The Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) is the professional licensure examination for individuals aspiring to become licensed architects in the United States. The exam consists of six divisions which include a combination of multiple-choice and alternative item type questions, as well as case studies. In Nebraska, individuals can begin taking the ARE immediately after graduation from a NAAB-accredited program and establishing an NCARB Record. Candidates can register directly with NCARB to sit for the ARE Exam without Board approval. 

To learn more about the ARE exam, please visit NCARB.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) creates and administers the exam.

No, however, individuals planning to sit for the ARE must first register with NCARB. 

All divisions of the ARE are computer-based and taken at authorized PSI test centers year-round.

NCARB retired the ARE rolling clock policy on May 1, 2023.  Read more about this change here.

Since the exam is computer-based, time slots are available year-round. You can learn more about scheduling here.

The exams include a combination of multiple-choice, check-all-that-apply, fill-in-the-blank, hotspot, and drag-and-place questions, as well as two case studies.

ARE 5.0 uses case studies to assess your ability to understand multiple pieces of information and make evaluative judgments based on the information. A case study includes a scenario similar to a real architecture project, providing a description of the case study and key information, as well as several additional resources associated with the scenario.  The scenario and resources within a case study will not change from question to question; questions do not build on each other based on previous responses.

You can learn more about the ARE's format here.

NCARB has released free, full-length practice exams for each division of ARE 5.0.  Anyone with an NCARB Record can practice the exam's format, navigation, and tools with NCARB's free demo exam.

The current cost for the six divisions of the ARE, and any other applicable fees through NCARB, is $1,410. To learn more about exam fees, click here.

Yes. Individuals who have met the requirements set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-3432.01 and Board Rule 3.7.1 may qualify for $150 if they accrued educational debt while obtaining their degree.

The ARE is administered at authorized PSI test centers to ensure each candidate receives the same examination experience and meets standard security requirements. To learn more about setting an appointment and taking the exam, visit NCARB.

Total appointment time for individual sections of the ARE range from three hours and forty minutes to five hours; this includes taking the test itself, break times, and introductory and exit screening.

The average candidate who completed the ARE in 2022 took 2.9 years to do so, three months longer than in 2021. This increase is most likely tied to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, which caused many candidates to delay their testing plans in 2020-2021, as well as the increase in exam rescheduling seen in the second half of 2022.

NCARB will notify you when results are available for viewing via your MyNCARB account. Once all sections of the exam have been passed, you will receive notice from the Board outlining the remaining steps to be taken for your license to be issued.

No. Completion of the ARE is just one step in the process to becoming a licensed architect. Individuals seeking licensure in Nebraska must apply after completing the ARE, AXP, and meeting education requirements. You will also need to take a short exam on Nebraska's laws and rules governing the practice of architecture.