ARE Podcast: PcM Practice Management

Black and white logo for the Architect Exam Podcast with bold text and a circular emblem in the word “Podcast.”

Free ARE PcM podcast episodes designed to help you pass the Practice Management exam. Each episode breaks down NCARB’s objectives so you know exactly what to study – and what to skip.

PcM covers how architecture firms actually run. Topics include:

  • Business operations and firm management
  • Finances, risk, and development of practice
  • Practice-wide delivery of services
  • Practice methodologies and ethics

PcM is a great first exam. It builds foundational knowledge about how the profession works that pays off across every other ARE division.

No need to take notes while you listen. For many episodes, we’ve already made a free two-page set of study notes for you – just go to the episode page and grab them.

Ready for more than a podcast? Check out our complete PcM 101 course with 17+ hours of video lessons and 230+ practice questions.

What does the PcM exam cover?

PcM covers how architecture firms operate – business structures, financial management, risk, insurance, ethics, and project delivery methods. It’s one of the more approachable ARE exams and a great one to take first since the concepts apply across all six divisions.

How many PcM podcast episodes are there?

We have multiple PcM episodes covering the key exam topics. Use this page to browse all of them. Each episode also has a companion article where you can read along and find links to related resources.

Where can I get free PcM study notes?

Many episodes include a free two-page set of study notes. Just go to the individual episode page, enter your email, and download them. No note-taking required – just listen.

Three women sprinting through design, procurement, and construction phases, symbolizing the fast-paced nature of the construction bidding process.

Construction Bidding Process: 8 Stages From Bid to Build

The construction bidding process on public projects follows a strict, regulated path from completed drawings to breaking ground. This guide walks through all eight stages of the construction bid process, covering bid preparation, sealed bidding,...

Illustration of an ARE Candidate surrounded by contracts, org charts, and project schedules representing NCARB's PcM PjM and CE pro practice exams ARE exams

PcM, PjM, and CE: Understanding the Difference Before You Study

 Most ARE candidates jump straight into studying PcM, PjM, and CE without ever stopping to ask, “What is each of these exams actually about?” This guide breaks down the three pro practice exams on...

Contractor sweats over delay penalties with a calendar showing days late and $1,000 per day, illustrating liquidated damages in construction.

Liquidated Damages: What They Are and How They Work

Understanding liquidated damages is critical for architects, contractors, and ARE candidates preparing for the architect registration examination. This comprehensive guide covers the liquidated damages definition, how a liquidated damages clause works, where they appear in...

QA vs QC split scene showing architects reviewing drawings with a checklist and a shocked contractor pointing at a cracked concrete wall on site

QA vs QC: One Prevents Problems and The Other Finds Them

 QA vs QC is one of the most commonly confused topics in architecture and construction. Quality assurance (QA) prevents problems before they happen. Quality control (QC) finds and fixes them after the fact. This...

ARE Candidate discovers a glowing treasure chest labeled CDT while studying for ARE, promoting a free webinar on CDT Certification.

Free Webinar: Career Advancement Hiding in Your Studying

Join Michael and Emily for a free webinar exploring CSI® certifications. Learn how these credentials fit into your ARE or NCIDQ prep and can boost your architecture career while you’re already doing the work. Whether...

Client happily demands a construction change order mid-project, while the architect and contractor react in stress and frustration over revised plans.

What Is a Change Order in Construction? Complete Guide

Understanding what is a change order in construction is essential for every architect, contractor, and project manager. Construction change orders are formal contract amendments that require agreement from all three parties, and they always cost...

Architect leads a team of consultants outside a project site, symbolizing the AIA C401 architect consultant agreement in action.

AIA C401: Protecting Your Practice from Consultant Chaos

 The AIA C401 Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant establishes clear relationships, communication protocols, and liability protection between architects and their design consultants. This essential AIA contract document protects all parties through...

Architect in a hard hat accepts a briefcase full of money from a suited client in front of project drawings, representing how architect fees and contractor payments vary.

Architect Fees: Show Me the Money (The Right Way)

 Understanding architect fees and fee structures is crucial for every architecture professional and ARE candidate. This comprehensive guide breaks down typical architect fees, architectural fees per square foot, hourly rates, and contractor pricing methods...

ARE candidate surrounded by cobwebs and excuse bubbles, watches time and money slip away in an hourglass labeled missed opportunities due to procrastination.

ARE Procrastination: Why Time is Your Most Valuable Resource

 Stop making excuses about getting your architecture license. Every month you delay pursuing your ARE exams costs you more than money – it costs you time, opportunities, and career advancement. This reality check explores...

NCARB officials announcing ARE exam changes to concerned architecture candidates

NCARB’s 2026 ARE Exam Changes: What You Need to Know

 NCARB announced major ARE exam changes for 2026, including updates to 12 exam objectives, streamlined case studies, and new AXP reporting policies. Here’s what’s actually changing and how it affects your architecture licensing journey....

Woman climbs ARE exam steps with confidence as a man hesitates below, showing how ARE Boot Camp is the most effective way to architect exam prep.

ARE Exam Prep: Study Materials vs The ARE Boot Camp

 Unlike ARE prep courses that dump information on you, ARE Boot Camp teaches you how to study effectively, provides ongoing support, and gives you a clear roadmap to licensing success. ARE exam prep coaching...

Calm candidate meditates while others stress out in a chaotic testing center, capturing the vibe of NCARB's ARE test day.

ARE Panic Notes: Your Test Day Survival Guide

 Test day anxiety affects even the most prepared ARE candidates, but the right mindset strategies can transform your exam experience. This comprehensive guide reveals proven techniques to manage test day panic, overcome exam anxiety,...

Side-by-side of stressed and confident exam takers, illustrating the impact of choosing the best ARE 5.0 test order for success.

What Is The Best ARE 5.0 Exam Order?

 Choosing the right ARE 5.0 test order can save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in retakes. The sequence you choose isn’t just about convenience – it’s about building the foundation knowledge...

Cartoon contractor angrily reacts as a change order is denied, while professionals argue over costs, symbolizing construction claims and disputes.

Construction Claims and Disputes: When Projects Get Messy

 Construction claims and disputes are inevitable realities that every AEC professional will encounter. This is when there are issues on a project that get escalated to the point where we need third parties to...

ARE exam questions on NCARB testing screen with candidate having breakthrough moment

ARE Exam Questions: Stop Getting Tricked by NCARB

 ARE exam questions don’t have to be guessing games. Learn proven test taking strategies to read questions strategically, spot key qualifier words, and eliminate wrong answers with confidence. These exam strategies help thousands of...

Architects and builders watch in shock as a tornado labeled “Project Budget” pulls in money and documents, highlighting the chaos of hard costs vs soft costs.

Hard Costs vs Soft Costs: Making Cents of Construction

Understanding the financial structure of construction projects is essential for architects. Whether you’re managing a client’s budget expectations,, leading your first project, or preparing for the ARE, knowing the difference between hard costs vs soft...

Architect panics while signing a flashy contract for a “perfect building,” illustrating unrealistic expectations about the architect’s standard of care.

Standard of Care: The Fine Art of Not Screwing Up

 The concept of an Architect’s Standard of care is the cornerstone of architectural practice that defines reasonable professional competence. It protects the architect against unrealistic client expectations, and it serves as the legal basis...

Female architect weighing different business entity types, standing before labeled doors for sole proprietor, LLC, and corporation.

Business Entity Types for Architects: Save Your Assets

 Understanding the different business entity types for architects is about as exciting as watching concrete cure – but it’s absolutely crucial for your architecture career and the ARE exam. Think of this guide as...

Overwhelmed ARE Candidate surrounded by ARE study guides and coffee cups, while a devil whispers “Take all 6 at once,” promoting an failing study strategy to make him more money.

Create a Realistic ARE Study Schedule That Actually Works

 Creating a realistic ARE study schedule is the difference between passing your architect exams and burning out before you finish. After helping hundreds of candidates since 2013, I’ve learned how to study better for...

Architect Michael Riscica points to a Venn diagram showing a huge overlap between ARE Exam study topics and CDT Certification content to an audience of ARE Candidates.

ARE Candidates: Why CDT®Certification Is Your Next Win

Discover why CDT® certification is becoming the strategic advantage for ARE candidates seeking to accelerate their licensing journey. This industry-recognized credential fills critical knowledge gaps, builds professional confidence, and provides the comprehensive project delivery understanding...