Your Guide to EPA Section 608 Technician Certification

The Clean Air Act requires all technicians working with refrigerants to be certified.

So as an aspiring HVAC technician, you should obtain the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.

It’s a mandatory requirement by the U.S. government in order to…

• Protect and preserve the environment
• Ensure you have the ability to safely work with refrigerant-containing equipment

On this page, you’ll learn important information about the EPA Certification, including:

• Its background and the reason it exists
• Types of certification available
• Preparation for the certification exam

Reason Behind the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification

It can’t be denied that refrigerants are essential parts of the HVAC/R system.

However, in the 1990s, it was found that refrigerants produce harmful chemicals that can damage the ozone layer.

It led to the build-up of greenhouse gasses contributing to climate change.

And so, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took measures to combat its effect on the environment.

One of the actions they took was amending the EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act Section 608, stating:

…technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.

Thus the beginning of the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.

Anyone who obtains this certification will have this credential for life.

Types of EPA Section 608 Technician Certification

This EPA certification is divided into four types.

Depending on the type of equipment you’ll work with, you can choose to get one or all of them.

Here are the four EPA certification levels:

• Type I for servicing small appliances
• Type II for servicing high-pressure appliances, except for small appliances and MVACs
• Type III for servicing low-pressure appliances
• Universal for all three types

Taking the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Exam

The EPA Section 608 Technician Certification will have the following exams:

• Core exam
• Type I exam
• Type II exam
• Type III exam

For you to obtain a certification, you must pass the Core exam along with your chosen level.

The table below will show the inclusions for you to obtain the EPA certification level:

Each exam will have 25 questions, and you need to score at least 18 to 21 out of the 25 items to pass.

Also, each exam is independent of the other, so if you fail one and pass the other, it doesn’t matter.

You’ll gain lifetime certification for the one you passed, and you can retake the one you failed.

Exam Content

The content for each exam varies in accordance with its target topic.

Below, you’ll find some of the important topics included for each exam.

Core

• Environmental impacts
• Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol
• Section 608 regulations
• Substitute refrigerants and oils
• Refrigeration
• Recovery techniques
• The three R’s (recover, recycle, reclaim)
• Dehydration evacuation
• Safety
• Shipping

Type I

• Recovery requirements
• Recovery techniques
• Safety

Type II

• Leak detection
• Leak repair requirements
• Recovery techniques
• Recovery requirements
• Refrigeration
• Safety

Type III

• Leak detection
• Leak repair requirements
• Recovery techniques
• Recovery requirements
• Recharging techniques
• Refrigeration
• Safety

Preparing for the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Exam

Taking the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification exam is essential for your HVAC career.

So you need to find resources that can help you practice and study for the exam.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for the exam:

• You’ll need knowledge of refrigerants, particularly R-22 and R-410A
• Read and understand the EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act
• Enroll in EPA certification exam prep courses
• Look up study guides online
• Take practice tests online

Frequently Asked Questions

How different are the EPA Section 608 Technician Certification and EPA Refrigeration Certification?

There’s no difference; both terms are synonymous.

The EPA Section 608 Technician Certification covers handling refrigerants.

And so, it allows working with both AC and refrigeration systems.

What is the cost of EPA Section 608 Technician Certification?

The costs for the certification vary based on the testing location.

For instance, a Type I certification can cost $20 while the Universal certification for $150+.

This page is also available in Spanish.