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Key Facts: VA REF QI Exam

USD 85

PSI QI Specialty Fee

DPOR Board for Contractors / PSI Specialty CIB

Open Book

Book Policy

PSI Specialty CIB

REF

Official Specialty Abbreviation

18VAC50-22-30

QI exam required

Technical Examination

DPOR A501-27EXINFO 09/01/2025

Virginia Refrigeration Contracting Qualified Individual Examination is the official DPOR/PSI specialty exam for the REF specialty (18VAC50-22-30). PSI fee is USD 85. Official item count is on the PSI specialty outline.

Sample VA REF QI Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the VA REF QI exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under 18VAC50-22-30, Virginia Refrigeration Contracting (REF) is intended for contractors who repair or install which group of equipment?
A.Furnaces, boilers, and occupied-space air-conditioning systems
B.Gas piping, water heaters, and plumbing fixtures
C.Electrical services, panelboards, and comfort-cooling ductwork
D.Coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration equipment
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 defines REF as installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment. The regulation expressly intends the specialty for coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration equipment.
2Which functions does the Virginia REF specialty expressly not provide?
A.Electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions
B.Removal of existing refrigerated casework
C.Repair of a hermetic walk-in cooler condensing unit
D.Installation of a commercial ice-making machine
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 states that no electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions are provided by the REF specialty. Removal, repair, and installation of listed hermetic refrigeration equipment are the work REF is written to cover.
3Which Virginia contractor classification also provides the refrigeration function covered by REF?
A.Gas fitting contracting (GFC) only
B.HVAC contracting (HVA)
C.Electrical contracting (ELE) only
D.Plumbing contracting (PLB) only
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 states that the HVA classification also provides for the REF function. HVA includes mechanical refrigeration systems, so an HVA firm may perform refrigeration work that a REF specialty firm is licensed to do.
4A firm holds only the REF specialty. A building owner asks the firm to replace a rooftop unit that cools occupied office space. What is the correct scope decision?
A.REF covers the job because any cooling coil is refrigeration
B.REF covers the job if the rooftop unit uses a hermetic compressor
C.The job is comfort HVAC and is outside REF; an HVA classification is required
D.REF covers the job if no new gas piping is installed
Explanation: REF is limited to refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment. Occupied-space comfort cooling is HVAC work under the HVA classification. A hermetic compressor or the absence of gas piping does not convert comfort air conditioning into REF work.
5Which project is within the intended REF specialty?
A.Installing a supermarket refrigerated display case and its hermetic condensing unit
B.Installing a gas-fired furnace for a store sales floor
C.Installing supply and return ductwork for occupied-space cooling
D.Installing a hydronic boiler and process heating piping
Explanation: Refrigerated casework is named in 18VAC50-22-30 as intended REF work. Furnaces, occupied-space ductwork, boilers, and process heating piping are HVAC or gas-related functions that REF does not provide.
6A REF-only contractor is asked to install new natural-gas piping to a kitchen appliance while on site replacing a reach-in cooler. What must the contractor do?
A.Run the gas piping because it is incidental to refrigeration
B.Run the gas piping if the pipe is smaller than 1 inch
C.Run the gas piping if a permit is pulled under the cooler job
D.Decline the gas piping; REF provides no gas-fitting functions
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 states that no gas-fitting functions are provided by REF. Incidental presence on a refrigeration job, pipe size, or a shared permit does not create gas-fitting authority. Gas piping requires a classification or specialty that includes gas fitting.
7A new walk-in cooler condensing unit needs a new 240-volt dedicated circuit from the building panel. The firm holds only REF. What is required?
A.The REF firm may install the new circuit because the unit is refrigeration equipment
B.An electrical contractor must provide the electrical work; REF does not include electrical functions
C.The REF firm may install the circuit if it uses existing conduit
D.The REF firm may install the circuit if the breaker is 30 amperes or less
Explanation: REF provides no electrical functions. A new branch circuit from the panel is electrical contracting work. Equipment type, existing conduit, and breaker size do not expand REF into electrical work.
8Which statement about drinking-fountain work is consistent with the Virginia REF definition?
A.Drinking fountains are plumbing-only and never REF
B.Only the bubbler valve is REF; the refrigeration chassis is HVAC
C.Repair or installation of drinking-fountain refrigeration equipment is intended REF work
D.Drinking fountains are REF only when they also heat occupied space
Explanation: 18VAC50-22-30 names drinking fountains among the equipment the REF specialty is intended to cover. The refrigeration chassis is hermetic refrigeration, not occupied-space HVAC. New potable-water piping beyond the equipment remains a plumbing function REF does not provide.
9Installing a commercial cube ice machine in a restaurant kitchen is:
A.Intended REF work as ice-making machine refrigeration
B.Comfort HVAC because the machine rejects heat to the kitchen
C.Plumbing-only work because it uses potable water
D.Outside every Virginia specialty unless the firm also holds HVA and PLB
Explanation: Ice-making machines are expressly listed in the REF specialty definition. Heat rejected to the kitchen does not convert the machine into occupied-space air conditioning. Water and drain connections may still require a plumber; they do not remove the refrigeration work from REF.
10A grocery store wants an obsolete walk-in cooler refrigeration package removed and hauled away, with no replacement installed. Does REF cover the work?
A.No, because REF covers installation only
B.No, because removal is a demolition classification only
C.No, unless the store also buys a new unit from the same firm
D.Yes. REF includes removal of refrigeration equipment
Explanation: The REF definition includes installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment. A walk-in cooler package is intended REF equipment, so removal alone is within the specialty. Refrigerant must still be recovered by a Section 608-certified technician before the circuit is opened.

About the VA REF QI Exam

The Virginia Refrigeration Contracting Qualified Individual Examination is the official PSI technical examination for the REF specialty. 18VAC50-22-30 defines the specialty as installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment, intended for coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration. REF does not provide electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions. The PSI specialty examination fee is USD 85. The examination is open book. Official scored item count, time, and passing score appear on the PSI specialty content outline. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. It does not replace required trade experience, pre-license education, board approval, or the official examination.

Exam sponsor: PSI Services (for the Virginia Board for Contractors / DPOR). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Computer-based open-book multiple-choice Qualified Individual examination for the REF specialty. Official 18VAC50-22-30 scope: installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment, intended for coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration. REF does not provide electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions.

Time Limit

120 minutes

Passing Score

70% (35 of 50 correct)

Exam / Certification Fees

USD 85

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

study

REF Scope

REF Scope within the official REF specialty definition

study

Refrigeration Cycle

Refrigeration Cycle within the official REF specialty definition

study

Cases and Coolers

Cases and Coolers within the official REF specialty definition

study

Recovery and Charging

Recovery and Charging within the official REF specialty definition

study

Jobsite Safety

Jobsite Safety within the official REF specialty definition

Preparing for the VA REF QI Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (35 of 50 correct)
  • Assessment: Computer-based open-book multiple-choice Qualified Individual examination for the REF specialty. Official 18VAC50-22-30 scope: installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment, intended for coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration. REF does not provide electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions.
  • Time limit: 120 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: USD 85 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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VA REF QI: Suggested Study Strategy

1Study the official 18VAC50-22-30 REF specialty definition
2Use the PSI specialty content outline and listed references
3Permanent tabs are allowed in listed code books; study guides are not permitted in the PSI center
4This bank is an English-language MCQ study aid, not an official PSI form

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Virginia REF Qualified Individual exam?

The DPOR-approved PSI specialty content outline lists 50 scored questions, 120 minutes, and a minimum passing score of 70% (35 of 50 correct). PSI may also administer 5 to 10 unscored experimental items. Those numbers are published on the individual specialty content outline linked from the Contractor Specialty Examination CIB, not in the main bulletin.

How much does the Virginia REF QI exam cost?

PSI charges USD 85 for a Qualified Individual specialty examination (DPOR Board for Contractors page and PSI Specialty CIB).

What work does a Virginia REF specialty cover?

18VAC50-22-30 defines this specialty as installation, repair, or removal of refrigeration equipment excluding HVAC equipment, intended for coolers, refrigerated casework, ice-making machines, drinking fountains, cold-room equipment, and similar hermetic refrigeration. REF does not provide electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, or HVAC functions.

Is this practice bank the official PSI exam?

No. This is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation. It is not an official translation, format simulation, or substitute for the PSI examination or required field experience.