Architecture Registration Exams Story: Matthew Tehan

Welcome to the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) experience stories series! This series is to share experiences, timelines and advice of professionals that have completed their AREs. We know it can be a daunting task to get started and overwhelming on the number of resources out there. We hope you find this information helpful in organizing how you proceed through your exams. Good Luck!

This is the experience, timeline, and advice from:

Matthew Tehan

Hello! My name is Matt Tehan; I’m a licensed architect, registered to practice in both Arizona and New York.  I started my architectural journey at Virginia Tech, where I received a Bachelor’s of Architecture in 2010, and shortly after graduation relocated to New York City where I started looking for full time work. 

Coming out of school in the middle of a recession left few opportunities, but I didn’t let that dissuade me, as I used my experience from previous internships and connections through my alma mater to get my foot in the door.  After five incredible years in the city, I moved out west to Arizona for a change of pace and scenery (and to be closer to family), and have recently been promoted to the position of Senior Associate with Richärd | Kennedy Architects. 

I’m tremendously grateful for the experiences I’ve had over my career – focusing mostly on public projects where I’ve been able to give back to the communities, I’ve been a part of for so long.  From museums, performing arts centers, and higher education projects earlier on in my career, to more recently libraries, embassy and consulate projects with the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, and a master plan with BSA’s Grand Canyon Council for the Heard Scout Pueblo, my career has spanned a wide variety of project typologies that has kept things interesting at every turn.

Similarly, outside of my professional work, I’m constantly in pursuit of learning new things – whether it be riding a motorcycle, ballroom dancing, or pursuing Junior Ranger badges with my wife at one of our countries’ amazing National Parks.   

“Over my career I’ve noticed often that we are asked to ‘prove’ our capabilities – whether to a new firm, a new team, or on a project type that’s new to your experience – and the license provided a means to quantifiably say ‘yes, I am capable’.”

I started taking the tests when I was working with Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL) in New York, and in August 2015 I moved out west to their Phoenix office.  I gave a significant amount of time to study and prepare for each test at the beginning, that in hindsight left me over-prepared and frankly a little burnt-out from studying. 

Shortly after moving I failed my first test, having been distracted by the move and from time spent exploring a new city with new friends and coworkers.  That failure, combined with a strong drive to move onto the next phase of life, pushed me into a schedule of one-a-month for the remainder of my tests.  It was exhausting maintaining that such a rigid study schedule, but it meant the tests were over quickly, and then I was able to put down the studying tools and move on with everything else.

June 7, 2014	In Person	SD (4.0)	PASS
November 23, 2014	In Person	CDS (4.0)	PASS
June 27, 2015	In Person	SITE (4.0)	PASS
October 10, 2025	In Person	PPP (4.0)	FAIL
December 4, 2015	In Person	BS (4.0)	PASS
January 2, 2016	In Person	PPP (4.0)	PASS
February 13, 2016	In Person	BDCS (4.0)	PASS
March 19, 2016	In Person	SS (4.0)	PASS

I often get asked “why do I need to get licensed?”. Why did you decide that you wanted to be a licensed Architect?

I wanted to be able to call myself an ‘Architect’, and to have the validation in licensure that all my years of study and work left me as qualified as I thought I was.  I had been on the path towards this goal for over ten years before I sat down to start the exams – having taken six years in school, and the remainder working in several internships – and it felt like the natural next step for my career to start pursuing licensure in earnest. 

I also had tremendous support with my employer at the time (WRL) who offered reimbursement for passed exams, time off for testing as needed, and a 10% salary increase upon receipt of a license.  This significantly relieved the burden to cost that I was initially concerned about, and provided a substantial motivator to complete the process.  The entire team was also supportive in getting exposure to or in learning about new things.  A conversation like: ‘you don’t have construction admin experience yet? great, tag along with me on this next site visit’, would be a regular interaction in a group where mutual support was baked into the company culture.

For anyone else considering ‘why’, I strongly encourage pursuit of a license to give yourself confirmation that you’ve achieved the milestones you set out to achieve at the beginning of your journey.  Over my career I’ve noticed often that we are asked to ‘prove’ our capabilities – whether to a new firm, a new team, or on a project type that’s new to your experience – and the license provided a means to quantifiably say ‘yes, I am capable’.

Often people don’t know where to start, do you have any advice for those looking to start their exams -or- how did you start?

My advice on where to start: wherever you are most comfortable.  Start with the testing areas you think you’ll have an easier time with, or have had more practical experience with through internships.  Passing that first test will help you stay motivated when you already have a win under your belt.  It also takes a lot of pressure off when you walk out of that first test – they’re built up to be much worse than they really are.

What type of study materials did you use? Any particular ones that you’d recommend?

Outside of the support I received from my firm, I had a ton of study resources handy.  My local AIA NY and later Phoenix Metro chapters held bootcamp / study sessions, I used Kaplan, Ballast, and others for reading and flash cards, and maybe most helpful (especially for structures) was the Black Spectacles website and video series.  This combined with the practical working knowledge over several internships left me very well prepared for the tests.

Do you have any other advice for someone studying for their exams?

Two pieces of advice I can share: first, do the tests as early as you’re able.  If you are just coming out of school, this isn’t too early!  You’ve already got a ‘study / testing’ mindset from school, and it’s easy to make the transition into preparing for the architectural exams.  The longer you wait before taking the tests, the further you’ve left this mindset behind and the more things in life that have the potential to get in the way.  Getting licensed earlier in my career also opened a lot of doors – in greater project responsibilities and leadership opportunities – that may not have opened as easily without.

Second, and advice I wish I’d had when I started out, know that these tests are intended to measure the minimum competence for a practicing architect.  You do not have to know all of the material inside and out; you do not need practical experience with every aspect of architecture; you don’t even need to be an amazing architect!  The tests set a baseline for practicing in this field, and perfection is not the expectation.  Don’t let the pressure of difficult exams keep you from attempting to take them, and conversely don’t feel the need to put your life on pause for years to study and prepare.  The real expectation is that you will continue to learn and to grow, and that licensure is just one-stepping stone on the path in a very long career. 

We hope that this information helps you through your ARE journey, setting goals, and giving you some insight on how to get started.

Thank you again to James Wesala for sharing your story!

Edited by

Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB