Listen to podcast episodes breaking down exam topics and strategies for all divisions of the Architect Registration Exam. This category features free audio content covering test-taking techniques, division-specific tips, and insights from successful candidates. Episodes include discussions on complex concepts, common pitfalls, and effective preparation methods to help candidates develop confidence and knowledge for exam success.
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
OFCI (owner furnished, contractor installed) is one of the most misunderstood procurement methods in construction. The OFCI meaning is straightforward on the surface, but it often delivers coordination headaches and liability questions that catch...
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art explains why you keep sabotaging your architect exam prep and how to stop. This war of art summary breaks down Pressfield’s concept of Resistance, the invisible force behind...
Fire sprinkler systems are one of the most critical life safety systems in any building. This guide breaks down the four main types of sprinkler systems, how they work, when to use each one,...
Learn the difference between owner’s consultants and architect’s consultants, including where the liability falls, what coordination actually requires, and how to protect yourself on the ARE and in practice. This podcast is also available...
Learning how to become an architect in the US means completing four key steps: earning an accredited degree, gaining real-world experience, passing the Architect Registration Exam (ARE), and paying your licensing fees. Here’s everything...
The ARE technical exams (PA, PPD, and PDD) test your ability to define, design, and document a building project. This guide breaks down what each exam actually covers, how they connect, and why understanding...
When you open a set of specifications, you probably flip straight to the division you care about. Concrete? Division 03. Steel? Division 05. Finishes? Division 09. But general requirements, the very first division in...
Plumbing valves are one of those topics that sounds intimidating until someone actually breaks it down. Whether you’re studying for the ARE, preparing for the CDT, or just trying to understand the different types...
Architectural specification writing is one of the most important skills in practice, and one of the least taught. Despite being legal contract documents that carry the same weight as your drawings, construction specifications are often...
Building acoustics is one of those topics that affects every person inside a building, but most architects don’t think about it until something goes wrong. This guide breaks down everything you need to know...
Architect insurance is one of those topics that nobody wants to think about until they absolutely have to. But understanding your coverage (from professional liability and errors and omissions insurance to claims-made policies, tail coverage,...
Building code compliance is one of the most important skills you’ll develop as an architect, and it shows up early on the PA exam. Section 2 covers codes and regulations, and it accounts for...
The construction bidding process on public projects follows a strict, regulated path from completed drawings to breaking ground. This guide walks through all eight stages of the construction bid process, covering bid preparation, sealed bidding,...