Shows / Architect Exam Podcast
Architect Exam Podcast
Free, high-value ARE prep broken into digestible episodes that make studying accessible and actually enjoyable. We translate complex exam content into clear, actionable strategies based directly on NCARB's objectives—not complicated study approaches that miss the mark. Young Architect has guided thousands to licensure since 2013 by simplifying ARE prep to what truly matters and keeping it fresh. Subscribe for practical ARE insights delivered in a format that fits your busy life.
Episodes
Architect Exam Podcast089 - Active Reading Strategies for Exam Prep
Active reading strategies that actually work for exam prep, whether you're studying for the architect exam or any professional licensing test. Reading is the…
Architect Exam Podcast088 - The Spearin Doctrine: Who Pays When the Drawings Are Wrong
The Spearin doctrine decides who pays when work is built exactly as drawn, inspected, approved, and it fails anyway. Most people in construction already…
Architect Exam Podcast087 - Engineered Wood: From Glulam Beams to CLT Panels
Engineered wood products are how we build 18-story buildings out of wood. This episode covers every major product in the family, from glulam beams and CLT…
Architect Exam Podcast086 - Asbestos in Buildings: What It Looks Like and What to Do
Asbestos in buildings is hiding in more places than you think, and you cannot identify it by looking at it. This episode walks through what asbestos actually…
Architect Exam Podcast085 - AIA A201 Articles That Solve Real Job Site Problems
AIA A201 articles that solve real job site problems, from fall protection violations and material substitutions to construction claims and mechanic's liens…
Architect Exam Podcast084 - Lighting Calculations: How Many Fixtures Does a Room Need?
A lighting calculation is multiplication and division, not engineering math. This episode covers the foot candle chart, the lumen method formula, and the…
Architect Exam Podcast083 - A201 General Conditions in 30 Minutes
A201 general conditions explained in 30 minutes, covering the entire AIA A201 from contractor roles and means and methods to schedule of values, substantial…
Architect Exam Podcast082 - Types of Light Bulbs, Color Temperature, and CRI
Every type of light bulb produces different color quality, and two numbers on the spec sheet control everything: color temperature (CCT) measured in Kelvin…
Architect Exam Podcast081 - Zoning Fundamentals: Setbacks, Easements, FAR and Variances
Zoning controls what you build, how tall, and how close to the property line before you draw a single line. This episode breaks down every zoning term…
Architect Exam Podcast080 - ADA Bathroom Layout: Designing for Real Bodies
ADA bathroom layout dimensions all exist to make one physical action possible: the toilet transfer. This episode breaks down every restroom requirement and the…
Architect Exam Podcast079 - Galvanic Corrosion: How Dissimilar Metals Cause Failure
Galvanic corrosion happens when dissimilar metals touch in the presence of moisture, and it destroys building assemblies faster than most people expect. In…
Architect Exam Podcast078 - Roof Membrane Types: How to Choose for Any Building
The five major roof membrane types for low-slope roofs: BUR, modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, and PVC. In this episode, you will learn what each one is, where it…
Architect Exam Podcast077 - Study Motivation When the Exam Feels Impossible
Study motivation is the real barrier to passing the architect exam, not the content itself. If you've been closing the laptop every night without reading a…
Architect Exam Podcast076 - What Is a Foot Candle? Lumens, Lux, and Luminance
What are foot candles, and how are they different from lumens? Foot candles measure how much light actually arrives at a surface, while lumens measure total…
Architect Exam Podcast075.5 - Free CDT and CSI Certifications Presentation (Fall 2026)
Join Michael and Emily for a free CDT® certification presentation on August 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM Eastern. Learn why CDT® takes just 30 to 60 hours to pass…
Architect Exam Podcast075 - Historic Preservation: From Rehabilitation to Reconstruction
Historic preservation defines four distinct approaches to working on historic buildings, and mixing them up can send your project in the wrong direction. In…
Architect Exam Podcast074 - Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit
Architecture Firm Finances: From Salary to Profit The overhead rate, utilization rate, and net multiplier are the financial concepts that keep architecture…
Architect Exam Podcast073 - Vapor Barriers Explained: Water, Air, and Moisture in Walls
Vapor barriers, air barriers, and water barriers each do a completely different job inside your wall assembly, and mixing them up is one of the most common…
Architect Exam Podcast072 - B101 in 35 Minutes: The Owner-Architect Agreement
AIA B101 is the most important contract in architecture, and most people working under it have never actually read it. This episode breaks down the entire B101…
Architect Exam Podcast071 - ADA Door Clearance: Why These Dimensions Exist
ADA door clearance requires 32 inches minimum, but a 32-inch door won't get you there. Learn why 36-inch doors became the standard and what every ADA dimension…
Architect Exam Podcast070 - Seismic Irregularities: Soft Story to Shear Walls
Soft story buildings are one of the most dangerous structural conditions in seismic design, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake proved why. In this episode, we…
Architect Exam Podcast069 - Sealant Types, Backer Rod, and Joint Design for Buildings
Which sealant goes where on the building envelope? This episode covers every sealant type, backer rod, and how to design joints that actually work. We break…
Architect Exam Podcast068 - Project Delivery Methods: DBB, Design-Build, CMAR, and More
Project delivery methods define who holds the contracts, who carries the risk, and how the architect's role changes on every construction project. This episode…
Architect Exam Podcast067 - Types of Insulation: Materials, R-Values, and Assemblies
Types of insulation explained, from fiberglass batts to spray foam to rigid board to continuous insulation. This episode covers every major insulation type you…
Architect Exam Podcast066 - Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose
There are a lot of different types of HVAC systems, and if you're studying for the ARE or coordinating with mechanical engineers, you need to know what each…
Architect Exam Podcast065 - How to Study for the Architect Exam - Trailer
How to study for the architect exam is the one topic I know more about than anything else. This episode is a trailer for a free 30-minute video presentation…
Architect Exam Podcast064 - OFCI: Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed Simply Explained
OFCI (owner furnished, contractor installed) is one of those procurement methods that sounds simple until coordination breaks down on a real project. In this…
Architect Exam Podcast063 - The War of Art: Lessons for Exam Success
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield explains why you keep sabotaging your architect exam prep and how to stop. This episode is a war of art summary applied to…
Architect Exam Podcast062 - Fire Sprinkler Systems: Wet, Dry, Pre-Action, Deluge
Fire sprinkler systems explained: wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge. Learn when to use each one and how to choose the right system. Architects don't…
Architect Exam Podcast061 - Owner's Consultants: Know Where Your Liability Ends
Owner's consultants vs architect's consultants: know the difference before the ARE tests you on it. In this episode, we break down who hires who on a…
Architect Exam Podcast060 - How to Become an Architect: What You Need to Know
How to become an architect in the US comes down to four steps: education, experience, exams, and fees. In this episode, Michael Riscica breaks down the full…
Architect Exam Podcast059 - PA, PPD, and PDD: Know the Difference Before You Study
PA, PPD, and PDD share the same topics but test them from completely different perspectives. Understanding the difference between these three technical ARE…
Architect Exam Podcast058 - Division 01 General Requirements: Running Your Project
Division 01 General Requirements is the most skipped section in the project manual. Here's what's actually inside and why every division depends on it…
Architect Exam Podcast057 - Plumbing Valves: Every Type You Need to Know
Plumbing valves explained - every type you need to know for the ARE exam and real-world practice. This episode covers gate valves, ball valves, butterfly…
Architect Exam Podcast056 - Building Acoustics: How Sound Actually Works in Buildings
Building acoustics explained: STC, IIC, and NRC are the three rating systems every architect needs to know. This episode breaks down how sound actually works…
Architect Exam Podcast055 - Control Joint vs Expansion Joint: Where the Cracks At?
Control joint vs expansion joint is one of those topics that trips people up because the terms sound so similar. This episode breaks down all four joint types…
Architect Exam Podcast054 - PcM, PjM, and CE: Understanding the Difference Before You Study
PcM, PjM, and CE are three different exams, but most people study them without understanding what makes each one unique. This episode breaks down exactly what…
Architect Exam Podcast053 - Concrete Slab Types: A Guide to Structural Systems
Six concrete slab types explained with span ranges, load capacities, and the decision framework you need to pick the right system every single time. Every…
Architect Exam Podcast052 - Cast-in-Place Concrete: From Spans to Slump Tests
Cast in place concrete spans, rebar sizing, slump tests, and when to reject a pour. Everything you need for PPD, PDD, CE, and PA exam questions. Understanding…
Architect Exam Podcast051.5 - Free Webinar: Career Advancement Hiding in Your ARE Studies
The CDT certification overlaps 80% with your ARE pro practice studies. Here's how to earn real credentials while preparing for your architect exam. If you're…
Architect Exam Podcast051 - What is an RFI in Construction? Everything You Need to Know
An RFI in construction is the formal way to get answers when something in the contract documents is unclear, missing, or conflicting. In this episode, we break…
Architect Exam Podcast050 - AIA C401: Protecting Your Practice from Consultant Chaos
The AIA C401 Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant is one of the most critical contract documents you need to master for ARE exam success…
Architect Exam Podcast049 - Understanding Foundation Types: From Soil to Structure
Foundation types explained: 7 systems from spread footings to pile foundations. Learn when to use each based on soil conditions and building loads. Every…
Architect Exam Podcast048 - Liquidated Damages: The Price Tag on Being Late
Liquidated damages are basically a prenup for construction projects. Both parties agree on a daily dollar amount before work starts, so nobody has to fight…
Architect Exam Podcast047 - Architect Fees: Show Me the Money (The Right Way)
Understanding architect fees and contractor payment structures is crucial for ARE exam success and your architecture career. In this comprehensive episode, we…
Architect Exam Podcast046 - Building Code History: Famous Fires That Shaped Modern Codes
Building code history isn't about memorizing rules. It's about understanding why those rules exist. These 7 famous fires changed building codes forever. Every…
Architect Exam Podcast045 - ARE Procrastination - Time is Your Most Valuable Resource
Are you procrastinating on your ARE exams? You're not alone. Most candidates delay their license for months or years Learn why time is your most valuable…
Architect Exam Podcast044 - CSI MasterFormat® Simply Explained: All 50 Divisions
MasterFormat organizes all construction specifications into 50 divisions. This episode breaks down how MasterFormat works and why it's essential for the CDT…
Architect Exam Podcast043 - NCARB's 2026 ARE Exam Changes: What You Need to Know
NCARB has officially announced the 2026 ARE exam changes affecting AXP, case studies, and 12 exam objectives across five divisions. This comprehensive…
Architect Exam Podcast042 - ARE Exam Prep: Study Materials vs The ARE Boot Camp
ARE Bootcamp is the only coaching program for the Architect Registration Exam, and it works completely differently than study materials like Amber Book or…
Architect Exam Podcast041 - Construction Cost Estimates: Getting the Numbers Right
Construction cost estimates keep your project on budget from day one. This episode breaks down the estimating process phase by phase, from rough order of…
Architect Exam Podcast040 - ARE Panic Notes: Your Test Day Survival Guide
Test day anxiety can derail even the most prepared ARE candidate. Learn proven strategies to stay calm and focused during your architect exam. Ever felt your…
Architect Exam Podcast039 - Construction Specs Nightmares: 8 Myths That Wreck Projects
Think specs are just boring boilerplate documents that nobody reads? Think again! In this episode, I reveal 8 dangerous myths about construction specifications…
Architect Exam Podcast038 - Fire Rated Walls: Types, Assemblies, and Code Requirements
Fire rated walls are tested and certified wall assemblies that buy precious time during a fire emergency. This episode breaks down how fire rated wall…
Architect Exam Podcast037 - Master Building Codes and Regulations for PA Exam Success - PA Section 2
Building code compliance is one of the most important skills on the PA exam, and Section 2 covers 16-22% of your total score. In this episode, Layla breaks…
Architect Exam Podcast036 - What Is The Best ARE 5.0 Exam Order?
The best ARE 5.0 test order saves you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in retakes. This episode breaks down the exact ARE exam sequence that works…
Architect Exam Podcast035 - Construction Claims and Disputes: How They Start and End
Construction claims and disputes are an unavoidable part of working in the AEC industry. This episode breaks down what they are, the most common types, how to…
Architect Exam Podcast034 - ARE Exam Questions: Stop Getting Tricked by NCARB
Test taking strategies are the difference between walking out confident and walking out wondering what just happened. If you've ever studied hard, knew the…
Architect Exam Podcast033 - Types of Elevators: Hydraulic, Traction, and MRL Explained
Types of elevators explained: hydraulic, traction, and machine room-less (MRL) systems, how each one works, when to use them, and what architects need to know…
Architect Exam Podcast032 - Hard Costs vs Soft Costs: Making Cents of Construction
Hard costs vs soft costs define where every dollar goes on a construction project, and understanding the difference is essential for the ARE and real-world…