What the EPA 608 Core Exam Covers (EPA 608 Practice Test)
The EPA 608 Core section tests foundational knowledge every refrigerant technician must know — regardless of the system type they service. Section 608 of the Clean Air Act prohibits venting refrigerants that harm the stratospheric ozone layer, and the Core exam verifies you understand why and how those rules apply in the field.
The Core section measures five knowledge pillars:
- Environmental Impact — Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP) for refrigerant families. The 1987 Montreal Protocol and the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments set phase-out schedules for CFCs, HCFCs, and now HFCs under the 2020 AIM Act.
- Recovery, Recycling, and Reclamation — These three terms have distinct legal meanings. Recovery = removing refrigerant from a system into an external container. Recycling = cleaning refrigerant for reuse on-site. Reclamation = processing to ARI 700 standard, certified by an EPA-approved reclaimer.
- Evacuation and Dehydration — Deep vacuum requirements (measured in inches of mercury or microns) before recharging a system. Core asks about both pre- and post-1993 recovery equipment standards.
- Safety — Cylinder color codes, pressure-relief valve requirements, oxygen deprivation risks, and the toxicity classification of refrigerants (A1, A2L, B1, B2L).
- Regulatory Compliance — Maximum civil penalties exceed $44,539 per day per violation for illegal venting. Technicians must retain service records for a minimum of 3 years.
Refrigerant Families: CFC, HCFC, HFC, HFO
The Core exam consistently tests your ability to distinguish refrigerant generations by their environmental properties. The phase-out timeline follows ozone impact — the higher the ODP, the faster the phase-out.
| Family | Example | ODP | GWP | Status (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFC | R-11, R-12 | High (1.0) | High | Fully phased out |
| HCFC | R-22, R-123 | Low (0.055) | Moderate | Production ended 2020 |
| HFC | R-410A, R-134a | Zero | High (2,088) | AIM Act phase-down in progress |
| HFO | R-1234yf | Zero | Very Low (4) | Current transition target |
Passing the EPA 608 Core Section
The Core section requires a minimum score of 72% — 18 correct answers out of 25 (18 ÷ 25 = 0.72 = 72%). Core is mandatory for every technician certification level. You cannot earn a Type I, II, or III certification without passing Core first. Most technicians find the recovery definitions and evacuation micron levels the most difficult to memorize — if you score below 72% on this practice test, focus your review on those two areas.
Before starting this practice test, review the EPA 608 Core section study guide — it covers venting prohibition dates, civil penalty amounts, the de minimis exemption, and the refrigerant lifecycle from recovery through reclamation.
Once passed, Core certification does not expire. It is a permanent part of your Section 608 technician credential. Learn how this practice test compares to the real Core exam in format and difficulty. Take the Type I Small Appliance practice test next, or jump to the EPA 608 Universal practice test when you're ready to simulate the full 100-question proctored exam. For in-depth topic coverage, visit our EPA 608 study guide collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Core section contains 25 multiple-choice questions. A passing score is 70%, which equals 18 correct answers.
70% — you need 18 out of 25 correct. The official proctored exam is administered closed-book by EPA-approved organizations such as ESCO Institute and Mainstream Engineering.
No. Core certification is permanent once earned. It does not require renewal or re-testing.
Yes. The Core exam directly tests knowledge of the Montreal Protocol, its 1987 implementation, and how it drove the phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs under U.S. Clean Air Act regulations.
Some EPA-approved providers offer online proctored testing. Check our guide on online and in-person testing options for current providers and availability.