L.A.R.E. blueprint

Next opportunity to take the L.A.R.E.

April 2025 is the next administration period. Take the exam March 31-April 16, 2025.

Registration opens mid-January and ends March 24.

Visit Dates, deadlines & fees for details.

Blueprint

The L.A.R.E. blueprint includes four sections, which can be taken in any order. You may take more than one section during the examination period. Be sure to download the Orientation Guide (PDF) for even more details on the subject matter covered in each section.

Inventory, Analysis & Project Management

90 scored items

  • Project Management (7%)

  • Inventory and Data Collection (21%)

  • Stakeholder Engagement Process (14%)

  • Physical Analysis (39%)

  • Contextual Analysis (19%)

  INVENTORY

Planning & Design

85 scored items

  • Stewardship and Design Principles (17%)

  • Master Planning (33%)

  • Schematic Design (28%)

  • Design Development (22%)

  PLANNING

Construction Documentation & Administration

90 scored items

  • Construction Plans and Details (50%)

  • Construction Specifications and Bidding (20%)

  • Construction Administration (30%)

  CONSTRUCTION

Grading, Drainage and Stormwater Management

70 scored items

  • Stormwater Management (39%)

  • Grading and Earthwork (44%)

  • Drainage Systems (17%)

  GDSM
snapshot

Which sections do you need to take?

If you completed any exam sections prior to December 2023, be sure to visit Blueprint equivalency to understand how your previous sections translate to the blueprint.

Orientation Guide

This updated Orientation Guide (PDF) includes everything you need to know about the L.A.R.E., including the content outline, FAQs and more.

Orientation Guide
Reading List

Recommended reading

This reference material list (PDF) has been prepared by the CLARB Examination Committee and is applicable as of the December 2023 administration of the L.A.R.E.

Practice exams

Are you ready to take the L.A.R.E.?

Assess your readiness with our new practice exams.

Use them to familiarize yourself with the exam format and preview the types of questions/answers you can expect on the L.A.R.E. — all at your own pace.

  • 50 questions per section
  • Instant results and rationale
  • Attempt each section up to three times
  • $25 per section
Learn more
Practice

Blueprint equivalency

All candidates are required to complete the four-section L.A.R.E. as part of their licensure requirements. The equivalency resources provided are intended for candidates who passed portions of the exam prior to December 2023.

Candidates who passed portions of the exam prior to September 2012 should contact CLARB's support team to determine credit equivalency.

Transition FAQ's (PDF)

 

Must have passed...

...to receive credit toward...

Blueprint sections

Section 2
between Sept. 2012 - Aug. 2023

= 

Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management

  INVENTORY

Section 3
between Sept. 2012 - Aug. 2023

=

Planning and Design

  PLANNING

Section 1
between Sept. 2012 - Aug. 2023

and

Section 4
between Sept. 2012 - Oct. 2023

= 

Construction Documentation and Administration

  CONSTRUCTION

Section 4
between Sept. 2012 - Oct. 2023

= 

Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management

  GDSM

Equivalency tools

Worksheet

How do your previous sections transfer to the blueprint?

STEP ONE: Find your Exam Progress Snapshot to view the credit earned toward the sections of the blueprint.

STEP TWO: Use this worksheet (PDF) to determine how your credit transfers to the blueprint.

If you have any questions about which section to take next, please contact the CLARB support team for assistance.

Transition Q&A webinars

October 6, 2023 recording (Q&A for December Exam Reg.)

September 15, 2023 recording (Q&A for December Exam Reg.)

September 12, 2023 recording (Q&A for October Exam Registration for candidates who have passed Section 1 but not Section 4.)

May 2023 recording

February 2023 recording