Questions and Answers

When can I apply to write the ARE?

You may apply for the ARE only after obtaining CACB certification and being appointed as an Intern Architect with the Ontario Architects Association (OAA). When you have obtained certification and appointment as an Intern Architect, you should contact the OAA. OAA staff will then prepare an eligibility form and forward it to the USA-based Test Consultants who administer the ARE. You must receive the Authorization to Test before you can write the ARE. This will be sent to you by mail.

You can also obtain information about the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) from outside of Canada. The ARE is conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), an organization based in the United States. To contact NCARB, click here.

You may also download the Intern Architect Program (IAP) Manual, Appendix B to the IAP Manual and the Experience Summary Form (CERB) the OAA's Web site .

You may record your Internationa l architectural work experience and have it signed by your supervising architect in jurisdiction in which the work is/was gained.

Note that experience will be NOT reviewed until you have been appointed to the Intern Architect status.

What kind of exam will I have to write?

The ARE has 9 divisions. Six divisions contain multiple-choice questions, the other 3 consist of problem-solving questions. The multiple choice divisions are: pre-design; general structures; lateral forces; mechanical and electrical systems; materials and methods; construction documents and services. The problem-solving questions appear in the graphics divisions, which include site planning; building planning; building technology. The ARE is administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

French-language examinations are available at test centres in Canada, and ARE guidelines in French can be requested from the OAQ.

Click here to contact NCARB for detailed information about the ARE.

For helpful information on the ARE as part of Ontario licensing, click here to visit the OAA Web site about the ARE.

Do I have to write all nine divisions of the ARE at once?

No. You do not have to take all divisions of the ARE at the same time. Once you have been approved to take the ARE, you have the opportunity to take the exam in any order at any time you choose during your eligibility period. If you fail a division, you must wait for 6 months before you can retake this division.

How do I prepare for the exam?

A test information package will be sent to you by the USA test consultants when they receive your eligibility form from the OAA. The information package contains:

• the ARE guidelines, which include a detailed description of the exam, information on testing centres and scheduling, and references
• a practice program for the graphics components of the exam
• an up-to-date list of testing centres
• your "Authorization to Test" letter

Practice problems (vignettes) are available at the NCARB Web site. To download free ARE practice software, click here. To download free ARE guidelines, click here. A free tutorial is also offered 30 minutes before the exam. Prior knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) or other drawing software programs is not necessary.

Where do I write the exams?

The ARE is administered and graded by computers in test centres across Canada and the United States. Ontario centres are located in Kitchener, Toronto, London, Hamilton, and Ottawa. Test centres may be open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, 50 weeks a year. All divisions of the ARE are offered year-round. Contact the test centre of your choice to determine its hours of operation. You may take the ARE at any test centre in any jurisdiction regardless of where you become eligible.

Click here for contact information of the test centre closest to you. You may take the different divisions of the exam in any order, and at any time.

How much do the exams cost?

Pre-design	US$ 102.00
General Structures	US$ 102.00
Lateral Forces	US$ 102.00
Mechanical and Electrical Systems	US$ 102.00
Building Design/Materials and Methods	US$ 102.00
Construction Documents and Services	US$ 102.00
Site Planning	US$ 153.00
Building Planning	US$ 153.00
Building Technology	US$ 153.00
Note: The ARE fees are subject to change. Contact NCARB before submitting payment. The ARE fees are payable in US dollars. Canadian applicants must pay the exchange rate plus GST. Test fees cannot be refunded once an appointment to write an exam has been set.