Know which EPA 608 cert you need — and pass the sections techs actually fail.
Start with the equipment you'll touch. We map you to the right cert, show the exact exam sections, and break down the Core and per-type rules new HVAC techs mix up.
Type I · Type II · Type III · Universal — based on equipment, not refrigerant
Tell us your equipment. Get your cert path.
Are you a registered apprentice working under close, continual supervision?
Answer the questions and your recommended EPA 608 cert appears here — with the exact exam sections you'll take.
Guidance only, based on appliance type (608 is not a refrigerant-specific cert). Confirm current requirements at epa.gov/section608.
Core + your Type — passed section by section
Every EPA 608 path is the Core section plus one or more Type sections. Universal is all four. Each section is 25 questions.
You must pass each section separately at 70% (proctored). Scores don't average — a great Core won't carry a weak Type section. For Universal, that's four passes in one sitting.
Leak, recovery & evacuation — the rules people swap
The single hardest part isn't one topic — it's remembering which threshold goes with which appliance. Here are the values that trip up the most first-timers.
| Rule | Value | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Leak-repair trigger | 10% / yr | Comfort cooling (AC, heat pumps) |
| Leak-repair trigger | 20% / yr | Commercial refrigeration |
| Leak-repair trigger | 30% / yr | Industrial process refrigeration |
| Small-appliance recovery Type I | 90% | Post-1993 equipment + working compressor |
| Small-appliance recovery Type I | 80% | Pre-1993 equipment OR dead compressor |
| Evacuation: high-pressure <200 lb Type II | 0 in. Hg | Pre- & post-1993 equipment |
| Evacuation: high-pressure ≥200 lb Type II | 4 / 10 in. Hg | Pre-1993 / post-1993 equipment |
| Evacuation: very high-pressure Type II | 0 in. Hg | Pre- & post-1993 equipment |
| Evacuation: low-pressure Type III | 25 mm Hg abs. | Large chillers |
| System-dependent (passive) recovery Type II | Not allowed | Appliances over 15 lb of refrigerant |
Study reference. Exact requirements depend on appliance category, charge size, pressure class, and equipment manufacture date — confirm current values at epa.gov/section608 before relying on them on the job.
Sanity-check the finder against your jobs
The cert follows the appliance. Find the equipment you'll service and you'll see the cert it lands under.
- •Home refrigerators & freezers
- •Window & PTAC units
- •Vending machines & water coolers
- •Dehumidifiers (factory-sealed, ≤5 lb)
- •Central & split-system AC
- •Heat pumps & mini-splits
- •Supermarket & commercial refrigeration
- •Most residential/commercial service
- •Large building chillers
- •Centrifugal chillers
- •Industrial process cooling
- •Low-pressure refrigerant systems
- •Core + Type I + II + III
- •Work across every category
- •The broadest hiring flexibility
- •Four separate section passes
It's usually the Core and the rule details — not the "hard" type
Most people under-study the Core thinking it's just theory, then get caught swapping the leak, recovery, and evacuation numbers above. Prep that only drills a handful of questions leaves gaps against the federal question pool. We're building broad, section-by-section practice that covers the Core and every Type — no "guaranteed pass" claims, just full coverage of what's tested.
Get the section-by-section prep when it drops
Practice for the Core and every Type, mapped to the rules above — so you walk in ready for the sections that actually fail people. Be first in line.
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EPA 608 questions, answered straight
Do apprentices need an EPA 608 certification? +
Not always. A registered apprentice is exempt while closely and continually supervised by a certified technician — but only if registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (or a recognized State Apprenticeship Council), and the exemption lasts at most two years from the date you first register. If that does not describe you, you need the certification for the equipment you service.
Does the EPA 608 certification expire? +
No. Section 608 technician certification does not expire and has no renewal or continuing-education requirement. Once you pass, the credential is for life.
Can I take it open-book, or does it have to be proctored? +
It depends on the section. The Core and Type I sections can be taken open-book by mail in a non-proctored setting, but the passing score there is higher (84%). Type II, Type III, and Universal must be taken closed-book in a proctored setting, where the passing score is 70% per section.
Is EPA 608 an "R-410A" or refrigerant-specific certification? +
No. EPA 608 is based on the type of appliance you work on (small, high-pressure, low-pressure), not on a specific refrigerant. The same certification applies regardless of whether the system uses an older HCFC or a newer HFC refrigerant.
How is the exam structured and what score do I need? +
Every path starts with a 25-question Core section. Each Type section is also 25 questions. You take Core plus at least one Type, and you must score 70% in each section independently in a proctored setting — scores are not averaged, so failing one section means retaking that section.
Is this the same as Section 609? +
No. Section 609 covers motor-vehicle air conditioning (automotive AC). Section 608 covers stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning appliances. They are separate certifications.