EPA 608 HVAC refrigerant certification practice — Type I, II, III and Universal exams.
The EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for any technician who purchases, services, or handles regulated refrigerants. It is required under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). There is no exception for small quantities — if you buy or vent refrigerant without certification, you are breaking federal law.
There are four types of certification. Most HVAC technicians should aim for Universal certification, which covers all three equipment types:
A score of 70% or higher is required on each section. The certification does not expire once earned. The exam is not open book — you need to know the rules and refrigerant properties from memory.
The Core section covers environmental regulations that apply to all refrigerant handling, regardless of equipment type:
Type II covers high-pressure systems and is the most commonly tested section for HVAC technicians. The questions cover:
| Refrigerant | Type | ODP | GWP | Safety Class | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-11 | CFC | 1.0 | 4,750 | A1 | Phased out |
| R-12 | CFC | 1.0 | 10,900 | A1 | Phased out |
| R-22 | HCFC | 0.055 | 1,810 | A1 | Production ended 2020 |
| R-134a | HFC | 0 | 1,430 | A1 | Being phased down |
| R-404A | HFC blend | 0 | 3,922 | A1 | Being phased down |
| R-410A | HFC blend | 0 | 2,088 | A1 | Being phased down |
| R-32 | HFC | 0 | 675 | A2L | Growing — R-410A replacement |
| R-454B | HFO blend | 0 | 466 | A2L | R-410A replacement |
| R-744 (CO2) | Natural | 0 | 1 | A1 | Growing in commercial |
ODP = Ozone Depletion Potential. GWP = Global Warming Potential (CO₂ = 1). A2L = mildly flammable — requires special handling. Verify current values with EPA before the exam as regulations update.
Through an EPA-approved testing organization such as ESCO Institute, HVAC Excellence, or Prometric. Many vocational schools, community colleges, and trade associations also offer the exam. Several providers offer online proctored testing from home.
No. Once you pass, your certification does not expire. However, you are responsible for staying current with regulation changes (like the AIM Act phase-down schedule). A certification from 1995 is still valid, but the regulations it tested you on have changed.
Yes. You can take any combination of the Core plus one or more type sections. Most residential and light commercial HVAC technicians need Core + Type II at minimum. Universal requires Core + Type I + Type II + Type III.
Recovery means removing refrigerant from a system into a recovery cylinder — the refrigerant may be contaminated and cannot be resold. Reclaim means processing recovered refrigerant back to virgin purity standards at an EPA-certified reclaim facility. Only reclaimed refrigerant can be resold or used in another customer's system.
Yes. Even though R-22 production ended in 2020, existing equipment still runs on R-22. Technicians still service it using recovered or reclaimed R-22. The exam tests your knowledge of handling it safely and legally.
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