Practice Management (PcM) focuses on the management of architectural practice, including professional ethics, fiduciary responsibilities, and the regulations governing the practice of architecture. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of and abilities in business structure, business development, and asset development and protection. 

Practice Management Details:

  • Number of items: 65
  • Test duration: 2 hr 40 min
  • Allowed break time: 30 min
  • Total appointment time: 3 hr 20 min

Preparing for Practice Management? NCARB has created a full-length, scored practice exam specific to Practice Management now available for free in the Practice Exam Dashboard in your NCARB Record if you have ARE eligibilities. You can also find more details and suggested references in our ARE 5.0 Guidelines and test prep video series.

PcM includes sections on the following content areas:

  • Business Operations
    • Assess resources within the practice
    • Apply the regulations and requirements governing the work environment
    • Apply ethical standards to comply with accepted principles within a given situation
    • Apply appropriate Standard of Care within a given situation
       
  • Finances, Risk, & Development of Practice
    • Evaluate the financial well-being of the practice
    • Identify practice policies and methodologies for risk, legal exposures, and resolutions
    • Select and apply practice strategies for a given business situation and policy
       
  • Practice-Wide Delivery of Services
    • Analyze and determine response for client services requests
    • Analyze applicability of contract types and delivery methods
    • Determine potential risk and/or reward of a project and its impact on the practice
       
  • Practice Methodologies
    • Analyze the impact of practice methodologies relative to structure and organization of the practice
    • Evaluate design, coordination, and documentation methodologies for the practice