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:

Architect as referee between owner and contractor with A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction

A201 General Conditions in 30 Minutes

 The A201 general conditions govern how construction projects actually work. Fifteen articles covering means and methods, the schedule of values, substantial completion, change orders, and dispute resolution for every party on the project. This...

Five types of light bulbs compared showing incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, HID, and LED with different color temperatures and glow

Types of Light Bulbs, Color Temperature, and CRI

 Understanding the different types of light bulbs starts with two numbers: color temperature and CRI. Color temperature, measured in Kelvin, controls whether a light source feels warm or cool. The color rendering index measures...

Architect presenting a site plan with setbacks to a zoning official at the planning and zoning department

Zoning Fundamentals: Setbacks, Easements, FAR and Variances

 Zoning controls what you can build on a piece of land, how big it can be, and where it can sit on the site. This guide covers setbacks, easements, floor area ratio, lot coverage,...

Woman in a wheelchair smiling in an ADA Bathroom Layout

ADA Bathroom Layout: Designing for Real Bodies

 An ADA bathroom layout requires specific dimensions for turning space, toilet clearance, grab bar placement, sink height, and fixture reach ranges. But the numbers only make sense when you understand the physical experience behind...

Statue of Liberty with corroding iron armature exposed, comic style callout saying it's galvanic corrosion

Galvanic Corrosion: How Dissimilar Metals Cause Failure

 Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact and moisture completes the circuit. This guide explains how galvanic action works, walks through the galvanic series chart for common architectural metals, and covers...

QA vs QC in architecture, an architect doing QA at the desk and QC inspection on site

QA vs QC in Construction: Prevention vs Detection

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

Workers installing a built up roof membrane on a low slop roof. mop, buckets and tar on the roof.

Roof Membrane Types: How to Choose for Any Building

 On a pitched roof, gravity does all the work. Flatten that roof out and the water has nowhere to go. The only thing standing between that pooling water and the inside of the building...

Overwhelmed ARE candidate at desk surrounded by swirling clocks and ARE division names struggling with study motivation

Study Motivation When the Exam Feels Impossible

 Study motivation is the single biggest barrier for ARE candidates who have the books, the courses, and the study plan but can’t seem to open any of them. If exam stress and decision fatigue...

Free CDT and CSI Certifications Presentation | Fall 2026

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,...

Construction claims and disputes with an architect caught between an angry owner and contractor waving claim documents

Construction Disputes: How Claims Start and How They End

Construction disputes and construction claims are an unavoidable part of working in the AEC industry. Whether you’re managing an active project or preparing for the ARE exam, knowing how to prevent, navigate, and resolve these...

Architect reacts nervously as an owner presents a contract guaranteeing error-free design and a perfect building

Architect Standard of Care: It’s Not About Perfection

 The architect standard of care doesn’t mean perfect work. It means the level of skill and care that a reasonably competent architect would exercise under similar circumstances. If you’re studying for the ARE or...

Candle illuminating one square foot of surface with dimension lines showing the foot candle measurement

What Is a Foot Candle? Lumens, Lux, and Luminance

 Fifty foot candles. That number shows up in every lighting specification you will ever read. But what is a foot candle, actually? How is it different from a lumen? And what does luminance have...

Four historic preservation approaches shown side by side from preservation to rehabilitation to restoration to reconstruction

Historic Preservation: From Rehabilitation to Reconstruction

 Historic preservation defines four distinct approaches to working on historic buildings, and most people confuse at least two of them. A design team once spent weeks building a restoration plan for a beautiful old...

Salary vs billing rate comparison showing the gap between what a principal, project architect, designer, and drafter earn versus what clients pay for their time

Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit

 There is an architect at your firm making $50 an hour. But the client gets billed $150 for that same hour. Where does that $100 gap go? And what happens to your firm financially...

Architect discovers hidden moisture damage and rot inside a building envelope wall assembly

Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and Moisture in Walls

Every wall assembly has to manage three things: bulk water, air leakage, and vapor diffusion. A vapor barrier, an air barrier, and a weather resistive barrier each handle one of those jobs, but most people...

Architect and owner sign the AIA B101 owner-architect agreement at a conference table

AIA B101: What the Owner-Architect Agreement Actually Covers

 Most people working in architecture have worked under an AIA B101 for years without ever actually reading it. The contract gets signed, it sits in a drawer somewhere, and the entire team works under...

Woman navigates ADA door clearance in a wheelchair

ADA Door Clearance: Why These Dimensions Exist

 Years ago, I spent an entire day in a wheelchair. Not because I needed one, but because my professor told me to. I could dimension every ADA door clearance on a floor plan, but...

illustration of soft story building collapse during an earthquake as people flee crumbling apartment buildings with crushed cars underneath

Seismic Irregularities: Soft Story to Shear Walls

 A soft story building has a hidden weakness that earthquakes are designed to find. This post walks through the major seismic irregularities tested on the PPD and PDD exams, including soft stories, weak stories,...

Caulk Master delivery truck unloading giant sealant tubes at a construction site for the building envelope

Sealant Types, Backer Rod, and Joint Design for Buildings

 The most critical material on your building is not the steel, the concrete, or the glass. It is the quarter-inch bead of sealant between them, and most building envelope failures happen right there at...

Large tape measure wraps around a classical building with flags labeled gross area, net area, usable area, and rentable area, illustrating space measurement types.

Building Area Measurements: The GRUN Framework Explained

 Understanding building area measurements is critical for architects, real estate professionals, and ARE candidates. This comprehensive guide explores the differences between gross area, rentable area, usable area, and net area (GRUN), explaining how these...

Architect explaining project delivery methods whiteboard showing DBB, DB, CMAR, CMa, Multiple Prime, and IPD contract structures

Project Delivery Methods: DBB, Design-Build, CMAR, and More

 Project delivery methods define the contractual relationships between the owner, the architect, and the contractor on every construction project. This post breaks down all the major construction delivery methods, from Design-Bid-Build to CMAR to...

Workers load different types of insulation onto a truck at a construction site

Types of Insulation: Materials, R-Values, and Assemblies

 Understanding the types of insulation is one of the most tested topics on the ARE, and for good reason. Insulation affects everything from energy performance to moisture management to fire safety. This post breaks...

Hand reaches through a cracked wall to adjust a thermostat surrounded by different types of HVAC systems and equipment

Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose

 Understanding the different types of HVAC systems is one of those topics that separates architects who can coordinate with engineers from architects who just nod along in meetings. Whether you’re studying for the ARE...

Hand-drawn title slide for how to study for the architect registration exam with a sketch of an ARE Candidate surrounded by study guides.

How to Study for the Architect Exam in 2026

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. Get-rich-quick promises from exam prep companies,...