US Environmental Protection Agency
EPA 608
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification
The federally required certification for any technician who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of equipment containing regulated refrigerants. Every HVAC/R technician in the US must hold the appropriate Type to legally handle refrigerants.
What's on the exam
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F)
Core
25%Ozone depletion and the Clean Air Act · Montreal Protocol and refrigerant phaseouts · Section 608 regulations and prohibitions · Refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation definitions · Safety and shipping of refrigerants · Substitute refrigerants and oils
Type I — Small Appliances
25%Small appliance definitions and examples · Recovery requirements for small appliances · Recovery techniques and equipment · System-dependent vs self-contained recovery · Safe disposal requirements
Type II — High-Pressure Appliances
25%High-pressure refrigerants and equipment · Leak detection and repair requirements · Evacuation levels for high-pressure systems · Recovery techniques for high-pressure appliances · Refrigeration cycle and component diagnosis
Type III — Low-Pressure Appliances
25%Low-pressure chillers and refrigerants · Evacuation and recovery levels for low-pressure systems · Charging low-pressure appliances · Leak detection in low-pressure systems · Purge units and rupture discs
Frequently asked questions
How much does the EPA 608 cost?
Fees vary. Approximately $25–150 depending on the EPA-approved certifying organization and sections attempted.
How long is the EPA 608 and how many questions does it have?
25 questions per section (Core + each Type attempted) — Varies by provider; typically 1–3 hours depending on sections attempted.
What do you need to pass the EPA 608?
70% per section (18 of 25 questions correct in Core and each Type).
Can you retake the EPA 608?
Retake policies and fees vary by certifying organization; only failed sections need to be retaken.
What is the best way to study for the EPA 608?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Core 25%, Type I — Small Appliances 25%, Type II — High-Pressure Appliances 25%, Type III — Low-Pressure Appliances 25%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 7 exam.
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