Welcome to the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) experience stories series! This series is to share experiences, timelines and advice of professionals that have completed their AREs. We know it can be a daunting task to get started and overwhelming on the number of resources out there. We hope you find this information helpful in organizing how you proceed through your exams. Good Luck!
This is the experience, timeline, and advice from:
Valerie Poutous, AIA, NCARB
Meet Valerie Poutous, a distinguished graduate of Virginia Tech and a licensed architect at Gensler. With a rich background spanning over five years in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, Valerie has honed her skills across a diverse spectrum of projects, ranging from expansive commercial constructions to intricate interior redesigns.
Valerie’s expertise knows no bounds, having played a pivotal role in projects ranging from expansive commercial developments exceeding 2 million square feet to the meticulous repositioning and interior transformations of spaces totaling 30,000 square feet. Her adeptness at navigating every phase of the architectural process, from conceptualization to construction administration, sets her apart as a true visionary in her field.
Beyond her remarkable professional accomplishments, Valerie is passionate about mentorship and giving back to her community. For the past four years, she has served as an ACE mentor, guiding aspiring architects and nurturing their talents. Her dedication to mentorship has only grown stronger since relocating to Pittsburgh, where she has taken on the role of Lead Mentor for the local chapter of the ACE program.
Valerie’s story is one of inspiration and innovation, embodying the essence of architectural excellence and the power of mentorship. Join us as we delve deeper into her journey, exploring the projects that have shaped her career and the values that drive her forward.
“If you feel 70% ready, take the test. Don’t push it back or wait until you feel more confident.”
Exam Order
| April 2, 2022 | In Person | PcM | PASS |
| April 4, 2022 | In Person | PjM | PASS |
| April 25, 2022 | In Person | CE | PASS |
I took the summer off from studying and in that time NCARB switched to PSI and introduced free test pushing… for reference; I had scheduled PPD for Aug ’22 but without the financial incentive pushed test taking an entire year.
| May 13, 2023 | In Person | P&A | PASS |
NCARB reintroduced fees for moving exams.
| September 25, 2023 | In Person | P&A | PASS |
| October 16, 2023 | In Person | PDD | PASS |
Advice for you!
What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?
Amberbook, Elif Bayram Practice quizzes, blackspectacles practice exams.
100% recommend Amberbook by Michael Ermann as course material to understand the content. I believe it was the most painless solution to the learning test material out there. Architecture is a visual profession, and the material caters to that.
Elif bayram quizzes were great bite-size chunks to practice when there wasn’t a lot of time. 20 questions at a time.
Black spectacles had the best practice exams. I would argue both by format and wording was most similar to the actual exam. Skip their course content — not in depth enough to be useful.
How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?
Personally, I did the majority of my studying January–March 2022. Amber book provides a course outline in both an 8- and 16-week option depending on rigor/ time allotted. I think it was the quickest way to cover all the material. It was a lot of making time out of my weekends, but it was the winter months while it was gross outside anyway.
I wish that I would have listened to the course and taken all 6 in a shorter amount of time.
Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?
If you feel 70% ready, take the test. Don’t push it back or wait until you feel “more confident”
We hope that this information helps you through your ARE journey, setting goals, and giving you some insight on how to get started.
Thank you again to Valerie Poutous for sharing your story!
Edited by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, CSI, LSSBB
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