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NCARB updates ARE 5.0 Guidelines

2024-03-01T08:00:00-05:00

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has shared an update to its official ARE guidelines effective this week (February 27).

The updated ARE 5.0 Guidelines include changes to exam security policies and the ARE 5.0 Reference Guide. The revision also covers new building code references and the retirement of quantitative-fill-in-the-blank (QFIB) items that were announced previously in December.

A new set of exam data forensics protocols has been introduced to enhance existing data analysis. NCARB notes this will impact the timing of test scores results being released. Official score reports will now take between seven and ten days to process. Exam security and candidate misconduct policies have been updated as well.

Importantly, all code-related items on the ARE 5.0 will now reference the 2021 International Code Council (ICC) family of codes and related standards...

The six-month countdown begins until ARE 4.0's retirement

2018-01-23T13:05:00-05:00

Candidates seeking licensure will have until June 30, 2018 to test in ARE 4.0, after which ARE 5.0 will be the only accepted exam. The NCARB first announced the retirement of ARE 4.0 in 2014 providing testers with enough time to make the transition. Many have already switched to the latest version since the launch of ARE 5.0 in 2016. Up until this summer, candidates have the option of taking either exam or a combination of both to complete licensure.

If you haven't switched your testing strategy yet, now is the time to do so. The ARE 5.0 features six divisions organized around the phases of a typical architecture project. The exam incorporates testing methods of case studies, hotspots, and drag-and-place questions.

NCARB has developed free resources including a Transition Calculator showing how ARE 4.0 credits will transfer to the new exam.

Six tips to make your ARE review a success

2017-07-21T12:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

The NCARB handbook provides an overview as well as several practice problems for each of the ARE 5.0 exam divisions. Using this handbook will begin to aid you in focusing your time in the knowledge areas where you need the most study.

Make sure to create a realistic schedule for your study times. Consider going through the ARE 5 Review Manual, as well as the NCARB handbook, to get a feeling for the scope of the divisions and how major topics are organized. Based on your review and a realistic evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses it will be easier to plan your studies.

Stop studying new material a day or two before the exam, because studies show that no amount of last minute cramming increases retention of information. Better yet, consider spending the evening before the exam relaxing and be sure to get plenty of sleep. A light review of some of the areas you’ve already studied, may be helpful on the morning of the exam.

Learn concepts firs...

Getting it Done: Tips to Shorten Your Time to Licensure

2017-04-05T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

The road towards licensure is exciting, humbling, and full of unexpected surprises. However, as daunting as the task may seem, there are ways to shorten the duration and ease stress as you go from wide-eyed architecture student to stamp-carrying architect. Follow these tips to get ahead of the pack and shorten your time to licensure.

1. Know the Basics

Learn what lies ahead. The maze of educational and experiential requirements you must navigate before becoming a licensed architect is long and complex. Know these requirements like you know your shoe size. Then plan accordingly.

Education requirements vary depending on where you acquire your degree. If you’re at all confused about whether or not your degree path sets you up for early licensure, refer to this resource from NCARB. Consider how long it will take to receive an accredited degree before settling on an institution to complete your architecture education.

Also, there are ways to start earning ...

Three Reasons Why You Need to Get Your Architecture License

2017-03-14T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

Here are the top three reasons licensure matters and why you shouldn't delay the process.

1. Let's face it, money is pretty important!

Licensure allows you to position yourself for career advancement and income generation. On average, licensed architects have a higher earning potential than unlicensed architects. More than half of architecture firms offer higher salaries to licensed architects (AIA 2015 compensation report).

2. Move from doer to leader

Why wait for the future to define you when you can take control of your own future? In many states, only licensed architects can design buildings over three stories or commercial buildings. As a licensed architect, you'll be able to choose the type of projects you work on and firms that you join. You will be able to sign-off on projects, supervise teams, and start your own firms.

3. Claim the title of an architect

It may be a surprise to many people, but without licensure, you cannot claim the title of ar...

Why We’re Thankful for Licensed Architects

2016-11-21T09:00:00-05:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

Being able to call yourself an architect is just one perk of becoming licensed. After hours of studying, practicing, and testing, licensed architects can confidently take on unique design projects with knowledge and experience to back up their choices. This is why their clients trust them with important decisions, and why we are thankful every day for their expertise. Here are a few reasons we are thankful for licensed architects.

1. They make choices you can trust.

High-level knowledge of design practices and how to best avoid errors only comes with practice and studying, two things with which every licensed architect is intimately familiar. After participating in Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), involving hours of studying, testing, and practicing in the field, licensed architects are equipped for success. Architects utilize their arsenal of knowledge to inform the decisions they make...

Five Can’t-Miss ARE Updates from NCARB

2016-10-19T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

It’s an exciting time to be an ARE candidate. With the release of ARE 5.0, new information is revealing itself daily. Keeping up with these updates can be difficult, but not impossible. Read on to discover essential ARE updates from NCARB that will help you on your path to licensure.

1. Earn a $100 Gift Card by Contributing to the Cut Score

If you’re among the first 600 candidates to take the ARE, not only will you contribute to the cut score (defined points on the score scale that determine the passing standard), but you will receive a $100 gift card from NCARB. NCARB will temporarily hold the release of ARE 5.0 score reports until the cut score of each division is decided, so encourage other ARE 5.0 candidates you know to test early.

2. Navigate the New Testing Interface with NCARB’s Demo Exam

The ARE 5.0 Demonstration Exam is an interactive tool that helps you become familiar with the interface of the new test, and can be accessed easily through yo...

Are You Ready for ARE 5.0?

2016-09-12T11:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

As the release date for ARE 5.0 draws near, knowing what to expect on the new test is becoming more pertinent for ARE candidates. Exciting breakthroughs in graphic testing methods and a desire to move away from the outdated CAD software system were just a couple of considerations fueling the latest ARE update. NCARB’s aim of making ARE content better reflect the day-to-day activities of professional architects also played a large role.

NCARB’s goal with any update is to use the most effective methodology to properly test a candidate’s ability to protect public safety and welfare - not to mention making the test as logical and cost-effective as possible. With the update, candidates will only have to take six divisions in contrast to the seven divisions of ARE 4.0. In fact, you may qualify to take advantage of a unique and lucrative Loophole Combo Strategy to the transition between tests. Check here to see if you’re eligible.

What’s New?

With the relea...

The ARE 5.0 Loophole You Should Know

2016-08-15T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

If you are on the path to becoming a licensed architect, you may already be aware that the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) is being updated starting November 1st, 2016. You may not know that there could be significant benefits in store for you if you adopt a strategic approach to the update from ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0. You could be among a group of candidates who can take advantage of a special loophole that may save you considerable time and money.

This “loophole strategy” (or Combo Strategy) involves taking a combination of division exams from both exam versions by beginning your testing with three specific divisions from ARE 4.0 and then completing your requirements with two divisions from ARE 5.0. The key to saving time and money is that you will complete just five divisions total, instead of the required seven for ARE 4.0 and six for ARE 5.0. Completing fewer divisions will subsequently save you time and money. But you’ll need to act before ...

Upcoming Architect Registration Exam® (ARE®) Change

2016-03-15T09:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

As an aspiring architect, you are required to pass the ARE for initial licensure in all U.S. jurisdictions.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have just released new information regarding their upcoming release of ARE version 5.0.

There will be six divisions, compared to seven in ARE 4.0. As a result, an aspiring architect can expect to spend up to eight hours fewer completing ARE 5.0 divisions.

Though the exam will continue to use multiple-choice, check-all-that-apply, and quantitative fill-in-the-blank question formats, it will replace ARE 4.0 vignettes with new problem types, including:

Case Studies
Hot Spots
Drag-and-Place

Each division will include at least 80 questions, along with one to two case studies.

ARE 5.0 Timing and Planning Tools

NCARB will begin the final stages of ARE 5.0 exam development this spring, which will determine the official launch date of ARE 5.0 in late 2016.

If you have already started ARE 4.0, th...

ARE 5.0 Is Coming—Why Start Studying Now?

2016-01-11T08:00:00-05:00

This post is brought to you by PPI.

In 2016, NCARB announced a change to the ARE exam format. The goal is to align the ARE with current practice management, project management, and project design activities in the architecture profession.

The new exam will be launched late 2016, but you have will until June 2018 to pass the ARE 4.0 divisions. Now is a great time to plan and start studying so that you can pass all seven divisions before the exam changes. You can still find study tips from architects who have already taken and passed the ARE. Click here to download a side-by-side chart showing topics covered by the seven ARE 4.0 divisions.

You can visit the NCARB web page to learn more about the upcoming transition to ARE 5.0.

Studying for ARE 4.0

There are no requirements from NCARB regarding the order in which examinees should take the seven divisions. Examinees often choose to assess division subject matter and schedule the exams in order from easiest to most difficult (as ranked by t...