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ARE Advantage

These resources aim to support licensure candidates searching for work opportunities and promote equitable workplaces in our profession.

  • Candidate Guide: This resource is designed to help aspiring architects find employers that actively support their licensure goals. The guide provides valuable insights and tips for identifying firms prioritizing your professional development, offering study resources and financial support for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), and providing mentorship opportunities.
  • NCARB Firm Guide: This resource offers best practices and actionable tips for maintaining a supportive and equitable work environment for licensure candidates. It covers strategies for providing financial support for licensure, creating candidate support networks, and ensuring equitable access to firm resources.

We are delighted to assist you in your pursuit of becoming a licensed architect. The resources below have been crafted specifically for YOU. Benefit from the expertise of licensed architects, study at your own pace, and get ready to successfully navigate your exams with the confidence of having a distinct advantage.

   

Black Spectacles is the first and only NCARB approved online test prep provider for all six divisions of the ARE 5.0. Feel confident going into exam day after studying with our NCARB-aligned materials for every division of the ARE. Their versatile resources accommodate every learning style and are available for you to study whenever and wherever you want.

Comprehensive lessons with full outlines and explanations of core topics in each division, led by engaging, expert architects and educators. Black Spectacles offers over 120 hours of video lectures, all built in alignment with NCARB’s exam objectives.

Simulate the actual exam with the same look, functionality,and time constraints as the real deal. We use NCARB’s processes to design our ARE® practice questions, which are developed and vetted by leading learning designers and test question experts. With 3 distinct forms for each division, you’ll see every type of question ahead of exam day.

AIA Connecticut Rate: $423/3 months
Contact communications@aiact.org to sign up.

 

Because architects are visual learners,  Amber Book offers 50+ hours of well-animated instruction, more than 600 practice problems with well-animated explanations, plus hundreds (more than 700) of digital flashcards.

Amber Book sees themselves not as study prep material, but rather as something approaching a university-level course, if the university-level course was focused on getting you licensed.

They’ve updated the Amber Book ARE prep course to incorporate the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) transition from referencing International Building Code (IBC) 2018 to IBC 2021, keeping individuals ahead in architectural studies. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s changed:

  • Accessibility Standards
  • Mass Timber Construction
  • Building Frontage Calculations
  • Unique Building Uses

Additionally, NCARB is removing the Quantitative Fill In The Blank question type from their exams. Amber Book will be updating to remove those from our course and replace them with multiple-choice variations.

AIA Connecticut Rate: $150/month
Contact communications@aiact.org to sign up.

In 2021, AIA Connecticut offered a live video series to guide Emerging Professionals through the ARE testing process. In an effort to create a more accessible and flexible program, we have compiled those video lectures into our new ARE Advantage series. As an AIA CT member, you have free access as you prepare for your exams.

Practice Management
Presented by Michael Ayles, FAIA

Programming and Analysis
Presented by Jeannette Penniman, AIA

Project Planning & Design, Part 1
Presented by Paolo Campos, AIA

Project Planning & Design, Part 2
Presented by Manny Machado, AIA

Project Management
Presented by Linda Blaszka, AIA

Construction and Evaluation
Presented by Rocco Petitto, AIA

Project Development & Documentation, Part 1
Presented by Emily Ky, AIA

Project Development & Documentation, Part 2
Presented by Kristin Irwin, AIA

Have questions on AXP? Contact Manny Machado, AIA, the CT NCARB Architect Licensing Advisor at mmachado@antinozzi.com

Please click here for access to all the lectures.

Please Note: You will need to login as an AIA CT member to partake in ARE Advantage.

If you are not a member but are interested in joining, please contact Gina Calabro

Email communications@aiact.org to check availability and borrow our FREE study guides or flashcard boxes.

We have the following materials:

  • Brightwood Project Management Study Guide

  • Brightwood Practice Mangagement Study Guide & corresponding flashcards

  • Brightwood Project Planning & Design Study Guide & corresponding flashcards

  • Brightwood Programming & Analysis Study Guide & corresponding flashcards

  • Brightwood Construction & Evaluation Study Guide & corresponding flashcards

  • PPI ARE 5 Review Manual for the Architect Registration Exam

  • PPI ARE 5 Practice Exam for the Architect Registration Exam

*Please Note: Rental is for 30 days. Failure to return the materials after 30 days will result in a $100 charge per item borrowed.

These resources aim to support licensure candidates searching for work opportunities and promote equitable workplaces in our profession.

  • Candidate Guide: This resource is designed to help aspiring architects find employers that actively support their licensure goals. The guide provides valuable insights and tips for identifying firms prioritizing your professional development, offering study resources and financial support for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), and providing mentorship opportunities.
  • NCARB Firm Guide: This resource offers best practices and actionable tips for maintaining a supportive and equitable work environment for licensure candidates. It covers strategies for providing financial support for licensure, creating candidate support networks, and ensuring equitable access to firm resources.

If you need to change your testing jurisdiction—or the jurisdiction where you are seeking initial licensure—here’s how to start the process of updating your testing jurisdiction:

  1. Log in to My NCARB and navigate to the Exams tab in your NCARB Record
  2. On the ARE Overview page, select “Switch My Testing Jurisdiction”
  3. You will be asked to verify your Record information and read several disclaimers about switching jurisdictions—once you have reviewed the information, select “Continue” at the bottom of the page
  4. Select your new testing jurisdiction from the dropdown menu and follow the prompts to complete the process

Keep in mind, each jurisdiction sets its own rules regarding when you are eligible to take the ARE; in most cases, you can begin testing after completing your jurisdiction’s education requirement. Learn more about the jurisdiction switching process, including potential next steps based on your licensure process and your jurisdiction, on the NCARB website.

Have Questions about Licensing?
Manny Machado, AIA,is the Connecticut State Licensing Advisor,
and Gina Calabro, Hon. AIACT, is the Component Licensing Advisor.

NCARB Licensing Requirements Tool