Free EPA 608 Practice Test: 326 Questions for Core and Types I, II, III

In short: A free EPA 608 practice test with 326 original questions split evenly across Core, Type I, Type II and Type III, written to EPA's published Section 608 test topics. Take timed 25-question tests, see your score by section and read the rule behind every answer. Practice mode and flashcards included. No subscription, no auto-renew, no account.

Pick a topicDrill one section at a time

Loading EPA 608 questions…

EPA 608 practice test: the facts

Price	Free. No payment step on this page.
Subscription	No subscription, no auto-renew, no card needed.
Question bank	326 original questions, every one with an explanation and the outline section it tests.
Timed mock test	25 questions in 30 minutes, drawn across topics in proportion to the bank; the usual section length and pass line (18/25), mixed across all four sections. To drill one section, pick it under Practice one topic. Time limits vary by certifying organization.
Weak-topic stats	Score by topic after every mock, plus a running weak-topic list from practice mode.
Modes	Timed mock, practice mode (instant answer and explanation), flashcards, one-topic drills.
Account	Not required. Nothing to sign up for.
Access	No time limit and no expiry.
Privacy	Your answers and stats stay in your browser (local storage). Nothing is sent to us.
Based on	Questions are original and written from 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F and EPA's Section 608 technician certification requirements.
Checked	November 2026

The real EPA 608 at a glance

Format	Usually 25 multiple-choice questions per section; Universal is all four sections (100 questions). Closed book except a pressure-temperature chart.
Time	Set by the certifying organization; there is no single EPA time limit.
Passing score	Usually 70% per section (18 of 25), as stated by certifying organizations.
Content	Core (ozone, Clean Air Act, recovery, safety, cylinders); Type I small appliances; Type II high-pressure equipment and leak repair; Type III low-pressure chillers.
Fee	Set by the certifying organization; listed prices run from about $10 to $175 depending on what is included.

Sources: EPA: Section 608 technician certification · EPA: certification test topics. Rules change; confirm with the official source before test day.

EPA Section 608 certification has four parts: Core plus Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure) and Type III (low-pressure). Pass all four for Universal. Certifying organizations usually give 25 questions per section and require 18 correct (70%). Our 326 original questions are split evenly across the four sections and follow EPA's published test topics.

Questions by topic

Core
81 questions
Ozone depletion, Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, recovery/recycling/reclaiming, safety, cylinders.
Type I
81 questions
Small appliances: recovery requirements, passive recovery, access valves.
Type II
82 questions
High-pressure systems: leak detection and repair, evacuation levels, recovery by size.
Type III
82 questions
Low-pressure chillers: leak testing, purge units, recharging, water in the system.

10 sample EPA 608 questions with answers

Taken from the bank above. Open each one for the answer and the explanation.

1. Core
Which atom released from CFC molecules by ultraviolet light is mainly responsible for destroying stratospheric ozone?
- A. Chlorine
- B. Carbon
- C. Fluorine
- D. Hydrogen
Show answer
Answer: A. Chlorine
UV radiation in the stratosphere breaks the bond that holds chlorine in a CFC molecule, and each free chlorine atom can destroy many ozone molecules in a chain reaction. Fluorine and hydrogen do not play this role.
Source: EPA 608 Core: Ozone depletion
2. Type I
Under Section 608, a small appliance is one that is factory-sealed and contains no more than
- A. 2 pounds of refrigerant
- B. 5 pounds of refrigerant
- C. 10 pounds of refrigerant
- D. 15 pounds of refrigerant
Show answer
Answer: B. 5 pounds of refrigerant
A small appliance is manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed in a factory with all connecting piping and electrical connections, and has five pounds or less of refrigerant. Larger charges fall under Type II or Type III.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 – Definitions
3. Type II
Type II certification covers service and disposal of
- A. only low-pressure chillers
- B. only small appliances
- C. high-pressure and very-high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs
- D. only motor vehicle air conditioners
Show answer
Answer: C. high-pressure and very-high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs
Type II is for stationary systems that use refrigerants such as R-22, R-410A, R-404A and R-134a. Small appliances belong to Type I and low-pressure chillers to Type III.
Source: EPA 608 Type II: Certification scope
4. Type III
Type III certification covers service and disposal of
- A. low-pressure appliances such as centrifugal chillers
- B. small appliances
- C. high-pressure split systems
- D. motor vehicle air conditioners
Show answer
Answer: A. low-pressure appliances such as centrifugal chillers
Type III is for appliances using low-pressure refrigerants like R-11, R-123 and R-113. Other types of equipment belong to Type I or Type II.
Source: EPA 608 Type III: Certification scope
5. Core
Which section of the Clean Air Act governs refrigerant handling in motor vehicle air conditioners?
- A. Section 608
- B. Section 111
- C. Section 112
- D. Section 609
Show answer
Answer: D. Section 609
Section 609 covers servicing of MVACs, with its own training and certification. Technicians who only work on car air conditioning do not need Section 608 certification for that work.
Source: EPA 608 Core: Clean Air Act Title VI
6. Type I
A small appliance can alternatively be evacuated to what vacuum level to meet recovery requirements?
- A. 4 inches of mercury vacuum
- B. 10 inches of mercury vacuum
- C. 25 inches of mercury vacuum
- D. 0 psig
Show answer
Answer: A. 4 inches of mercury vacuum
For small appliances, evacuation to 4 inches of mercury vacuum meets the requirement as an alternative to the percent recovery test. Larger and low-pressure systems use deeper levels.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156 – Evacuation requirements
7. Type II
Replacing a filter-drier in a high-pressure system is usually treated as
- A. a major repair
- B. a non-major repair
- C. disposal
- D. a leak repair exemption
Show answer
Answer: B. a non-major repair
A filter-drier is not one of the major components named in the definition, so the repair is classified as non-major. Pump-down or recovery is still needed to avoid venting.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 – Definitions
8. Type III
Excessive purge unit run time on a low-pressure chiller suggests
- A. a perfect system
- B. high ambient humidity only
- C. an oversized compressor
- D. a leak that lets air into the system
Show answer
Answer: D. a leak that lets air into the system
A purge that runs often is removing a lot of air, so air is entering through a leak. The technician should check for the source of leakage.
Source: EPA 608 Type III: Purge units
9. Core
Refrigerant processed to meet the purity of new (virgin) product and verified by chemical analysis is said to be
- A. recovered
- B. recycled
- C. reclaimed
- D. evacuated
Show answer
Answer: C. reclaimed
Reclamation requires processing to the AHRI Standard 700 specification and analysis by a laboratory. Because it requires special equipment, it is done by EPA-certified reclaimers.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 – Definitions
10. Type I
A process tube or access fitting that is installed on a small appliance for recovery purposes should be
- A. a hole drilled with a hammer
- B. a cut in the line with a tube cutter
- C. left open to atmosphere
- D. a piercing-type or brazed-on access valve that allows hoses to be connected
Show answer
Answer: D. a piercing-type or brazed-on access valve that allows hoses to be connected
A line-piercing or Schrader-type access valve allows hoses to be connected to the sealed system for recovery. Cutting an open appliance causes refrigerant release.
Source: EPA 608 Type I: Access valves

How to use this EPA 608 practice test

1Start with Core: it is required with every type.
2Take a 25-question timed test for each section you plan to sit.
3Put leak-rate triggers, evacuation levels and pressures on flashcards.
4Redo missed questions in practice mode and read the rule in each explanation.
5Book the proctored test when you pass each section mock with 20+ out of 25.

Questions people ask

Is this EPA 608 practice test free?

Yes. All 326 questions, the timed section tests, practice mode and flashcards are free. No subscription, no auto-renew, no account.

How many questions are on the EPA 608 test and what do I need to pass?

Certifying organizations usually give 25 questions per section and require 18 correct (70%). Type I, II or III each come with Core; Universal is all four sections, 100 questions. Our mock uses 25 questions and a 70% pass line.

Does EPA 608 certification expire?

No. EPA Section 608 technician certifications do not expire.

Can I take the EPA 608 test open book?

Some Type I tests are offered open book, but a Core taken open book cannot count toward Universal. Proctored tests are closed book except for a pressure-temperature chart.

Are these the real EPA 608 questions?

No. These are original questions written to EPA's published Section 608 test topics. Real certifying-organization questions are not public.

More free practice

Free permit practice test

DMV-style, timed mock

AWS Certification Flashcards

Permit Practice Test

ASVAB Flashcards

Want cards from your own notes or textbook instead? Turn your HVAC study guide into flashcards.