HVAC & RefrigerationFederal certification84 free questions
EPA 608 Study Guide
Everything you need to know before sitting the EPA 608 Technician Certification exam, in one place.
Numbers you must memorize
| Topic | Value |
|---|---|
| Small appliance definition | Factory-sealed, 5 lb or less |
| Small appliance recovery — compressor works | 90% or 4 in. Hg |
| Small appliance recovery — compressor dead | 80% or 4 in. Hg |
| Passive (system-dependent) recovery | Appliances with 15 lb or less |
| Recovery cylinder fill limit | 80% by weight |
| High-pressure evacuation, HCFC-22 < 200 lb | 0 in. Hg |
| High-pressure evacuation, HCFC-22 ≥ 200 lb | 10 in. Hg |
| Other high-pressure < 200 lb / ≥ 200 lb | 0 / 15 in. Hg |
| Very-high-pressure (R-503, R-13) | 0 in. Hg |
| Low-pressure evacuation (post-11/15/93 equipment) | 25 mm Hg absolute |
| Low-pressure rupture disc | 15 psig |
| Low-pressure leak test pressure limit | 10 psig |
| Leak-rate thresholds (≥ 50 lb) | Comfort cooling 10% · Commercial refrigeration 20% · Industrial process 30% |
| Leak repair deadline | 30 days (or mothball / retire) |
| Records retention | 3 years |
Do not mix Type I percentages (80/90) with Type II vacuums (0/10/15 in. Hg) or Type III's 25 mm Hg absolute. That mix-up is how people fail one section at 17/25.
Dates
- July 1, 1992 — venting of CFC/HCFC prohibited
- November 15, 1993 — recovery equipment after this date must be certified; determines evacuation levels
- November 14, 1994 — technicians must be certified
- November 15, 1995 — venting prohibition extended to HFCs
Pick the right type before you memorize
- Factory-sealed, 5 lb or less → Type I
- Field-charged high-pressure (splits, rooftops, racks) → Type II
- Low-pressure chillers → Type III
- All three plus Core → Universal
Full comparison: EPA 608 Type 1 vs Type 2 vs Type 3. Passing is 18 of 25 (72%) per section — see the passing score guide. Who must sit: who needs EPA 608.
Study plan (two weeks)
- Days 1–3 — Core. Recite the dates, 80% cylinder fill, recover/recycle/reclaim, and the venting rule. Practice until 85%+.
- Days 4–6 — Type I. Small-appliance definition, 80/90% or 4 in. Hg, piercing valves, passive recovery.
- Days 7–9 — Type II. Flash-card the leak-rate table (10 / 20 / 30) and the evacuation table. Recover liquid first.
- Days 10–12 — Type III. Vacuum operation, 10 psig leak test, 15 psig disc, 25 mm Hg absolute, vapor-first charging.
- Days 13–14 — Mock exams. Timed mocks, review every miss, re-drill the weak category from your dashboard.