PA, PPD, and PDD share the same topics but test them from completely different perspectives. Understanding the difference between these three technical ARE exams before you start studying will save you serious time and frustration.

In this episode, Layla breaks down what each exam actually covers, how they connect to each other, and why so many candidates study the wrong things for the wrong test.

She walks through the "Define It, Design It, Document It" framework that shows how PA, PPD, and PDD follow the natural progression of a building project from pre-design through construction documents. Plus study strategies for the technical exams and a homework assignment to help you take this deeper.

📖 Key Topics Covered:

• Why candidates confuse PA, PPD, and PDD content

• The "Define It, Design It, Document It" framework

• How PA covers the pre-design and programming phase

• How PPD covers schematic design and system selection

• How PDD covers detailing, documentation, and specifications

• Where codes, site, and building systems overlap across all three

• The wall assembly test for sorting topics by exam

• Study strategies including exam sequencing and when to move on from PA

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(4:16) Why These Exams Are So Confusing

(5:47) The Flip the Words Trick

(7:01) One Project Three Phases

(8:39) PA Programming and Analysis

(11:44) PPD Project Planning and Design

(13:59) PDD Project Development and Documentation

(16:32) How They Flow Together

(19:21) Study Strategy for the Technical Exams

(22:55) Homework Assignment

(24:05) Wrap Up

📝 Read the full blog post and grab free study notes: PA, PPD, and PDD: Know the Difference Before You Study

🎯 Download free study notes and the open book homework assignment: Free Study Notes and Homework

🎧 Companion episode: PcM, PjM, and CE: Know the Difference Before You Study

📚 ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program)

📚 ARE 101 Membership (all ARE study materials)

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• PDD 101 (Project Development and Documentation)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• AIA Contracts 101

Division 01 General Requirements is the most skipped section in the project manual. Here's what's actually inside and why every division depends on it.

Division 01 is the rulebook that governs every trade on a construction project, and almost nobody reads it. We start by clearing up the number one confusion in specifications: the difference between General Conditions and General Requirements. They're both Contract Documents, but they do very different things. Then we walk through every major section from Summary (01 10 00) to Commissioning (01 91 00).

Whether you're studying for the ARE, preparing for the CDT or CCCA, or just trying to write better specs, this episode gives you the full picture of why Division 01 is the global settings for your entire project.

📝 Key topics covered:

• General conditions vs general requirements: rights vs rules

• Price and payment procedures vs the actual agreement

• Submittal processes and administrative requirements

• Quality requirements, testing, and who pays for what

• Substitution procedures during bidding vs construction

• Execution, closeout, and commissioning in construction

⏱️ Chapters:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:22) Free Study Notes

(2:20) What Are General Requirements?

(4:38) General Conditions vs General Requirements

(8:41) What's Inside Division 01?

(18:56) Why Division 01 Matters

(20:55) Wrap Up

📖 Read the full blog post

📝 Download the FREE 2-page Division 01 study guide

🎯 Get access to all ARE study materials with the ARE 101 Membership

🎯 Join our 10-week ARE Boot Camp

📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses:

• PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs)

• CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist)

• CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration)

• CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation)

• PjM 101 (Project Management)

• PcM 101 (Practice Management)

• PA 101 (Programming and Analysis)

• PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design)

• Building Codes 101

• Mechanical Systems 101

• AIA Contracts 101

Plumbing valves explained - every type you need to know for the ARE exam and real-world practice. This episode covers gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, globe valves, check valves, backflow preventers, PRVs, pressure relief valves, angle valves, and float valves, organized by function so you understand what each one does.

We break down the four categories every plumbing valve falls into: stop valves, regulating valves, one-way valves, and specialty valves. Each valve gets its own custom diagram showing how it works open and closed, plus a simple analogy to make it stick. Visit youngarchitect.com/valves to see all the diagrams and grab free study notes.

📝 Key topics covered:
- Gate valve vs ball valve and when to use each
- Butterfly valves for large-diameter piping
- Globe valves and angle valves for flow control
- Check valves vs backflow preventers
- Pressure reducing valve (PRV) vs pressure relief valve
- Float valves for automatic water level control
- How plumbing valves appear on the PPD and PDD exams

⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
1:54 - Stop Valves
2:11 - Gate Valve
3:08 - Ball Valve
3:45 - Butterfly Valve
6:00 - Regulating Valves
6:35 - Globe Valve
7:37 - Angle Valve
8:31 - Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)
9:53 - One-Way Valves
10:24 - Check Valve
11:01 - Backflow Preventer
12:31 - Specialty Valves
13:01 - Pressure Relief Valve
14:01 - Float Valve
14:51 - Come Study With Us
15:48 - ARE Study Tip

📖 Full Blog Post With Valve Diagrams:
https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/plumbing-valves/

📝 Free Plumbing Valves Study Notes:
https://youngarchitect.com/valves

🎯 ARE Boot Camp - 10-week coaching program:
https://youngarchitect.com/arebootcamp/

📚 ARE 101 Membership - All ARE study materials:
https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-study-materials/

Individual Courses:
PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-planning-and-design/
PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-development-and-documentation/
Mechanical Systems 101: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-mechanical-systems-101/
Building Codes 101: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-building-codes-101/
CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/cdt-exam-prep/
CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/ccca-exam-prep/
PcM 101 (Practice Management): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-practice-management/
PjM 101 (Project Management): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-management/
CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-construction-and-evaluation/
PA 101 (Programming and Analysis): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/programming-analysis-101-are-5-0-exam-prep/
AIA Contracts 101: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-aia-contracts-101/