Taking an EPA 608 practice test is highly advised for individuals looking to become certified under EPA section 608. Technicians who service, maintain, or dispose of any equipment where refrigerants could be released into the atmosphere are required to receive certification. This is known as a Section 608 Technician Certification.
There are actually four levels of these that we’ll discuss in detail later. All tests are administered only by EPA-certified testing organizations. With that said, these certification credentials do not expire so once you’ve taken the EPA 608 test, you won’t have to worry about it again unless the law changes.
Summary: Take a free EPA 608 practice test below.
It should be noted that core tests that are administered as “open book” are not eligible for Universal Certification. Only proctored exams count in this regard. Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, anyone performing the following activities is required to have passed the EPA 608 test and attained their certification.
- Adding or removing refrigerant from appliances.
- Attaching hoses and gauges in order to measure the pressure within refrigeration appliances.
- Motor vehicle air conditioner repairs that risk integrity of the unit. For instance, this does not include exchanging one unit for another.
EPA 608 Practice Tests and Resources
EPA 608 Test Format
There are four sections in this test that comprise the four levels of certification so you’ll need to make sure your EPA 608 practice test covers all sections.
Most questions will be in relation to equipment, safety regulations, identification of refrigerants, and safe shipping practices. These types of questions appear in all sections.
Core
This section of the test will cover general knowledge related to refrigerants and their regulation. Think of this as the foundation. Everything else on the test will be built on the same information as found in the core section. Students are required to pass the core section and one other before they are certified. So this section is required for all certifications but in itself is not a certification.
Type I
This section tests a student’s knowledge of small appliances that contain up to 5 pounds of refrigerant. This refrigerant must also be sealed at the factory. A few examples of appliances covered under Type I are window unit air conditioners and vending machines. In order to become a Type I technician, you must pass the Core and Type I sections of the exam.
Type II
Type II of this examination covers high-pressure refrigerants including systems used in residential central air conditioning units and large-scale commercial refrigeration units. In order for a person to become Type II certified, they must pass both the Core and Type II sections of the exam.
Type III
Now we come to the Type III section, which will cover information on low-pressure refrigerant equipment. The most common types of unit are chillers but a few more are scattered around. Following the same pattern as the previous sections, Type III certified individuals are required to pass both the Core and Type III sections of the exam.
Universal Certification
Individuals receiving a Universal Certification must pass all four sections of the EPA 608 Test. They are then certified to work on anything listed for Types I, II, and III. There isn’t a specific section for Universal Certification.
For more information about the EPA 608 test, check out this official resource from the Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA 608 Test Scoring and Requirements
Each section of the EPA 608 Test consists of 25 questions, each of which is multiple choice. These questions are developed by the Federal Government so there’s no way to know the exact nature of the questions at any given time. In most cases, an EPA 608 practice test will be based on common practices within each domain so it’s going to be close to the real thing.
In order to become certified in the eyes of the EPA, students must pass the Core section of the test, in addition to a certification type. A passing score is considered to be 70% when taking the exam in a proctored setting. However, it’s possible to take the Core and Type I sections in a non-proctored manner but the passing score in this case is 84%.
Each section of the test is scored differently and it’s not required to pass all sections unless your goal is to receive a Universal Certification. Test takers are allowed to select which sections they take.
Certifications received upon passing never expire, but it’s up to the individual to maintain a record of their scored sections. If they lose this, they could be forced to retake the test.
With that in mind, it’s up to certified technicians to stay up-to-date with laws and regulations after passing the test.
Section I of the EPA 608 exam can be taken online, which means that only Type I certifications can be received through an online test. The rest of the test must be taken in a location where progress can be monitored.
Taking the EPA 608 Exam
The first step is to find a testing location close to where you live. Browsing online or visiting your local HVAC store for information will help. Some locations will administer the test at the local HVAC. You can also try contacting a community college in your area.
EPA 608 exams differ on cost depending on the area but they are usually never over $200. Some areas will administer the test for as low as $50 though!
EPA 608 FAQs
What is the best method of studying for the EPA 608 exam?
The first tip is to take an EPA 608 practice test and try to score 100% on it. Take the same test several times until you get every question correct. Then move onto another test.
In most cases, the test distributor will have a pool of nearly 400 questions that it uses to pull test questions from so you’ll want to prepare for the entire section.
Next, understand that there are two companies that administer the EPA 608 exam – Esco and Mainstream Engineering. Call your testing center ahead of time and ask which company they are using. Each one has specific resources that you can study in preparation.
Both companies administer the same basic tests and all questions are EPA approved, so there isn’t much variance.
Can the EPA 608 exam be retaken?
Technicians who take the EPA 608 exam are allowed to retake any sections that they failed while maintaining certifications for the sections they passed, unless they failed the Core section. Passing the Core section is required for all certifications.
Naturally, the testing fee must be paid again before retesting.
Why should I use an EPA 608 study guide?
This is actually a common question. Many technicians wonder why a guide is necessary since there are so many manuals that describe regulations. The truth is that all of the information on the EPA 608 exam is scattered around and disjointed, so having it all in one convenient location will make it much easier on you.
The EPA provides a list of topics so you can cross-check guides to make sure they are touching on the right areas.
The study guide you use must cover all of the EPA’s recommendations. While a study guide will get you ready for the exam, it won’t cover every single refrigerant-related topic. Fortunately, every topic is not covered on the test.
Will I have to retake my certification if laws change?
According to EPA’s official website, no. However, it’s up to certified technicians to stay up-to-date with regulations. So I highly recommend that you read through a new study guide of some kind at least once a year to make sure you don’t accidently break any laws.
Double check the EPA website for recent changes. Subscribe to their newsletter so you get these changes sent directly to your inbox.
