EPA 608 practice test 2026: free Core, Type I, II and III questions
This free EPA 608-style practice test has 100 original questions, 25 for each section of the Section 608 technician exam: Core, Type I, Type II and Type III, the four that make Universal certification. Each section is scored against the real pass mark of 18 of 25 (70%), and every answer is explained from 40 CFR 82 subpart F.
- 100
- questions, 25 per section
- 18 / 25
- to pass each section
- 4
- sections for Universal
- Free
- no sign-up
Last checked · Exam facts from EPA and 40 CFR 82 subpart F; questions written for LifeScore
100
questions
120 min
time limit
Free
instant score
4 timed parts, each on its own clock: Core, 25 questions in 30 minutes, then Type I (small appliances), 25 questions in 30 minutes, then Type II (high-pressure), 25 questions in 30 minutes, then Type III (low-pressure), 25 questions in 30 minutes. A part's clock starts when you begin it, and you cannot go back to an earlier part.
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What is on this EPA 608 practice test?
100 questions in four timed parts, one for each section: Core, Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure) and Type III (low-pressure). Each part mixes rules, safety and questions with numbers.
| Section | Certifies | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Required for every type | Ozone depletion and climate, the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, the venting prohibition, refrigerant classes, recovery, recycling and reclaiming, the three Rs, dehydration, safety, shipping and cylinders, and pressure and temperature |
| Type I (small appliances) | Small appliances: factory-sealed, 5 pounds or less | What counts as a small appliance, recovery requirements (80% or 90%, or 4 inches of mercury vacuum), self-contained and system-dependent recovery, piercing valves, and safety |
| Type II (high-pressure) | High- and very high-pressure appliances | Leak detection, leak rate thresholds and repair deadlines, required evacuation levels, recovery techniques, superheat and subcooling, charging, and refrigeration safety |
| Type III (low-pressure) | Low-pressure appliances such as centrifugal chillers | Leak testing at no more than 10 psig, purge units, rupture discs, recovery to 25 mm Hg absolute, water in the tubes during recovery, charging and safety |
Every question is original and written from the rule text and EPA guidance. About a third use a rule with numbers, such as the required evacuation level for an appliance, a leak rate against its threshold, a repair deadline, a gauge reading turned into absolute pressure, or ounces turned into pounds. Those numbers change in every mock, so you cannot pass by remembering an answer.
The rest test what the exam asks most: what may never be vented, which refrigerants are CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs, what recover, recycle and reclaim mean, how a purge unit works, and who may buy refrigerant.
| Sections | Core, Type I, Type II and Type III, one timed part each, the four sections Universal needs |
|---|---|
| Questions | 25 per section, 100 in all, four options each |
| Clock | 30 minutes per section (120 in all). Certifying organizations set their own time limits, so this is a practice pace |
| Questions with numbers | About a third use a rule with numbers: evacuation levels, leak rates, repair dates, psig and psia, superheat, ounces and pounds. The numbers change in every mock |
| Your result | Right answers on each section against 18 of 25. A practice score, never a certification |
Can I practise one EPA 608 section at a time?
Yes. Each section has its own page with a free 12-question drill, the rules it tests and the numbers to learn.
1 free drill
Ozone depletion and climate, the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, the venting prohibition, refrigerant classes, recovery, recycling and reclaiming, the three Rs, dehydration, safety, shipping and cylinders, and pressure and temperature
1 free drill
What counts as a small appliance, recovery requirements (80% or 90%, or 4 inches of mercury vacuum), self-contained and system-dependent recovery, piercing valves, and safety
1 free drill
Leak detection, leak rate thresholds and repair deadlines, required evacuation levels, recovery techniques, superheat and subcooling, charging, and refrigeration safety
EPA 608 Type III practice test
1 free drill
Leak testing at no more than 10 psig, purge units, rupture discs, recovery to 25 mm Hg absolute, water in the tubes during recovery, charging and safety
Take the full test first, then drill the section with the lowest score. Core comes first in every plan: without a Core pass, no type counts.
How does the real EPA 608 exam work?
An EPA-approved certifying organization gives it with a proctor. Each section is 25 questions and is passed on its own at 70%, which is 18 right. Pass Core plus a type to be certified in that type; pass all four for Universal.
| Who needs it | Anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerant into the airPublished by the ownerEPA, "Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements" |
|---|---|
| Who gives it | EPA-approved certifying organizations, not EPA itself; each sets its own fee, format and time limitPublished by the ownerEPA, "Section 608 Technician Certification" |
| Sections | Core, Type I, Type II and Type III. Core plus a type certifies that type; all four is UniversalPublished by the ownerEPA, "Types of Technician Certification" |
| Questions | 25 multiple-choice questions per section, closed book and proctoredPublished by the owner40 CFR part 82, subpart F (eCFR): recycling and emissions reduction, including appendix D |
| Passing score | 70% on each section, which on 25 questions is 18 right. Each section is passed on its ownPublished by the owner40 CFR part 82, subpart F (eCFR): recycling and emissions reduction, including appendix D |
| Type I by mail | A Type I test may be taken open book by mail, needs 84% (21 of 25) and cannot count toward UniversalPublished by the owner40 CFR part 82, subpart F (eCFR): recycling and emissions reduction, including appendix D |
| How long it lasts | For life: Section 608 certification does not expirePublished by the ownerEPA, "Section 608 Technician Certification" |
Because sections are scored separately, you can pass three and fail one. You then hold certification in the types you passed (with Core), and retake only the section you missed. Certification does not expire, so a Universal card earned once lasts a career.
Which type you need, and how to book, is in the EPA 608 certification guide.
What numbers do I need to memorize for EPA 608?
The evacuation table, the leak rate thresholds and the repair deadline, the small appliance recovery levels, and psig against psia. Learn each with its condition.
| Appliance | Recovery equipment made before Nov 15, 1993 | Made on or after Nov 15, 1993 |
|---|---|---|
| HCFC-22 appliance, under 200 lb | 0 | 0 |
| HCFC-22 appliance, 200 lb or more | 4 | 10 |
| Very high-pressure appliance | 0 | 0 |
| Other high-pressure appliance, under 200 lb | 4 | 10 |
| Other high-pressure appliance, 200 lb or more | 4 | 15 |
| Medium-pressure appliance, under 200 lb | 4 | 10 |
| Medium-pressure appliance, 200 lb or more | 4 | 15 |
| Low-pressure appliance | 25 (inches of mercury vacuum) | 25 mm Hg absolute |
| Rule | Number | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Small appliance recovery (equipment made after November 15, 1993) | 90% with a working compressor, 80% without, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum | 82.156 |
| Leak rate thresholds (50 lb or more) | Comfort cooling 10%, commercial refrigeration 20%, industrial process refrigeration 30% per year | 82.157 |
| Leak repair deadline | Within 30 days of finding the leak, with initial and follow-up verification tests | 82.157 |
| Records | Kept for at least 3 years | 82.157, 82.156 |
| Recovery cylinder fill | No more than 80% of capacity by weight | Industry safety practice (DOT cylinders) |
| Gauge to absolute pressure | psia = psig + 14.7 | Physics |
Most wrong options on these questions are a real number from a neighbouring rule: 10 inches where 200 pounds or more needs 15, 90% where a dead compressor needs only 80%, 20% where comfort cooling is 10%. Learn the pairs that differ.
What do EPA 608 exam questions look like?
Short questions on a rule or a situation: an appliance to recover, a leak to repair, a reading to interpret. Try the five below; two are worked step by step and the rest open when you tap.
EPA 608-style question 1 · Evacuation levels
Before a major repair, a technician recovers refrigerant from an appliance holding 250 pounds of R-134a, using recovery equipment made in 2010. To what level must the appliance be evacuated?
- A15 inches of mercury vacuum
- B10 inches of mercury vacuum
- C4 inches of mercury vacuum
- D0 inches of mercury vacuum
Worked answer
A: 15 inches of mercury vacuum. R-134a is a medium-pressure refrigerant. For a medium-pressure appliance with 200 pounds or more, recovered with equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, table 1 of 40 CFR 82.156 requires 15 inches of mercury vacuum.
- R-134a: medium pressure.
- Charge: 250 lb, so 200 pounds or more.
- Equipment after November 15, 1993: 15 inches.
The trap: Using 10 inches, the figure for under 200 pounds.
EPA 608-style question 2 · Recovery
What is the difference between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant?
- ARecycling cleans refrigerant for reuse, often on site; reclaiming reprocesses it to new-product purity, verified by chemical analysis
- BThey mean the same thing
- CRecycling is done only at a reclamation plant
- DReclaiming means removing refrigerant into a cylinder without testing it
Show the worked answer
A: Recycling cleans refrigerant for reuse, often on site; reclaiming reprocesses it to new-product purity, verified by chemical analysis. Recovering is removing refrigerant into a container. Recycling cleans it (oil separation, filter-driers) for reuse, often in the same shop. Reclaiming reprocesses it to the purity of new refrigerant, confirmed by chemical analysis, usually at a certified reclaimer.
- Recover: take it out and store it.
- Recycle: clean it for reuse.
- Reclaim: reprocess it to new-product purity and test it.
The trap: Treating "recover" and "reclaim" as the same. Recovery is only the removal.
EPA 608-style question 3 · Recovery
A technician recovers refrigerant from a household refrigerator whose compressor does not run, using recovery equipment manufactured in 2015. What must be recovered?
- A80% of the refrigerant, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum
- B90% of the refrigerant, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum
- C100% of the refrigerant
- D50% of the refrigerant
Worked answer
A: 80% of the refrigerant, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum. For small appliances, equipment made after November 15, 1993 must recover 90% when the compressor works and 80% when it does not, or achieve a 4-inch Hg vacuum. This compressor does not run, so 80%.
- Equipment date: 2015, after November 15, 1993.
- Compressor: not running.
- Rule: 80%, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum.
The trap: Using 90%. That figure is for a working compressor.
EPA 608-style question 4 · Leak testing
A technician wants to leak test a low-pressure centrifugal chiller by raising its pressure. What is the most the pressure should be raised to?
- A10 psig
- B15 psig
- C50 psig
- D150 psig
Show the worked answer
A: 10 psig. The rupture disc on a low-pressure chiller opens at 15 psig, so leak testing raises the pressure to no more than 10 psig, usually with controlled hot water or heating blankets (or a pressurizing kit).
- Rupture disc setting: 15 psig.
- Stay below it with a margin.
- So no more than 10 psig.
The trap: Choosing 15 psig. That is where the disc bursts, not a safe test pressure.
EPA 608-style question 5 · Leak repair
A commercial refrigeration appliance holding 120 pounds of an ozone-depleting refrigerant needs 30 pounds added to restore a full charge, 6 months after it was last charged. What is the leak rate, and must it be repaired?
- A50% per year; yes, it is over the 20% threshold
- B25% per year; yes, it is over the 20% threshold
- C25% per year; no, it is under the 35% threshold
- D12.5% per year; no
Show the worked answer
A: 50% per year; yes, it is over the 20% threshold. Using the annualizing method: (pounds added ÷ full charge) × (365 ÷ days since the last charge) × 100 = (30 ÷ 120) × (365 ÷ about 182) × 100 ≈ 50% per year. Commercial refrigeration with 50 pounds or more must be repaired above 20%.
- Share of the charge: 30 ÷ 120 = 25% in about half a year.
- Projected over a year: about 50%.
- Commercial refrigeration threshold: 20%. 50% is over, so repair.
The trap: Forgetting to project to a full year (25%). The leak rate is per year.
These were written for this page, so none of them is in a mock. More, each with its trap, are on EPA 608 practice questions.
After the free EPA 608-style test
One mock shows your weakest section. Seven more, and four drills for each section, prove you clear 18 of 25 on all four.
The EPA 608 Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 16 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The EPA 608 Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 16
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor
How do I read my EPA 608 practice result?
You get your right answers on each section against 18 of 25, the real line, plus the questions you missed with the rule behind each. It is a practice score, not a certification.
18 of 25 leaves you only 7 misses per section, so a section at 17 is a fail however good the others are. Aim for 20 or more in practice to give yourself room for an unlucky set of questions on the day.
Look at Core first. A strong Type II with Core at 16 means no certification at all until Core is passed. Your result names the weakest section and starts your plan there.
Do EPA 608 practice tests help you pass?
Yes, when every miss sends you to the rule behind it. The exam repeats a small set of rules in different wording, so learning the rule beats memorizing an answer.
Most people who fail know HVAC work but lose points on dates, levels and thresholds they never use on the job, or on Type III rules if they never touch chillers. A practice test finds those in an hour and a half, and every answer here names the rule.
Without certification you cannot buy most refrigerants or open a system, and many employers will not put you on a service van until you have it. The plan is in how to pass the EPA 608.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the real EPA 608 exam?
How many questions are on the EPA 608 exam?
What score do I need to pass the EPA 608?
Is the EPA 608 exam open book?
Does EPA 608 certification expire?
Do I have to pay?
Walk in already over 18 of 25 on every section
Eight full EPA 608-style mocks, four drills for each section and every answer explained, in one payment with no subscription.
The EPA 608 Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 16 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The EPA 608 Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 16
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor