Join Michael and Emily for a free CDT® certification presentation on August 6, 2026. Learn how CDT certification fits into your ARE or NCIDQ prep, the full CSI® certification landscape, the Fall 2026 exam schedule, and how to register before early bird pricing closes.
This podcast is also available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
900 to 1,300 Hours and Nothing to Show for It
It takes most people between 900 and 1,300 hours to fully complete the Architect Registration Examination.
That number comes from thousands of ARE Boot Camp timesheets collected over the past decade. And until you pass that last exam, you have nothing to show for it.
No halfway credential.
No progress badge.
No certificate saying you’ve completed four out of six exams.
You could be five exams deep, hundreds of hours invested, and on paper you look no different than someone who hasn’t started yet.
That’s always frustrated a lot of people.
But what if you could pick up a real, exam-based credential while doing the work you’re already doing for the architect exam?
CDT® Certification Changes the Math
If you’ve been following the podcast, you might remember why so many ARE candidates are getting CDT certified. That episode caught a lot of attention in the architecture community from AIA leaders across the country.
Here’s the quick version.
CDT® certification overlaps heavily with what you’re already studying for the ARE, especially the pro practice exams like PcM, PjM, and CE.
If you’re preparing for or have already taken those exams, you’ve done about 80% of the work it takes to pass the CDT.
Boot Camp members typically study 30 to 60 hours for the CDT and pass.
Compare that to the 900 to 1,300 hours for the full ARE. A fraction of the effort for a real credential you can put after your name right now.
The CDT is dramatically easier than anything you’ve already done for the ARE 101 courses. That’s why so many people take advantage of it while they’re already in shape.
300 Plus Boot Camp Members CDT Certified
We’ve had over 300 Boot Camp members become CDT certified at this point.
And what’s really cool is that earning the CDT actually strengthened their understanding of ARE concepts. It helped them perform better on their architect exams.
That’s not a side quest. That’s a shortcut that makes you better at the main mission.
The CDT covers project delivery methods, construction specifications, roles and responsibilities across the entire project team, procurement and bidding, and the full project lifecycle from conception through closeout.
That knowledge directly reinforces what you’re studying for PcM, PjM, CE, and PDD.
But CDT isn’t just for people on the architect exam path. The bigger conversation here is about the entire AEC industry.
CDT Is for Everyone in the AEC Industry
CDT is not just for architects.
This certification was created for everyone who works on design and construction projects. Interior designers. Engineers. Contractors. Product reps. Project managers. Owners. Developers.
Anyone in the AEC industry.
The whole point of CDT is to get all these different people on the same page. To create a common language so the architect, the contractor, the product rep, and the owner can all communicate clearly and work together effectively.
So if you’re not on the architect exam path, this still applies to you. And the free presentation on August 6th is absolutely for you too.
CSI® Certifications After CDT
CDT isn’t the only certification CSI offers. It’s actually the foundation for three other credentials.
Think of it like a hub and spoke system. CDT sits at the center, and the three advanced certifications branch out from there. You need CDT first, and then you can specialize based on your role and your interests.
CCCA®: Certified Construction Contract Administrator
CCCA certification takes a deep dive into the construction administration phase.
Submittals. RFIs. Payment applications. Change orders. Project closeout.
If you see yourself administering projects during construction at any point in your career, on the architect side or the contractor side, CCCA is your path.
For ARE candidates, about 75% of the CCCA overlaps with the CE exam. So if you’ve studied for CE and you’ve got your CDT, the CCCA is absolutely within reach.
Our CCCA 101 course covers everything you need.
CCS®: Certified Construction Specifier
CCS certification focuses on writing and developing specification documents.
Even if you never become a dedicated spec writer, this knowledge is incredibly helpful for anyone creating construction documents.
CCPR®: Certified Construction Product Representative
CCPR certification is designed for the product rep industry.
I recently passed my CCPR, and it completely changed how I think about product reps.
The whole foundation of CCPR is teaching reps to understand what type of information is important to the architect, the contractor, and the owner at different phases of the project. How to actually add value instead of just showing up without understanding what the project team needs.
When you work with a CCPR-certified rep, you’re more likely to have a good experience. They’ve been trained on how to bring real value to your project.
Where I Am Personally
I’ve earned three of the four: CDT, CCCA, and CCPR.
Emily and I are going after CCS on the next cycle.
At Young Architect, we’ve built courses for CDT and CCCA already, and our CCPR 101 course is launching soon for anyone on the product rep path.
We’re working our way through the whole system because we believe in it that much.
CDT Exam Schedule for Fall 2026
Here’s where CDT works completely differently from the ARE.
With the architect exam, you schedule the test when you’re ready.
CDT does not work that way.
You’re on their schedule, not yours. There are only two opportunities per year to take the CDT: Spring and Fall. That’s it.
Early bird registration for the Fall 2026 cycle starts in August. That’s when you get the best price and save anywhere from $100 to $300 compared to late registration.
The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets.
Think of it like booking a flight. You book it months ahead to get the good price, but you don’t actually fly until the departure date. Register early to save money, then take the test in that November to December window.
You can still sign up after the early bird window closes. It’ll just cost more. But don’t wait too long, because once that testing window closes, you’re waiting another six months for the next cycle.
That’s exactly why Emily and I are doing this presentation. To make sure you have all the information you need to get registered and take advantage of that early bird pricing.
What We Cover at This Presentation
On August 6th, 2026 at 7:30 PM Eastern (6:30 Central, 5:30 Mountain, 4:30 Pacific), Emily and I are hosting a free live presentation on Zoom.
Here’s what we’re covering:
- Study approach and what to focus on: what we’ve learned helping hundreds of people through this process
- Full registration walkthrough: the exact timeline so you don’t miss early bird pricing
- The complete CSI certification landscape: CDT, CCCA, CCS, CCPR, how they stack, and which ones make sense for different people
- Live Q&A: get your specific questions answered about study materials, timing, cost, or anything else
Bonus: Everyone who attends gets invited to a free CDT study session that Emily and I will host after the presentation. We’ll go through CDT domains together, work through practice questions, and have some fun with it.
Already have your CDT? This presentation is also our introduction to the CCCA 101 course for anyone ready to take the next step in the CSI certification path.
Register for the Free Presentation
This presentation is for anyone who wants to understand how CSI certifications fit into their career.
Whether you’re CDT-curious, already certified and wondering what’s next, or just want to make an informed decision about your professional development.
Sign up for the free CDT presentation on August 6th and get the clarity you need.
Can’t make it live or listening after August 6th? Register anyway at YoungArchitect.com/CDTwebinar and you can still access the recording and all the information about the Fall 2026 CDT cycle.
This is the easiest credential you’ll ever earn compared to what you’re already going through.
YoungArchitect.com/CDTwebinar. Go register.
