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:
Timothy Cobo, RA, NCARB
Timothy Cobo quickly realized he had a passion for the built environment and enrolled at Miami Dade College for a 2-year degree in Architecture. Timothy excelled in this program and then transferred into Florida International University’s Masters in Architecture (M.Arch) program. He was awarded the 2020 AIA Florida Bronze Medal.
This is one of the profession’s most prestigious awards given to students. Each school year, a Bronze Medalist is bestowed upon one student from each of the six universities with an architecture program. He was also awarded the 2020 AIA Miami Merit Award for his master’s thesis project. Timothy is now working as an Architect for Gresham Smith in the healthcare market.
“There are no shortcuts in getting licensed. Learn the material, commit to the hours, and do your part not only to finish the ARE’s, but to become a better architect.”
Exam Order
I took a few breaks in between exams due to life changes. I got married in December of 2021 and moved out so I took 6 months off from studying to adapt to the new changes. Failing these exams is entirely okay and once you have your license, people rarely ask “did you fail any?”
Having the license is what truly matters. Thankfully for me, I was able to pass them all on the first go. After passing the first three exams on the first try, I decided to set a personal goal to not fail any exams. Each pass motivated me to get the next pass and then, I was finished.
| August 9, 2021 | In Person | PcM | Pass |
| April 4, 2022 | In Person | PjM | Pass |
| June 28, 2022 | In Person | CE | Pass |
| October 18, 2022 | In Person | PA | Pass |
| April 4, 2023 | In Person | PPD | Pass |
| July 6, 2023 | In Person | PDD | Pass |
Advice for you!
I often get asked “why do I need to get licensed?”. Why did you decide that you wanted to be a licensed Architect?
I’ve wanted to become an Architect for as long as I can remember. After obtaining my Masters of Architecture degree, I prohibited myself from telling others I was an Architect when I asked about my profession. The title “Designer” doesn’t exactly explain my role quite well. I became eager to gain this reputable title and officially become an Architect.
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?
I would recommend taking a week to read through the handbook that NCARB supplies and then SCHEDULE it. Start with the professional practice exams (PcM, PjM, CE) and then move onto the technical ones. The trick is to make sure you have it scheduled.
I spent 6 months “studying” without having an exam date – this was not a good idea as I was not consistent with my regimen. Having an exam scheduled really pushed me to open textbooks every night.
What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?
For the professional practice exams, I would recommend Schiff Harden’s lectures on contracts, The Handbook of Professional practice, CSI master format, and Building construction illustrated.
For the technical exams, I would recommend most of the books on the reference matrix at the end of the handbook. Also, if you’re looking into third party programs, I would highly recommend Amberbook for the technical exams.
How did you fit study time into your schedule? Was there anything in particular that worked well for you?
I created an Excel Hours tracking timesheet and would log every hour I studied. This sounds crazy but it worked. I averaged 25 hours a week for 2-3 months per exam studying and my schedule went like this:
Weekdays: I would listen to ARE youtube videos / PODcasts that were free on the drive to work (1 hour drive). During lunch break, I would utilize this time to study flashcards and listen again to a free podcast. After work, I would take a break from everything, eat dinner and then in a couple hours get back to it for another one or two hours.
Weekends: I would utilize my weekend to maximize my hours and take practice exams as needed. This would involve reading textbooks for hours, taking practice questions, full length practice exams and reviewing all my handwritten notes for that week. One very important thing I incorporated into my schedule was taking a break from studying, going to the gym, and then going back to study for 3 more hours. This was critical as it gave me a mental reset and allowed me to push further into the night studying.
Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?
There are no shortcuts in life. Learn the material, commit to the hours, and do your part not only to finish the ARE’s, but to become a better Architect.
Passing the AREs and becoming an Architect is a professional milestone you’ll never forget. It requires discipline and grit. Remember why you selected architecture as a major in college – to become an architect. Eliminate any and all distractions and make studying for the ARE’s number 1 on your priority list for the week.
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 Timothy Cobo for sharing your story!
Edited by
Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB
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