Free EPA 608 Type 2 Practice Test
By BRIX Editorial Team · Updated
The EPA 608 Type II section covers high-pressure and medium-pressure equipment, which is most residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration (R-22, R-410A, R-134a and similar). It tests leak detection, leak repair deadlines and thresholds, the required evacuation levels before opening a system, and recovery techniques. It's 25 questions plus 25 Core, closed-book and proctored, and passes at 70%.
Key takeaways
- If you install or service split systems, rooftop units or commercial refrigeration, Type II is the section you need.
- The evacuation table (0, 4, 10 or 15 inches of vacuum) depends on pressure class, a 200-pound charge line and a November 15, 1993 equipment date.
- Section 608 leak repair now covers only 50+ lb ozone-depleting systems; HFC systems of 15+ lb fall under a separate AIM Act rule from 2026.
- These are original practice questions, not real exam questions.
EPA 608 Type II practice questions
33 original questions. Study mode shows the answer and explanation after each question. Exam mode gives you 25 random questions and scores you at the end. No sign-up; progress saves in this browser.
Sample questions
1. 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
2. When should you leak test a high-pressure system?
- A. Before charging or recharging it
- B. Only once a year
- C. Only after it's been recharged
- D. Only if the customer asks
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Before charging or recharging it
EPA's Type II topics state the need to leak test before charging or recharging equipment. Charging a system that still leaks just puts more refrigerant into the air.
Source: EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-test-topics
3. Rank the leak-test gases EPA prefers for high-pressure systems, best first.
- A. Oxygen, then nitrogen, then refrigerant
- B. Pure refrigerant, then nitrogen with a trace of R-22, then nitrogen
- C. Compressed air, then nitrogen, then refrigerant
- D. Nitrogen, then nitrogen with a trace of R-22, then pure refrigerant
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Nitrogen, then nitrogen with a trace of R-22, then pure refrigerant
EPA's Type II topics give the order of preference: nitrogen alone is best, nitrogen with a trace of R-22 is next, and pure refrigerant is last. Never pressurize with oxygen or compressed air.
Source: EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-test-topics
4. Since April 10, 2020, which appliances are covered by the leak repair requirements in 40 CFR 82.157?
- A. Only appliances using HFCs
- B. Appliances with a full charge of 50 or more pounds of an ozone-depleting (class I or class II) refrigerant, or a blend containing one
- C. Every appliance over 5 pounds, whatever the refrigerant
- D. Only industrial process refrigeration
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Appliances with a full charge of 50 or more pounds of an ozone-depleting (class I or class II) refrigerant, or a blend containing one
EPA's 2016 rule extended leak repair to appliances with 50+ pounds of non-exempt substitutes starting in 2019, but as of April 10, 2020, 82.157 applies only to appliances with 50 or more pounds of class I or class II refrigerant (or a blend containing one). It doesn't apply to appliances containing solely substitutes.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.157
5. A supermarket rack holding 400 pounds of R-22 is losing refrigerant. Above what annual leak rate must the owner repair it under 82.157?
- A. 10 percent
- B. 20 percent
- C. 30 percent
- D. 35 percent
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 20 percent
Commercial refrigeration, which covers retail food and cold storage, has a 20 percent leak rate threshold under 82.157(c)(2). The current thresholds have applied since January 1, 2019.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.157
6. What is the leak rate threshold for industrial process refrigeration under 82.157?
- A. 10 percent
- B. 15 percent
- C. 20 percent
- D. 30 percent
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. 30 percent
Industrial process refrigeration, such as equipment tied to chemical, pharmaceutical or manufacturing processes, industrial ice machines and ice rinks, has a 30 percent leak rate threshold under 82.157(c)(2)(ii).
Source: 40 CFR 82.157 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F/section-82.157
27 more questions load when you start a round.
Who needs EPA 608 Type II certification?
Anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of medium-, high- or very high-pressure appliances, other than small appliances and vehicle AC, needs Type II or Universal (40 CFR 82.161). In practice that's nearly every residential HVAC tech and most commercial refrigeration techs. Type II is also one of two ways to be certified for MVAC-like equipment such as tractor and construction-vehicle AC.
The regulation sorts equipment by its refrigerant's saturation pressure at 104 °F (40 CFR 82.152). High-pressure is 170 to 355 psia, with R-22, R-407A, R-407C, R-410A and R-502 as the listed examples. Medium-pressure is 45 to 170 psia, which covers R-12, R-134a and R-500. Very high-pressure means above 355 psia or a critical temperature under 104 °F, which covers R-13, R-23 and R-508B. Type II covers all three.
What's on the Type II section?
EPA's Type II topic list is the longest of the three equipment sections. Two topics carry most of the numbers: leak repair and evacuation requirements. Our bank weights them the same way.
| Topic | What you should be able to answer |
|---|---|
| Leak detection | Signs of a leak (excessive superheat, oil traces on hermetic systems); leak test before charging; gas preference: nitrogen, then nitrogen with a trace of R-22, then pure refrigerant last |
| Leak repair | Thresholds by sector, 30-day repair window, verification tests, extensions, chronic leakers, records |
| Recovery techniques | Recover liquid first; chill the recovery vessel; wait after reaching vacuum and watch for a pressure rise; avoid cross-contamination between refrigerants |
| Evacuation requirements | The Table 1 levels; major vs. non-major repairs; leaky vs. non-leaky systems; the 15-pound limit on system-dependent recovery |
| Refrigeration | Identifying refrigerants, PT charts (add 14.7 to convert psig to psia), liquid vs. vapor in each component, no hydrocarbon retrofits |
| Safety | Never energize a hermetic compressor under vacuum; ASHRAE 15 oxygen deprivation sensor in equipment rooms |
What vacuum levels do you need before opening a system?
Before a major repair or disposal, you evacuate to the level in Table 1 of 40 CFR 82.156. Here's the high- and medium-pressure part of that table, restated in our words. Read across by pressure class and charge size, then pick the column for when your recovery machine was made.
| Appliance (or isolated component) | Recovery equipment made before Nov. 15, 1993 | Made on or after Nov. 15, 1993 |
|---|---|---|
| Very high-pressure, any size | 0 | 0 |
| High-pressure, under 200 lb | 0 | 0 |
| High-pressure, 200 lb or more | 4 | 10 |
| Medium-pressure, under 200 lb | 4 | 10 |
| Medium-pressure, 200 lb or more | 4 | 15 |
Two exceptions show up on the test. For a non-major repair where the system won't be vented to the atmosphere afterward, you only need to get it to 0 psig. For an oil change, 5 psig is the limit. And if leaks make the Table 1 level impossible, isolate the leaking part and pull it as low as you can without contaminating the refrigerant, but never above 0 psig. A major repair means removing the compressor, condenser, evaporator or an auxiliary heat exchange coil, or leaving more than 4 square inches of flow area open for over 15 minutes.
What are the leak repair rules?
Leak repair is where Type II prep material most often goes out of date. EPA's 2016 rule extended the requirements to systems using HFCs and other substitutes starting in 2019. Since April 10, 2020, 40 CFR 82.157 applies only to appliances with 50 or more pounds of an ozone-depleting (class I or II) refrigerant, like R-22, and not to systems running solely on substitutes.
| Sector | Repair if annual leak rate exceeds | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial refrigeration | 20% | Supermarket rack, walk-in cold storage |
| Industrial process refrigeration | 30% | Chemical plant process chiller, ice rink |
| Comfort cooling and all other | 10% | Office building rooftop unit or chiller |
HFC systems aren't off the hook. A separate AIM Act rule, 40 CFR 84.106, has applied since January 1, 2026 to appliances with 15 or more pounds of a regulated HFC or a substitute with a global warming potential above 53, using the same 20 / 30 / 10% thresholds. It excludes residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps. Older study guides won't mention it, and the Section 608 exam itself is built on Subpart F, so learn both but answer exam questions about "Section 608 leak repair" with 82.157.
How are Type II questions different from Core?
Core questions are mostly yes-or-no rules. Type II questions make you combine two or three facts to land on a number: pressure class, charge size and equipment date for evacuation; sector and refrigerant type for leak repair. Here's one from our bank:
How to study for Type II
- Learn the pressure classes by example refrigerant. If you know R-410A is high, R-134a is medium and R-123 is low, half the evacuation questions answer themselves.
- Memorize Table 1 as a pattern. Zero for small high-pressure and very high-pressure systems; 4 for anything with old equipment that isn't zero; 10 and 15 for newer equipment on bigger or medium-pressure systems.
- Keep the leak repair numbers in a row: 20, 30, 10. Commercial, industrial, comfort. Then add 30 days, 10 days for the follow-up test, 125% for chronic leakers and three years for records.
- Don't skip the safety questions. They're easy points: no oxygen or compressed air for leak tests, no energizing a hermetic compressor in a vacuum.
- Take exam mode cold, then drill. Your topic scores show whether evacuation or leak repair is costing you more.
More EPA 608 practice
Frequently asked questions
What does EPA 608 Type II certification cover?
Type II covers maintaining, servicing, repairing and disposing of medium-, high- and very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and motor vehicle AC. That includes most residential split systems and heat pumps, rooftop units and commercial refrigeration using refrigerants like R-22, R-410A and R-134a.
Is EPA 608 Type II hard?
It's the section with the most numbers to memorize: the evacuation table and the leak repair thresholds and deadlines. Techs who learn those two tables and the example refrigerant for each pressure class usually find the rest manageable. The passing score is 70 percent.
Do I need Type II for residential AC?
Yes, if you open the refrigerant circuit. Split-system air conditioners and heat pumps use high-pressure refrigerants like R-410A and are charged in the field, so they aren't small appliances. Working on them requires Type II or Universal certification.
Do the leak repair rules apply to R-410A systems?
Not under Section 608. Since April 10, 2020, the Subpart F leak repair rule covers only appliances with 50 or more pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant. From January 1, 2026, a separate AIM Act rule covers HFC appliances of 15 pounds or more, except residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps.
Can I take Type II open book?
No. EPA's regulation requires Type II to be a closed-book test, proctored in a secure environment by an EPA-approved certifying program. Only Type I may be offered in a mail-in format.
Related
- Free EPA 608 Practice TestsFree EPA 608 practice tests for Core, Type I, II, III and Universal: 125 original questions, a 20-question diagnostic, and help picking a section.
- Free EPA 608 Core Practice TestFree EPA 608 Core practice test: 36 original questions with explanations, study and exam modes, and a score by topic. No sign-up.
- Free EPA 608 Type 3 Practice TestFree EPA 608 Type 3 practice test: 28 original questions on low-pressure chillers, purge units, recovery and recharging, with explanations.
- Free EPA 608 Universal Practice TestFree EPA 608 Universal practice test: a 100-question exam mode (25 Core + 25 per type) from 125 original questions, scored by section.
- EPA 608 Certification: Who Needs It and How to Get ItEPA 608 certification explained: who needs it, Type I, II, III and Universal, test format and passing scores, how to replace a lost card, and A2L changes.
- R-454B PT Chart (Pressure-Temperature)R-454B pressure-temperature chart from −40°F to 150°F with bubble (liquid) and dew (vapor) psig, a quick lookup, °F/°C toggle and how to read glide.
- How to Start an HVAC Business in 2026 (Costs, Licenses and First Customers)Start an HVAC business in 2026: startup cost calculator, EPA 608 and state license rules, HVAC insurance costs, service pricing and a launch checklist.
- HVAC Software That Answers the Phone, Books the Tech and Keeps the BooksHVAC software that answers every no-heat and no-cool call, books the tech, follows up on replacement quotes, chases invoices and keeps QuickBooks clean.
- BTU CalculatorFree BTU calculator built on the ENERGY STAR room AC sizing chart, with sun, occupant and kitchen adjustments. A rule of thumb, not a Manual J load calc.
- AC Tonnage CalculatorRough AC tonnage calculator using the square-feet-per-ton rule of thumb, with a Manual J reality check. Ballpark only; size systems with ACCA Manual J.
Sources
- EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics (checked October 24, 2026)
- EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements (checked October 24, 2026)
- eCFR — 40 CFR 82.152 Definitions (checked October 24, 2026)
- eCFR — 40 CFR 82.156 Proper evacuation of refrigerant (Table 1) (checked October 24, 2026)
- eCFR — 40 CFR 82.157 Appliance maintenance and leak repair (checked October 24, 2026)
- eCFR — 40 CFR 84.106 Leak repair (AIM Act, HFCs) (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)
- EPA — Stationary Refrigeration Leak Repair Requirements (checked October 24, 2026)