Written by Brendan Burke
ARE Exams
On November 1st, 2025, I took and passed my final ARE exam, being one of six total required exams before becoming a licensed Architect. This was the end of a 16-week process of taking each of the six exams, where I set a goal for myself to take an exam every 2 to 3 weeks to complete all of them in a condensed amount of time. For context, the average amount of time it takes to complete all six exams is 2.5 – 3 years (which includes breaks, various study / test taking strategies, etc.), so from the get-go I knew that my personal timeline was incredibly ambitious. When I started at TSP in November of 2024, I set a goal for myself that I would be a licensed architect by the time my 1-year work-iversary came around, so I went to whatever length it took to meet that goal.
To become a licensed architect, there’s a few things a person needs before applying for licensure. First, you must obtain a professional degree from an NAAB-accredited Architecture program. I obtained my degree from Penn State University, although there are many other schools in the country where you can do the same. Second, you must complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) which requires each candidate to complete a certain amount of work experience in 6 distinct categories: Practice Management, Project Management, Programming and Analysis, Project Planning and Design, Project Development and Documentation, and Construction and Evaluation.
The number of hours needed for each category differs, but they add up to a total requirement of 3,740 hours. I completed my hours through my previous two positions, one at an architecture firm and one at a commercial real estate firm (working on their construction services team). Lastly, you must pass all 6 Architect Registration Exams (AREs) which correspond to each of the AXP categories. As previously mentioned, I passed all my exams between late July and early November of 2025.
Licensure
Having completed all the necessary requirements to apply for licensure, the final step was to submit my application to my state’s Board of Architects for review and approval. I live in New Jersey, so I submitted my application to the New Jersey State Board of Architects and made sure to listen in to the public hearing in which they reviewed my application. On Thursday, December 11th I was officially declared a licensed Architect! It was an incredible feeling reaching this milestone, as it is one I’ve been working towards since I began college in August of 2015.
Just over 10 years of hard work, dedication, and staying aligned on the end goal finally amounted to receiving my license and being able to confidently state: “I am an Architect”. It goes without saying, however, that the work does not end here. There is still plenty to learn in the ever-evolving world of architecture and construction, and a lifetime of experience to be had. In the near-term, I look forward to extending my licensure to both Pennsylvania and Maryland (to align with TSP’s body of work), and absorbing as much as I can from the many incredibly smart and talented Architects and Designers that I work with. Architecture is an inherently collaborative profession, and I’m incredibly grateful to have so many knowledgeable, creative minds that I can work with and learn from.
Congratulations Brendan on this impressive accomplishment! We, at TSP, are thrilled to have such a bright and determined architect on our design team!
