ARE Experience Stories: Madison Holmes

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:

Madison Holmes, AIA

Madison Holmes, is an Architect at VLK Architects in Austin, Texas. With five years of experience, Madison’s primary focus is K-12 education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University, where she learned how to create sustainable and inspiring spaces. She is licensed in both Texas and Wisconsin, showcasing her expertise and adaptability.

Passionate about learning and sharing knowledge, Madison is a member of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and ACE Mentor Program. She passed her exams within an impressive five months, becoming one of the youngest professionals in her firm to do so.

Madison is an accomplished Architect with a passion for designing educational spaces. Her expertise, combined with her drive to create inspiring environments, positions her as a leader in the field. Madison’s work exemplifies her commitment to shaping the future of education and making a positive impact on students’ lives.

“Find a mentor that prioritizes passion over paper, experience over titles, and gives you the inspiration to chase your dream.”

I did not change my study approach for any of my exams that I failed. I stayed consistent with my pre-exam studying. The week before each exam I would pour over the Amber Book flashcards and reflect on any subjects that I still struggled with. I took all of the exams at home in the same environment I studied in. Same lighting, same candle burning, and I would even work out the morning of like any other day of the week. I think it was important to keep your study to testing environment and routine consistent. It helps keep you calm and not begin overthinking.

April 22, 2022	Virtual	CE	Pass
April 28, 2022	Virtual	PjM	Pass
May 4, 2022	Virtual	PPD	Fail
May 9, 2022	Virtual	P&A	Fail
June 14, 2022	Virtual	PDD	Pass
July 1, 2022	Virtual	PcM	Fail
July 8, 2022	Virtual	P&A	Pass
July 29, 2022	Virtual	PPD	Pass
September 10, 2022	Virtual	PcM	Pass

I often get asked “why do I need to get licensed?”. Why did you decide that you wanted to be a licensed Architect?

Becoming an Architect was a dream of mine from an incredibly early age. As I went through college, I began to understand the difficulty and time commitment of obtaining a license and started to become discouraged. Around the time that I started to question my capability and commitment of becoming an architect I went into my first internship. My principal and mentor at the company I started interning with challenged me to experience every phase of architecture and truly dive into my projects. He helped me find my passion for architecture in problem solving, client relations, and the beauty of the process.

I was encouraged to gain as much experience as I could before attacking the exams and it was that experience that allowed me to complete my exams within five months.

Five minutes after completing my last exam, I received a call from my mentor to first congratulate me and then remind me that the art of architecture was deeper than a slip of paper. Having a passion and dedication for what we do is what will really carry and push you farther. It is important to note that for anyone on the path to becoming licensed, remember to focus on your passion for architecture and continue to learn through your experiences.

Also, find a mentor that prioritizes passion over paper, experience over titles, and gives you the inspiration to chase your dream.

What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?

I primarily used Amber Books, and I will recommend it to anyone looking take the ARE. The process in which Amber Books recommends attacking the exams is one of the reasons that I was able to pass all my exams withing 5 months.

How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?

My advice to anyone starting their studying is to prioritize your study time and make your goals clear too. Sit down with the people that you spend time with, whether it is friends, family, or significant others. Let them know that you will be prioritizing studying so the time that you can spend with them will be limited in the short term. After doing this, I received encouragement daily, and respect for my schedule and priorities.

I scheduled two hours a day during the work week, when I would stay at the office so that my distractions were limited. I would also spend about 4 hours a day on the weekends studying. Letting my friends, family, and significant other know my exact schedule kept my distractions to a minimum and surrounded by encouragement. 

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 Madison Holmes for sharing your story!

Edited by

Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB