Poe said, “ARE we there yet?” (Photo credit: Ninad Garware & Renee Fidz)
PPP
| Must Read | – NCARB PPP study guide + video – Kaplan PPP study guide / Q & A – Ballast Chapters 2-4, 48-54 / Q & A – “Problem Seeking” – Caroline Joseph’s PPP Notes |
| Pretty Helpful | – Ballast Chapters 5-7, 29, 30 – AIA Contracts A101, B101, A201, C401, Code of Ethics – The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines |
| If you really have time… | – Kaplan’s Architectural History – Oscar Newman’s <Creating Defensible Space> |
| For Vignette | – NCARB PPP Site Zoning vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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SPD
| Must Read | – Ncarb SPD study guide + video – Kaplan SPD study guide / Q & A – Ballast Chapters 5-7 / Q & A – Caroline Joseph’s SPD Notes |
| Pretty Helpful | – Ballast Chapters 48-53 |
| If you really have time… | – Thomas Russ’ <Site Planning and Design Handbook> – EPA’s Wetlands page |
| For Vignette | – NCARB SPD Site Design vignette video – NCARB SPD Site Grading vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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BS
| Must Read | – NCARB BS study guide + video – Kaplan BS study guide / Q & A – Ballast Chapters 27-34 / Q & A – MEEB online quiz |
| Pretty Helpful | – MEEB (mostly for pictures and diagrams) – The Amber Book |
| If you really have time… | – LEED stuff |
| For Vignette | – NCARB Mechanical & Electrical Plan vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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BDCS
| Must Read | – NCARB BDCS study guide + video – Kaplan BDCS study guide / Q & A – Ballast Chapters 35-47 / Q & A |
| Pretty Helpful | – Francis Ching’s <Building Construction Illustrated> – Ballast Chapters 49-53 – Kapaln BDCS Flash Cards |
| If you really have time… | – Edward Allen’s <Fundamentals of Building Construction> |
| For Vignette | – NCARB BDCS Roof Plan vignette video – NCARB BDCS Accessibility/ Ramp vignette video – NCARB BDCS Stair Design vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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SS
| Must Read | – NCARB SS study guide + video – Kaplan SS study guide – Ballast Chapters 10-26 / Q & A – David Thaddeus’ “At your Pace” online Seminar |
| Pretty Helpful | – Ballast Chapters 35-44 – Kaplan SS Q & A – Building at Risk: Wind – Building at Risk: Seismic – FEMA’s <Designing for Earthquakes> (Ch. 4-9) – Kaplan SS Flash Cards |
| If you really have time… | |
| For Vignette | – NCARB SS Structural Layout vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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CDS
| Must Read | – NCARB CDS study guide + video – Kaplan CDS study guide / Q & A – Ballast Chapters 48-56 / Q & A – AIA Contracts A101, B101, A201, C401, Code of Ethics – Schiff Hardin lectures – Caroline Joseph’s CDS Notes |
| Pretty Helpful | – Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AHPP) – IBC / Francis Ching’s <Building Codes Illustrated> – The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines |
| If you really have time… | |
| For Vignette | – NCARB CDS Building Section vignette video – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
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SD
| Must Read | – NCARB SD study guide – NCARB SD Building Layout vignette video – NCARB SD Interior Layout vignette video – Kaplan SD study guide / Practice Vignette – Ballast Chapters 8,9 / Practice Vignette – Jenny’s Notes |
| Pretty Helpful | – Norman Dorf’s Graphic Vignettes Video Series |
| If you really have time… |
ARE we there yet? 
Nice site and a lot of info here. I’m taking the ARE, I appreciate the reference material!
Thanks,
Rocco
I have a copy of Caroline Joseph’s SPD Notes. I can send them to you if you let me know where!
Hi Ashley,
Thank you so much for your note. A friend actually sent me a copy a few days ago but I had been sitting on it, your comment just reminded me to add it back to the site. Thank you again and if you are still taking the tests, good luck!!!
best,
Candy
Hello Candy,
Thanks a ton for the info above. I (We) really appreciate all the information! For CD’s, do you happen to know if the Ballast Sample exam questions are different from those within the Ballast study guide/book?
Take care,
Ryan