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EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 2

Free Online EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 2This free 25-question practice test covers the EPA 608 Core section — required for all technicians regardless of which equipment type they service. Topics include the refrigeration cycle (compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve), refrigerant types and their GWP/ODP values, lubrication oils, blended refrigerant handling, recovery cylinder identification, non-condensables, the Clean Air Act Section 608 regulations, and safe handling rules.

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The EPA 608 certification is required by law for any technician who purchases or handles refrigerants. It covers safe handling, leak detection, recovery, and environmental regulations.

Type I covers small appliances (≤5 lbs refrigerant), Type II covers high-pressure systems, Type III covers low-pressure systems, and Universal covers all three. Most HVAC technicians pursue Universal certification.

You must score at least 70% on each section of the exam. The Universal exam has four parts: core, Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Key facts for this test: The COMPRESSOR changes low-pressure vapor to high-pressure vapor. The EXPANSION VALVE changes high-pressure liquid to low-pressure liquid. Blended refrigerants must be charged as LIQUID — never as vapor — to prevent fractionation. R-11 has the highest GWP among common refrigerants. HFCs have zero ODP because they contain no chlorine. Recovery cylinders are grey with yellow tops. Hermetic compressors must never run in a vacuum (no refrigerant cooling = motor burns out). Reclaimed refrigerant must meet AHRI Standard 700 to be sold to another person.

25

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

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EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 2 — Question List

Question 1: In a refrigerant system, the function of the compressor is to change ___________.

Low pressure vapor to high pressure vapor
High pressure vapor to low pressure vapor
Low pressure liquid to high pressure liquid
High pressure liquid to low pressure liquid

Question 2: ___________ refrigerant has the highest global warming potential (GWP) among these choices.

R-11
R-22
R-123
R-134a

Question 3: Which of the refrigerant has no 'drop-in' replacement gas?

R-12
R-134a
R-234
R-22

Question 4: The temperature difference of refrigerant is across condenser is almost constant.

True
False

Question 5: Which of the following oil used for use with R-22 refrigerant system?

Mineral oil
Alkylbenzene
Polyolester (POE)
polyethylene

Question 6: Blended (zeotropic) refrigerants must be charged from the cylinder as a ___________.

vapor
liquid
two phase vapor and liquid

Question 7: Which of the following refrigeration system component converts high pressure liquid in to low pressure liquid?

Expansion valve
Evaporator
condenser
compressor

Question 8: Which of the following compressor should not be operated when there is a vacuum in the system?

Hermetic compressor
Screw compressor
Rotary compressor
Scroll compressor

Question 9: The refrigerant storage tanks are painted .......................

yellow with grey tops
yellow with red tops
grey with yellow tops
red with yellow tops

Question 10: HFC's have no ozone depletion potential because ................................

It does not contain carbon atom
it does not contain chlorine atom
it does not contain oxygen atom

Question 11: Even for small appliances EPA requires to repair leaks with in 10 days.

True
False

Question 12: A DOT classification tag should be there on refrigerant cylinder for ................

transportation purpose
reusable purpose
recyclable purpose
recovery purpose

Question 13: Ozone molecule in stratosphere consists of ........................ atoms.

Three oxygen atoms
Two oxygen atoms
Two carbon atoms
Three carbon atoms

Question 14: What is approximate oxygen percentage in atmosphere?

21 %
28 %
32 %
49 %

Question 15: When a blended refrigerant is charged as a vapor, the lighter components leave the cylinder first, changing the blend composition. This process is called ___________.

Condensation
Fractionation
Subcooling
Superheating

Question 16: The main purpose of a filter drier in a refrigerant system is to ___________.

Increase system pressure
Remove moisture and contaminants from the refrigerant
Lower the refrigerant temperature
Separate oil from refrigerant

Question 17: Cooling the liquid refrigerant in the condenser BELOW its saturation (condensing) temperature is called ___________.

Superheating
Subcooling
Condensing
Evaporation

Question 18: Air or other non-condensable gases trapped in a refrigerant system most commonly cause ___________.

Low suction pressure
Abnormally high head (discharge) pressure
Low discharge temperature
Reduced compressor speed

Question 19: R-12 (CFC-12) was the standard refrigerant in automotive air conditioning before it was phased out. Which refrigerant replaced R-12 in new cars starting in the mid-1990s?

R-22
R-134a
R-410A
R-404A

Question 20: Superheat is the temperature of refrigerant VAPOR above its ___________ at a given pressure.

Boiling point at atmospheric pressure
Saturation temperature at a given pressure
Condensing temperature at high side pressure
Ambient air temperature

Question 21: True or False: A technician may refill a disposable (non-refillable) refrigerant cylinder with recovered refrigerant as long as it is the same type of refrigerant.

True
False

Question 22: EPA 608 Type III certification covers technicians who service equipment that uses LOW-PRESSURE refrigerants such as R-11, R-113, or R-123. What type of equipment uses these low-pressure refrigerants?

Small window air conditioners
Residential split-system heat pumps
Centrifugal chillers in large buildings
Automotive air conditioning systems

Question 23: A technician who knowingly vents refrigerant into the atmosphere can face a civil penalty of up to ___________ per day per violation under EPA Section 608.

$1,000 per day
$10,000 per day
$44,539 per day
$500 one-time fine

Question 24: Reclaimed refrigerant must be processed to meet which purity standard before it can be sold or transferred to a new owner?

ASHRAE Standard 15
AHRI Standard 700
DOT Standard 49
EPA SNAP certification

Question 25: Which EPA program evaluates and lists acceptable substitute refrigerants that can legally replace ozone-depleting substances?

SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy)
NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants)
ENERGY STAR program
DOT hazmat certification

Study Tip: The EPA 608 exam is closed book. Memorize: recovery is required before opening any refrigerant system. Venting refrigerant is illegal. Know the ODP and GWP values for R-22, R-410A, R-134a, R-32, and R-454B.

EXAM CARD EPA 608

Questions25

Time limit45 min

Pass score70%

RegulationEPA Section 608

DifficultyIntermediate

Last reviewedJun 2026

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Source: EPA Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82)