Highly recommended against taking PA as my first - thoughts?

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Kin Chung Marco Lau

February 09, 2020 18:08

So as someone with a US B.Arch but currently working abroad (in architecture but primarily in arch vis), and with some extra time on my hands, I figured I'd be a bit productive and start the testing process abroad. And somehow settled on Programming and Analysis - until I asked around and was told that PA would be a terrible first exam. Instead I should aim for Pcm/Pjm.

I've perused a few threads about PA and, despite my fairly isolated from the profession stateside, collected some resources (listed below) and figured good ol' brute studying would push me through my first pass. Now I'm not so sure. Besides my lack of experience, is this really such a bad idea?

Resources:

Building Codes Illustrated

Site Planning and Design Handbook

Ballast (via ppi2pass)

Black Spectacles

PS. one reason for my choice was my limited access to resources over here, seemed like PA demanded less. Not a good reason, but thought I'd put that out there.

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  Gang Chen, Architect, LEED AP BD+C May 15, 2020 17:34 (Edited May 15, 2020 17:35)

  If you are a good reader and a good exam taker, you can easily pass PA because the information PA tests can be learned from reading books. Just make sure you do not spread yourself too thin.

  Code analysis such as exit width calculation, and allowable area justification is important for PA.

  Besides BCI, you should look through International Building Code and become familiar with it, especially the chapter frequently used for code analysis, and handicap access.

  You can access the current code for free at this link:

  https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2015

  Gang Chen, Author, Architect, LEED AP BD+C (GreenExamEducation.com)

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  Charmi Praful Gajjar October 11, 2024 19:10

  Did you end up taking PA as your first exam? As I have the same question and though process.

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  manuelgranja October 11, 2024 20:23

  Hi, I have Passed PCM, PJM, CE and PA. Currently having a hard time with PDD and PPD.

  I think that the best way is to take at the same time PCM and PJM, CE, and the PA alone and then PDD PPD at the same time (Week apart). Why? The content of PCM and PJM is very very short and similar and don't go to technical architecture is mora administration, then you will gain confidence to continue with the rest of exams CE is similar to PJM and PCM. Pa covers technical information but is not to ong content as PD and PPD, when you pas PA probably you come back again and will ask studie resourse and feedback since are the hardest exams. No exam is easy

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