California Architects

Statistics for the past three years are presented below and include divisions administered for both Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 4.0 and ARE 5.0, along with administrations of the California Supplemental Examination (CSE).

ARE 5.0, which launched on November 1, 2016, is the fifth generation of the ARE and brings the national examination into alignment with the experience component of licensure, the Architectural Experience Program. The examination is comprised of six divisions organized around practice and the progression of a typical architecture project—ARE 4.0 is organized around content. Some other differences found in ARE 5.0 include the use of case studies in lieu of the graphic vignettes used in earlier ARE generations and new questions, such as hot spot and drag-and-place.

Candidates who applied for eligibility with the Board on or after November 1, 2016, must complete ARE 5.0 to fulfill the national component of the Board’s examination requirement. ARE 4.0 will be retired effective July 1, 2018. Candidates who did not complete all divisions of ARE 4.0 will be transitioned to ARE 5.0 based upon the transition Credit Model. A Transition Calculator is available to candidates interested in how their credited examinations will be credited in ARE 5.0.