Ready to make serious progress on your architecture exams this summer?
Our ARE Summer School Promotion runs from Tuesday, May 12th through Tuesday, May 26th, 2026, offering limited-time savings on our most popular programs.
Scroll down now to find your perfect study solution and save hundreds before May 26th!
Have questions? There’s a chat icon in the bottom right corner on all of our product web pages. After reviewing the details, use the chat if you need help deciding.
We’ve organized everything below from most premium to free, so you can easily find the right study solution for your needs and budget.
Click any item to jump to that section:
- ARE Boot Camp vs. ARE 101 Membership: What’s the Difference?
- ARE Boot Camp – $1,150 (SAVE $150)
- ARE 101 Course Membership – First Month $99 (SAVE $30)
- CSI Course Pre-Orders for Fall 2026 – $199 each (SAVE $50)
- Free “How to Study for the Architect Exam” Video Presentation
- Free CDT and CSI Certifications Webinar for Fall 2026
- Free ARE Podcast Study Notes
ARE Boot Camp vs. ARE 101 Membership: What’s the Difference?
If you’re new to Young Architect, or you’ve been following along but haven’t pulled the trigger on a program yet, here’s what you need to know.
We’ve simplified our architect exam offerings. We primarily offer two programs for ARE candidates: ARE Boot Camp and the ARE 101 Course Membership.
Both are designed to help you pass the Architect Registration Exam. They just do it in very different ways.
ARE Boot Camp is a live 10-week coaching program. You get a structured curriculum, weekly live sessions, and a community of people who are studying together many times throughout the week. Boot Camp also comes with a library of study materials that were created exclusively for the program since 2015. It’s built for people who need accountability, structure, and guidance to stay on track, and you get continued support until you pass all your exams.
ARE 101 is a self-paced membership to ARE study materials. You get access to 120+ hours of video content, thousands of practice questions, flashcards, case studies, and early access to podcast episodes. You study on your own schedule, at your own pace.
You’re either a member of one program or the other. Students do not need to purchase both. Both programs are very different from each other.
Both programs have a very detailed FAQ at the bottom of their web pages that gets into the specifics and answers many of the common questions people have. If you need more information, I’d start there.
ARE Boot Camp – SAVE $150
Since 2015, Young Architect’s ARE Boot Camp has been the gold standard for thousands of emerging professionals on their journey to becoming registered architects.
If you value clear, step-by-step guidance, a supportive study community, and resources that drive real progress, this program is designed specifically for you.
Your Summer School Special: During this promotion, ARE Boot Camp is $1,150 (regularly $1,300). That’s $150 in savings on the most comprehensive ARE coaching program available.
We’re running three Summer Boot Camp sessions in 2026:
- Starting Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 (Pro Practice and Technical)
- Starting Monday, July 13th, 2026 (Pro Practice and Technical)
- Starting Sunday, August 16th, 2026 (Pro Practice and Technical)
Each session meets weekly for 10 weeks and includes:
- Weekly curriculum with built-in accountability.
- Live coaching sessions to discuss the curriculum.
- A community of people who are studying together throughout the week.
- Continued support until you pass all your exams.
- Comprehensive study materials and resources exclusive to Boot Camp.
This promotion is limited to the first 50 registrants per session. Last year, spots sold out before the promotion was over, so don’t wait.
You don’t need a promo code. Between May 12th and May 26th, 2026, you’ll see the discount automatically applied at checkout. These prices disappear forever on May 26th!
Before you sign up, read the entire ARE Boot Camp webpage and FAQ thoroughly. It explains how the program works, what you’re purchasing, and which session you qualify for.
READ ABOUT ARE BOOT CAMP AND CLAIM YOUR SPOT ($150 OFF)
ARE 101 Course Membership – First Month $99
Prefer to study on your own terms? The ARE 101 Course Membership gives you monthly access to our complete library of self-paced ARE study materials.
All of the following courses are included with your ARE 101 Membership. We do not sell individual courses. One membership gives you access to everything:
- Practice Management 101 (PcM 101)
- Project Management 101 (PjM 101)
- Construction & Evaluation 101 (CE 101)
- Programming & Analysis 101 (PA 101)
- Project Planning & Design 101 (PPD 101)
- Project Development & Documentation 101 (PDD 101)
- AIA Contracts 101
- Building Codes 101
- Building Systems 101 (formerly Mechanical Systems 101, recently expanded to include plumbing, lighting, acoustics, elevators, and electrical content)
That’s 120+ hours of video content, thousands of practice questions, case studies, flashcards, and early access to all Architect Exam Podcast episodes.
These courses were previously sold for hundreds of dollars each but are now available through one affordable monthly membership.
Your Summer School Special: Get your first month for just $99 (regularly $129/month). After your first month, the membership continues at $129/month. Cancel anytime.
You don’t need a promo code. Between May 12th and May 26th, 2026, you’ll see the discount automatically applied at checkout.
If you’ve been comparing ARE study programs, this is a great opportunity to try us out for a month and see the difference for yourself. We approach studying for the Architect Exam in a very different way, and $99 for your first month is a low-risk way to find out.
GET YOUR FIRST MONTH OF ARE 101 FOR $99
CSI Course Pre-Orders for Fall 2026 – SAVE $50 Each
We offer two CSI certification prep courses: CDT 101 and CCCA 101. Both are available for pre-order during ARE Summer School at a discount.
A few important things to know before you purchase:
CSI courses are tied to a specific testing cycle. When you purchase a CSI course from us, you’re getting access for the Fall 2026 testing cycle. You do not get lifetime access. Your access expires after the testing window closes.
CDT certification is a prerequisite for the CCCA exam. You must hold a current CDT certification before you can sit for the CCCA. If you haven’t passed the CDT yet, start with CDT 101. CCCA 101 pre-order purchases are non-refundable even if you have not yet passed the CDT exam or later find out you did not pass. It is your responsibility to confirm your eligibility before purchasing.
Important: Make sure you are not purchasing a course for the Spring 2026 testing cycle, which is about to end. The pre-order is only for the Fall 2026 testing cycle. On the sales page, you’ll see buttons for each testing cycle so you can select the correct one.
CDT 101 – Construction Documents Technologist
Many ARE candidates are simultaneously pursuing CDT certification to gain a competitive edge in the job market. The content overlap between the CDT and the ARE is significant, especially with PcM, PjM, and CE. Studying for one helps you with the other.
Your Summer School Special: Pre-order CDT 101 for just $199 (regularly $249).
For full course details, visit the CDT 101 course page.
CCCA 101 – Certified Construction Contract Administrator
Already have your CDT and ready to take the next step? The CCCA certification is the deep dive into construction administration: submittals, change orders, payment applications, claims and disputes, closeout, and quality assurance. If you work in construction administration or you’re an architect who wants to sharpen your CA skills, this credential carries serious weight.
Your Summer School Special: Pre-order CCCA 101 for just $199 (regularly $249).
For full course details, visit the CCCA 101 course page.
Key Dates for Fall 2026 CSI Testing Cycle
- August 1st, 2026: We will open access to our CSI courses. People who purchased the pre-order will gain access at this time.
- Thursday, August 6th, 2026: Michael and Emily will host a live webinar about the upcoming CDT cycle, covering all the details about dates, registration, and how to get set up.
- Approximately August 2026: Registration to sign up for the CSI exams will open.
- Approximately mid-November to mid-December 2026: Testing will take place. CSI exams can only be taken during this window.
- Approximately late January 2027: CSI will share exam results.
You don’t need a promo code. Between May 12th and May 26th, 2026, you’ll see the discount automatically applied at checkout.
Free: “How to Study for the Architect Exam” Video Presentation
There’s a lot of bad information out there about how to study for the architect exam. Most of it is costing people time, money, and years of their career.
I put together a free 30-minute video presentation that covers what actually works. This isn’t theory. It’s based on over 10 years of coaching thousands of ARE candidates through the ARE Boot Camp, where I spend 10 to 15 hours every week on live calls talking to people about how their studying is going.
I was originally asked to do this presentation for one of NCARB’s licensing advisors. After it was over, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. It doesn’t really work as a podcast episode because the slides give a lot of the value. So we’re making it available here as a free video.
Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn:
- Why getting your architecture license is the most important project of your entire career
- How the six ARE exams break into two phases: the pro practice exams and the technical exams, and why exam order matters more than most people realize
- Why NCARB’s published objectives are the only study roadmap you need
- How to actually use textbooks, and why video courses alone aren’t enough
- What realistic expectations look like for study hours and timeline
- The mindset shift that separates people who finish from people who quit
It’s completely free. Just plug in your email address and we’ll send you the link. It’s not a normal podcast, so we’ll email you the link to where the video lives inside the Young Architect website.
WATCH THE FREE PRESENTATION: HOW TO STUDY FOR THE ARCHITECT EXAM
Free Webinar: Understanding the CDT and CSI Certifications – Fall 2026 Testing Cycle
Considering the CDT certification? Join Architects Michael Riscica and Emily Hobbs for a free live webinar all about it.
The CDT certification has grown in popularity among ARE candidates in recent years. Many architects have discovered it provides the perfect complement to ARE preparation, filling knowledge gaps about project delivery that architecture school often misses.
There’s significant content overlap between the CDT and the Practice Management (PcM), Project Management (PjM), and Construction & Evaluation (CE) divisions of the ARE. Studying for one helps you with the other.
In this session, we’ll cover:
- What the CDT exam is and what kind of commitment it requires
- Why this certification is valuable for your career and how it helps with ARE preparation
- Insider tips to make passing the CDT faster and easier
The webinar will be held on Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at 7:30pm ET.
Can’t make the live session? No problem. The recording will be sent to everyone who registers, so sign up even if you’re not sure about your availability.
REGISTER FOR THE FREE CDT WEBINAR
Free Study Notes: ARE Podcast
We’ve been sharing study notes for our Architect Exam Podcast episodes, and they’ve been extremely popular, especially for those who listen while driving or at the gym and can’t take notes themselves.
The ARE podcast and notes will save you hours of study time per episode and dramatically improve your information retention.
Get free study notes for these popular episodes:
- Fire Wall, Fire Barrier, Fire Partition: Key Differences
- ARE Panic Notes: Your Test Day Survival Guide
- Construction Bidding Process: Navigating Public Projects
- QA vs QC: One Prevents Problems and The Other Finds Them
- Construction Types: The 5 Essential Building Classifications
- Preconstruction Activities For Construction & Evaluation
- Construction Observation: Breaking Down CE Section 2
- Master Construction Administrative Procedures: CE Section 3
- Project Closeout & Evaluation: Breaking Down CE Section 4
- Understanding Occupancy Classifications: A Complete Guide
- Construction Specification Types: Understanding the Differences
- Construction Submittals: No Exceptions Taken
- Construction Bonds 101: Everything You Need to Know
- Construction Specifications 101: The Project Manual Explained
- Means of Egress: Making “OMG RUN FOR YOUR LIFE” Successful!
- Architect Insurance: The Designer’s Guide to Risk Management
- Construction Change Orders: Your Project’s Plot Twist
- Gross, Rentable, Usable, and Net Areas: Simply Explained
- Vent Stack vs Stack Vent: Clearing the Air for Good
- Business Entity Types for Architects: Save Your Assets
- Hard Costs vs Soft Costs: Making Cents of Construction
- Types of Elevators: Breaking Down the Basics
- ARE Exam Questions: Stop Getting Tricked by NCARB
- Construction Claims and Disputes: When Projects Get Messy
- What Is The Best ARE 5.0 Exam Order?
- Master Building Codes and Regulations for PA Exam Success
- Fire Rated Walls: Don’t Get Burned by the Details
- Construction Specs Nightmares: 8 Myths That Wreck Projects
- Construction Cost Estimates: Getting the Numbers Right
- CSI MasterFormat Simply Explained: All 50 Divisions
- Building Code History: Famous Fires That Shaped Modern Codes
- Architect Fees: Show Me the Money (The Right Way)
- Liquidated Damages: What They Are and How They Work
- Understanding Foundation Types: From Soil to Structure
- AIA C401: Protecting Your Practice from Consultant Chaos
- RFI Meaning in Construction: The Complete Guide
- Cast-in-Place Concrete: From Spans to Slump Tests
- Concrete Slab Types: A Guide to Structural Systems
- PcM, PjM, and CE: Understanding the Difference Before You Study
- Control Joint vs Expansion Joint: Where the Cracks At?
- Building Acoustics: How Sound Actually Works in Buildings
- Plumbing Valves: Every Type You Need to Know
- Division 01 General Requirements: Running Your Project
- PA, PPD, and PDD: Know the Difference Before You Study
- How to Become an Architect: What You Need to Know
- Owner’s Consultants: Know Where Your Liability Ends
- Fire Sprinkler Systems: Wet, Dry, Pre-Action, Deluge
- The War of Art: Lessons for Exam Success
- OFCI: Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed Simply Explained
Simply visit each podcast page and fill out the form to receive your free notes via email.
Ready for a Summer of Massive Progress?
Before you grab your sunscreen, grab these savings to accelerate your journey to becoming a licensed architect.
Your future licensed self will thank you while your friends are still talking about starting their exams “someday.”
The ARE Summer School Promotion runs Tuesday, May 12th through Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 only.
These promotional prices end on May 26th! You don’t need promo codes. All discounts will be automatically applied at checkout during this period.
Quick Reference: All Summer School Offers
- ARE Boot Camp – Regularly $1,300 → $1,150 (Save $150) – Claim Now
- ARE 101 Membership (First Month) – Regularly $129 → $99 (Save $30) – Get Access
- CDT 101 Pre-Order (Fall 2026) – Regularly $249 → $199 (Save $50) – Secure Now
- CCCA 101 Pre-Order (Fall 2026) – Regularly $249 → $199 (Save $50) – Secure Now
- “How to Study” Presentation – FREE – Watch Now
- CDT Webinar (August 6th) – FREE – [PLACEHOLDER – REGISTRATION LINK NEEDED]
- Podcast Study Notes – FREE – See links above
See you on the inside!
