Mainstream Engineering Offers EPA 608 Testing
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This site is maintained by Mainstream Engineering Corporation and is not associated with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA maintains its own web site that includes information about both section 608 and section 609 certification. Mainstream is certified by the EPA to provide both 608 and 609 certification. HVAC practice exams can be used for professional-growth and to prepare for certification exams. Our HVACR practice exam consists of questions developed by HVAC Excellence, the largest provider of certifications (more than 200,000) in the HVACR industry.
In order to work in the HVAC industry, technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of refrigerant-containing equipment must be certified under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Mainstream Engineering is a certifying agency for Section 608 Type I, II, III, and Universal certifications. This online resource can help you explore certification options, study, practice, and take the test online!
The EPA has developed four types of HVAC certifications:
- Type I Certification – For Small Appliances (5lbs or less of refrigerant)
- Type II Certification – For Medium-, High-, and Very-High Pressure Appliances
- Type III Certification – For Low-Pressure Appliances
Universal Certification – For anyone who possesses Type I, Type II and Type III Certifications
EPA-Approved Section 608 Certification is needed to service building air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification
Type I Certification – Can only work on Small Appliance (5lbs or less of refrigerant)
Type II Certification – Can only work on Medium, High and Very-High Pressure Appliances.
Type III Certification – Can only work on Low-Pressure Appliances.
Universal Certification – Someone who possesses Type I, Type II and Type III Certifications
Type II Certification – Can only work on Medium, High and Very-High Pressure Appliances.
Type III Certification – Can only work on Low-Pressure Appliances.
Universal Certification – Someone who possesses Type I, Type II and Type III Certifications
Mainstream offers free study materials for Type I Open Book Certification online:
- Type I Study Manual (Free) - Click here for Español
For Type II, Type III, or Universal certification contact an HVAC wholesaler near you to inquire about our Qwik608™ Self-study course and test (Part Number QT3000).
For technicians using the Type I Open Book format only, the exam is open-book, but the passing grade is 84% (per section) instead of 72% (per section) and the core questions must be repeated in a proctored environment if other certifications are later desired. We suggest the closed book exam! Click here to find a proctor location in your area.
Mainstream is approved by the EPA as a certifying agency for Section 608 Type I, II, III and Universal exams and Section 609 Motor Vehicle A/C certification.
608 Certifications for Servicing Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems
Before testing your knowledge on different types of appliances, you will need to pass the Core Section of your EPA 608 exam. The core section of this test discusses the purpose behind industry regulations and each technician’s responsibility to generate a safe and environmentally result. Your core exam section will contain a variety of topics, including focuses on ozone depletion, the value and risks of refrigerants, the Three R’s (Recover, Recycle, Reclaim), safe practices, recovery techniques, and more.
Type 1 - Servicing Small Appliances
Available online in an open-book format, the Type 1 EPA 608 certification enables you to service smaller appliances. This section includes proper recovery techniques and industry requirements for small appliances, including recovery in equipment made before and after November 15, 1993. Keep in mind you will also need to take the Core Section test, but since it is open-book, the Core Section will need to be taken in a proctored environment for future certifications!
Type 2 - High-Pressure Appliances
This EPA certification will enable you to service or dispose of medium- to very high-pressure appliances, except in applications such as small appliances or air conditioners within motor vehicles. The focus of this education and training is geared more toward leak detection and how to properly test equipment. Type II also focuses on recovery techniques and requirements to minimize loss or cross-contamination.
Type 3 - Low-Pressure Appliances
The proper servicing and disposal of low-pressure appliances requires Type III certification, but it is important to know that this near-identical exam is different from Type II in that low-pressure systems work in a vacuum. Leak-tests and proper pressurization are an essential component of low-pressure HVAC services.
Universal Certification
Technicians who pass all three certification exams will be awarded a Universal Certification. You will have to be tested on each of the three certification types in addition to the core exam. Expect to answer 100 questions total.
What is the EPA 608 Test?
This certification exam is designed to educate HVAC technicians in various methods and refrigeration products, providing a safe and eco-friendly outcome with each service. Each section of this test includes 25 questions, equating to 100 questions for a complete certification.
Individuals working to earn their 608 certification must do so under the guidance of an EPA-approved certifying organization such as Mainstream Engineering.
Can You Take EPA 608 Online?
Yes! Since the Type I Certification is open book, you can study and take your test online right now. If the appliances you are working on exceed five pounds of refrigerant, the test will need to be proctored. For additional certifications, refer to our wholesaler list above to find a proctor in your area.
What Format is the Test Proctored?
You can expect multiple-choice questions for each certification exam. This format includes four possible answers. The EPA 608 certification relies on a random assortment of questions for each second pulled from a pool of roughly 350 potential questions. You can rely on Mainstream Engineering’s study materials to best prepare for the test.
Do EPA 608 Certifications Expire?
Section 608 certifications do not expire. If you lose your certification card, however, re-testing may be required. Contact us to see how you can retrieve your 608 card!
What Are the Pass/Fail Limits?
Each section requires a minimum passing grade of 72% per section or 84% in the open-book format. If you are worried about your upcoming exam, you can utilize our free software for quality training materials and interactive tools.
How Hard is the EPA 608 Test?
For those who do not study, passing the EPA 608 exam may prove challenging. Technicians who prepare and study will likely pass the exam without too much worry. Be sure to review your study manual and memorize the proper information. This will help to reinforce your in-field services later on.
Is There a Difference Between a Refrigeration EPA Certification and an HVAC EPA Certification?
The difference in verbiage may cause some confusion, but these two terms are interchangeable in EPA terminology. AC systems rely on refrigerants to complete operations, and therefore fall under the umbrella of EPA 608.
Have Questions?
Mainstream Engineering Corporation, at EPATest.com, is here to provide complete testing services and support for technicians seeking their EPA 608 certification in addition to certification programs. If you have questions or want to know more about our program, be sure to contact us online or fill out the form below.
EPA 608 Certification Study Guide
This study guide is intended to help the user prepare for the EPA 608 Technician Certification Examination and contains all the information required to answer questions on the test. Information in this manual reflects the most current information available at the time of publishing. The information is presented as material and concepts that the exam covers and is not intended to simply be memorized. The more you understand the concepts behind EPA 608 regulations, the better you will do on the exam and the better you will perform your job as it relates to refrigerants.
Review questions at the end will help you to quiz yourself on what you just read. If you can answer the review questions, you should be well-prepared for the test. The EPA may, from time to time, update laws or change test questions based on new information. It is the responsibility of the technician to comply with future new laws as established by the EPA, even if they differ from the contents of this guide. This guide does not cover all EPA 608 regulation details, only those deemed important enough to be considered for test questions by the EPA.
Technicians should read the entire EPA regulations before handling refrigerants. Tecumseh bvs 143 manual diagram.
About EPA 608 Testing
The Federal Government of the United States requires all individuals who open a system or container holding a controlled refrigerant to be certified. Persons who work on stationary equipment or use refrigerant designed for these systems can become certified by passing a proctored Section 608 examination. Candidates for this test can be certified in any of three equipment categories plus Universal.
Type I: A Type I technician primarily works on small appliances such as domestic refrigerators, window air conditioners, PTACs and vending machines.
Type II: A Type II technician primarily works on equipment using a high pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-22. The equipment includes residential air conditioners and heat pumps, supermarket refrigeration and process refrigeration.
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Type III: A Type III technician primarily works on equipment using a low pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-123 or CFC-11. These units are primarily chillers.
Universal: Any candidate passing all three of these EPA types is certified as Universal.
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To pass any EPA type, a candidate must pass the Core section of the test plus one of the technician types listed above. Once Core is passed, it need not be taken again and it may be used for additional EPA types. The test is divided into four sections: Core, Type I, Type II and Type III. Each test section has 25 multiple choice questions drawn from a bank of test questions. Questions regarding equipment regulations, safety, shipping and identifying refrigerants appear in every test section, so it is important to know these well. Multiple versions of the test are offered at the same time, each with different questions. A passing score of 70%, or 18 out of 25 correct, is required in order to be certified. Each section is graded independently, so a technician could pass Core, Type I and Type III and fail Type II. In this case the technician would be certified as a Type I & Type III technician. Core must be passed to receive any certification. All sections must be passed in order to achieve Universal Technician status.
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A technician may choose to take Core plus any combination of Type I, Type II or Type III. It is not required to take all four sections on the examination, however, much of the content from section to section relates to Core content, so once the Core content is mastered, reviewing for the other sections is much easier.