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:

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...

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 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.

CDT Certification: The Smart Move for ARE Candidates

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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: Where Your Budget Actually Goes

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...

Illustration comparing construction types I through V, showing concrete, steel, masonry, heavy timber, and wood frame structures.

Construction Types 1-5: IBC Building Classifications

Construction types are fundamental building classifications that determine everything from fire resistance to allowable heights and materials. This guide breaks down all five types of building construction as defined in the International Building Code (IBC),...

Construction worker with boxing gloves punching through a giant checklist, symbolizing the final push to complete a construction punch list.

Construction Punch List: Process, Items, and Who Creates It

Construction punch lists are the final critical step before project completion, yet there's confusion about who creates them. While many assume architects are responsible, the contractor actually creates the initial punch list - a fact...

Architect focused on preconstruction planning, surrounded by drawings, schedules, and bid documents in a high-rise office setting.

Preconstruction: What Happens Before Construction Starts

Understanding preconstruction activities is essential for ARE candidates preparing for the Construction Evaluation (CE) exam. This comprehensive guide breaks down CE Section 1, explaining the architect's changing roles during preconstruction, contractor selection criteria, and cost...

City scene illustrating occupancy classifications including assembly, business, educational, factory, institutional, and residential buildings.

IBC Occupancy Classifications: All 10 Groups Explained

Mastering occupancy classifications are essential for ARE success. This guide breaks down IBC's classification system and shows how it affects design, code compliance, and safety. Learn to confidently classify any project and avoid costly compliance...

Female architect pointing to a massive on-site chart listing construction specification types like MasterFormat, performance, and proprietary.

Types of Specifications in Construction You Need to Know

This guide demystifies all major construction specification types and helps you understand when and how to use each one. These distinctions will make you more effective at writing, interpreting, enforcing, and managing construction documents....

Rolled construction drawings and a specs book face off in a boxing ring, dramatizing the classic Drawings vs. Specifications debate in architecture.

Construction Specifications vs Drawings: Who Wins?

This guide debunks the common misconception about document precedence and explains how drawings vs specifications work together as complementary contract documents. Understanding this drawings vs specifications relationship is crucial for both ARE success and professional...

Female architect Layla Qarout studying building codes on a laptop labeled “Building Codes 101,” surrounded by floor plans and construction documents.

Persistence, Practice, And Passing The ARE – Meet Layla Qarout

Layla Qarout had anything but a typical journey to becoming a licensed architect. Originally from Palestine, Layla transitioned internationally, navigated through ARE 5.0, and experienced firsthand how challenging and frustrating the exam process can be....