How to Pass the EPA 608 Exam: A 7-Day Plan for 2026

How do you study for the EPA 608 in a week?

One day to see where you stand, a day each on Core and the three types, a day on the numbers, and a final full test.

Day 1: take the [free EPA 608 practice test](/epa-608-practice-test). Note your score on each section and every rule you missed.
Day 2: Core. Venting, the three Rs, refrigerant classes, cylinders and psig against psia. Drill Core.
Day 3: Type I. The small appliance definition and the recovery percentages by date and compressor. Drill Type I.
Day 4: Type II. The evacuation table, leak thresholds and the 30-day repair rule, superheat and subcooling. Drill Type II.
Day 5: Type III. Everything that follows from running in a vacuum. Drill Type III.
Day 6: write out the evacuation table and the numbers list from memory, check them, then drill your weakest section again.
Day 7: a second full test. Book when every section is at 20 or more; if one is not, repeat its day.

Everything the plan needs

Eight full EPA 608-style mocks, four drills for each section and the printable study guide, for one payment.

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.

See the EPA 608 Pass Pack How our questions are built and checked

8
timed mocks: 16
topic drills: 1
score predictor

What should I memorize for the EPA 608?

The evacuation table and a short list of numbers. Together they decide most of the questions with numbers on Types I, II and III.

Required evacuation levels, inches of mercury vacuum (40 CFR 82.156, table 1)
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

The other numbers the exam asks about most
Rule	Number	Where
Pass mark	18 of 25 (70%) on each section; 21 of 25 (84%) on a Type I test taken open book by mail	Appendix D
Small appliance	Factory-made, charged and hermetically sealed, 5 pounds of refrigerant or less	82.152
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
Low-pressure leak test	Raise pressure to no more than 10 psig; the rupture disc is set at 15 psig	Type III practice

How do you answer EPA 608 recovery questions?

Pull out the three facts the rule depends on before you read the options: the refrigerant (and so its pressure class), the charge size, and when the recovery equipment was made.

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?
1. A15 inches of mercury vacuum
2. B10 inches of mercury vacuum
3. C4 inches of mercury vacuum
4. 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.
1. R-134a: medium pressure.
2. Charge: 250 lb, so 200 pounds or more.
3. Equipment after November 15, 1993: 15 inches.
The trap: Using 10 inches, the figure for under 200 pounds.
EPA 608-style question 2 · Recovery
A technician recovers refrigerant from a household refrigerator whose compressor does not run, using recovery equipment manufactured in 2015. What must be recovered?
1. A80% of the refrigerant, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum
2. B90% of the refrigerant, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum
3. C100% of the refrigerant
4. 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%.
1. Equipment date: 2015, after November 15, 1993.
2. Compressor: not running.
3. Rule: 80%, or a 4-inch Hg vacuum.
The trap: Using 90%. That figure is for a working compressor.

Wrong options are almost always the number from the next row of the table, so the setup matters more than the memory.

What should I expect on EPA 608 exam day?

A proctor, photo ID, closed book, and usually all four sections in one sitting. Answer every question; there is no penalty for a wrong answer.

Bring the photo ID your certifying organization asks for.
For online proctoring, test your webcam and connection the day before and clear your desk.
Do Core first if you can choose the order: it unlocks the others.
Flag a question you cannot answer in a minute and come back to it.
Check every recovery question against the three facts: pressure class, charge, equipment date.

What are the most common EPA 608 mistakes?

Neighbouring numbers, not annualizing a leak rate, the wrong direction of a conversion, and under-studying Core and Type III.

Taking the evacuation level from the wrong row (10 instead of 15 inches at 200 pounds or more).
Reading a six-month loss as the annual leak rate.
Subtracting 14.7 to get psia.
Choosing 90% for a small appliance whose compressor does not run.
Raising a chiller to 15 psig to leak test it.
Skipping Core because it feels like common sense.

Should I take Universal or one type?

Universal, if you can: it costs little more, all four sections can be taken in one sitting, and it never expires. Employers prefer it.

EPA 608 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.
EPA 608 Type I
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.
EPA 608 Type II
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.
EPA 608 Type III
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.

The pass mark for each section is explained on EPA 608 passing score.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study for the EPA 608?

A week of evenings for most HVAC technicians; longer if you are new to the trade.

Is the EPA 608 exam hard?

It is not tricky, but it is exact: the numbers decide many questions, and every section needs 18 of 25.

Can I take all four sections in one day?

Yes. Most certifying organizations offer Universal in one sitting.

Should I guess if I do not know?

Yes. Only right answers count.

Follow the plan with real practice

Eight full EPA 608-style mocks, four drills for each section and every answer explained, for one payment.