101PD

California Supplemental Examination · 16 hours

California Architect CSE Exam Prep — California Exam Prep, 16 hours

California Architect CSE Exam Prep covers the California Architects Board CSE test plan, California-specific practice conditions, project delivery, regulations, and original practice questions. Delivery, credential, and regulatory-credit eligibility are stated on the course page.

Professional training or exam-preparation material. No CE/MCLE/CPE credit hours are issued.

Course at a glance

Level
Beginner
Estimated time
16 hours
Prerequisite
No prior 101PD course is required. Check any separate exam, employer, or role eligibility before relying on this training.

Skills you will practice

  • Explain and apply §1.0 The exam frame.
  • Explain and apply §1.1 The Practice Act.
  • Explain and apply §1.2 Selection and contracts.
  • Explain and apply §1.3 Diligence and consultants.
  • Explain and apply §1.4 Jurisdiction map.

Learning objectives

  • Explain and apply §1.0 The exam frame.
  • Explain and apply §1.1 The Practice Act.
  • Explain and apply §1.2 Selection and contracts.
  • Explain and apply §1.3 Diligence and consultants.
  • Explain and apply §1.4 Jurisdiction map.

Assessment and timing

Knowledge check plus 2 final exam versions.

Passing score: 70%.

Final timing: 1 minute per question.

Hands-on practice

Applied course exercises

Use the course rules in practical scenarios and exercises drawn from the published syllabus.

  • §1.1 The Practice Act
  • §1.6 Verdict table — practice calls
  • §1.2 The Architects Practice Act — the license's own law
  • §1.4 Assessing the project — budget, schedule, constraints, risk
  • §1.11 Case File: The Stamp That Traveled
  • §1.12 Case File: The Budget Nobody Believed

Full syllabus

Chapter 1 — Contract Development and Project Planning (25 of 100 Q)

  • §1.0 The exam frame
  • §1.1 The Practice Act
  • §1.2 Selection and contracts
  • §1.3 Diligence and consultants
  • §1.4 Jurisdiction map
  • §1.5 Risk program
  • §1.6 Verdict table — practice calls
  • §1.7 Rapid-fire (cover the answers)
  • §1.8 Worked items
  • §1.9 Mnemonics
  • §1.10 Ten-second self-test
  • §1.11 The engagement decision tree
  • §1.12 The risk-language gallery
  • §1.13 Glossary sprint: Area I terms
  • §1.14 Worked items, second set
  • §1.15 The consultant-agreement checklist

Chapter 1 — Contract Development and Project Planning (Test Plan Area I — 25%)

  • §1.1 The examination itself
  • §1.2 The Architects Practice Act — the license's own law
  • §1.3 Soliciting work and professional conduct
  • §1.4 Assessing the project — budget, schedule, constraints, risk
  • §1.5 The owner-architect agreement
  • §1.6 Consultants and the design team
  • §1.7 Regulatory geography — knowing whose jurisdiction you are in
  • §1.8 Risk management strategies
  • §1.9 Milestones, deliverables, and approvals
  • §1.10 Statute Reading Room: The Written-Contract Requirement
  • §1.11 Case File: The Stamp That Traveled
  • §1.12 Case File: The Budget Nobody Believed
  • §1.13 Workbook: The Jurisdiction Sorter
  • §1.14 Flash-Card Deck: Practice and Planning
  • §1.15 Sequencing Gym: Engagement Order of Operations
  • §1.16 Ten-Question Chapter Self-Test
  • §1.17 Statute Reading Room: Discipline Under the Practice Act
  • §1.18 Case File: The Two Owners of One Set
  • §1.19 Workbook: Delivery-Method Selector
  • §1.20 Myths versus Facts: Practice Edition
  • §1.21 Rapid Review: Thirty Lines for Area I
  • §1.22 Elimination Workshop: Area I Stems
  • §1.23 Integration Case: One Commission, Every Area-I Doctrine
  • §1.24 Learner FAQ: Area I
  • §1.25 Workbook: The Task-Statement Walkthrough (T1–T7)
  • §1.26 Case File: The Settlement Nobody Mentioned
  • §1.27 Case File: The Firm Name and the Missing License
  • §1.28 Case File: The Indemnity That Ate the Fee
  • §1.29 Workbook: The Fee-Structure Selector
  • §1.30 The Architect's Year — a practice compliance calendar
  • §1.31 Drill Set: Contract-Clause Triage
  • §1.32 Drill Set: Who May Sign?
  • §1.33 Statute Reading Room: Qualifications-Based Selection
  • §1.34 Rapid-Fire Deck: Area I Numbers and Names
  • §1.35 Workbook: The Insurance Program in One Page
  • §1.36 Case File: The Suspension Question
  • §1.37 Learner FAQ: Practice-Act Edge Cases
  • §1.38 Closing Note: How to Study Area I
  • §1.39 Bonus Case File: The Free Favor for the School Auction

Chapter 2 — Schematic Design and Discretionary Approvals (30 of 100 Q)

  • §2.0 The two maps
  • §2.1 Entitlements
  • §2.2 CEQA
  • §2.3 Coastal and water
  • §2.4 Title 24 and accessibility
  • §2.5 Special jurisdictions
  • §2.6 Verdict table — approval calls
  • §2.7 Rapid-fire (cover the answers)
  • §2.8 Worked items
  • §2.9 Mnemonics
  • §2.10 Ten-second self-test
  • §2.11 The entitlement calendar
  • §2.12 Glossary sprint: Area II terms
  • §2.13 The special-jurisdiction routing table
  • §2.14 Worked items, second set
  • §2.15 The CEQA-document contents card
  • §2.16 The accessibility decision card

Chapter 2 — Schematic Design and Discretionary Approvals (Test Plan Area II — 30%)

  • §2.1 Site feasibility — the study before the design
  • §2.2 The entitlement landscape
  • §2.3 CEQA — the California Environmental Quality Act
  • §2.4 The Coastal Act and the other state overlays
  • §2.5 The California Building Standards Code — Title 24's architecture
  • §2.6 The special-jurisdiction buildings
  • §2.7 Schematic design under regulatory design inputs
  • §2.8 Conditions into contract documents
  • §2.9 Statute Reading Room: CEQA's Decision Tree, Slowly
  • §2.10 Case File: The Categorical Exemption That Wasn't
  • §2.11 Case File: The Appealable Coastal Permit
  • §2.12 Workbook: Title 24 Part-Finder
  • §2.13 Workbook: Entitlement Instrument Match
  • §2.14 Flash-Card Deck: Approvals and Codes
  • §2.15 Sequencing Gym: Approval Order of Operations
  • §2.16 Ten-Question Chapter Self-Test
  • §2.17 Case File: The Density Bonus Curveball
  • §2.18 Case File: The Historic Facade in the Path of Progress
  • §2.19 Myths versus Facts: Approvals Edition
  • §2.20 Rapid Review: Thirty Lines for Area II
  • §2.21 Elimination Workshop: Area II Stems
  • §2.22 Integration Case: The Bluff-Top Boutique Hotel
  • §2.23 Learner FAQ: Area II
  • §2.24 Workbook: The Knowledge-Statement Sweep (K15–K32)
  • §2.25 Case File: The Neighbors, the Hearing, and the Honest Exhibit
  • §2.26 Workbook: The Agency Profile Gallery
  • §2.27 Case File: The School on the Old Gas Station
  • §2.28 Case File: The Water That Had Nowhere to Go
  • §2.29 Drill Set: CEQA Rapid Classification
  • §2.30 Statute Reading Room: Accessibility's Two Sovereigns
  • §2.31 Drill Set: Findings, Fast
  • §2.32 Workbook: The Pre-Application Meeting Agenda
  • §2.33 Case File: The ADU That Redrew the Rules
  • §2.34 Rapid-Fire Deck: Area II Numbers and Names
  • §2.35 Sequencing Gym: The Hearing Itself
  • §2.36 Case File: The Two Lead Agencies That Weren't
  • §2.37 Learner FAQ: The Overlay Edge Cases
  • §2.38 Closing Note: How to Study Area II
  • §2.39 Bonus Case File: The General Plan That Said No

Chapter 3 — Design Development (15 of 100 Q)

  • §3.0 The three skills
  • §3.1 The deliverable
  • §3.2 Integration and consultants
  • §3.3 Special conditions (K35)
  • §3.4 Energy and life-cycle
  • §3.5 Verdict table — DD calls
  • §3.6 Rapid-fire (cover the answers)
  • §3.7 Worked items
  • §3.8 Mnemonics and self-test
  • §3.9 Glossary sprint: Area III terms
  • §3.10 The DD-decision routing table
  • §3.11 Worked items, second set
  • §3.12 The energy-path decision card

Chapter 3 — Design Development (Test Plan Area III — 15%)

  • §3.1 The design development deliverable
  • §3.2 Building systems integration
  • §3.3 Materials and equipment selection
  • §3.4 Special conditions — seismic, fire, flood, wind
  • §3.5 Energy analysis and California compliance
  • §3.6 Value engineering and life-cycle cost
  • §3.7 Case File: The Ceiling That Ate the Ductwork
  • §3.8 Case File: The Value-Engineering Trap
  • §3.9 Workbook: The Special-Conditions Screen
  • §3.10 Flash-Card Deck and Self-Test: Design Development
  • §3.11 Rapid Review: Twenty Lines for Area III
  • §3.12 Elimination Workshop: Area III Stems
  • §3.13 Integration Case: The Lab That Wanted Everything
  • §3.14 Learner FAQ: Area III
  • §3.15 Myths versus Facts: Design Development Edition
  • §3.16 Workbook: The Consultant Scope Matrix
  • §3.17 Case File: The Product That Vanished
  • §3.18 Workbook: The DD Estimate's Anatomy
  • §3.19 Drill Set: The Owner-Decision Boundary
  • §3.20 Second Self-Test: Design Development
  • §3.21 Case File: The Model That Told the Truth Too Late
  • §3.22 Sequencing Gym: The DD Coordination Week
  • §3.23 Learner FAQ: Cost and Systems Questions
  • §3.24 Closing Note: How to Study Area III

Chapter 4 — Construction Documents and Permitting (10 of 100 Q)

  • §4.0 The two structures
  • §4.1 Production and QC
  • §4.2 Permitting
  • §4.3 Specifications and control
  • §4.4 Verdict table — document calls
  • §4.5 Rapid-fire (cover the answers)
  • §4.6 Worked items
  • §4.7 Mnemonics and self-test
  • §4.8 Glossary sprint: Area IV terms
  • §4.9 The submittal-map worksheet
  • §4.10 Worked items, second set
  • §4.11 The conditions-matrix card

Chapter 4 — Construction Documents and Permitting (Test Plan Area IV — 10%)

  • §4.1 The contract documents
  • §4.2 Quality control before issuance
  • §4.3 The permit process
  • §4.4 Agencies in concert
  • §4.5 Addenda and document control
  • §4.6 Case File: The Plan-Check Comment That Changed the Building
  • §4.7 Workbook: The Deferred-Submittal Ledger
  • §4.8 Flash-Card Deck and Self-Test: Documents and Permitting
  • §4.9 Rapid Review: Twenty Lines for Area IV
  • §4.10 Elimination Workshop: Area IV Stems
  • §4.11 Integration Case: The Permit Sprint That Slowed Down
  • §4.12 Learner FAQ: Area IV
  • §4.13 Myths versus Facts: Documents Edition
  • §4.14 Case File: The Two Sets of Truth
  • §4.15 Workbook: The Code-Data Sheet
  • §4.16 Workbook: Specification Anatomy
  • §4.17 Drill Set: Correction-Cycle Craft
  • §4.18 Second Self-Test: Documents and Permitting
  • §4.19 Case File: The Alternate That Nobody Priced
  • §4.20 Sequencing Gym: The Submittal Package Week
  • §4.21 Case File: The Revision After the Permit
  • §4.22 Closing Note: How to Study Area IV

Chapter 5 — Project Bidding and Construction (20 of 100 Q)

  • §5.0 Bidding
  • §5.1 The lien clock table (recite cold)
  • §5.2 The architect's site role
  • §5.3 Changes and close-out
  • §5.4 Verdict table — construction calls
  • §5.5 Rapid-fire (cover the answers)
  • §5.6 Worked items
  • §5.7 Mnemonics and self-test
  • §5.8 The construction-paper gallery
  • §5.9 The five-area spine (sixty seconds)
  • §5.10 Glossary sprint: Area V terms
  • §5.11 Duty-clock master table
  • §5.12 Worked items, second set
  • §5.13 The delivery-method comparison card
  • §5.14 The final word

Chapter 5 — Project Bidding and Construction (Test Plan Area V — 20%)

  • §5.1 Bidding — private and public
  • §5.2 California lien law and payment machinery
  • §5.3 Construction administration — the architect's site role
  • §5.4 Changes, deferred submittals, and the paper of construction
  • §5.5 Close-out and post-construction
  • §5.6 Statute Reading Room: The Lien Clock Table
  • §5.7 Case File: The Substitution After Award
  • §5.8 Case File: The Site Visit That Became Supervision
  • §5.9 Workbook: The Certification Sentences
  • §5.10 Flash-Card Deck: Bidding and Construction
  • §5.11 Sequencing Gym and Self-Test: Construction Phase
  • §5.12 Rapid Review: Thirty Lines for Area V
  • §5.13 Elimination Workshop: Area V Stems
  • §5.14 Integration Case: The Final Month
  • §5.15 Learner FAQ: Area V
  • §5.16 Myths versus Facts: Construction Edition
  • §5.17 Workbook: The Construction-Phase Document Gallery
  • §5.18 Case File: The Payment Application With a Hole in It
  • §5.19 Case File: The Warranty Call in Year Three
  • §5.20 Workbook: The Task-Statement Walkthrough (T22–T30)
  • §5.21 Case File: The Retention Standoff
  • §5.22 Statute Reading Room: Public-Work Labor and Safety Boundaries
  • §5.23 Capstone: The Whole Examination in One Project
  • §5.24 Master Authority Index
  • §5.25 Exam-Day Protocol and Final Word
  • §5.26 Drill Set: Change-Instrument Selection
  • §5.27 Workbook: Occupancy Before the End
  • §5.28 Second Self-Test: Bidding and Construction
  • §5.29 Case File: The Claim That Grew in the Dark
  • §5.30 Sequencing Gym: The Observation Visit
  • §5.31 Case File: The As-Builts That Weren't
  • §5.32 Learner FAQ: Construction-Phase Edge Cases
  • §5.33 Closing Note: How to Study Area V
  • §5.34 The Last Word: How This Pack Fits Together

Sample from Part I

Chapter 1 — Contract Development and Project Planning (25 of 100 Q) High-yield review. Full doctrine: Treatise Ch. 1. Practice material — not affiliated with the California Architects Board or PSI. §1.0 The exam frame - 100 scored Q + invisible pretest / ~210 min / PSI / criterion-referenced / 90-day retake with reapplication. Areas in project order: 25/30/15/10/20. - Style: scenario judgment under California's statutes, agencies, contracts, risks. Read the call first; name the area, then the task frame; answer everything. §1.1 The Practice Act - BPC 5500 et seq. + Board regulations. Title and practice protected; exemptions narrow (defined residential/small structures) and ended by structure and life safety. - Stamp = responsible control: direct professional knowledge and supervisory judgment over the submissions' content. Plan-stamping = license-ending classic. - Written contract BEFORE services: services description, project description, compensation, identification, termination procedure, Board notice. Exceptions narrow/statutory. Donated work is still work. - Discipline grounds: negligence/willful misconduct, fraud, substantially related convictions, aiding unlicensed practice, stamping uncontrolled work, contract violations, unreported qualifying settlements. Early moves: deadline, counsel, insurer, untouched records. §1.2 Selection and contracts - Public A/E procurement = qualifications-based selection: rank on competence, negotiate fee with the top firm one at a time. Construction = low bid (Ch. 5). - Agreement spine: phased services (SD-DD-CD-bid-CA) + additional services as the scope valve; compensation structure follows scope certainty; instruments of service owned by architect, licensed per project, site-specific. - Standard of care = ordinary professional skill, similar circumstances — never perfection, never guarantees, never "certify full code compliance." - Indemnity scaled to fault (insurable); "any and all claims regardless of cause" is uninsured risk transfer — negotiate or decline. Dispute ladder: negotiate → mediate → contracted forum. §1.3 Diligence and consultants - Before contract: test program-budget-schedule against reality; surface gaps in writing; regulatory durations belong on the schedule from day one. - Consultants: qualify, contract, insure, flow down; each licensee stamps its own discipline; architect coordinates the whole; owner-contracted consultants coordinated, never warranted. - Phase gates: formal deliverable, written owner approval, documented estimate. Additional services: written authorization BEFORE the work. §1.4 Jurisdiction map - Local: planning (entitlements/CEQA lead), building (ministerial plan check), fire, public works. State: DSA (public K-12 + community colleges — Field Act), HCAI (hospitals), State Fire Marshal, Coastal Commission, water boards, air districts, HCD. Federal: ADA (parallel civil-rights law), FEMA overlays. - Triage by owner, occupancy, location — the reviewers follow. §1.5 Risk program - Professional liability = claims-made: continuity, retro dates, tails at transitions. CGL occurrence-based; workers' comp statutory; consultant certificates collected. - Claim hygiene: prompt insurer notice, counsel, no admissions, records preserved. Settlement/judgment reporting per statute; questionnaires answered truthfully. - Suspension for nonpayment: the contract's notice + cure procedure — never the 5 p.m. walkout, never silent unpaid endurance. §1.6 Verdict table — practice calls Scenario Verdict ------ $6,000 to "review and stamp" finished foreign plans Decline — no responsible control Handshake start, contract "next week" Practice Act violation before any design issue Client demands "guarantee code

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California Architect CSE Exam Prep

Course FAQ

What will California Architect CSE Exam Prep cover?

The planned syllabus covers the California Architects Board CSE test plan, California-specific practice conditions, project delivery, regulations, and original practice questions with California-specific explanations and practical applications.

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Enrollment opens only after the content status is PUBLISHED. Drafting pages offer a waitlist instead.

Publicly verifiable completion

After passing, the certificate PDF includes a unique certificate number, a random secure verification code, a record fingerprint, and a scannable QR link. The online record confirms the 101PD completion and preserves the distinction between training and regulator-approved credit.

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