# Licensure Stories **URL:** https://community.blackspectacles.com/c/licensure-stories/45.md [Latest](https://community.blackspectacles.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://community.blackspectacles.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://community.blackspectacles.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Licensure Stories category](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/about-the-licensure-stories-category/5838)
**Author:** [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Replies:** 0
Introducing Licensure Stories! In this podcast series, we explore the personal journeys of architects who have successfully navigated the path to licensure. --- ## [Let Us Know When you Pass Your Exams!](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/let-us-know-when-you-pass-your-exams/6975)
**Author:** [@keristenedwards](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/keristenedwards)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/let-us-know-when-you-pass-your-exams/6975 "2025-05-22T18:14:17Z")
If you have passed any exams in 2025, share your accomplishment with us so we can shout you out and celebrate your milestone in the ARE community! You’ve earned it! :tada:\* :tada:\* --- ## [Passed all 6 Divisions on the first try - this was my strategy](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/passed-all-6-divisions-on-the-first-try-this-was-my-strategy/2486)
**Author:** [@ianschnack](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/ianschnack)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/passed-all-6-divisions-on-the-first-try-this-was-my-strategy/2486 "2025-04-04T19:03:07Z")
Here’s a little about myself first. I put off taking the exams for years - I graduated in 2008 and worked at a small firm before they went under in 2010. I then worked for builders for years and was unable to get the req… --- ## [How I Achieved My "Unreachable Goal" of Becoming a Licensed Architect After 20 Years in Architecture - Licensure Stories](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-achieved-my-unreachable-goal-of-becoming-a-licensed-architect-after-20-years-in-architecture-licensure-stories/5894)
**Author:** [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-achieved-my-unreachable-goal-of-becoming-a-licensed-architect-after-20-years-in-architecture-licensure-stories/5894 "2024-05-22T15:41:25Z")
On the third episode of Licensure Stories, Marc Teer (founder of Black Spectacles) is joined by Jamie Bieser, an accomplished architect at Widseth based in Baxter, Minnesota. You’ll learn how Jamie achieved his “unreach… --- ## [How I Passed All ARE 5.0 Exams in 4 Months Before My 6th Kid Was Born - Licensure Stories](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-passed-all-are-5-0-exams-in-4-months-before-my-6th-kid-was-born-licensure-stories/5869)
**Author:** [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-passed-all-are-5-0-exams-in-4-months-before-my-6th-kid-was-born-licensure-stories/5869 "2024-05-14T17:41:55Z")
This is Licensure Stories, a podcast series where Black Spectacles explores the personal journeys of architects who have successfully navigated the path to licensure via the ARE exams. On the second episode of Licensure… --- ## [How I Overcame 2 Failed Exams and a New Language to Become One of Ecuador's 1st Licensed Architects - Licensure Stories Podcast](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-overcame-2-failed-exams-and-a-new-language-to-become-one-of-ecuadors-1st-licensed-architects-licensure-stories-podcast/5839)
**Author:** [@patrickfinnigan](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/patrickfinnigan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-overcame-2-failed-exams-and-a-new-language-to-become-one-of-ecuadors-1st-licensed-architects-licensure-stories-podcast/5839 "2024-05-07T16:06:49Z")
Introducing Licensure Stories! In this podcast series, we explore the personal journeys of architects who have successfully navigated the path to licensure via the ARE exams. On this episode of Licensure Stories, Marc T… --- ## [My ARE story](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-are-story/1236)
**Author:** [@trinidees](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/trinidees)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-are-story/1236 "2021-05-23T01:15:53Z")
My story is atypical-I am not the fresh out of college student or the young woman who has been working for a large company for a few years. Though I had an unrelated Bachelor’s degree, I was a lowly draftsperson designin… --- ## [The Long Road of ARE](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/the-long-road-of-are/2562)
**Author:** [@lpantaleo](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/lpantaleo)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/the-long-road-of-are/2562 "2021-02-16T20:37:00Z")
At the end of the day, I passed 9 exams because of the transition from ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0. Persistence and endurance are two qualities you need for this process. Don’t count the fails, only the passes. If you can take… --- ## [Long road to passing all the exams](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/long-road-to-passing-all-the-exams/2387)
**Author:** [@zwu](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/zwu)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/long-road-to-passing-all-the-exams/2387 "2021-01-20T17:27:22Z")
My experience throughout the exam was filled with heartache and disappointments. I had been on and off taking exams for 8 years and I thought studying and field experience was enough. I had to admit that I needed an alte… --- ## [Pass the ARE. We guarantee it!](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pass-the-are-we-guarantee-it/2314)
**Author:** [@monicafitzpatrick](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/monicafitzpatrick)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pass-the-are-we-guarantee-it/2314 "2020-12-29T19:28:29Z")
Black Spectacles guarantees you pass the ARE exam! We’re putting our money where our mouth is. We know if you use our Expert membership to the fullest, you will pass the ARE. Read our blog post for additional inform… --- ## [I Got a Pass!](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/i-got-a-pass/2186)
**Author:** [@pegy](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/pegy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/i-got-a-pass/2186 "2020-12-02T16:11:32Z")
Thank you PA coaches for the help. I give equal weight to the practice exams and the Sunday workshops in helping me get this exam PASSED. @elise.kunihiro helped with IBC and the other coach works in Atlanta helped with H… --- ## [PCM Pass - 2 Weeks Studying](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pcm-pass-2-weeks-studying/2138)
**Author:** [@kelsey.simpson](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kelsey.simpson)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/pcm-pass-2-weeks-studying/2138 "2020-11-10T17:53:29Z")
Passed PCM today with just two weeks studying directly after passing PDD. Personally what’s worked for me in this process was taking PA, PPD, PDD first. Those are definitely the more challenging, time-intensive tests th… --- ## [I passed the ARE 5.0 without failing an exam. Here are my recommendations](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/i-passed-the-are-5-0-without-failing-an-exam-here-are-my-recommendations/1697)
**Author:** [@eecoverstone](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/eecoverstone)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/i-passed-the-are-5-0-without-failing-an-exam-here-are-my-recommendations/1697 "2020-08-22T18:24:37Z")
Here are my top 5 tips (with a bonus 6th one) Break the tests into two sections (PA, PPD, & PDD) + (CE, PJM, & PCM) and aim to take each test in the two sections within a 6 month period. Dividing the material like thi… --- ## [Mental notes to myself when I was working on the exams](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/mental-notes-to-myself-when-i-was-working-on-the-exams/1607)
**Author:** [@jessie138](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/jessie138)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/mental-notes-to-myself-when-i-was-working-on-the-exams/1607 "2020-08-10T02:04:26Z")
For me there were a number of mental tricks I tried to power thru this journey. I’ll share a few of them here. kind of like getting married or having a baby: there won’t be a perfect time to start. Don’t let your age … --- ## [How I passed the ARE](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-passed-the-are/1237)
**Author:** [@heatherrivera](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/heatherrivera)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/how-i-passed-the-are/1237 "2020-05-09T15:33:21Z")
I can’t say I look back on this period of time fondly. The road was curvier and bumpier than I had hoped; and I fell into the ditches on the side a couple of times. It took approximately three years for me to complete al… --- ## [My Road to Licensure](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-road-to-licensure/1250)
**Author:** [@cat.heard9](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/cat.heard9)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-road-to-licensure/1250 "2020-05-09T15:27:56Z")
My road to licensure looks a bit different than the ‘average’ ARE candidate. I graduated from University of Colorado in 2015 with a BS Arch, which NCARB doesn’t view as a professional degree. After looking through gradua… --- ## [My key to passing the exams](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-key-to-passing-the-exams/1235)
**Author:** [@marcteer](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/marcteer)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/my-key-to-passing-the-exams/1235 "2020-05-04T21:11:51Z")
Hi guys- I passed the ARE in 2005, so it was quite a while back- version 3.1. There were 9 exams at the time, and yes they were all computer tests- I’m not that old :). If I were to put forth the 1 thing that helped m… --- ## [Feelin' the fail? 5 tips to conquer negative thinking](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/feelin-the-fail-5-tips-to-conquer-negative-thinking/57)
**Author:** [@monicafitzpatrick](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/monicafitzpatrick)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/feelin-the-fail-5-tips-to-conquer-negative-thinking/57 "2019-12-12T18:25:01Z")
by Katie Robleski Any of this sound familiar? “So what if I pass this one? These exams get harder. I’ll inevitably fail at some point.” “My failure doesn’t just affect me. Everyone will be disappointed.” “I’m just…