Now that the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) 4.0 has retired, you may be wondering what’s next for the ARE. NCARB experienced a high volume of testers in June as candidates attempted a final division or two before the retirement. Even with that, we continue to see signs of strong testing volumes on ARE 5.0 moving forward.
As you navigate through the exam, here are some key things to know:
Now that ARE 4.0 has retired, how do you transition to ARE 5.0?
If you haven’t already, you’ll likely be automatically transitioned once you log into your NCARB Record and navigate to the Exams tab. There are three exceptions to this:
- If you completed the exam in ARE 4.0—No transition necessary, you are done with the ARE.
- If you have approved testing accommodations or if your old eligibilities to test have expired —You’ll need to contact NCARB customer service to be transitioned to ARE 5.0.
How will you know which ARE 5.0 divisions you’ll need to take?
Once you have transitioned, you’ll see what credits you’ve earned in ARE 5.0 based on your ARE 4.0 testing history. The next click will take you to the ARE 5.0 exam screen, where you’ll see your remaining divisions and information about the rolling clock.
What else is different about ARE 5.0?
If you’re new to ARE 5.0, you’ll notice no vignettes, a few new item types, reorganized content, more detailed and faster score reports, the opportunity to view provisional feedback before you leave the test center, the ability to take a 15-minute break at any point during testing, and more.
A lot has changed, but what hasn’t changed is most of the content covered: ARE 4.0 and ARE 5.0 test on the same topics, just structured differently with a new emphasis on some areas of architectural practice.
Where can you find ARE 5.0 study materials?
NCARB offers a variety of free study materials, including the ARE 5.0 Handbook, ARE 5.0 Demonstration Exam, and our video prep series, all of which can help you adjust to ARE 5.0’s structure and exam format.
In addition, we recently launched our new Approved Test Prep Provider Program, so you can see which third-party study materials have been reviewed by NCARB and given our seal of approval.
Now that ARE 4.0 has retired, should you expect any other changes to the exam?
Yes! There are a few upcoming changes to ARE 5.0 that you should be aware of as you continue testing.
- The cost per division of the ARE will increase from $210 to $235 on October 1, 2018; this keeps the total cost of ARE 5.0 less than the total cost of ARE 4.0.
- Also starting October 1, 2018, ARE 5.0 will reference the 2015 version of the International Building Codes.
- Also starting on October 1, 2018, ARE 5.0 will reference the 2017 family of AIA Contract Documents. The ARE will continue to address the standard agreements previously identified. You should expect to see additional questions related to the following contracts;
- A133-2009, Owner-Construction Manager as Constructor Agreement;
- A195-2008, Owner-Contractor Agreement for Integrated Project Delivery;
- A295-2008, General Conditions of the Contract for Integrated Project Delivery;
- B195-2008; Owner-Architect Agreement for Integrated Project Delivery;
Do you have licensing questions? Contact your Virginia Licensing Advisor, Rachel Shelton, AIA at reshelton11@gmail.com