The best ARE 5.0 test order saves you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in retakes.

This episode breaks down the exact ARE exam sequence that works for 95% of candidates, why starting with the professional practice exams (PcM, PjM, CE) builds the foundation you need for everything else, and the most common bad advice that derails people right at the start.

Michael covers the two distinct phases of the ARE, the PA strategy (study hard, take it once, and save it for last if needed), why PPD and PDD are monster exams that work best as a pair, and why studying for all six exams at once is one of the worst things you can do for your licensing timeline.

📝 Key topics covered:

• ARE 5.0 test order: the sequence that works for 95% of candidates

• Why pro practice divisions come before technical exams

• The PA strategy: study hard, take once, retake last if needed

• PPD and PDD: why they work best taken 2-4 weeks apart

• Common bad advice: studying all six exams at once, taking PA first, scheduling upfront

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:02) Timeline Reality Check

(5:17) Understanding the Two ARE Phases

(8:07) Pro Practice Exam Strategy

(10:01) Technical Exam Strategy

(12:47) Common Bad Advice and Mistakes

(21:22) Conclusion and Next Steps

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE ARE Exam Order study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Project Development and Documentation)

• AIA Contracts 101

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

Construction claims and disputes are an unavoidable part of working in the AEC industry. This episode breaks down what they are, the most common types, how to prevent them, and how they get resolved.

You'll learn the four elements of a valid claim, the 21-day notice rule under AIA A201, the difference between excusable and compensable delays, and how construction mediation and arbitration compare. We also break down the Spearin doctrine and what it means for design liability, plus the Initial Decision Maker role that trips up so many candidates in practice.

Whether you're preparing for the PcM, PjM, or CE exam or just trying to understand how claims actually play out on a real project, this episode gives you a clear framework for preventing disputes and resolving the ones you can't avoid. These are skills that pay off long after you pass the exam.

📝 Key topics covered:

• The four elements of a valid claim and the 21-day notice rule under AIA A201

• Common claim types against architects, contractors, and owners

• Construction delay claims: excusable vs compensable delay

• The real cost of disputes and the negotiation to litigation ladder

• Construction mediation vs arbitration and the Initial Decision Maker role

• The Spearin doctrine and what it means for design liability

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Claims and Disputes in Construction

(1:45) What This Episode Covers

(3:36) What Is a Construction Claim?

(4:36) Claim vs Dispute

(5:31) What a Claim Is Not

(7:10) Claims Against Architects

(8:34) Claims Against Contractors, Owners

(11:32) Third-Party Construction Claims

(12:31) The Real Cost of Claims

(14:09) Dispute Resolution Timelines

(19:14) Case Study: Design Error Claim

(20:02) Design Error Claim Resolution

(22:07) How to Prevent Construction Claims

(23:52) RFI Process and Communication

(25:19) Construction Documentation Practices

(27:18) Claim Resolution Action Plan

(28:40) Case Study: Construction Delay Claim

(29:29) How Documentation Won the Claim

(32:05) Dispute Resolution Methods

(34:09) Arbitration vs Litigation

(36:43) Spearin Doctrine Explained

(39:01) Indemnification Clauses

(40:43) Key Takeaways

(43:18) ARE Exam Prep Resources

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE Claims and Disputes study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• AIA Contracts 101

📋 CSI Certification Courses:

• CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

• CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration)

Test taking strategies are the difference between walking out confident and walking out wondering what just happened. If you've ever studied hard, knew the content, and still felt blindsided by how ARE exam questions were worded — this episode is for you.

Michael and Layla break down the exact techniques that help you read ARE exam questions strategically. You'll learn how to strip away the noise NCARB builds into every question, catch the qualifier words that change the correct answer entirely, and use multiple choice strategies to eliminate wrong answers even when you're not 100% sure. These aren't theories — they come from real conversations with real candidates about where they were getting stuck.

The best part? These same analytical skills translate directly into practice. When you're interpreting building codes, reviewing RFIs, or working through a complex client situation, you're using the same thinking process. Mastering how to read an ARE question doesn't just help you pass exams — it makes you a sharper architect.

📝 Key topics covered:

• Why knowing the content isn't enough to pass ARE questions

• The three types of distracting information NCARB builds into questions

• Five qualifier words (MOST, LEAST, FIRST, BEST, PRIMARY) that change everything

• Strategic answer elimination and red flag phrases

• The flag-and-return time management method

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:24) Test-Taking Psychology

(6:44) Question Anatomy

(10:23) Key Qualifier Words That Change Everything

(13:04) Strategic Answer Elimination

(16:47) Time Management for Maximum Performance

(20:12) Practice Example Walkthrough

(24:58) Advanced Test-Taking Tactics

(26:55) Conclusion

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE ARE Exam Questions study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program)

ARE 101 Membership (all courses)

PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

PcM 101 (Practice Management)

PjM 101 (Project Management)

CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

Building Codes 101

Mechanical Systems 101

AIA Contracts 101

Types of elevators explained: hydraulic, traction, and machine room-less (MRL) systems, how each one works, when to use them, and what architects need to know for the ARE exam.

Whether you're designing a 3-story office building or a 25-story residential tower, choosing the wrong elevator type can blow your budget, violate code, and create accessibility problems. Hydraulic elevators top out around 65 feet. Geared traction systems reach up to 300 feet. Gearless traction systems have no height limit. MRL systems split the difference for mid-rise projects where space efficiency matters. Each system has a different structural impact, energy profile, and maintenance story.

This episode breaks down all three main elevator systems with specs, height limits, selection criteria, ADA requirements, and fire safety code references. Elevator knowledge shows up across PA for early programming decisions, PPD for systems integration and selection, and PDD for technical coordination and code compliance.

📝 Key topics covered:

• Hydraulic vs traction vs MRL elevator systems

• Elevator hoistway, pit, and machine room requirements

• Geared vs gearless traction elevators

• ADA accessibility requirements for elevator cabs

• Five-step fire emergency protocol

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:27) Elevator Types and Classification

(4:46) Elevator Components: Hoistway, Pit, and Machine Room

(7:53) Hydraulic Elevator: The Low-Rise Workhorse

(10:51) Traction Elevator Systems: Geared and Gearless

(13:35) Machine Room-Less (MRL) Elevator

(15:43) Code Compliance and ADA Requirements

(18:22) Elevator Design Mistakes to Avoid

(20:50) Emerging Elevator Technologies

(22:37) ARE Exam Tips: Hydraulic, Traction, and MRL

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE Elevator Systems study notes

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

Hard costs vs soft costs define where every dollar goes on a construction project, and understanding the difference is essential for the ARE and real-world practice.

Hard costs are the tangible expenses that create the physical building: materials, labor, equipment, and building systems. Soft costs are the intangible expenses that make the project possible: design fees, permits, insurance, financing, and project management.

This episode breaks down examples of each with typical percentages, explains how the 70/80 to 20/30 budget ratio shifts for residential, commercial, and institutional projects, and covers how architects, contractors, and owners each see these costs differently.

You'll also learn how project delays turn soft costs into budget killers and why cutting construction administration services to save money almost always backfires.

📝 Key Topics Covered:

• Hard costs vs soft costs definitions and real-world examples

• Typical budget ratios: 70-80% hard costs, 20-30% soft costs

• How soft costs shift for residential, commercial, and institutional projects

• The S-curve model for construction spending over time

• How architects, contractors, and owners manage costs differently

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:20) Hard Costs vs Soft Costs Defined

(3:43) Hard and Soft Cost Examples

(10:54) Budget Ratios by Project Type

(17:31) Architect, Contractor, and Owner Views

(21:18) Cost Mistakes That Kill Budgets

(23:52) Managing Hard and Soft Costs

(27:29) Key Takeaways for the ARE

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE Hard Costs vs Soft Costs study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• Building Codes 101

• AIA Contracts 101

• CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

The architect standard of care is the legal benchmark for measuring your professional performance, and it does not mean perfection.

Standard of care defines the level of skill and diligence that a reasonably competent architect would exercise under similar circumstances. It shows up in every AIA contract, gets referenced in every negligence claim, and shapes how you approach your work every single day.

In this episode, we break down the AIA B101 definition of standard of care, explain the four elements required to prove architect negligence, and walk through real scenarios showing how contract language protects you or creates liability. We also cover the dangerous red flag phrases that elevate your standard beyond what your errors and omissions insurance will cover.

📝 Key topics covered:

• AIA B101 Section 2.2: the standard of care definition

• Four elements of architect negligence: duty, breach, causation, damages

• Red flag contract language that voids your insurance

• Elevated standard of care and how to avoid it

• Construction contingency funds and why they exist

• Documentation strategies that prove you met the standard

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Standard of Care Defined

(1:02) AIA B101 Definition Unpacked

(2:08) Beede vs Coombs: 1896 Ruling

(2:28) Chefs Standard of Care

(3:26) Perfection Is Not the Standard

(3:57) Architecture Is a Service Not a Product

(4:47) Leaking Wall: Process Over Outcome

(5:16) Why Contingency Funds Exist

(7:04) AIA Contracts and Standard of Care

(7:36) AIA Contract Family: B101 A201 C401

(8:19) How Standard of Care Protects You

(9:09) Red Flag Contract Language

(10:31) Marketing Promises Gone Wrong

(11:14) How to Fix Elevated Contract Language

(12:13) Daily Practice: Code, Coordination, CA

(12:48) Documentation Is Your Best Defense

(13:35) Beam vs Duct: Couples Therapy

(14:38) Standard of Care in Four Sentences

(15:16) ARE Boot Camp and Course Resources

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE Standard of Care study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• AIA Contracts 101

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• Building Codes 101

• Building Systems 101

📚 CSI Certification Courses:

• CDT 101

• CCCA 101

Substantial completion is the most important milestone in construction, and it triggers everything that happens during project closeout. This episode breaks down what substantial completion actually means, how it differs from final completion, and walks through the full closeout process.

We cover the AIA G704 certificate, building commissioning, closeout documents, record drawings, the punch list process, and how to evaluate building performance after the owner moves in. If you're studying for the CE exam, project closeout is the smallest section but it completes the entire CE picture.

📝 Key topics covered:

• Substantial completion vs final completion

• AIA G704 Certificate of Substantial Completion

• Closeout documents and record drawings

• Final payment and retainage release

• The punch list process

• Building commissioning and seasonal testing

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:21) How the CE Exam Is Organized

(5:13) What Is Project Closeout?

(9:30) Substantial Completion and Closeout

(14:56) Commissioning and POE

(22:35) Project Closeout Study Mistakes

(26:33) How to Study Project Closeout

(33:12) Conclusion

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE 2-page CE study guide

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• AIA Contracts 101

• CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration)

• CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

Business entity types for architects explained. This episode breaks down sole proprietorships, LLCs, LLPs, S-Corps, and C-Corps so you know which structure protects your practice and your personal assets.

We start with a real story about two architects who partnered on a project without forming a business entity. They accidentally created a general partnership by default, and that mistake cost one of them $45,000. From there, we walk through each entity type covering liability protection, tax implications, and management structure.

Then we put it all into practice with real scenarios for solo firms, small partnerships, and growth-stage companies. This is essential PcM exam content that most architecture schools never teach.

📝 Key topics covered:

• Sole proprietorship: easy to form but zero liability protection

• LLC for architects: the most popular structure for small firms

• LLP and PLLP: designed for professional partnerships with separate projects

• S-Corp vs C-Corp: pass-through taxation vs double taxation

• How to choose the right entity for different scenarios

• Where business entity questions show up on the PcM exam

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Partnership Gone Wrong: $45K Lesson

(3:55) Business Entity Types for Architects

(4:09) Sole Proprietorship: Zero Protection

(6:06) LLC for Architects

(7:53) LLP: Protecting Partners

(9:26) S-Corp vs C-Corp

(11:34) Choosing Your Business Structure

(14:10) Business Entities on the ARE

(16:01) Starting Your Architecture Firm

(17:09) Recap and Next Steps

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE 2-page Business Entities study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• AIA Contracts 101

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

Join our free CDT webinar to master Fall 2025 registration deadlines, study strategies, and insider secrets that help ARE candidates efficiently add this valuable certification to their licensing journey.

After Episode 26 about CDT certification for ARE candidates, we got flooded with requests for actionable information. People want to know how to actually get CDT certified.

Emily and I are hosting a free CDT webinar to help you master the Fall 2025 testing cycle. We're both CDT certified and have helped hundreds of people succeed.

The biggest thing about CDT? You're on their schedule, not yours. Unlike the ARE where you schedule whenever you want, CDT has only two opportunities per year with fixed deadlines.

🔗 Links & Resources:

- Register for Free CDT Webinar: https://youngarchitect.com/CDTWebinar

- Episode 26 - Why ARE Candidates Get CDT Certified: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-candidates-cdt-certification/

- Young Architect Academy: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/

- CDT 101: https://youngarchitect.com/CDT101

YoungWant to learn more about CDT certification for ARE candidates?

Check out our comprehensive analysis of why this certification makes strategic sense for your licensing journey: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-candidates-cdt-certification/

Don't let the CDT schedule dictate your timeline. Get the information you need to make an informed choice about the Fall 2025 testing cycle.

#CDTWebinar #ARECandidates #ArchitectExamPodcast

Confused about the difference between vent stack vs stack vent and worried it might cost you points on the ARE? Layla breaks down these commonly confused plumbing concepts that trip up almost every ARE candidate - but once you understand the simple distinction, you'll never mix them up again.

In this focused episode, you'll master the key differences between vent stacks and stack vents, understand when each is required in building design, learn practical analogies that make these concepts stick, and discover why this knowledge is crucial for solving complex plumbing scenarios on the ARE exam.

Read the full blogpost for this podcast: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/vent-stack-vs-stack-vent/

Want to master vent stack vs stack vent and other challenging technical concepts for your ARE preparation?

Join our ARE Bootcamp where candidates discuss and master these topics together: https://youngarchitect.com/bootcamp

As Layla mentions, understanding technical concepts like the difference between vent stacks and stack vents becomes much clearer when you can discuss them with other candidates and get expert guidance.

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