Study guide · Skilled Trades & Safety
EPA 608: the HVAC certification, decoded
You can’t legally buy or handle refrigerant without it. Here’s how the four sections work, which certification level you actually need, and the leak-rate and recovery numbers the exam loves.
The exam at a glance
| Structure | 4 sections: Core + Type I + Type II + Type III |
| Questions | 25 multiple choice per section |
| Passing score | 18 of 25 (72%) per section |
| Core is mandatory | You must pass Core plus at least one Type to be certified |
| Universal | Pass all four sections. Most techs should just go for it |
| Proctoring | Type I can be open-book online; Types II/III and Universal require a proctored exam |
| Expiration | Never. EPA 608 certification is good for life |
Which type do you need? Type I = small appliances under 5 lbs, like window units and fridges. Type II = high-pressure systems (residential AC, heat pumps, supermarket racks). Type III = low-pressure chillers. Universal = all of it, and it’s what most employers want to see.
What each section actually tests
| Section | What it really tests |
|---|
| Core | Ozone depletion & the Montreal Protocol, Clean Air Act rules, refrigerant families (CFC/HCFC/HFC), safety, the three R's: recover, recycle, reclaim |
| Type I | Small appliance definitions, system-dependent vs self-contained recovery, required recovery levels for small appliances |
| Type II | High-pressure recovery requirements, leak rate thresholds, evacuation levels, when you can "top off" vs must repair |
| Type III | Low-pressure chillers: purge units, evacuation to deep vacuum, recovery techniques unique to low-pressure systems |
The numbers the exam loves
- 1987 is the Montreal Protocol. 1990 is the Clean Air Act amendments giving the EPA authority. These dates appear constantly.
- 5 pounds is the line between a Type I small appliance (<5 lbs) and a Type II high-pressure system (≥5 lbs).
- Leak rate thresholds that trigger mandatory repair on appliances with 50+ lbs of charge: 30% industrial process refrigeration, 20% commercial refrigeration, 10% comfort cooling.
- Evacuation levels (inches Hg vacuum) by system type and appliance size. Make a table and drill it; these are pure memorization points.
A 2-week study plan
- Days 1–4: Core. It's conceptual and the easiest to lock in. Get Core consistently above 85% in Smart Quiz before moving on.
- Days 5–10: One Type per 2 days. Type I, then II, then III. They share a skeleton (recovery, evacuation, leaks), so each one gets faster. Keep a one-page numbers sheet as you go.
- Days 11–14: Simulate all four. Run full four-section simulations. Anything below 80% on a section, drill that section's category and re-simulate. Then book the proctored exam.