Question 1Small appliance recovery rules
An installer pipes a small walk-in cooler on site and charges it with 4 pounds of refrigerant. Is it a small appliance?
The refrigerant certification test format
The test has four sections of at least 25 multiple-choice questions: Core, which every certification needs, and one section for each equipment type. Universal is all four, 100 questions.
| Sections | Core, Type I, Type II, Type III |
|---|---|
| Questions | 25 a section; Universal is 100 |
| Pass mark | 70 percent, 18 of 25 |
| Expiry | None |
The four sections
| Section | Covers | Typical equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Ozone, the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, Section 608 rules, refrigeration basics, recovery, safety and shipping | Every certification |
| Type I | Small appliances: factory sealed with 5 pounds or less | Window units, household refrigerators, vending machines |
| Type II | Medium-, high- and very high-pressure appliances | Split systems, rooftop units, supermarket racks |
| Type III | Low-pressure appliances | Centrifugal chillers on R-123 or R-11 |
Which type do you need?
- Type I if you service small appliances only, such as window units and household refrigerators.
- Type II for medium-, high- and very high-pressure appliances, such as split systems, rooftop units and supermarket racks.
- Type III for low-pressure appliances, such as R-123 and R-11 centrifugal chillers.
- Universal if your work covers all three.
Who gives the test
EPA approves certification programs and lists them on its website; EPA itself does not give the test. Some programs test in person, some remotely. Type II, Type III and Universal tests are closed book and proctored, and the proctor checks photo identification.
Our practice exams
EPA sets no time limit, and each program sets its own. Our two practice exams follow the Universal format, four sections of 25, and give each section 25 minutes on its own clock.
Try 3 questions
Question 2Evacuation levels
Which work needs a technician certified for Type II?
Question 3Evacuation and pressurizing
Before a major repair, a technician recovers R-123 from a centrifugal chiller with recovery equipment built in 2015. To what level must the chiller be evacuated?
Next step
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the EPA 608 test?
At least 25 for Core and 25 for each type. A Universal test is 100: 25 Core and 25 each for Types I, II and III.
Do I have to take Core?
Yes. Every certification includes the Core section.
Can I take the types on different days?
Yes. Universal may be taken all at once or by combining passing scores on separate type tests. A mail-in Type I test cannot count toward Universal.