Architect Exam Podcast

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

The Architect Exam Podcast is a free ARE exam prep resource covering all six NCARB divisions. Each episode breaks down exactly what you need to know for the architect registration exam – no fluff, no filler, just the content that actually shows up on the test.

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 head to the episode page and grab them. Whether you’re just starting the ARE or grinding through your last exam, there’s something here for every stage of the licensing journey.

The podcast covers all six ARE 5.0 exam divisions:


Ready for more than a podcast? ARE Boot Camp is a 10-week coaching program that gives you a clear roadmap, weekly live sessions, and accountability all the way to your last exam. Learn more about ARE Boot Camp →

Browse our complete library of podcast episodes and companion articles below. Each episode comes with an in-depth article that expands on the key concepts.

This podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts


Do I need to take notes while I listen? Nope. For many episodes, we’ve already made a free two-page set of study notes for you. Just go to the episode page, enter your email, and download them. Hit play and just listen.

Where can I listen to the Architect Exam Podcast? You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or right here on this website. Many episodes are also embedded directly inside the Young Architect Academy courses – so if you’re a member, you’ll find relevant episodes built right into the course content you’re already studying.

Does the podcast cover all six ARE 5.0 exams? Yes. Episodes cover all six NCARB divisions – PcM, PjM, PA, PPD, PDD, and CE – plus study strategy, AIA contracts, building codes, and CDT exam prep. Use the category links above to find episodes for the specific exam you’re studying.

ARE Podcasts by Exam:

ARE Candidate studies books labeled PA, PPD, and PDD, surrounded by structural, code, zoning, and building system diagrams.

PA, PPD, and PDD: Know the Difference Before You Study

 The ARE technical exams (PA, PPD, and PDD) test your ability to define, design, and document a building project. This guide breaks down what each exam actually covers, how they connect, and why understanding...

Architect operates a control panel labeled Division 01 general requirements, managing submittals, meetings, quality, closeout, and payment.

Division 01 General Requirements: Running Your Project

 When you open a set of specifications, you probably flip straight to the division you care about. Concrete? Division 03. Steel? Division 05. Finishes? Division 09. But general requirements, the very first division in...

Plumbing valves explained — Architect Exam Podcast episode covering types of valves including gate valves, ball valves, check valves, backflow preventers, and pressure reducing valves for ARE and CDT exam prep

Plumbing Valves: Every Type You Need to Know

 Plumbing valves are one of those topics that sounds intimidating until someone actually breaks it down. Whether you’re studying for the ARE, preparing for the CDT, or just trying to understand the different types...

Building acoustics soundproofing wall with insulation blocks a loud rock band while a person sleeps peacefully next to an Architect Exam study book

Building Acoustics: How Sound Actually Works in Buildings

 Building acoustics is one of those topics that affects every person inside a building, but most architects don’t think about it until something goes wrong. This guide breaks down everything you need to know...

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,...

Female architect conducting construction observation on-site, reviewing field reports and plans with contractors during a site visit.

Construction Observation: Field Reports and Site Visits

Construction observation is the heart of the architect’s role during construction. It’s where you shift from designer to project advocate, visiting the site, evaluating the work, and making sure what’s being built matches what was...

architect explaining the difference between control joint vs expansion joint to construction workers

Control Joint vs Expansion Joint: Where the Cracks At?

 Understanding the difference between a control joint vs expansion joint is one of those things that trips up almost everyone. This guide breaks down all four joint types, expansion joints, control joints, isolation joints,...

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...

Architect walks a tightrope between cost estimate and project budget, symbolizing the challenge of accurate construction cost estimates

Construction Cost Estimates: Getting the Numbers Right

 Construction cost estimates are essential tools that help architects provide accurate budget guidance and make smart design decisions throughout every project phase. These estimates evolve from broad conceptual estimates with 25-50% accuracy to precise...

Architect holding a punch list leads a final site walkthrough with a team, illustrating project closeout procedures for the Construction & Evaluation exam.

Project Closeout: From Substantial Completion to Final Payment

Substantial completion is the most important milestone in the life of a construction project, and most people studying for the ARE don’t give it enough attention. It marks the moment when the owner can legally...

Female architect reviewing construction documentation surrounded by change orders, logs, and directives, illustrating construction administrative procedures in action.

Construction Administration: Documents, Payments, and Procedures

 Construction administration is the phase of a project where the architect shifts from designer to administrator, overseeing the construction process to make sure the project gets built according to the contract documents. This guide...

Architect researching Concrete slab types and structural systems for the ARE exam

Concrete Slab Types: A Guide to Structural Systems

 Understanding concrete slab types is one of those topics that shows up constantly on the ARE and trips up a lot of candidates. This guide breaks down six structural systems, from one-way solid slabs...

Office workers evacuate past a fire rated wall as flames rage behind, emphasizing life safety through rated wall assemblies.

Fire Rated Walls: Types, Assemblies, and Code Requirements

Fire rated walls are tested and certified wall assemblies specifically designed to resist fire and heat for a certain time period. Built with fire rated drywall like Type X gypsum board, these fire rated wall...

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

Business Entity Types for Architects: LLC, PLLC, LLP

 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. Whether you’re choosing between a...

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...

Group of people urgently exiting a burning building through a doorway, illustrating the importance of a clear means of egress during emergencies.

Means of Egress: Understanding Safe Building Exits

 The difference between life and death during a building emergency often comes down to one thing: means of egress. These critical escape pathways aren’t arbitrary rules imposed by building officials; rather, they’re the result...

Architect reviewing a construction submittal in a workshop, surrounded by team members preparing detailed documents and samples.

Construction Submittals: No Exceptions Taken

 Understanding “no exceptions taken” and mastering construction submittals is essential for ARE success and professional practice. This comprehensive guide explains the submittal process, types, and review actions that translate design intent into construction reality....

Architect halts a concrete truck mid-pour as workers panic, illustrating a construction error involving cast-in-place concrete placement.

Cast-in-Place Concrete: From Spans to Slump Tests

 Cast-in-place concrete creates monolithic structural systems by pouring a concrete mix into formwork on-site. This guide covers span limitations, rebar sizing, construction defects like honeycombing, and when to choose concrete over steel or pre-tensioned...

Excited architect has an “aha” moment while reading a construction specifications book, symbolizing clarity in understanding MasterFormat for the ARE.

CSI MasterFormat® Simply Explained: All 50 Divisions

 CSI® MasterFormat® is the construction industry’s standardized system for organizing specifications and project information. This comprehensive guide breaks down all 50 CSI MasterFormat divisions, explains the numbering system and three-part specification format, compares MasterFormat...

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...

Contractor hands architect a huge stack of documents labeled RFIs, as she reacts with confusion; illustrating what an RFI is in construction.

RFI Meaning in Construction: The Complete Guide

 The RFI meaning in construction is straightforward: it stands for Request for Information. An RFI in construction is a formal document used during the building process to clarify unclear, missing, or conflicting information in...

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...