EPA 608 Exam Questions: What's Actually Tested (EPA 608 Practice Test 2026)
Bottom line: The EPA 608 Practice Test team covers exactly what EPA 608 exam questions test — refrigerant regulations, containment procedures, safety rules, and equipment-specific practices. Every section has exactly 25 multiple-choice questions. You need 18/25 (70%) to pass each one.
Understanding what EPA 608 exam questions actually cover is the fastest way to study smarter. Rather than memorizing an entire textbook, you can focus on the high-frequency topics that drive most of the question bank — and use free practice tests to drill until they're locked in.
This guide breaks down every section's question topics, relative difficulty, and the specific knowledge areas where technicians most often lose points. It's built around the 2026 exam content including updated AIM Act and A2L refrigerant questions.
Practice the Actual Question Formats
Our free EPA 608 Practice Test mirrors the real exam — 25 questions per section, instant scoring, and wrong-answer review to fix weak spots fast.
Start Core Practice Exam →EPA 608 Exam Structure Overview (EPA 608 Practice Test)
The EPA 608 exam is divided into four sections. The Core section is required for everyone; you take it alongside whichever Type section(s) match the systems you'll work on. Universal certification means passing all four sections in one sitting.
| Section | Questions | Passing Score | Primary Focus | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 25 | 18/25 (70%) | EPA regulations, venting, recordkeeping | Hard |
| Type I | 25 | 18/25 (70%) | Small appliances (<5 lbs) recovery | Easy–Medium |
| Type II | 25 | 18/25 (70%) | High-pressure systems, leak rates, recovery | Hard |
| Type III | 25 | 18/25 (70%) | Low-pressure centrifugal systems | Medium |
Section-by-Section: What Questions Are on Each EPA 608 Practice Test
Core Section — 25 Questions
- Clean Air Act Section 608 purpose and scope
- Venting prohibitions and penalties
- Technician certification types (I, II, III, Universal)
- Refrigerant cylinder color codes and safety
- Refrigerant recovery requirements and equipment
- Recordkeeping and reporting requirements
- Sales restrictions on refrigerants
- HFC phase-down under the AIM Act (2026)
- A2L refrigerant safety classifications (2026)
- Refrigerant identifiers and mixing rules
Type I Section — 25 Questions
- Definition and examples of small appliances
- Recovery techniques for small appliances
- Recovery equipment requirements (certified vs. non-certified)
- Recovery levels for small appliances (<90% for hermetic)
- Safe disposal procedures
- R-134a and R-600a system differences
- Appliance disposal regulations
- Refrigerant sales rules for small appliances
- Leak detection in sealed systems
Type II Section — 25 Questions
- Leak rate thresholds (comfort cooling vs. industrial)
- Recovery requirements by system charge size
- Recovery equipment certification requirements
- Pressure-temperature relationships for R-22, R-410A
- Evacuation levels and vacuum requirements
- R-410A and R-32 high-pressure handling differences
- Leak repair obligations and timeline
- Refrigerant cylinder handling under high pressure
- Retrofit refrigerants and retrofit procedures
- AIM Act: R-410A phase-down timeline
Type III Section — 25 Questions
- Definition of low-pressure appliances
- Purge unit operation and emissions
- Recovery requirements for low-pressure systems
- Atmospheric pressure and vacuum in low-pressure systems
- R-11 and R-123 system differences
- Leak rate thresholds for industrial process refrigeration
- Pressure relief device regulations
- Low-pressure recovery equipment requirements
- Recordkeeping for large commercial chiller systems
Difficulty Breakdown by Section (EPA 608 Practice Test)
These difficulty ratings reflect the average first-attempt pass rate and the complexity of question logic on each section. Core and Type II are the sections where most technicians lose points.
For a detailed breakdown of pass rates by section, see our EPA 608 Pass Rate guide.
High-Frequency Topics That Appear on Every Exam
Certain topics recur across multiple sections and account for a significant share of questions. If you master these, you'll gain points on both Core and your Type section. For a quick-reference format of all key numbers and facts, use our EPA 608 cheat sheet.
Recovery Requirements
- Recovery levels by equipment age and charge size
- When passive vs. active recovery is required
- Certified vs. non-certified recovery equipment
- Recovering from systems with non-operational compressors
Refrigerant Safety
- ASHRAE 34 safety group classifications (A1, A2L, B1, etc.)
- Cylinder color codes by refrigerant
- Mixing refrigerants — what's prohibited
- Safe handling of high-pressure and flammable refrigerants
Leak Rates & Repair
- Annual leak rate % thresholds (comfort cooling vs. commercial)
- Leak repair timeline obligations
- When a system must be retrofitted or retired
- Leak detection methods and equipment
AIM Act & Regulations
- HFC phase-down schedule and banned uses
- A2L refrigerant safety and handling rules
- EPA venting prohibition — what counts as venting
- Penalties for Clean Air Act violations
New 2026 Exam Questions: AIM Act and A2L Refrigerants
The biggest change to EPA 608 exam questions in recent years is the addition of AIM Act content. If your study materials were written before 2023, they may be missing these questions entirely.
Watch out: Outdated study materials won't cover A2L refrigerants (R-32, R-454B, R-466A) or HFC phase-down schedules. These now appear on both the Core and Type II sections. Make sure your practice resources are updated.
| 2026 New Topic | Appears In | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|---|
| HFC phase-down schedule | Core, Type II | AIM Act phase-down steps: 10% by 2024, 40% by 2028, 70% by 2029 |
| A2L refrigerant safety | Core, Type II | Mildly flammable classification; R-32, R-454B, R-466A safety rules |
| Updated leak rates | Type II, Type III | Revised annual leak rate thresholds for HFC systems |
| R-410A replacement refrigerants | Type II | R-454B and R-32 as lower-GWP replacements; handling differences |
For a deep dive on refrigerant types and their classifications, see our EPA 608 Refrigerants Guide.
Question Formats and How to Approach Them
All EPA 608 questions are multiple choice with four options. The questions fall into a few recognizable patterns — once you know them, you can approach each type more strategically.
| Question Type | Example | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory recall | "Which technicians are required to be certified under Section 608?" | Memorize exact legal definitions — "knowingly venting," "small appliances" |
| Procedure/process | "What is the correct order of steps when recovering refrigerant?" | Understand the WHY behind each step; don't just memorize order |
| Calculation/threshold | "What is the required recovery level for a system manufactured after 1993?" | Know the specific % and pound thresholds by category |
| Exception/edge case | "Which of the following does NOT require a certified technician?" | Watch for "NOT," "EXCEPT," "ONLY" — these are the trap questions |
| Refrigerant identification | "Which refrigerant is assigned a yellow cylinder?" | Use the color code chart; memorize the most common 8–10 refrigerants |
Tip: The single most effective preparation strategy is taking full practice exams under timed conditions, then reviewing every wrong answer. Passive reading covers the information once; active testing makes it stick. Our free practice tests include answer explanations for every question.
What NOT to Study (Where Technicians Waste Time)
The EPA 608 exam is surprisingly specific. These are areas that technicians often over-study — or under-study — relative to how much they appear on the actual exam.
| Topic | How Much It's Tested | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Complex math calculations | Minimal (1–2 questions) | Questions are conceptual, not numerical — no calculator needed |
| Wiring diagrams and circuits | Not on EPA 608 | Electrical concepts are NATE territory, not Section 608 |
| Equipment installation procedures | Not on EPA 608 | Section 608 is about refrigerant handling, not installation |
| Recovery levels and thresholds | High (4–6 questions) | Many technicians underestimate this — memorize all the percentages |
| Refrigerant cylinder identification | High (2–4 questions) | Color codes + safety class are both tested across sections |
How Many Questions Do I Need to Practice?
The research on practice testing is clear: volume matters, but quality matters more. Reviewing explanations after wrong answers is more effective than rushing through large question sets.
As a general guide:
| Prep Level | Questions Completed | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal prep | 0–25 practice questions | ~55–65% score; likely to fail Core and Type II |
| Basic prep | 50–100 questions | ~70–75%; may pass if strong on regulations |
| Solid prep | 100–200 questions with review | ~80–85%; confident pass on all sections |
| Thorough prep | 200+ questions + wrong answer review | 85–95%; strong pass even on Type II |
Our Universal Practice Test covers all four sections in one go — ideal for technicians aiming for Universal certification. For targeted section prep, use the individual section tests.
See our EPA 608 Exam Guide for what to expect on test day — format, rules, and exactly what to bring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the EPA 608 exam?
Each section has exactly 25 multiple-choice questions. The Core section is mandatory plus whichever Type(s) you're certifying for. Universal certification (Core + Types I, II, and III) means 100 questions total, typically taken in one sitting.
What topics are on the EPA 608 Core exam?
The Core covers EPA regulations, Section 608 venting rules, refrigerant containment requirements, cylinder color codes, technician certification types, recordkeeping rules, sales restrictions, and — as of 2026 — AIM Act HFC phase-down and A2L refrigerant content.
What is the hardest section of the EPA 608 exam?
Type II (high-pressure refrigerants) is consistently the hardest section, with the lowest first-attempt pass rates. It requires knowing specific leak rate thresholds, evacuation levels, and recovery requirements for large systems. The Core section is a close second.
Are EPA 608 exam questions multiple choice?
Yes. All questions are multiple choice with four options (A through D). There are no true/false, short answer, or essay questions. You need to answer 18 of 25 correctly (70%) to pass each section.
Does the EPA 608 exam include refrigerant identification questions?
Yes — refrigerant identification appears across all sections. You need to know cylinder color codes, ASHRAE 34 safety classifications, ODP and GWP values for common refrigerants, and which refrigerants are being phased out under the AIM Act.
Can I use a calculator on the EPA 608 exam?
Most testing providers don't allow calculators, and you generally won't need one. The few numerical questions involve concepts like recovery levels (expressed as percentages) rather than complex calculations.
How do I practice for EPA 608 exam questions?
The most effective approach is full-length practice exams by section with immediate feedback. Use our free Core Practice Test, Type II Practice Test, and Universal Practice Test to drill all sections. Review every wrong answer — that's where the most learning happens.
Are there new EPA 608 exam questions for 2026?
Yes. The 2026 exam includes questions on A2L refrigerant handling (R-32, R-454B, R-466A), HFC phase-down under the AIM Act, and updated annual leak rate rules. Study materials printed before 2023 may be missing these topics entirely.