EPA 608 certification, explained
The four sections — 100 free practice questions
| Section | Covers | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Ozone depletion, the Montreal Protocol, the Clean Air Act §608 rules, recovery/recycling/reclaim definitions, safety, shipping cylinders. Required with every type. | 25 free questions → |
| Type I — small appliances | Appliances with 5 lb or less of refrigerant, factory-charged and hermetically sealed: domestic refrigerators, window units, dehumidifiers. Recovery requirements for small appliances. | 25 free questions → |
| Type II — high-pressure | High- and very-high-pressure appliances (residential split systems, most commercial AC and refrigeration): leak repair thresholds, evacuation levels, recovery techniques. | 25 free questions → |
| Type III — low-pressure | Low-pressure chillers (R-11, R-123): evacuation to 25 in Hg, leak-testing, rupture disks, purge units. | 25 free questions → |
Where to test: EPA-approved certifiers
Then what?
With 608 in hand, the state tier that applies to you is on the entry-path page — Texas, Florida, Arizona and five more — and the shops hiring helpers this week are on each metro's jobs page. More exams to prep: the full prep hub.
Questions people actually ask
Do I need EPA 608 to get an HVAC job?
To handle refrigerant, yes — it is federal law (40 CFR 82 Subpart F) and there is no state substitute. Many shops hire helpers without it and expect it within 90 days; most listings tag it as required for technician roles.
What does EPA 608 cost?
The EPA does not set a fee; certifiers charge roughly $25–150 depending on proctoring and whether prep is bundled. Some app-based certifiers offer free prep with a paid proctored exam.
How hard is it?
Each section is 25 questions and you need 18 correct (72%). Core is required with any type; passing all four gives Universal certification, which never expires.
Can I take it online?
Yes — several EPA-approved certifiers offer remotely proctored online exams; others test on-site at trade schools and supply houses, and a few still accept mail-in Type I.