Every architecture firm runs on its people. And one of the biggest responsibilities you'll face as a licensed architect, or as someone managing a practice, is making sure emerging professionals actually get the experience they need to become competent practitioners.

That's where the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) comes in. Administered by NCARB, the AXP structures the path from intern to licensed architect through supervised work across six experience areas and 16 competencies. As a firm leader or AXP supervisor, you're not just signing off on hours. You're the quality assurance checkpoint that licensing boards depend on to verify a candidate's readiness.

But development doesn't stop at licensure. Continuing education requirements exist in nearly every jurisdiction, and firms that invest in structured professional development programs retain better talent, reduce liability exposure, and produce higher-quality work.

For the PcM exam, you need to understand how these systems connect: what the AXP requires, what supervisors must do, how mentoring relationships work, and why CE programs protect both the public and the profession. This topic sits squarely in the "assess resources within the practice" objective because your people are your most valuable resource, and developing them is a practice management decision with real financial and legal consequences.