Being an architect is a very popular career choice these days. It’s no wonder! Architects are paid well, they get good benefits, and there are always projects for them to work on.

But before you can call yourself an architecture professional, you will need to pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). This examination covers everything about architects — their role, responsibilities, regulations, etc. Plus, it is conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), so even if you aren’t affiliated with an ARF-member firm, you still have access to the ARE.

The NCARB offers both online and paper versions of the exam. The former is much easier as you don’t have to take the actual test, but some credit cannot be transferred to your license. The latter is taken once per year and must be passed within six months or else you lose your ability to practice architecture.

This article will talk more about how to prepare for the Paper ARE. We will also discuss why it is important to study for this exam, what areas of the exam matter most, and some easy ways to help you along the way.

Become an expert in some architectural topics

Being an architect is more than knowing how to draw pretty houses or planning beautiful spaces. It means understanding concepts of building, design, space organization, materials, and process. Beyond that, being able to describe these ideas clearly and logically are also important skills!

As an architect, you will be solving other people’s problems through creativity and ingenuity, making sure everything is seamless and works well for everyone involved.

It can be difficult sometimes though, when there is no clear solution to a problem. Or maybe someone else’s bad idea just won’t work and it looks like you have to start all over again. This happens quite a lot in architecture and you need to be able to roll up your sleeves and get into action quickly without losing your cool.

Another thing about architects is they always keep learning, constantly developing their skills. Even if you are already working as an architect, you should still be trying to learn new things, even if only for professional development.

There are many ways to gain knowledge outside of studying alone, such as by taking courses at universities, talking to professionals around you, reading books and magazines, and experimenting with different styles and techniques yourself.

Find out how to get into an architecture program

Now that you have your basic knowledge of architecture, it’s time to think about what career path you want to take. Most architectural programs offer both undergraduate and graduate degree levels. You can choose to go straight for masters or doctorate degrees, or maybe something in between!

Most students start off as undergraduates before moving onto the next level. However, each country has its own regulations so what is accepted at one school may not be at another. Your best bet would be to do some research and talk to people around you who work in the field to find out which route is right for you.

Many universities now offer professional development courses such as interior design or engineering, but these are not enough to guarantee you get into an architect job. Only completing those courses will not help you gain employment.

Generalist architects must also have good communication skills and team-working abilities.

Connect with an architect mentor

Being an architecture student is a great way to learn about how buildings are designed and how they look. However, being an architect is much more than that! It’s your professional identity and career path. Before you can become an architect you need to connect with an architectural mentor or teacher who will help guide you along this pathway.

You can find such people through various networking groups and seminars as well as via social media sites like Instagram where architects share their work and life stories. Or you could also visit an office space and ask if anyone there would be willing to teach you some things!

Architecture is a very popular field so there’t just going to be one person walking around talking about it, but you should definitely try to meet at least one other person whose job you want to do someday.

Learn to design

Being an architect is not only about learning how to put up buildings, it’s also about understanding how space is organized and appropriated into our lives. It’s about thinking about spaces in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

It’s about creating environments that people feel comfortable in and want to be part of or use as inspiration for their own homes or offices.

Architecture has many different specializations but there are few that don’t require you to have at least some knowledge of drawing, painting, or graphic designing. These can sometimes be supplemented with computer software such as Photoshop or SketchUp.

There are even times when architects need to take something completely out-of-the-box and create it on their own without too much formal training.

But no matter what specialization an architecture student will pursue, they all share one thing in common – they are both artists and creative thinkers who understand the power of shaping other people’s perceptions through the way they organize and utilize space.

Learn some practical architecture skills

Being an architect is not only about being able to draw pretty pictures, it is also about knowing how to build things. Sure, drawing pictures is fun, but building is way more satisfying! Learning how to design buildings is very important as it gives you another skill that can be applied in many areas.

Architects usually work with other people’s designs or instructions, taking what parts they like and reworking them so they are your own. Or they create new designs from scratch which have similarities to existing structures or styles.

There are several ways to learn how to build with architects. You could find a local chapter of IBI (the international association for architects) and attend meetings, organize a workshop, or even just pick up construction materials and start reading books!

But here we will go deeper into specific architectural skills and concepts, something most professionals include in their résumés. These are sometimes called “The Architectural Principles.

Find an architecture job

Being an architect is more than designing buildings, it is about educating others through your design skills. You can be very creative with how you use your talents, but still not know much about architects or their field.

Architects usually have at least one degree so they can teach themselves about design theory. They may also hold another degree such as business, art, engineering, or fine arts – all of which play important roles in shaping designs.

Architecture students are typically trained in artistic styles like realism or expressionism, but these concepts can be applied to any style. Some areas of architectural design require little to no artistic talent, making it possible for people without this skill set to become architects!

There are many ways to learn professional-level design skills, so whether you’re already looking for work or want to start working soon, find out what techniques there are and how to pick up new ones.

Understand the cultural differences

Being an architect is not like being an engineer, where you go to school for a few years and then work as an underling to engineers until you get your own job. In architecture, you can be self-employed.

In fact, it’s quite different from designing buildings even. An architect must have a thorough understanding of both architectural theory and practice.

This means that they are constantly thinking about how space and form relate to each other and what functions spaces serve. They also need to know lots of building materials so that they can pick and choose the most appropriate ones for a project and use them effectively.

Architectural theory includes things such as mathematics used to calculate dimensions and proportions, psychology (of colors, shapes, and textures), philosophy (of time, mortality, etc.), and history (oftentimes, architects are very familiar with the legacy of famous architectures).

All these elements combine to make up our perception of space, forms, and function. It is this combination that makes up the field of art — something we all can enjoy.

Stay positive

As mentioned before, being an architect is not easy, nor is it necessarily lucrative. There are many things that can get you down and discourage you from pursuing your dreams as an architecture professional.

Negative thoughts can easily outweigh more positive ones, so try your best to avoid them. If there’s something you feel like giving up, take some time off and then reevaluate if you want to give up or keep going.

Don’t compare yourself with others – we all have our own struggles, what works for someone else may not work for you. You must find what makes you happy and pursue that- maybe it’s teaching or writing or painting?

If you need help figuring out how to be happier, look into other ways of artistic expression and see what inspires you. Also, ask yourself why you wanted to become an architect in the first place. Was it because of the money, or because you loved looking at buildings and designing structures?

Hopefully you will figure out that you just needed to push yourself a little bit and put in the effort.