036 - 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 for 95% of candidates, why starting with the professional practice exams (PcM, PjM, CE) builds the foundation you need for everything else, and the most common bad advice that derails people right at the start.

Michael covers the two distinct phases of the ARE, the PA strategy (study hard, take it once, and save it for last if needed), why PPD and PDD are monster exams that work best as a pair, and why studying for all six exams at once is one of the worst things you can do for your licensing timeline.

📝 Key topics covered:

• ARE 5.0 test order: the sequence that works for 95% of candidates

• Why pro practice divisions come before technical exams

• The PA strategy: study hard, take once, retake last if needed

• PPD and PDD: why they work best taken 2-4 weeks apart

• Common bad advice: studying all six exams at once, taking PA first, scheduling upfront

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:02) Timeline Reality Check

(5:17) Understanding the Two ARE Phases

(8:07) Pro Practice Exam Strategy

(10:01) Technical Exam Strategy

(12:47) Common Bad Advice and Mistakes

(21:22) Conclusion and Next Steps

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE ARE Exam Order study notes

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Project Development and Documentation)

• AIA Contracts 101

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101