EPA 608 Technician Certification Practice Test
Federal certification required to buy refrigerant and service stationary air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Covers Core, Type I, Type II and Type III.
What the EPA 608 exam is
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act requires anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant into the atmosphere to be certified. Certification is issued by EPA-approved organizations, never by EPA directly, and it does not expire.
The exam has four sections:
| Section | Covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Regulations, ozone science, safety, recovery, shipping | 25 |
| Type I | Small appliances (≤ 5 lb, factory sealed) | 25 |
| Type II | High-pressure appliances (split systems, rooftops, racks) | 25 |
| Type III | Low-pressure appliances (centrifugal chillers) | 25 |
Passing Core plus one type earns that type's certification. Passing Core plus all three types earns Universal certification, which most HVAC/R employers ask for.
Not sure which type you need? Read Type 1 vs Type 2 vs Type 3 and who needs EPA 608 certification. The passing bar is 18 of 25 (72%) on each section.
How CertReady helps
Every question in this bank is original practice material written to mirror the topics, numbers and traps on the real exam — recovery percentages, evacuation levels, leak-rate thresholds, dates and safety rules. Each answer comes with an explanation and, where relevant, a pointer to the EPA rule it comes from. Start with the free EPA 608 practice test or a timed mock exam.
Who should take this exam
- HVAC/R technicians and apprentices who will handle refrigerant on stationary equipment
- Facilities and maintenance staff who service rooftop units, walk-in coolers or chillers
- Appliance repair technicians working on refrigerators, freezers, window units and vending machines
- Anyone who needs to purchase regulated refrigerant — sales are restricted to certified technicians
- Trade-school students preparing to enter the field
If you only work on car and truck A/C systems, you need Section 609 certification instead, which is a separate program. A 608 card does not cover MVAC, and a 609 card does not cover a rooftop.
There is no federal age, diploma or apprenticeship requirement. State HVAC licenses are separate from 608. Full detail: who needs EPA 608 certification.
What's on the exam
Practice each section separately or mix them in a mock exam.
Core
25% of examOzone depletion, the Clean Air Act, the Three Rs, safety, shipping and the venting rule. Required for every certification type.
30 practice questions →
Type I — Small Appliances
25% of examSystems factory-charged with 5 lb or less of refrigerant: recovery levels, piercing valves and passive recovery.
25 practice questions →
Type II — High-Pressure Appliances
25% of examSplit systems, rooftop units and supermarket racks: leak-rate thresholds, evacuation levels and recovery technique.
25 practice questions →
Type III — Low-Pressure Appliances
25% of examCentrifugal chillers using R-11 and R-123: vacuum operation, purge units, rupture discs and the 25 mm Hg evacuation level.
24 practice questions →
Practice questions
Untimed sets with instant feedback and an explanation for every answer. Choose quick, by-topic or random.
Start practiceMock exams
25 questions in 30 minutes, weighted like the real exam, with a category breakdown at the end.
Start mock examFrequently asked questions
- How many questions are on the EPA 608 exam?
- Each section has 25 multiple-choice questions. Universal certification means passing Core plus Type I, II and III — 100 questions in total. You need 18 of 25 correct on each section.
- Does EPA 608 certification expire?
- No. Once you pass, certification is valid for life and is recognized in every state. If you lose your card, your certifying organization can issue a replacement.
- Can I take the EPA 608 test online?
- Type I can be taken online without a proctor through some organizations. Type II, Type III and Universal must be proctored — many providers offer live online proctoring so you can still test from home.
- Is the EPA 608 exam open book?
- No, except for some Type I-only exams. Core, Type II, Type III and Universal are closed-book.
All questions on CertReady are original practice material. They are not actual exam questions, and CertReady is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.