EPA 608 Certification Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice Syllabus

Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice in EPA 608 Certification, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   EPA 608 Certification Structure

   3 topics

   • Certification Types and Universal Credential
     • Core (mandatory) plus Type I, II, or III
     • Universal certification (passing Core and all three types)
     • Certification is permanent and does not expire
   • Exam Format and Passing Requirements
     • Core section as a prerequisite for all type credentials
     • Minimum passing score per section (70 percent)
     • Approved certifying organizations and proctoring rules
   • Who Must Be Certified (maintenance, service, repair, disposal technicians)
2. 2

   Sales Restrictions and Apprentice Rules

   3 topics

   • Refrigerant Sales Restricted to Certified Technicians
   • Apprentice Exemption Under Direct Supervision
   • Documentation Required to Purchase Regulated Refrigerants
3. 3

   Reporting, Penalties, and Ethics

   4 topics

   • Civil and Criminal Penalties
     • Maximum daily fines for violations
     • Revocation of technician certification
   • Citizen Suits and Reward for Reporting Violations
   • Professional Responsibility and Minimizing Refrigerant Emissions
   • De Minimis Releases vs Knowingly Venting

Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice flashcards for EPA 608 Certification

25 of 50 cards from the Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Under EPA 608, what are the four types of technician certification?

   Type I (small appliances), Type II (high-pressure appliances), Type III (low-pressure appliances), and Universal (all three combined).

2. What does EPA 608 Type I certification cover?

   Servicing small appliances containing 5 pounds or less of refrigerant (e.g., refrigerators, window AC units, vending machines).

3. What does EPA 608 Type II certification cover?

   Servicing or disposing of high-pressure and very-high-pressure appliances (except small appliances and MVACs), such as residential AC, heat pumps, and supermarket systems.

4. What does EPA 608 Type III certification cover?

   Servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances (those using refrigerants with boiling points above 50°F at atmospheric pressure, like R-11, R-123), e.g., centrifugal chillers.

5. What certification must a technician hold to work on all types of stationary equipment under EPA 608?

   Universal certification, which is earned by passing the Core exam plus all three of the Type I, Type II, and Type III sections.

6. Is EPA 608 certification ever required to renew or does it expire?

   No. EPA 608 technician certification does not expire and is valid for life; it does not require renewal.

7. How many sections make up the EPA 608 exam, and which one must always be passed?

   Four sections: Core plus Type I, Type II, and Type III. The Core section must be passed to earn any certification type.

8. What is the passing score for each section of the EPA 608 exam?

   70% (a technician must answer at least 70% of questions correctly on each section).

9. How many questions are on a typical EPA 608 exam section?

   25 questions per section (Core, Type I, Type II, Type III), 100 total for the full Universal exam.

10. On the EPA 608 exam, must you pass the Core section separately from the type-specific sections?

    Yes. You must pass Core AND the relevant type section(s); passing Core alone or a type section alone does not grant certification.

11. If a technician passes Core and Type I but fails Type II, what certification do they receive?

    Type I certification only. They keep credit for Core and Type I and may retake the failed Type II section later.

12. Which Type I exams may be administered as 'open book' and proctored vs. closed book?

    Type I may be offered as a mail-in/open-book proctored exam, but Type II, Type III, and Universal must be closed-book and proctored in person.

13. Under EPA 608, who is required to be certified?

    Any technician who maintains, services, repairs, or disposes of appliances that could release Class I (CFC) or Class II (HCFC) refrigerants—and most substitutes—into the atmosphere.

14. Does EPA 608 certification requirement extend to technicians who only dispose of refrigerant-containing appliances?

    Yes. Technicians who open or dispose of appliances in a way that could release refrigerant must be certified (or work under proper supervision).

15. What is the EPA definition of a 'technician' for Section 608 purposes?

    A person who performs maintenance, service, repair, or disposal that could reasonably be expected to release refrigerant into the atmosphere, including activities like attaching/detaching hoses and gauges or adding/removing refrigerant.

16. Are activities like adding refrigerant by attaching and detaching gauges considered technician work requiring certification?

    Yes. Connecting/disconnecting hoses and gauges to measure pressure, and adding or removing refrigerant, are technician activities requiring certification.

17. Since January 1, 2018, who may purchase regulated refrigerant from suppliers?

    Only EPA 608 (or 609 for MVAC) certified technicians, or those purchasing on behalf of a certified technician/business, may buy regulated refrigerant.

18. What expanded the refrigerant sales restriction to include HFCs and other substitutes?

    The 2016 EPA rule extended the sales restriction (effective Jan 1, 2018) to most non-exempt substitute refrigerants, including HFCs like R-410A, not just CFCs and HCFCs.

19. Can a non-certified person buy small cans (under 2 lbs) of certain refrigerants?

    Historically yes for some MVAC substitutes in small containers with self-sealing valves, but the sales restriction generally requires certification; small-can MVAC exemptions are limited and being phased out.

20. What is the Apprentice Exemption under EPA 608?

    An apprentice (uncertified person in training) may perform technician activities WITHOUT certification only while under the continuous, direct, on-site supervision of a properly certified technician.

21. What level of supervision does the apprentice exemption require?

    Direct, continuous on-site supervision by a certified technician who is physically present and can observe the apprentice's work.

22. Can an apprentice purchase refrigerant on their own under the apprentice exemption?

    No. The exemption only covers performing technician work under supervision; refrigerant purchase requires certification or buying on behalf of a certified technician/business.

23. What documentation must a refrigerant wholesaler/supplier retain when selling regulated refrigerant?

    Records verifying the purchaser is a certified technician (e.g., certification number, name of certifying organization) or is buying for resale or for a certified technician/business.

24. How long must refrigerant sales records (verifying certification) be kept?

    Sellers must retain invoices/records identifying purchasers and verifying certification for at least 3 years.

25. What information typically proves a technician's eligibility to purchase regulated refrigerant?

    A copy of the EPA 608 (or 609) certification card showing the technician's name, certification type, and the certifying organization, plus the certification number.

See more Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice flashcards →

Planning Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice for EPA 608 Certification

Certification, Compliance, and Professional Practice (EPA 608 Certification) FAQ