CDT: Construction Documents Technology

Black and white logo for the Architect Exam Podcast with bold text and a circular emblem in the word “Podcast.”

Learn about CSI formats, specifications, and document organization for the Construction Documents Technology certification. This category covers construction document standards, specification writing, and product research. Topics include MasterFormat, SectionFormat, and PageFormat systems. It also explores contractual relationships, project delivery methods, and construction administration. These skills help ensure clear communication between design and construction teams.

ARE Study Coach announces a free CDT webinar to a group of ARE candidates studying with laptops and spec books.

Free CDT® Webinar: Master the Fall 2025 Testing Cycle

Join our free CDT® webinar on August 7th to master Fall 2025 registration deadlines, study strategies, and insider secrets that help ARE candidates add this valuable certification to their licensing journey efficiently. This podcast is...

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...

Client happily demands a construction change order mid-project, while the architect and contractor react in stress and frustration over revised plans.

Construction Change Orders: Your Project’s Plot Twist

Understanding what is a change order in construction is crucial for project success. Construction change orders are formal contract amendments that require three-party agreement and always increase costs compared to original work. This guide explains...

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...

Architect reviewing a construction submittal in a workshop, surrounded by team members preparing detailed documents and samples.

Construction Submittals: No Exceptions Taken

 Understanding “no exceptions taken” and mastering construction submittals is essential for ARE success and professional practice. This comprehensive guide explains the submittal process, types, and review actions that translate design intent into construction reality....

Three women sprinting through design, procurement, and construction phases, symbolizing the fast-paced nature of the construction bidding process.

Construction Bidding Process: Navigating Public Projects

Navigating the construction bidding process is essential for all AEC professionals working on public projects. This comprehensive guide breaks down the procurement journey from design completion to groundbreaking, demystifying the rules, timelines, and requirements that...

Side-by-side comparison of QA vs QC showing one architect reviewing a quality assurance checklist in an office, and another performing quality control checks on-site.

QA vs QC: One Prevents Problems and The Other Finds Them

Mastering the QA vs QC relationship is crucial for architectural project success. Understanding when to apply quality assurance versus quality control can dramatically reduce errors, improve workflow efficiency, and prevent costly mistakes. This comprehensive guide...

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

Who Creates the Construction Punch List? Not Who You Think

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...

Row of different building types including a house, shop, courthouse, office tower, and hotel, representing various occupancy classifications.

Occupancy Classifications and IBC Compliance 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.

Construction Specification Types Made Simple: A Complete Guide

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....