ARE® 5.0 Exam

Six Division Exams Designed to Test Your Knowledge of the Practice of Architecture

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Explore Exam Prep Options: Choose Your ARE Division

PPI exam bundles provide everything you need to pass each division of the ARE 5.0 Exam. Divisional exams can be taken in any order to obtain ARE 5.0 licensure. Pick your division below to choose an industry-leading exam prep bundle.

Practice Management (PcM)

Project Management (PjM)

Programming & Analysis (P&A)

Project Planning & Design (PP&D)

Project Development & Documentation (PD&D)

Construction & Evaluation (C&E)

About the ARE 5.0 Exam

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“The PPI program is a great resource to prepare for the ARE. The book is well written, easy to follow, and really covers all of the information you need to be successful on the exams. My process was pretty simple; I read the section for the test I was preparing for, went through the flashcards often, and then took the NCARB practice test. I was honestly amazed at how much I learned from the study material, and probably would have tested much sooner if I would have been exposed to it earlier [in school].”

 

—Aaron K.
June 2025

FAQs for the ARE Exam

ARE 5.0 is a computer-based test and has content divided into six divisions that may be taken in any order. They are: 
  • Practice Management (80 items, 2 hours and 45 minutes test duration)
  • Project Management (90 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes test duration)
  • Programming & Analysis (95 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes test duration) 
  • Project Planning & Design (120 items, 4 hours and 15 minutes test duration)
  • Project Development & Documentation (120 items, 4 hours and 15 minutes test duration) 
  • Construction & Evaluation (95 items, 3 hours and 15 minutes test duration) 
For more information, you can visit ncarb.org.
After you pass an ARE division, it remains valid during the delivery of the version of the exam under which it was taken. Your passed division could also be used to establish credits during the delivery of the next exam version. After two versions of the exam, passed divisions will expire. Please see NCARB's website for more information on their score validity policy.

The ARE pass rates from 2024 are:

  • Practice Management: 48%
  • Project Management: 60%
  • Programming & Analysis: 61%
  • Project Planning & Design: 47%
  • Project Development & Documentation: 55%
  • Construction & Evaluation: 61%
The Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) is a multi-division exam used to assess your knowledge and skills regarding the practice of architecture. The current version of the exam, ARE 5.0, is developed by NCARB and features six divisions. Completing the ARE 5.0 exam by passing all six divisions is required by all US jurisdictions as a key step on the path to earning a license. The division exams can be taken in any order.

ARE 5.0 has a mixture of item types. There is not a set percentage of any one type of item type on an exam. Here are the item types found on the ARE 5.0:

  • Multiple Choice
  • Check-All-That-Apply
  • Hotspot
  • Case Studies
The tests are administered at Prometric test centers and must be scheduled three days in advance. 

In addition to testing, there are other education and work experience requirements that must be fulfilled to earn a license. For more information on additional requirements, exam policies, and eligibility, please visit the NCARB website.

There are three different item types utilized during each ARE 5.0 exam division. Here are the item types:

  • Multiple Choice
  • Check-All-That-Apply
  • Hotspot
To better assess your skills and abilities, each exam division contains two Case Studies. A Case Study presents a scenario that represents an architecture project and includes supporting resources. Using the information provided, you'll be asked to answer questions related to the scenario.

View More ARE FAQs

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