Welcome to the ARE experience stories series! This series is to share experiences, timelines and advice of professionals that have completed their architectural registration exams (ARE). 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:
Kayla Barko, RA, NCARB
Kayla is a licensed Architect in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture. She currently is a Project Architect at Ashley McGraw Architects working on projects within the K-12 education market.
She has a passion for mentorship and helping other professionals in the AEC industry. And she is excited to share her story in hopes of guiding other young professionals through the licensure and exam process.
“Ultimately, you need to know and accept that there are no secret tips and tricks that help you pass the exams quicker. It takes dedicated time and effort.”
Exam Order
Kayla took all exams in the 5.0 version even though at the time the 4.0 version of the exams were still available for part of her testing timeline.
| January 21, 2019 | In person | PcM | Pass |
| March 02, 2019 | In person | PjM | Pass |
| April 06, 2019 | In person | CE | Pass |
| June 01, 2019 | In person | P&A | Pass |
| August 10, 2019 | In person | PPD | Fail |
| September 21, 2019 | In person | PDD | Pass |
| October 21, 2019 | In person | PPD | Pass |
Advice for you!
Often people don’t know where to start, do you have any advice for those looking to start their exams, or how did you start?
There’s so much information out there regarding the exams that it can be intimidating and overwhelming to navigate. I initially found it difficult to determine which study materials were right for me.
If you’re just starting, read the Ballast Review Manual for one exam and then take the associated practice tests. Note which subject areas you struggled to grasp. The Ballast book will provide you with the foundational knowledge for each exam, from there you can dive deeper into specific subject areas with additional resources.
Ultimately, you need to know and accept that there are no secret tips and tricks that help you pass the exams quicker. It takes dedicated time and effort.
Focus on enjoying the journey instead of the destination. Keep thinking about the more knowledgeable professional you’re going to be on the other side and the opportunities it will bring your way.
How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?
The most valuable piece of my study plan was finding a group, which kept me accountable. This can be someone in your own office, another office, or someone you met online.
As I started studying, I joined an ARE facebook group and met another woman from North Carolina who was starting to study for the exams. We started Skyping on Wednesday evenings and came up with a study plan for each exam. At each meeting, we would determine which chapters we planned to read next or practice exam questions we wanted to discuss for the upcoming week. I knew that I had to be prepared to discuss the next topic each week so this kept me on a set schedule. This process was also beneficial for filling in knowledge gaps and talking through content that was difficult to grasp.
An unexpected bonus was also making a great friend in the process. I not only got to learn with her but also got to know her personally. To this day, we are still great friends and continue to Skype every couple of months!
Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?
Working on your mindset and mental state can be just as important as studying exam content. If I didn’t feel like studying some days, I’d listen to a motivational podcast or talk on YouTube to keep me focused on my ‘why’.
In the end, there’s only so much advice that can be heard from someone else’s perspective. Only you know your unique life circumstances and what study method or schedule works for you.
You’ve got this!
We hope that this information helps you through our ARE journey, setting goals, and giving you some insight on how to get started.
Thank you again to Kayla Barko for sharing your story!
Edited by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, LSSBB
Want to share your ARE Story?
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