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:

Sweating Engineer holds a foundation plan while cracked buildings tilt around him, highlighting the consequences of poor foundation types.

Understanding Foundation Types: From Soil to Structure

Understanding foundation types can save your project from budget-busting surprises. This guide breaks down 7 essential foundation systems, explaining when to use each based on soil conditions, building loads, and site constraints, so you can...

Architect in a hard hat accepts a briefcase full of money from a suited client in front of project drawings, representing how architect fees and contractor payments vary.

Architect Fees: Show Me the Money (The Right Way)

 Understanding architect fees and fee structures is crucial for every architecture professional and ARE candidate. This comprehensive guide breaks down typical architect fees, architectural fees per square foot, hourly rates, and contractor pricing methods...

Vintage city scene shows a building engulfed in flames as people flee, symbolizing famous fires that shaped building code history.

Building Code History: Famous Fires That Shaped Modern Codes

 Building code history isn’t written by committees in conference rooms. It’s written in tragedy. Every exit sign, sprinkler head, and panic bar you see exists because someone died when those safety features didn’t. Understanding...

ARE candidate surrounded by cobwebs and excuse bubbles, watches time and money slip away in an hourglass labeled missed opportunities due to procrastination.

ARE Procrastination: Why Time is Your Most Valuable Resource

 Stop making excuses about getting your architecture license. Every month you delay pursuing your ARE exams costs you more than money – it costs you time, opportunities, and career advancement. This reality check explores...

NCARB officials announcing ARE exam changes to concerned architecture candidates

NCARB’s 2026 ARE Exam Changes: What You Need to Know

 NCARB announced major ARE exam changes for 2026, including updates to 12 exam objectives, streamlined case studies, and new AXP reporting policies. Here’s what’s actually changing and how it affects your architecture licensing journey....

Woman climbs ARE exam steps with confidence as a man hesitates below, showing how ARE Boot Camp is the most effective way to architect exam prep.

ARE Exam Prep: Study Materials vs The ARE Boot Camp

 Unlike ARE prep courses that dump information on you, ARE Boot Camp teaches you how to study effectively, provides ongoing support, and gives you a clear roadmap to licensing success. ARE exam prep coaching...

Calm candidate meditates while others stress out in a chaotic testing center, capturing the vibe of NCARB's ARE test day.

ARE Panic Notes: Your Test Day Survival Guide

 Test day anxiety affects even the most prepared ARE candidates, but the right mindset strategies can transform your exam experience. This comprehensive guide reveals proven techniques to manage test day panic, overcome exam anxiety,...

Construction worker walking away from a trash can overflowing with discarded construction specs, symbolizing neglect or disregard for project documentation on a job site.

Construction Specs Nightmares: 8 Myths That Wreck Projects

Construction specifications may not be the sexiest part of building projects, but they’re often the difference between project success and expensive disasters. In this article, we’ll expose the dangerous myths about these critical documents that...

Architect monitors building codes and regulations across ADA, zoning, IBC, and local ordinances on multiple screens in a control room.

Master Building Codes and Regulations for PA Exam Success – PA Section 2

 Codes and regulations form the invisible backbone of every architectural decision you’ll ever make. From the moment you sketch your first floor plan to the day you hand over the keys, building codes are...

Side-by-side of stressed and confident exam takers, illustrating the impact of choosing the best ARE 5.0 test order for success.

What Is The Best ARE 5.0 Exam Order?

 Choosing the right ARE 5.0 test order can save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in retakes. The sequence you choose isn’t just about convenience – it’s about building the foundation knowledge...

Cartoon contractor angrily reacts as a change order is denied, while professionals argue over costs, symbolizing construction claims and disputes.

Construction Claims and Disputes: When Projects Get Messy

 Construction claims and disputes are inevitable realities that every AEC professional will encounter. This is when there are issues on a project that get escalated to the point where we need third parties to...

ARE exam questions on NCARB testing screen with candidate having breakthrough moment

ARE Exam Questions: Stop Getting Tricked by NCARB

 ARE exam questions don’t have to be guessing games. Learn proven test taking strategies to read questions strategically, spot key qualifier words, and eliminate wrong answers with confidence. These exam strategies help thousands of...

Three elevator cabs with exposed gears and shafts highlight different types of elevators, elevator design, and elevator systems.

Types of Elevators: Breaking Down the Basics

 Understanding the different types of elevators is crucial for architects planning vertical transportation systems. This comprehensive guide covers hydraulic, traction, and machine room-less elevators with selection criteria, components, and code requirements essential for ARE...

Architects and builders watch in shock as a tornado labeled “Project Budget” pulls in money and documents, highlighting the chaos of hard costs vs soft costs.

Hard Costs vs Soft Costs: Making Cents of Construction

Understanding the financial structure of construction projects is essential for architects. Whether you’re managing a client’s budget expectations,, leading your first project, or preparing for the ARE, knowing the difference between hard costs vs soft...

Architect panics while signing a flashy contract for a “perfect building,” illustrating unrealistic expectations about the architect’s standard of care.

Standard of Care: The Fine Art of Not Screwing Up

 The concept of an Architect’s Standard of care is the cornerstone of architectural practice that defines reasonable professional competence. It protects the architect against unrealistic client expectations, and it serves as the legal basis...

Cartoon bathroom wall reveals a chaotic maze of pipes behind a toilet and sink, illustrating confusion between a stack vent vs vent stack in plumbing systems.

Vent Stack vs Stack Vent: Clearing the Air for Good

 Understanding the difference between vent stacks and stack vents is crucial for ARE success. This guide breaks down these confusing plumbing concepts with clear analogies and practical examples to help you master plumbing system...

Overwhelmed ARE Candidate surrounded by ARE study guides and coffee cups, while a devil whispers “Take all 6 at once,” promoting an failing study strategy to make him more money.

Create a Realistic ARE Study Schedule That Actually Works

 Creating a realistic ARE study schedule is the difference between passing your architect exams and burning out before you finish. After helping hundreds of candidates since 2013, I’ve learned how to study better for...

Architect Michael Riscica points to a Venn diagram showing a huge overlap between ARE Exam study topics and CDT Certification content to an audience of ARE Candidates.

ARE Candidates: Why CDT®Certification Is Your Next Win

Discover why CDT® certification is becoming the strategic advantage for ARE candidates seeking to accelerate their licensing journey. This industry-recognized credential fills critical knowledge gaps, builds professional confidence, and provides the comprehensive project delivery understanding...

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

Gross, Rentable, Usable, and Net Areas: Simply 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...

Overwhelmed architect buried in paperwork, panicking over unclear documents, symbolizing the chaos of poor construction specification writing.

Top 10 Construction Specification Writing Errors & Solutions

Construction specification writing might not be the sexiest part of architecture, but it’s absolutely critical to bringing your designs to life correctly. Despite its importance, most architects repeatedly make common mistakes when writing specifications—often because...

Architect caught between a builder and client arguing over a collapsed building, symbolizing liability and the need for architect insurance.

Architect Insurance: The Designer’s Guide to Risk Management

Without proper insurance as a practicing architect, a single claim could devastate your business financially. This guide explains professional liability coverage essentials, insurance requirements for all project participants, and proven risk management strategies that will...

Exhausted visual learner falls asleep studying for the ARE exam, surrounded by prep books and a hypnotic TV screen labeled “ARE PREP.”

Visual Learner Myth: Why You Need Multiple Study Methods

Have you ever spent hours watching ARE prep videos, feeling productive and confident, only to completely freeze when facing actual exam questions? You’re not alone—and contrary to popular belief, being a “visual learner” might be...

Diagram-style graphic showing people separated from rising flames by distinct fire wall, fire barrier, and fire partition assemblies in a building.

Fire Wall, Fire Barrier, Fire Partition: Key Differences

This comprehensive guide breaks down the critical differences between fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions in building construction. Understand the specific fire-resistance ratings, continuity requirements, and applications for each system...

Two ARE Candidates celebrate passing their architect exams on a virtual call, surrounded by study materials, symbolizing the power of ARE Bootcamp.

Unlock The Power of ARE Bootcamp: How to Maximize Your Success

Ready to conquer the Architect Registration Exam? Whether you're just starting your ARE journey or looking to finish what you've started, understanding how to unlock ARE Bootcamp power can make all the difference in your...