The Beginning of the End of the Beginning

A.R.E.

Is, in fact, the one acronym that every architectural intern fears more than death. I have decided to start a blog as I begin taking the final 7 steps on my journey to becoming an architect. Hopefully, I’ll be able to look back after these next 7 exams and see a changed man, and Architect. It's almost funny (although sometimes painful) to think about how long it has taken me to get where I am, yet understanding how far I have to go on this path to licensure as a professional architect and even further I have yet to becoming a great architect.

For anyone that doesn’t know, ARE or Architect Registration Exam, is a series of exams, 7 to be exact, that is the final step to obtain a professional license as an architect. Prior to this phase, I completed 4 years of undergraduate studies in Architecture at Arizona State, 3 years of interning in the IDP (Intern Development Program) at GSG Architecture in Casper, Wyoming, and another 2 years of graduate school at The University of Colorado at Denver, which I just completed in May ‘08. Since graduate school I have been working for Box Studios in Denver, Colorado. All told, I’ve spent the last 9.5 years of my life devoted to this profession of mine. Obviously, I’m anxious to get done, or begin rather.

Now that my long-winded introduction is over, I’d like to point out that I am beginning with the CDS (Construction Documents & Services) exam. As many interns will attest, this portion of the test “should” be one of the easier exams as we spend most days drafting, detailing, & coordinating construction documents. I have initial reservations about the “services” portion of the exam as it covers the in-depth knowledge of AIA (American Institute of Architect’s) documents that I don’t see everyday. While I did study them in school, I anticipate these documents to require extra attention as I prepare for the exam.

When looking for advice, I’ve come across some great sources. The first, and foremost has been my peers. Every architect or intern taking the ARE has some insight on how to pass the exams. From “take one per week for seven weeks” to “one per month” to “one whenever you feel ready”, I’ve had so much advice thrown at me that I didn't know where to start.So naturally I turned to the all-knowing internet for some semblance of direction only to find even more conflicting counsel. In response to all this advice, I, like any other stubborn architect-to-be, have decided to create my own system. Below is my initial schedule… to be altered through addendum once I take the first exam and redistributed as an ASI to relevant parties.

Jan. 29 – Construction Documents & Services
Feb. 9 – Building Systems
Feb. 19 – Building Design & Construction Systems
Mar. 2 – Structural Systems
Mar. 11 – Programming, Planning, & Practice
Mar. 18 – Site Planning & Design
Mar. 25 – Schematic Design

It's going to be fast and furious to try and keep up.