Free EPA 608 Practice Tests

By BRIX Editorial Team · Updated October 24, 2026

The EPA 608 exam has four sections: Core, which everyone takes, plus Type I for small appliances, Type II for high-pressure systems like residential AC, and Type III for low-pressure chillers. Pass Core and one type to be certified for that equipment, or all four for Universal. Each section is 25 questions, and the proctored test passes at 70%.

Key takeaways

Everyone takes Core. Then pick the type that matches the equipment you'll work on, or all three for Universal.
Residential and light commercial HVAC techs need at least Type II.
Take the 20-question diagnostic below to see which section needs the most work.
125 original questions across five practice tests, each with explanations and a source.

Free practice test

EPA 608 quick diagnostic: all four sections

125 original questions. Study mode shows the answer and explanation after each question. Exam mode gives you 20 random questions and scores you at the end. No sign-up; progress saves in this browser.

Sample questions

1. A technician opens a valve and lets the R-410A charge from a split system escape to the air so the job goes faster. What does federal law say about that?
- A. It's allowed because R-410A doesn't deplete ozone
- B. It's prohibited: knowingly venting non-exempt substitute refrigerants during service is banned
- C. It's allowed if less than 5 pounds escapes
- D. It's only prohibited during disposal, not service
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's prohibited: knowingly venting non-exempt substitute refrigerants during service is banned
The venting prohibition in 40 CFR 82.154(a) covers ozone-depleting refrigerants and non-exempt substitutes like R-410A, during maintenance, service, repair and disposal. Having no chlorine doesn't make an HFC exempt. Only a short list of substances, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water, is exempt.
Source: 40 CFR 82.154(a) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.154
2. Under the Section 608 rules, what makes an appliance a "small appliance"?
- A. It's any residential appliance, regardless of charge size
- B. It's fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
- C. It holds less than 15 pounds of refrigerant, however it was charged
- D. It weighs under 100 pounds and plugs into a standard outlet
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
The definition in 40 CFR 82.152 has two parts: the unit must be fully manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed at the factory, and it must contain 5 pounds or less of refrigerant. A system charged in the field doesn't qualify, even if its charge is small.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.152
3. Which signs point to a leak in a high-pressure system?
- A. A higher-than-normal head pressure only
- B. A quieter-than-normal compressor
- C. Excessive superheat, and traces of oil around fittings on hermetic systems
- D. Low superheat and a frosted suction line
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Excessive superheat, and traces of oil around fittings on hermetic systems
EPA's Type II topics list excessive superheat and traces of oil (for hermetic systems) as signs of leakage. A short charge starves the evaporator, so the vapor leaving it picks up extra superheat, and escaping refrigerant carries oil with it.
Source: EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-test-topics
4. What makes an appliance "low-pressure" under the Section 608 definitions?
- A. It uses a refrigerant with a liquid-phase saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104 °F
- B. It runs below 100 psig on the high side
- C. It has a centrifugal compressor
- D. It holds less than 50 pounds of refrigerant
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. It uses a refrigerant with a liquid-phase saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104 °F
40 CFR 82.152 defines a low-pressure appliance by its refrigerant: a saturation pressure below 45 psia at 104 °F. The regulation's examples are R-11, R-123, R-113 and R-245fa.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.152

121 more questions load when you start a round.

The diagnostic draws 5 questions from each section. It's too short to predict a pass, but your score by topic shows which full practice test to start with.

Which EPA 608 section should you take?

Pick by the equipment you'll open, not your job title. The regulation ties each certification type to a class of equipment (40 CFR 82.161), and working outside your type is a violation even if you're certified for something else.

Match your work to an EPA 608 type
If you work on…	You need	Practice test
Refrigerators, freezers, window and portable ACs, PTACs, dehumidifiers, vending machines (factory-sealed, 5 lb or less)	Core + Type I	Type I
Split systems, heat pumps, rooftop units, walk-ins, supermarket refrigeration (R-22, R-410A, R-134a, R-404A…)	Core + Type II	Type II
Centrifugal chillers on R-123, R-11, R-113 or R-245fa	Core + Type III	Type III
A mix, or you don't know yet	Universal (all four)	Universal

Equipment classes from 40 CFR 82.152 and 82.161, verified 2026-10-24. Motor vehicle AC falls under a different program (Section 609, 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart B).

If you're a residential HVAC apprentice and only want one type, Type II is the one. Field-charged split systems aren't small appliances, so Type I won't cover a mini-split even if it holds 3 pounds.

What does each section test?

All four follow EPA's official test-topic list. The flavor of each is different, so they're worth studying differently.

[Core](/practice/epa-608/core) (36 questions): the rules everyone needs. Ozone depletion, the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, the venting ban, recover vs. recycle vs. reclaim, recovery equipment, cylinders, shipping and safety. Mostly facts and definitions.
[Type I](/practice/epa-608/type-1) (28 questions): small appliances. The 80% / 90% / 4-inch-vacuum recovery rule, passive recovery on a dead compressor, piercing valves, and what scrap yards must do. Mostly hands-on scenarios.
[Type II](/practice/epa-608/type-2) (33 questions): high- and medium-pressure equipment. The evacuation table, leak repair thresholds and deadlines, leak detection, recovery speed. The most numbers to memorize.
[Type III](/practice/epa-608/type-3) (28 questions): low-pressure chillers. Purge units, hot-water leak testing, 25 mm Hg absolute, recharging vapor before liquid, heating oil before removal. Mostly cause and effect.
[Universal](/practice/epa-608/universal) (125 questions): everything combined, with a 100-question exam mode drawn 25 per section like the real Universal test.

How the real EPA 608 test works

EPA 608 test format (official rules)
Rule	What it says
Questions per test	At least 25 Core plus 25 for each type you're certifying for; Universal is 100
Passing score	70% on closed-book Type I, II, III and Universal tests; 84% on mail-in Type I
Format	Type II, III and Universal must be closed-book and proctored in a secure setting; Type I-only programs may use mail-in
Who gives it	EPA-approved certifying organizations, not EPA itself
Results and card	Results within 30 days; wallet card within 30 days of the test
Expiration	None. Section 608 credentials don't expire

Sources: 40 CFR 82.161 and Subpart F Appendix D; EPA certification requirements page. Verified 2026-10-24.

EPA keeps the official question bank private and releases it only to approved programs (40 CFR 82.161(c)). Any site claiming to have the "real" questions is guessing or copying. Every question here was written by BRIX from the regulation and EPA's public pages, and each one cites its source.

How to use these practice tests

1
Run the diagnostic
Twenty questions, five per section. Note which topics come back red.
2
Start with Core
Every test includes Core, and it's the easiest section to bank points on. Clear 70% there first.
3
Do your type in study mode
Read every explanation. Each one cites the rule or EPA page it comes from, so you can read the original.
4
Switch to exam mode
Twenty-five random questions, scored at the end, like the real section. Repeat until you clear 70% three rounds in a row.
5
Book the real test
Choose a program from EPA's list of certifying programs. It shows which offer on-site, remote or mail-in testing.

Want the bigger picture first? Read the EPA 608 certification guide for who needs certification, how to replace a lost card and what's changing with A2L refrigerants.

Frequently asked questions

Which EPA 608 test should I take first?

Take Core first or alongside your type, because every certification test includes 25 Core questions. Then choose Type I, II or III based on the equipment you'll work on, or all three for Universal. Residential HVAC work needs at least Type II.

Is the EPA 608 practice test free?

Yes. All 125 BRIX questions are free with no sign-up, in study mode or exam mode, and progress saves in your browser. The real test is given by EPA-approved certifying organizations, which set their own fees.

How many questions are on the EPA 608 exam?

Each certification test includes at least 25 Core questions plus 25 for each type, so a single-type test is 50 questions. The Universal test is 100 questions: 25 Core and 25 each for Types I, II and III.

Are these the actual EPA 608 exam questions?

No. EPA releases its question bank only to approved certifying programs. BRIX wrote these questions from the federal regulation and EPA's public pages, and isn't affiliated with EPA or any certifying organization.

Can I take the EPA 608 test online?

Some EPA-approved programs list remote testing, and a few are online-only, according to EPA's list of certifying programs. Type II, Type III and Universal must still be closed-book and proctored.

Sources

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements (checked October 24, 2026)
EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics (checked October 24, 2026)
EPA — Certification Programs for Section 608 Technicians (updated 2026-10-20) (checked October 24, 2026)
eCFR — 40 CFR 82.152 Definitions (checked October 24, 2026)
eCFR — 40 CFR 82.161 Technician certification (checked October 24, 2026)
eCFR — 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Appendix D (test standards) (checked October 24, 2026)