Complete ARE 5.0 Exam Prep
Master Every NCARB Exam With Complete ARE 5.0 Study Materials
We've built comprehensive ARE study materials covering every NCARB objective across all six exams in one affordable membership
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Pass All Six ARE Exams With Confidence
We provide comprehensive coverage of every NCARB objective so you’re never guessing what to study.
Picture yourself confidently walking through all six ARE exams with the same trusted resources.
You will.
All ARE Courses Included:
Practice Management (PcM) 101 - Master business operations, financial calculations, and ethics
Project Management (PjM) 101 - Navigate delivery methods, coordination, and quality control
Construction & Evaluation (CE) 101 - Ace construction administration and project closeout
Programming & Analysis (PA) 101 - Conquer site analysis and programming concepts
Project Planning & Design (PPD) 101 - Environmental analysis, building systems coordination, and design development
Project Development & Documentation (PDD) 101 - Construction documents, detailing, and technical coordination
AIA Contracts 101 - Foundation course for B101, A201, and all contract documents
Building Codes 101 - Master IBC requirements across all technical exams
Mechanical Systems 101 - HVAC systems, heat pumps, and air movement for PPD and PDD exams
Complete ARE Study Materials in Your Membership
The most comprehensive ARE exam prep available in one membership.
Expert Video Instruction
120+ hours of NCARB-focused video lessons across all six exam divisions
Practice Questions & Exams
1,400+ ARE practice questions with detailed explanations progressing from beginner to advanced
Comprehensive Case Studies
Real-world scenarios and case studies for PcM, PjM, CE, and PA exams
Digital Flashcards Mobile-friendly flashcards
for every exam covering essential terminology and concepts
Study Guides & Companions AHPP reading companions
and strategic study guides for efficient exam preparation
Virtual Tutor Support
24/7 instant help when you need clarification on any ARE topic
What Our Customers Our Saying About The ARE 101 Membership
One membership. Every exam covered
The Smart Way to Study for the ARE
You’re not just studying for one exam.
You’re preparing for a 700-1,300 hour journey.
One membership gives you everything from start to finish without gaps in your preparation. One affordable price gets you:
All Six Exam Courses - Complete preparation for PcM, PjM, CE, PA, PPD, and PDD in one place
Foundation Courses Included - AIA Contracts, Building Codes, and Mechanical Systems that appear across multiple exams
No Hidden Costs - Everything you need without buying add-ons or upgrading
ARE 101 Course Membership
Ideal for independent learners
$129/mo
Includes:
- Access all ARE 101 Courses
- 1000’s of Practice Questions
- Interactive Video Lessons
- In-Depth Case Studies
- 24/7 Virtual Tutors
- Cancel Anytime
Try ARE 101 Risk-Free for 7 Days
We're confident you'll love our approach to PcM prep. If you're not completely satisfied within your first week, just contact our support team and we'll process your full refund. No questions asked.
ARE 101 Course Membership
Over 100 hours of video lessons, 1,400+ practice questions, and everything you need to pass all ARE exams.
Click any course below to see what's included
Meet Your ARE Prep Instructors
Learn from licensed architects who’ve helped over 15,000 students pass the ARE.
Michael Riscica
RA, CSI, CDT
A registered Architect in Florida and Oregon, Michael is the founder of Young Architect Academy and ARE Boot Camp. His passion is demystifying the Architect Registration Exam.
Lorenzo Franchina
RA
A registered Architect in New Jersey, Lorenzo has over thirty years of experience in architecture practice and has a natural talent for making complex topics simple.
Layla Qarout
PhD, AIA, WELL AP, CTD
A registered Architect in Wisconsin, Layla has extensive healthcare and laboratory design experience. After using the ARE Boot Camp to get licensed, she now helps others master the subjects she knows best.
Emily Hobbs
RA, CDT
A registered Architect in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands where her passion for environmentally responsible design shines through. Her work focuses on building her community with respect to the islands' unique history, climate, and culture.
Vanlim MA
RA
A registered Architect in Massachusetts, Vanlim is passionate about teaching technical topics for Young Architect Academy. She specializes in making complex subjects like mechanical systems more approachable for ARE candidates.
Your Path to Licensure Starts Here
Join over 15,000 students who’ve used Young Architect Academy to pass the ARE and become licensed architects.
ARE 101 Membership FAQs
Get answers to common questions about the membership.
About the ARE 101 Membership
Studying & Using the Platform
ARE Exam Strategy
Understanding the ARE Exams
Why Young Architect Academy
About the ARE 101 Membership
How much does the ARE 101 membership cost?
$129 per month. No contracts, no commitments. Cancel anytime.
Your membership continues until your next billing date.
Can I cancel my membership anytime?
Yes. Cancel whenever you take a break from studying or finish all your exams.
We understand progress with the ARE definitely isn’t linear and you can start and stop at any time.
Your access continues through the rest of your billing cycle.
What's your refund policy?
We want you to be confident in your purchase. If within the first 7 days you decide the ARE 101 membership isn’t the right fit, reach out to us and we’ll work with you.
Also, it’s your responsibility to cancel when you’re done using the membership or you pass your last exam. We’re not responsible for refunding months you didn’t use but stayed subscribed.
If you realize early on this isn’t for you, let us know. We’re reasonable people and want this to be a win-win.
How long do I have access to the course materials?
As long as you’re subscribed to the ARE 101 membership. Our membership is month-to-month, so you stay subscribed as long as you need access.
Most people keep their membership active for 6 months to 3 years while working through all six exams.
Is this self-paced or are there scheduled classes?
ARE 101 membership is completely self-paced online learning. Study whenever works for you.
Our other program, the ARE Bootcamp, is different. That’s a live coaching program with scheduled meetings and a step-by-step curriculum.
Can I upgrade to the ARE Bootcamp later?
Yes, absolutely.
Many people study with the ARE 101 membership and later join the ARE Boot Camp.
When you join ARE Boot Camp, your ARE 101 membership access will be removed since you’ll be on the Bootcamp program moving forward.
Can I share my membership with my study group or coworkers?
No. If you enroll in our ARE 101 membership, it’s only for you. Period.
At checkout, you’ll agree to our single user agreement which states the person who signed up and registered is the only person who gets to use it.
This is actually a benefit to you. The single user agreement allows us to offer our product at such a low price.
Do you offer firm programs or group discounts?
Yes, we frequently offer firm and group discounts for groups of 5 or more people.
Not all groups and firms are the same, so we put together a custom pricing plan for each group. Reach out to us if you’re interested.
Do you update the content regularly?
Yes. We’re constantly adding and improving content across all ARE exams.
We’ve been consistently creating ARE study materials since 2015 and have several new courses planned for early 2026.
If you ever find a mistake, typo, or error in our content, we have an easy system for you to submit feedback, which we immediately review. We’re constantly updating our materials on a daily basis to make sure everything is accurate.
We don’t claim to be perfect, but we are extremely proactive about quality control of our study materials.
Do you offer any free trial or sample content?
Not for the ARE 101 courses. We just have too much content to create a meaningful free trial.
Instead, we offer a 7-day refund policy so you can explore everything and decide if it’s the right fit for you.
If you’re looking for free ARE study materials, we’ve published over 50 episodes of our free Architect Exam Podcast, which gives you a great sense of our conversational teaching style and the type of content inside Young Architect Academy.
What happens if NCARB changes the exam while I'm studying?
NCARB typically gives everyone plenty of notice before making changes to the ARE.
Whatever changes come to the architect registration exam, it will be incorporated into your ARE 101 membership.
We’re excited to update and create new content to reflect whatever changes NCARB announces.
What study materials are included vs. what do I need to buy separately?
Our ARE 101 membership includes 120+ hours of video lessons, 1,400+ practice questions, case studies, flashcards, study guides, and AHPP reading companions.
You’ll need to purchase a few reference books separately. The reference books you need vary from exam to exam and all of this is discussed inside each course.
You’re going to need these references even if you use Black Spectacles, Amber Book, PPI, or any other prep company. Studying third party ARE prep is never a substitute for studying the book they literally used to write most of the questions.
What’s great about Young Architect Academy is we teach you how to use these resources effectively.
If your goal is to pass the ARE quickly and efficiently, you’ll get there the fastest by cross-referencing NCARB’s objectives with the books they used to write the questions.
Studying & Using the Platform
Can I study on my phone or tablet? Do you have a mobile app?
We have something better than an app: a website that’s heavily optimized for mobile browsers.
We used to have an app, but we discovered our website actually worked better in a mobile browser. So we got rid of the app and focused all our energy on making the website work smoothly on whatever device you use.
About 80% of our students replaced scrolling social media and use the YA Academy courses on their smartphones as they move through the day, which further contributes to their ARE success.
Can I adjust video playback speed?
Yes, and we encourage it.
You can speed up or slow down all our video lessons.
Sometimes we talk fast, so you might want to slow it down. Sometimes you just need a refresher and want to speed through it.
All our videos even have closed captions, making it easy to study while commuting or in any environment.
Can I download videos for offline viewing?
All content must be streamed through the website.
We’re constantly making upgrades to the content and our platform. Streaming ensures you always have access to the latest information and features.
What's included in your ARE practice exams?
We have 1,500+ ARE practice questions across all six exams, organized into three difficulty levels:
Level 1 (Beginner): Start here when concepts are new. These questions introduce fundamental ideas and help you build confidence.
Level 2 (Intermediate): Move here once you understand the basics. These questions test your ability to apply concepts in different scenarios.
Level 3 (Advanced): Tackle these when you’re getting ready to take your real exam. These questions mirror the complexity you’ll see on test day.
Every practice question includes detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers, connecting back to NCARB objectives.
Do the practice exams explain why wrong answers are wrong?
Yes.
This is one of the things that separates us from so many other ARE prep companies.
Every practice question is a lesson and a teaching opportunity. We don’t just tell you the right answer.
We give you a proper lesson on how the concept from each question applies to architectural practice and how to understand it for the exam.
Then we explain why all the incorrect answers are wrong and how this concept relates back to each NCARB objective.
All NCARB is really testing is your ability to read the question, think about it, and choose the right answer. Which takes a lot of practice, even if you do know the content.
A significant portion of our teaching happens within the practice questions themselves, so you’re constantly practicing how to answer questions effectively.
How many ARE practice questions should I do before taking an exam?
You should do every single set of practice questions you can get your hands on.
It takes a lot of practice learning how to read the question, think about it, and choose the right answer in a moment’s notice.
Start practicing answering as many questions as you can because that’s all NCARB is really testing you on. Your ability to answer questions. This is essential ARE exam prep.
How do ARE practice exams help me prepare?
ARE practice exams let you practice recalling all the information you’ve learned while studying. You could watch hundreds of hours of ARE prep, but if you can’t recall and apply the concepts, it’s just a waste of time.
Our goal is to teach you the concepts forwards, backwards, and in all directions.
Often our questions are more difficult and complicated than how NCARB might ask, and that’s intentional.
We’re not trying to match NCARB’s question style.
We’re focused on teaching you concepts, not helping you memorize answers. When you truly understand a concept, you can work through any situation and solve the problem.
Memorizing stuff doesn’t mean you know how to apply the concept.
NCARB isn’t testing your ability to memorize. They’re testing your ability to make the right decision as a practicing architect.
Our practice questions prepare you (forwards, backwards, and in all directions) for however the question gets asked on the real NCARB exam.
Are the flashcards just definitions or do they include calculations?
All of our flashcards focus on vocabulary and definitions. All of our ARE practice exams focus on understanding concepts and applying them.
From a study strategy point of view: Exam vocabulary is a fantastic place for everyone to get started studying for each exam. Every single exam has vocabulary specific to that test.
Learning the words before you actually need to use them makes everything easier. When you get to the part of the course where those words come up, you already know what they mean and the concepts behind them. It helps everything move along faster.
We have digital flashcards, but feel free to make your own on index cards too. Lots of people do, and sometimes physically writing it out helps.
What's the best way to study for ARE case studies?
Case studies are nothing more than open book multiple choice questions.
Knowing the content is 80% of the battle. The other 20% is not getting distracted and wasting time in the documentation.
Look at every question individually and ask yourself: Do I have what I need here to solve this question? Or do I have to go back into the references?
Don’t waste time looking at every piece of documentation. Think about what the question is really asking you and work your way backwards into the documentation.
We have case studies included for PcM, PjM, CE, and PA that mirror what you’ll see on test day.
Are your ARE study guides updated for ARE 5.0?
Yes.
Unlike other ARE prep companies, all of our courses and ARE study materials are built specifically for ARE 5.0.
We didn’t have old ARE 4.0 content to repurpose. Everything was created from the ground up for the current ARE 5.0 exam structure.
We’re also constantly updating and improving our study guides based on what works best for students and any changes NCARB makes to the exams.
What NCARB study materials do you use?
Inside the NCARB ARE Handbook they share the criteria they used to write each exam, which is broken down into different “objectives”.
We built all our architect exam prep content around NCARB’s official objectives for each exam.
A lot of other ARE prep companies give you their summary or a cliff notes version of NCARB’s objectives.
Instead, we teach you how to understand NCARB’s objectives yourself.
We’ve learned it’s actually most effective to just teach you how to understand NCARB’s objectives rather than giving you a summary of what they say.
When you properly understand how NCARB is thinking about each exam through each objective, the better equipped you’ll be to make smart decisions about how to study for each ARE.
For the pro practice exams (PcM, PjM, CE), we heavily reference the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP), which is the same resource NCARB uses to write many of their questions.
For the technical exams, we focus on the official resources that NCARB references in their ARE Handbook.
All third party ARE prep products are just a tool to help facilitate the learning. They are never a replacement for studying each objective and using the proper resources.
We teach you how to use NCARB’s study materials effectively instead of just giving you watered down summaries. If your goal is to pass quickly and efficiently, learning how to navigate these official resources is the biggest shortcut to getting there.
ARE Exam Strategy
How long does it take to pass all six ARE exams?
Plan for 800 to 1,300 hours of studying to pass all six exams. Some people finish in 6 months, most take 2 to 4 years. We’ve tracked our ARE Boot Camp student study time down to the hour for over 10 years and the data is consistent.
The ARE is never the straight line from point A to point B that people think it is. Jobs change. Relationships start or end. You move to a new city. Family emergencies happen. Life doesn’t pause just because you’re studying for the architect exam.
Your personal life will always dictate your ARE schedule more than anything else.
Here’s what makes this journey worth it: The content you’re learning is genuinely fascinating once you start understanding it. This isn’t just exam prep. You’re learning how buildings actually get designed and delivered, how contracts work, how systems integrate, how architecture actually functions as a profession. This knowledge changes how you think about your career and makes you better at what you do.
How many hours per week should I study for the ARE?
It varies per person.
There is no magical number of hours.
Study as much as you can during the week while maintaining all of your other responsibilities.
If this is your first ARE exam, you’re going to spend more hours than if you’ve already studied for a few exams. The pro practice exams (PcM, PjM, CE) build off each other.
The winning strategy is to just focus on studying every day and getting some work done. Some days will be better than others, but keep showing up.
Which ARE exam should I take first?
Start with PcM, PjM, or CE. These three pro practice exams should be your first three exams before moving into the technical exams.
There’s significant overlap between PcM, PjM, and CE. About 60% of what makes up these first three exams covers the same content from different perspectives.
After you’ve learned the fundamentals of project delivery methods and contracts, each exam gets easier because you’re building on what you already know.
Inside the ARE 101 membership we have a lot of information in a course called “START HERE” which will help guide you in the right direction.
The technical exams (PA, PPD, PDD) require this foundational knowledge, so in the name of efficiency it just makes sense to knock out the pro practice exams first.
What's the recommended sequence for taking the ARE exams?
You can take them in any order. However, the sequence we recommend and most people follow is:
Take PcM, PjM, and CE first (in any order). Get all three done before moving to the technical exams.
After completing those three, tackle PA next. If you pass it great! If not, do not keep retaking it and move onto PPD/PDD.
PA provides an excellent transition into PPD/PDD.
Finish PPD and PDD. After you’ve passed PPD/PDD, then go back for a PA retake if you didn’t pass it the first time. Passing PPD/PDD will help tremendously when revisiting the PA content.
This sequence has repeatedly shown to be the most efficient route for sequencing the six exams for most people.
Should I study for multiple ARE exams at the same time?
Because of the overlap between PcM, PjM, and CE, there’s foundational content you need across all three exams.
However, if your goal is to pass these exams quickly and efficiently, being strategic and focused on one exam at a time will get you to the finish line faster after you understand the big picture.
Don’t spread yourself too thin trying to study for multiple exams simultaneously.
Instead, master all the details you need for taking one exam at a time and you’re already setting yourself up for success with the next exam.
How do I know when I'm ready to take an ARE exam?
You’re ready when you’ve gone through all the study materials, done the practice questions, and feel like you understand the core concepts.
But here’s the reality: You’re never going to feel 100% ready. There’s always going to be more to study.
Sometimes failing an exam teaches you more than studying for another 100 hours trying to avoid failure. The exam itself shows you what you actually need to know.
If you’ve done the work and put in the hours, schedule it. You can’t pass these exams without taking them.
When should I schedule my ARE exam?
Start studying first.
Schedule your exam after you feel like you’ve done about 50% of the studying needed to be ready.
Then look at what’s going on in your life. Is there anything that’s going to interrupt you from studying hard for the second half? Any holidays, vacations, or deadlines?
Make an educated decision about choosing a test date once you’ve looked at all this data.
Your personal life will always dictate your ARE schedule more than anything else.
If you can’t find a good test date and keep checking, then feel free to call NCARB and complain. A lot of people don’t know this, but NCARB customer service can work with you and help find a better test date if nothing is available. So keep checking for about a week or so and then call NCARB (don’t email them).
Do I need work experience to pass the ARE?
No.
This is a myth created by people who have lots of experience and finished their exams.
We’ve worked with lots of recent graduates who have passed the ARE with very little work experience.
Experience doesn’t translate well into the ARE because often, how you do it in the office every day is not the right answer on the tests. NCARB also loves to ask lots of questions about these topics on the real exam.
Most importantly, we’ve seen over and over that the ability to focus, concentrate, and not get distracted is much more valuable to the ARE than having 20 years of experience working in an architecture office.
What should I do if I fail an ARE exam?
Don’t immediately retake it.
If you failed PcM as your first exam, go study and take Project Management (PjM) and Construction & Evaluation (CE). After you pass those, come back to PcM.
Even though you didn’t pass the first time, the work you did was not wasted. It will help you with the other exams, and those other exams will help you when you retake the one you failed.
Here’s why the holistic approach works: When you fail an exam and immediately retake it, you’re studying the same content the same way, hoping for different results. You’re stuck in tunnel vision, grinding away at the same material that already confused you, getting more frustrated with each study session.
But when you move on to related exams, you see the same foundational concepts from completely different angles. Suddenly things that didn’t make sense the first time start clicking. You’re building context and understanding instead of just hammering the same information into your head over and over.
According to NCARB’s data, most people fail their ARE exams 3 to 6 times before passing them all. This isn’t a personal failure, it’s how these exams work. The people who succeed are the ones who understand the big picture and keep moving strategically instead of getting stuck retaking the same test repeatedly.
The goal is to get to the finish line. If you accept that you’ll probably fail a few times along the way and keep pushing forward anyway, your chances of finishing are dramatically higher.
How many times can I retake an ARE exam if I fail?
You can fail a specific exam three times within a 12 month period.
The 12 month period starts the first day that you fail it.
So you can fail any division three times in a 12 month period starting from your first failed attempt.
Example:
- First time failing PcM: 2/4/2026 (wait at least 60 days)
- Second time failing PcM: 4/5/2026 (wait 60 days)
- Third time failing PcM: 6/7/2026 (wait 60 days)
- Next time you can retake PcM: 2/5/2027
Meanwhile you’re free to work on taking the other exams (besides PcM) independently from the schedule above.
How do I prepare for the ARE 5.0 exams?
The foundation of effective ARE prep is straightforward:
- Understand NCARB’s objectives for each exam. These aren’t suggestions or guidelines. They’re exactly what NCARB is testing. Every question on the exam connects back to these objectives. If you’re not studying the objectives, you’re not actually preparing for the exam you’re taking.
- Use the official resources NCARB references. They didn’t pick these books randomly. The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, the building codes, the technical references. These are what NCARB uses to write the questions. Studying summaries of these resources instead of the actual resources is like reading SparkNotes instead of the book and hoping you can write the essay.
- Practice answering questions constantly. NCARB isn’t testing whether you know information. They’re testing whether you can read a scenario, apply your knowledge, and choose the best answer. That’s a skill that requires repetition. The more questions you work through, the better you get at thinking the way NCARB wants you to think.
- Study consistently, not intensely. Cramming doesn’t work for exams this comprehensive. Small amounts of daily progress compound faster than you think.
Here’s the reality: All ARE prep products are just tools to help you execute this process. They’re not replacements for understanding NCARB’s objectives and using official resources. They’re guides to help you navigate them effectively.
What are the best ARE study materials for 2025?
The best study materials are the ones NCARB actually used to write the exam. The ARE 101 membership helps you understand which resources those are and how to use them effectively for each exam.
Some of the key resources include:
- The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice
- Heating Cooling Lighting
- MEEB
- Architects Studio Companion
- Project Delivery Practice Guide
- And many others we cover in detail inside each course
These aren’t random recommendations. These are the resources NCARB specifically references when they write exam questions. When you study from these sources, you’re learning the same content NCARB pulled from to create the test.
Here’s what most people don’t understand: Third party ARE prep products aren’t the study materials. They’re tools to help you learn from the actual study materials. They can guide you, explain concepts, help you practice. But they can’t replace the official resources.
No single resource is enough. Everyone who passes is using multiple materials and approaching the content from different angles. That’s not a weakness in any particular resource. It’s just the nature of comprehensive exams.
ARE 101 focuses on teaching you how to use these official resources strategically so you’re not just reading them, you’re actually learning from them in a way that prepares you for how NCARB tests the material.
Do you cover all NCARB ARE 5.0 handbook objectives?
Yes. Every course in the ARE 101 membership is built around NCARB’s official objectives.
But here’s what makes our approach different: We don’t just summarize the objectives and tell you what we think they mean. We teach you how to read and understand what NCARB is actually saying in each objective, then show you how to apply those concepts.
Most prep companies give you their interpretation of the objectives. They condense them down, pick out what they think is important, and tell you to memorize their version. That might feel more efficient, but it means you’re learning someone else’s understanding instead of developing your own.
When you truly understand what NCARB’s objectives are asking for, you can handle however they decide to test that material. You’re not relying on memorized summaries. You’re applying genuine understanding to whatever scenarios they throw at you.
Each video lesson, practice question, and study guide connects directly back to specific NCARB objectives so you always know exactly what you’re studying and why it matters for exam day.
Understanding the ARE Exams
Are the ARE exams hard?
Yes, the ARE exams are very hard. They’re not supposed to be easy.
However, rather than thinking about how hard they are, focus on how interesting they are. There’s actually a lot of really fascinating information being tested that you never learned in architecture school.
The ARE tests real-world architectural practice, business operations, project management, building systems, and code compliance. This is practical knowledge you’ll use throughout your career.
It’s going to take time, patience, and practice. But rather than worrying about how hard it is, embrace how interesting it is and how this knowledge is going to help you be a better architect and run a successful practice.
What's the hardest ARE exam?
It depends on the person and their background.
PcM, PjM, and CE have a lot of financial calculations and contract knowledge that many architecture people have never encountered before. That takes time and practice.
PA, PPD, and PDD are more technical. They require understanding building systems, codes, site analysis, and design integration. If you’re weak in any of these areas, those exams will be challenging.
The truth is, all ARE exams are hard. Each one has its own personality and tests similar topics from different perspectives.
If it was easy everyone would be a registered architect and this credential wouldn’t mean anything.
Instead focus on how studying for the ARE is the best investment you can make into the future of your architecture career. No other project, client, or job working for a star architect is going to have a return on your investment like doing the work it takes to become a licensed architect.
Becoming a registered architect is easily the most important project of your entire architecture career.
What's the difference between PcM, PjM, and CE exams?
PcM (Practice Management) is all about starting and running an architecture business. Finding clients, setting up the practice, managing finances, understanding ethics and standard of care. It covers everything up to signing the B101 owner-architect agreement.
PjM (Project Management) is all about managing a project once you have that signed contract. Managing the team, the schedule, the budget, coordination, and executing the project from contract through construction documents.
CE (Construction & Evaluation) is what happens after construction documents leave the architect’s hands and get handed to the contractor. Bidding, pricing, construction observation, shop drawing review, payment applications, and project closeout.
The sequence of these three doesn’t really matter. What’s important is getting them all done before you move on to the technical exams.
There’s a lot of overlapping content between all three. About 60% of what makes up these exams covers the same material from different perspectives. It gets easier as you work through them.
What's the difference between PA, PPD, and PDD exams?
PA (Programming & Analysis) focuses on the early phases of a project. Site analysis, programming, environmental factors, zoning, building codes, accessibility, and how all these considerations inform design decisions.
PPD (Project Planning & Design) is about schematic design and design development. Integrating building systems, codes, site conditions, and structural considerations into a cohesive design solution.
PDD (Project Development & Documentation) focuses on construction documents. Detailed drawings, specifications, construction details, material selections, and how everything comes together for construction.
These three technical exams build on the foundational knowledge from PcM, PjM, and CE. They test your ability to apply that knowledge to actual design and technical decisions.
PA is an excellent transition exam between the pro practice exams and the purely technical exams. Start with PA after completing PcM, PjM, and CE.
How do your ARE 101 courses compare to studying on my own?
Our courses guide you through NCARB’s objectives systematically. We show you which sections of the AHPP and other resources to focus on, how concepts connect across exams, and what NCARB is really testing.
We also provide practice questions, case studies, and explanations that teach you how to think through problems the way NCARB expects.
Most people who try to study completely on their own end up taking longer and failing more exams before they pass. Studying NCARB’s objectives and using the ARE 101 courses as a guide makes the process more efficient while still teaching you how to use the official resources yourself.
Think of it this way: You could figure out how to navigate a foreign city wandering around on your own, or you could use a map and local guide to get there faster and see what actually matters.
Our ARE 101 courses are the map and that guide.
Why Young Architect Academy
How is this different from other ARE prep resources like Black Spectacles, Amber Book, or just reading books?
Here’s the truth that most ARE prep companies won’t tell you: The fastest way to pass is to be thorough and do it right the first time by not taking shortcuts.
Young Architect doesn’t promote “get rich quick” ARE strategies. We don’t teach exam hacks or hope you get lucky. Instead, we promote excellence – actually learning the information so you can apply it on exam day and in your career.
The study strategy we promote is to study the way NCARB intended you to study. Which means understanding NCARB’s objective statements and using the books they use to write the exam.
Our job as an ARE prep company is to guide you, make it easier, and empower you to understand how NCARB is thinking about these exams when they write the questions. That way, you can advocate for what’s important rather than blindly rely on a third party prep company. We teach you how to teach it to yourself.
That’s probably the biggest difference. Other prep companies say, “Don’t worry about the objectives. We’ve figured all this out.” At Young Architect, we say the opposite. Understanding NCARB’s objectives IS the fastest path to passing.
We focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing data.
When you understand how things work, you can apply that knowledge to however NCARB presents it to you on test day. That feels a lot easier than trying to memorize information just to pass a test.
The fastest way to pass all your exams is to be extremely diligent and thorough. Do it right the first time.
I already have Black Spectacles through my firm. Would this still help?
Yes. We’ve learned that 80% of our students have already used Black Spectacles and Amber Book before coming to Young Architect Academy.
No one is using just one ARE prep company in isolation. It’s never one book, one prep company, one resource, or one video.
It truly takes a village to create every licensed architect.
We have a very different, unique, and strategic approach to studying for the architect exam. We promote studying everything you can get your hands on that’s going to help you pass your exams.
If you have access to other ARE prep study materials, that’s great. A lot of people tell us they like our practice exams and realistic approach the best.
What makes Young Architect Academy different from other ARE study materials?
We’re conversational and honest. We don’t pretend to be the perfect guru with all the answers – because honestly, that guru approach is part of the problem.
When other prep companies position themselves as having all the secrets figured out, they’re actually making you dependent on them. We’d rather teach you how to find the answers yourself than keep you coming back for more summaries.
Our goal is to teach you how to teach this to yourself, because this type of learning is the most effective for the ARE, and it continues into the next chapter as a registered architect.
We don’t subscribe to a one size fits all memorization approach to studying for the architect exam.
We acknowledge the realities of what it actually takes to pass these exams. We’re here to guide you, not to do the work for you.
Most importantly, we want to inspire you and make things easier. Young Architect assumes you have plans to have a successful career as a practicing architect.
When you approach studying with the intention of needing this information to be successful in your career, it makes it a lot easier to show up every day.
Does this follow NCARB's objectives?
Yes. All of our courses are based around NCARB’s objectives and teaching you how to understand what NCARB is telling you they’re going to be testing you on.
We guide you towards understanding those concepts rather than just giving you a summary of what they say.
What if other prep companies say I don't need the AHPP?
I disagree, and here’s why this matters: The AHPP isn’t just a reference book – it’s literally what NCARB used to write the questions.
When you take the PcM, PjM, and CE exams, you’ll see exam questions that pull directly from specific AHPP chapters. Other prep companies tell you to skip it because they want you dependent on their summaries.
If your goal is to pass quickly and efficiently, we’ve learned time and time again that it’s actually easier to learn how to use the book than to rely on someone else’s cliff notes. We teach you how to actually use it, which is faster in the long run.
That’s what’s different about Young Architect.
If you’re not studying NCARB’s objectives and using their resources, you’re not studying for the exam. You’re studying someone else’s summary of what they think you should know.
How is this different from the ARE Bootcamp?
Think of the ARE 101 membership as joining a gym. Think of signing up for ARE Boot Camp as hiring a personal trainer.
ARE 101 is self-guided. It’s access to study materials. You go through it on your own at your own pace and schedule.
ARE Boot Camp is a program with a schedule and a detailed curriculum. The weekly study curriculum is sequenced in a very logical way to make it easier to learn.
You’re meeting weekly on Zoom and moving through a curriculum that’s been tested and refined since 2015. Boot Camp allows people to find more time to study because they don’t have to worry about, research, and figure out what they should be studying.
There’s a lot of accountability, a lot of meetings, and a community element to it. People in Boot Camp are meeting together 3 to 4 times a week at various times to talk about different concepts and work on practice questions.
All ARE prep study materials are talking at you. ARE Boot Camp is the only program that’s going to talk with you and, through conversation and dialogue, help you understand how to put all these parts together.
Is the membership enough to pass or do I need the Bootcamp?
Lots of people pass the ARE with just the ARE 101 membership without taking the ARE Boot Camp.
It’s really about you and how much help you are looking for.
Young Architect has never subscribed to the one size fits all approach to the architect exam. The one size fits all approach doesn’t work. We’re not machines or robots. We’re individuals.
Some people are looking for just study materials like the 101 membership. Some people need a lot more guidance and accountability to help them get there and that’s what the ARE Boot Camp is for.
Can I upgrade to Bootcamp later if I start with the membership?
Yes, that’s fine. A lot of people start on their own with the ARE 101 membership and then later upgrade to Boot Camp. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Sometimes it’s helpful for people to get the lay of the land first on their own and then join Boot Camp. Sometimes people sign up right for Boot Camp. Sometimes people are just looking for study materials and that’s all they need.
We all learn differently. Not a one size fits all. But Boot Camp is a coaching program that’s customized to each person to help them add this time-consuming task to their busy life.
There’s more information inside our ARE 101 membership if that’s something you choose to do.
Why is your membership so much cheaper than other ARE prep options?
Our customers are the people actually studying for these exams.
A lot of other ARE prep companies have priced their products to sell to firms and AIA chapters, not to the individuals taking the tests.
Keeping our product affordable has been important to Young Architect since the beginning. A big part of our mission is to help people find success with their architect exams at every single price point. Starting from a free podcast, through cheap webinars, affordable study materials, and the ARE Bootcamp is our most expensive but also our flagship product.
We believe everyone should have access to quality ARE prep regardless of their budget.