Core
25%of exam
Type I
25%of exam
Small AppliancesRecoveryPassive RecoveryAccess ValvesDisposal
Type II
25%of exam
High PressureLeak RepairEvacuationR-22Oil Change
Type III
25%of exam
Low PressurePurge UnitsChillers25 mm HgWater Intrusion
Quick Facts
- Exam
- EPA 608
- Credential
- Technician Certification
- Sections
- Core + I + II + III
- Universal
- All four tests
- Validity
- Does not expire
- Provider
- EPA-approved certifier
- Law
- 40 CFR 82
- Focus
- Prevent releases
Three Rs
Recover, recycle, reclaim: no shortcuts
Recover: removeRecycle: cleanReclaim: AHRI 700Resale needs reclaim
Recover vs Recycle
Recover
- Remove refrigerant
- External container
- No cleaning
Recycle
- Clean refrigerant
- Filter/oil separation
- Same-owner reuse
Remove vs clean
Certification Picker
- Small appliance→Type I(5 lb max)
- High-pressure system→Type II
- Low-pressure chiller→Type III
- All stationary types→Universal
- Motor vehicle AC→Section 609
- Apprentice work→Supervised only
Core Rules
- Section 608
- Stationary equipment rules
- Technician
- Opens refrigerant circuit
- Venting
- Intentional release prohibited
- De minimis
- Good-faith release
- Sales restriction
- Certified buyers only
- 40 CFR 82
- Subpart F rules
- Certification
- EPA-approved test
- Universal
- Core plus all types
Family ODP
CFC worst; HCFC less; HFC zero
CFC: high ODPHCFC: lower ODPHFC: zero ODPGWP still matters
Recycle vs Reclaim
Recycle
- Basic cleaning
- Same owner
- Field equipment
Reclaim
- AHRI 700
- Certified reclaimer
- Resale allowed
Reuse vs resale
Refrigerants
- CFC
- High ODP
- HCFC
- Lower ODP
- HFC
- Zero ODP
- HFO
- Low GWP option
- Natural
- Ammonia, CO2, hydrocarbons
- R-12
- CFC example
- R-22
- HCFC example
- R-134a
- HFC example
- R-410A
- HFC blend
Universal Path
Core + I + II + III
Core requiredType I smallType II highType III low
ODP vs GWP
ODP
- Ozone damage
- Chlorine matters
- CFC high
GWP
- Climate warming
- HFC issue
- CO2 baseline
Ozone vs climate
Ozone + Climate
- ODP
- Ozone damage
- GWP
- Climate warming
- Chlorine
- Destroys ozone
- Stratosphere
- Ozone layer
- Montreal
- ODS phaseout
- AIM Act
- HFC phasedown
- 2036
- 85% HFC cut
608 vs 609
608
- Stationary equipment
- HVAC/R systems
- Types I-III
609
- Motor vehicles
- MVAC service
- Separate program
Stationary vs vehicle
Cycle + Components
- Compressor
- Raises pressure
- Condenser
- Rejects heat
- Metering device
- Drops pressure
- Evaporator
- Absorbs heat
- Receiver
- Stores liquid
- Accumulator
- Protects compressor
- Filter-drier
- Removes moisture
- Sight glass
- Shows flow
De Minimis vs Venting
De minimis
- Good-faith loss
- Hose connection
- Allowed release
Venting
- Intentional release
- Service shortcut
- Prohibited act
Incidental vs intentional
Three Rs
- Recover
- Remove and store
- Recycle
- Clean for reuse
- Reclaim
- Process to AHRI 700
- Same owner
- Recovered reuse allowed
- New owner
- Reclaim first
- Reclaimer
- EPA-certified processor
- Do not mix
- Avoid contamination
Safety
- PPE
- Gloves and goggles
- SCBA
- Large leak protection
- Frostbite
- Liquid refrigerant
- Asphyxiation
- Oxygen displacement
- Phosgene
- Flame decomposition
- 80% fill
- Cylinder limit
- Nitrogen
- Preferred pressure gas
- Low-loss fittings
- Reduce hose release
HFC + SNAP
- SNAP
- Substitute acceptability list
- Acceptable
- Legal for end-use
- Unacceptable
- Illegal substitute
- Use conditions
- Required restrictions
- A2L
- Mildly flammable
- R-454B
- Lower-GWP replacement
- R-32
- Lower-GWP replacement
- HFC allowances
- Phasedown mechanism
Type I Basics
- Small appliance
- Factory-sealed unit
- Charge size
- 5 lb or less
- Examples
- Fridges, window AC
- Working compressor
- 90% recovery
- Dead compressor
- 80% recovery
- Vacuum option
- 4 in Hg
- Line tap
- Temporary access
- Passive recovery
- System-dependent method
Azeotropic vs Zeotropic
Azeotropic
- Acts single
- No glide
- Stable blend
Zeotropic
- Temperature glide
- Fractionation risk
- Liquid charge
No glide vs glide
Evacuation Picker
- Small working compressor→90%(Type I)
- Small dead compressor→80%(Type I)
- Small vacuum option→4 in Hg(Type I)
- Very high-pressure→0 in Hg
- High under 200 lb→0 in Hg
- High 200 lb plus→10 in Hg
- Medium under 200 lb→10 in Hg
- Medium 200 lb plus→15 in Hg
- Low-pressure system→25 mm Hg(Absolute)
- Oil change→5 psig max
Type II Basics
- High-pressure
- Common field systems
- Very high-pressure
- 0 in Hg
- High <200 lb
- 0 in Hg
- High >=200 lb
- 10 in Hg
- 15 lb limit
- No passive above
- Liquid recovery
- Do first
- Push-pull
- Large charge speed
- Oil change
- 5 psig max
- Zeotropic
- Charge as liquid
Leak Action
- ODS 50 lb leaks→Apply triggers
- Above trigger→Repair 30 days
- IPR shutdown needed→120 days
- Retire instead→Plan 30 days
- Repair delayed→Document extension
- HFC system→Check Part 84
Leak + Records
- Full charge
- 50 lb or more
- Comfort cooling
- 10% trigger
- Commercial refrigeration
- 20% trigger
- Industrial process
- 30% trigger
- Repair window
- 30 days
- IPR shutdown
- 120 days
- Verification
- Initial and follow-up
- Mothballing
- Pauses timelines
Pressure Memory
High pushes out; low pulls in
Type II: pressureType III: vacuumLow leaks inward
Type II vs Type III
Type II
- High pressure
- Field systems
- Leaks push out
Type III
- Low pressure
- Centrifugal chillers
- Leaks pull in
Pressure decides type
Type III Basics
- Low-pressure
- Operates in vacuum
- Chiller
- Common Type III unit
- Recovery level
- 25 mm Hg absolute
- Open service
- Pressurize to 0 psig
- Purge unit
- Removes noncondensables
- Rupture disc
- 15 psig relief
- Tube leak
- Water enters refrigerant
- Eddy current
- Finds tube defects
- Oil heater
- Prevents migration
Common Traps
Certification vs card
EPA approves tests ≠ EPA issues no cards
HFC vs ODS
HFC has zero ODP ≠ HFC can high GWP
Recycle vs reclaim
Recycle stays same owner ≠ Reclaim enables resale
Low-pressure leaks
Air leaks inward ≠ Purge frequency rises
Passive recovery limits
Allowed for small systems ≠ Not for low-pressure
Oil change pressure
Recover first ≠ Do not exceed 5 psig
Venting vs de minimis
Good-faith loss allowed ≠ Intentional release prohibited
Last Minute
- 1.Universal = Core plus all types
- 2.608 stationary; 609 vehicle
- 3.Venting is prohibited
- 4.HFC zero ODP, high GWP
- 5.Recover before opening systems
- 6.Small appliance: 5 lb max
- 7.Type I: 90% or 80%
- 8.Low-pressure: 25 mm Hg
- 9.Oil changes need 5 psig
- 10.Leak triggers: 10/20/30
- 11.Sales require matching certification
- 12.Do not mix refrigerants
Buy on Amazon
Take courses on UdemySame family resources
Explore More Refrigerant Certifications (EPA 608, 609 & R-410A)
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
VideoBest Refrigerant Leak Detectors for HVAC Technicians: 2026 Buying GuideThis examVideoFREE EPA 609 MVAC Certification Exam Guide 2026: 25 Questions, 84% Pass, $20 Fee, Lifetime Cert (Practice)This examVideoFREE EPA 609 MVAC Certification Exam Guide 2026: 25 Questions, 84% Pass, $20 Fee, Lifetime Cert (Practice)VideoFREE R-410A Refrigerant Certification Exam Guide 2026ArticleFREE EPA 609 MVAC Certification Exam Guide 2026: 25 Questions, 84% Pass, $20 Fee, Lifetime Cert (Practice)22 min readArticleBest Refrigerant Leak Detectors for HVAC Technicians: 2026 Buying Guide13 min readArticleBest Manifold Gauge Set for HVAC Technicians: Complete 2026 Buying Guide14 min readArticleHow to Become an HVAC Technician in 2026: EPA 608, Salary by State & Career Path16 min read