Construction Documentation and Administration (CDA) — still called “Section 3” by many candidates — tests developing construction documents, construction materials and methods, and contract administration.
In Spring 2026 it had the highest pass rate of the four sections (80%). That does not mean it is easy. Early-career designers often see less construction administration in day-to-day work, so vocabulary around RFIs, submittals, bidding, and change documents deserves deliberate study. This hub covers exam facts, a study approach, field-tested advice on scope and documentation, an original practice question, and related reading.
LandCertPrep, founded by John Denson, PLA (Arizona), is preparing a CDA study guide for paperback and Kindle on Amazon, mapped to CLARB’s current content outline.
Exam facts
- 90 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions
- 3.5-hour appointment; 3 hours to answer the questions
- Fee: $545 (CLARB)
- Spring 2026 pass rate: 80%
- Question types: multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-place, and hot spot (per CLARB)
Confirm fees, windows, and rules in the CLARB Candidate Handbook, on CLARB’s fees page, and on the pass rates page before you register.
Upcoming testing windows
- Winter 2026: November 30 to December 16, 2026 (register, schedule or cancel by November 24, 2026)
- Spring 2027: March 29 to April 14, 2027
- Summer 2027: July 26 to August 11, 2027 (register by July 7, 2027)
- Winter 2027: November 29 to December 15, 2027 (register by November 10, 2027)
Always confirm current dates on CLARB’s registration page.
What is on the CDA exam
CLARB’s Candidate Handbook lists the CDA subdomains and their weights. In plain English, expect work across:
- Construction plans and details — required sheets, existing conditions and demolition, protection and mitigation, layout and materials, planting, details/sections/elevations, coordination with supplemental plans, notes/schedules/legends, code and dimensional standards, and QA/QC
- Specifications and bidding — project manual and front-end specs, bid requirements, technical specifications, facilitating the bid process, and addenda
- Construction administration — pre-construction activities, RFIs, managing the construction contract (change orders, bulletins, and related instruments), submittal review, site observations and field reports, close-out, and coordination roles
For official subdomain names, task lists, and percentages, use the current handbook. CLARB also publishes a recommended resources list (verify it is still the current list on CLARB’s site).
How to study CDA
A practical study arc for working candidates:
- Map the blueprint. Download the current handbook and note how much emphasis falls on plans/details versus specs/bidding versus administration so your hours match the exam, not only your office habits.
- Learn the CD set. Know what belongs on which sheet, how details relate to plans, and how schedules and legends support the drawings.
- Learn the paper trail. Be fluent in RFIs, submittals (including substitutions), addenda, change orders, and close-out documents — what each is for and who initiates it.
- Practice QA/QC thinking. Many items reward catching conflicts between drawings, specs, and codes before they reach the field.
- Timed practice. Use mixed question types; flag long graphic items and return after written items if that pacing helps you.
CDA pairs well with GDSM for candidates who want two technical sections in one study season. For sequencing, see What Order Should You Take the LARE Sections In?.
From the Field
Documentation discipline shows up on CDA and in practice. In From the Field: “While You’re At It…”, John describes a campus plaza project in Arizona where the client asked mid-design to redesign planting in a parking lot that was not in the survey, not in the fee, and not next to the plaza. His approach: acknowledge the request, pause before committing, define and price the added work, and get written authorization before starting.
That same discipline applies to construction administration. Verbal “small” additions, hallway approvals, and undocumented substitutions are how scope, liability, and the record get muddy. On the exam and in the field, the sound move is to identify what is outside the agreement, communicate impact on fee and schedule, and document the change before work proceeds.
Sample practice question
Original LandCertPrep item for practice only. Not a CLARB exam question and not copied from the real exam.
During construction, the contractor submits a request to substitute a specified site furnishing with a different product that the contractor says is equal. The landscape architect’s construction documents require written approval of substitutions. What should the landscape architect do first?
- A. Tell the contractor to install the substitute immediately to avoid delay
- B. Review the substitution request against the specifications and contract requirements and respond in writing per the project’s submittal/substitution process
- C. Ignore the request until the next site meeting
- D. Accept the substitute verbally on site so work can continue
Answer: B. Substitutions belong in the documented review process, not hallway yes/no answers. Installing first (A) or verbal acceptance (D) bypasses the record; delaying without process (C) leaves the contractor without direction.
Related reading
- How to Pass LARE CDA: A Study Plan
- From the Field: Scope Creep
- What Order Should You Take the LARE Sections In?
- LARE Exam Cost in 2026
- How Many Hours a Week Should You Study?
- Failed a LARE Section?
- GDSM hub (technical pair)
Related sections: GDSM · IAPM · P&D · Landscape Architecture hub
Product shelf
LARE CDA study guide (book)
Status: Coming soon
Paperback and Kindle on Amazon (KDP), mapped to the current CLARB content outline.
Practice exams
Status: Waitlist
Timed, randomized practice exams planned for our learning site when it launches.
Online course
Status: Coming 2027
Self-paced online course planned for 2027, built from the book. Join the waitlist for updates — no separate course site is live yet.
Free resources
Join the waitlist for free sample questions for this section when they are ready, plus the free LARE Study Plan and Readiness Checklist. Browse the blog for practical posts in the meantime.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on CDA?
CLARB lists 90 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions.
How long is the exam?
The appointment is 3.5 hours, with 3 hours to complete the exam.
How much does CDA cost?
CLARB lists $545 per section. See our cost breakdown for related fees.
Does a high pass rate mean CDA is easy?
No. Spring 2026’s 80% pass rate is encouraging, but cohorts and experience mixes differ. Candidates without much construction administration exposure often need extra time on contracts, RFIs, and submittals.
Do I need office CA experience to pass?
Experience helps, but the exam tests a shared body of knowledge from CLARB’s outline. Structured study of documents, bidding, and administration processes can close gaps.
When can I take it?
Spring, summer, and winter windows; see dates above and confirm with CLARB.
Do your materials use real CLARB questions?
No. LandCertPrep practice questions are original.
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Get an email when the CDA study guide and practice exam become available, plus free sample questions and the LARE Study Plan and Readiness Checklist.
LandCertPrep is an independent publisher (a FranciscanLandscape LLC company) and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CLARB, LATC, or any licensing board. Exam facts are summarized from official sources as of October 2026; always confirm current details with the exam body. See our Educational Disclaimer.