The PDD exam, officially titled ARE 5.0 Project Development and Documentation Exam, is the NCARB exam you pass to earn the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) 5.0 certification, a credential at the Professional level. Passing it confirms the skills defined in the official exam outline, and it is associated with related credentials such as ARE 5.0 PA, ARE 5.0 PPD, ARE 5.0 PJM, ARE 5.0 PCM, ARE 5.0 CE, Architect License (US).

The PDD exam includes 100 (approx. 91 scored + 9 pretest items) questions and gives you 245 minutes to finish them. That is a tight pace per question, so get used to reading each stem once, flagging anything uncertain, and moving on rather than getting stuck. Running timed practice tests in the Fast2test desktop or online test engine is the most reliable way to build that rhythm before exam day.

The passing score for the PDD exam is Scaled score (cut score varies by form; not publicly disclosed), and the official registration fee is USD 235 (varies by jurisdiction and updates). Keep in mind that a failed attempt means paying USD 235 (varies by jurisdiction and updates) again in full to retake it, so book your slot only when your scores on Fast2test practice tests sit consistently above the passing line.

NCARB lists the following prerequisites or eligibility notes for the PDD exam: Eligibility for ARE 5.0 via NCARB Record and jurisdiction approval required. Requirements can change over time, so confirm the details on the official exam page at NCARB's official site before you register.

You can register for the PDD exam through the official channels below:

• NCARB ARE Registration
• ARE Candidate Dashboard

The exam is delivered in the following format: Computer-based exam administered via PSI testing centers or online proctoring (where available). Choose a date that leaves you enough time to work through the full 102-question practice set first.

NCARB recommends the following training resources for PDD candidates:

• NCARB ARE 5.0 Guidelines & Practice Exams
• ARE 5.0 Community Resources

Official courses build the theory, and the 102 practice questions from Fast2test help you turn that theory into exam-ready speed and accuracy.

Yes. Fast2test offers a free PDF demo of the PDD material, so you can check the question style and answer quality before purchasing. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates, and if your product expires you can extend the update service at a 50% discount from your member zone.

Your purchase is protected by a 100% Money Back Guarantee with clear conditions: if you take the corresponding PDD exam within 60 days of purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund. The candidate name must match the payer name, and you need to submit a scanned exam enrollment slip together with the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of taking the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. Sitting the exam within 3 days of purchase, downloading without taking the exam, free materials, and expired orders are not covered. If you would rather not take a refund, you can exchange your order for two free exam products of equal value and keep the update service on your original purchase.

Delivery is instant: your download links are emailed within one minute of payment, and you can also download directly from the website. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service and check your spam folder. There is no limit on how many computers you can install the material on.

The PDD exam blueprint is divided into 5 domains, starting with Construction Documentation (32–38%); Integration of Building Materials & Systems (31–37%); Construction Cost Estimates (2–8%). For the complete domain-by-domain breakdown, see the Exam Topics section above — it lists every topic the current outline covers.