ARE 5.0 division
Project Development & Documentation
New members: $99/month (previously $199/month; plus applicable tax) for all six ARE divisions and the California CSE. Free PDD sample questions, no account needed; the free sample lesson is PcM only.
Turning a design into buildable documents: resolving assemblies and details, coordinating engineering systems, writing specifications, and checking cost and code at the level of the drawing set.
01Exam facts
- Number of items
- 100
- Total appointment time
- 5 hr
| Integration of Building Materials & Systems | 31–37% |
| Construction Documentation | 32–38% |
| Project Manual & Specifications | 12–18% |
| Codes & Regulations | 8–14% |
| Construction Cost Estimates | 2–8% |
NCARB states these ranges represent a typical form of the division; the form you take may vary slightly. Source: NCARB (ARE 5.0), checked October 1, 2026. Always confirm with the official source before your exam.
02Who it's for
- Designers early in their careers who haven't yet led a documentation phase
- Candidates who draw details but want to understand why assemblies are built as they are
- Professionals who need specifications and the project manual to make sense
03Learning approach
- 1
Work at detail scale
Lessons zoom in to a wall, roof edge, or penetration and ask how materials and systems meet.
- 2
Coordinate the set
Practice asks where information belongs — drawing, schedule, or specification — and how to resolve conflicts between them.
- 3
Read the consequence
Review traces a documentation error to its likely effect in the field.
04Curriculum
Loading the curriculum outline…
05Decisions you'll practice
- How to keep water and air control continuous at a change in wall assembly
- Whether a requirement belongs in the drawings or the specifications
- How to resolve a clash between ductwork and structure in a ceiling plenum
- Which detail-level code requirement governs a stair or guard
Examples of the kinds of decisions covered. Not actual exam questions.
06Published now
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07Sample
No free sample is approved yet. The curriculum outline above lists every published section; How It Works explains the study flow.
08Questions
Start with PDD.
One $99/month membership (previously $199/month) opens PDD and every other published program, including the California CSE. Checking membership availability…