fee, more efficient than
hourly over the long term
Are architects agents of the owner? - ....ANSWER ...-The agent creates a legally
binding relationship between third party and principal, for instance in a CM as Agent
project, the principal is the client and the Contractor is the third party.
Architects are NOT agents of the owner (unless the owner would like them to be and a
formal agreement is drawn up). That means, the architect can't, while walking the site,
claim to speak for the owner when talking to the contractor!
Who contracts directly under the Architect? - ....ANSWER ...-MEP, Lighting
Consultant, Civil Engineer (Utilities, Land Contouring and all things related to the
improvement to the land with the new building), Landscape, Architect/Engineer, Cost
Estimator, Code Consultant
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 3
, Who contracts directly under the Owner? - ....ANSWER ...-Zoning, Traffic, Site,
Geotechnical (underground), Surveyor, Civil Engineer (for duties related to permitting
and documenting the existing condition of the site)
The Contractor is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-"Perfection" in construction
Nothing outside the contract
Paying and coordinating sub-Contractors
Providing Owner with operation manuals
Some design of specific systems (delegated design) for things like curtain wall details,
concrete formwork, and steel fabricator shop drawings
The Architect is Responsible for... - ....ANSWER ...-- The project being on time
and on budget
- The instruments of service
- The standard of care and protecting the health, safety, and wellness of the public
- Coordination and administration of project team and processes
- Enforcement of contract terms (as able)
- Adherence to applicable codes
- NOT means and methods of construction, existing site conditions, safety on the job
site, anything outside the contract (additional services)
Fair Labor Standards Act - ....ANSWER ...-Regulates minimum wage, overtime
pay and child labor
....FOR STUDY PURPOSES...©️2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED... 4
