EPA 608 Study Schedule: 1-Week and 2-Week Plans
Know exactly what to study each day. Both plans are built around the Core section plus your target certification type.
There is no single right amount of time to study for the EPA 608 certification exam. It depends on your prior HVAC experience, which certification type you're pursuing, and how well you retain regulatory information. These schedules are designed for technicians with minimal prior experience — if you work with refrigerants daily, you can compress the timeline significantly.
Before You Start: Choose Your Certification Type
The EPA 608 exam structure determines how long you need to study:
| Target Certification | Sections Required | Recommended Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Type I only (small appliances) | Core + Type I (50 Q total) | 1-week plan |
| Type II only (high-pressure) | Core + Type II (50 Q total) | 1-week plan |
| Type III only (low-pressure) | Core + Type III (50 Q total) | 1-week plan |
| Universal (all types) | Core + I + II + III (100 Q total) | 2-week plan |
Universal Is the Most Common Choice
Most technicians pursue Universal certification because it covers all refrigerant types and is required for residential HVAC work with modern systems. If you're unsure which type to get, see our EPA 608 certification types guide.
1-Week Study Schedule (Type I, II, or III)
This schedule assumes 1–1.5 hours of study per day. Adjust the time per day based on your prior experience — experienced technicians may finish this in half the time.
| Day | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Core Section: Clean Air Act basics, venting prohibitions, who is covered, key dates (July 1 1992, Nov 15 1995) | 10 Core practice questions |
| Day 2 | Core Section: Recovery requirements, refrigerant containers, cylinder safety, technician responsibilities | 15 Core practice questions |
| Day 3 | Core Section: Penalties, enforcement, record-keeping, approved refrigerants — then review Days 1–2 errors | Full 25-question Core practice test |
| Day 4 | Type-specific Section: Equipment overview, refrigerants used, pressure/temperature behavior for your type | 10 type-specific questions |
| Day 5 | Type-specific Section: Recovery procedures, equipment requirements, leak rates, evacuation levels | 15 type-specific questions |
| Day 6 | Full review: Cheat sheet numbers, any weak areas from practice errors, both sections | Full 25-question type-specific practice test |
| Day 7 (Exam Day) | Light review only — cheat sheet numbers, 10 warm-up questions per section. No heavy studying. | 10 questions per section max |
2-Week Study Schedule (Universal Certification)
Universal certification covers all four sections (Core + Types I, II, III). This schedule covers each section systematically, with review and full practice tests in Week 2.
Week 1: Core Foundation + Type II (Highest Priority)
| Day | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Core: Clean Air Act, venting ban dates, who must certify, refrigerant regulations overview | 10 Core questions |
| Day 2 | Core: Recovery requirements, recovery equipment, container color codes, cylinder safety | 15 Core questions |
| Day 3 | Core: Penalties, record-keeping, approved refrigerants, AIM Act HFC scope expansion | Full Core practice test (25 Q) |
| Day 4 | Type II: High-pressure refrigerants (R-22, R-410A, R-404A), equipment categories, annual leak rates (10/20/35%) | 10 Type II questions |
| Day 5 | Type II: Evacuation requirements (10/15 in Hg vacuum, 500 microns), recovery procedures, repair deadlines | 15 Type II questions |
| Day 6 | Type II: Full review + practice test | Full Type II practice test (25 Q) |
| Day 7 | Rest day or light review — no new material | 10 mixed questions optional |
Week 2: Type I + Type III + Full Review
| Day | Topic | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Day 8 | Type I: Small appliances, 5 lb manufactured charge limit, recovery without manifold, 90%/80% recovery | 15 Type I questions |
| Day 9 | Type I: Full practice test + review errors | Full Type I practice test (25 Q) |
| Day 10 | Type III: Low-pressure systems, centrifugal chillers, R-11/R-123, below-atmospheric pressure behavior | 15 Type III questions |
| Day 11 | Type III: Full practice test + review errors | Full Type III practice test (25 Q) |
| Day 12 | Full Universal review: Cheat sheet, all four sections — focus on weakest section from practice scores | 25 mixed questions across all sections |
| Day 13 | Timed Universal simulation: 100-question practice exam under timed conditions | Full timed practice exam |
| Day 14 (Exam Day) | Light review only — cheat sheet key numbers, brief warm-up. No heavy studying. | 10–15 questions per section max |
How to Structure Each Study Session
A 60–90 minute daily study session for EPA 608 should follow this structure for maximum retention:
- Review yesterday's errors (10 min): Go back to every question you got wrong and understand why the correct answer is correct — not just memorize the answer.
- Read new material (20–30 min): Study guide, notes, or relevant regulations for today's topic.
- Practice questions (20–30 min): Do the day's scheduled practice questions. Simulate test conditions — no notes, timed.
- Review today's errors (10–15 min): Analyze every wrong answer immediately while the question is fresh.
The Night Before: No Heavy Studying
Cramming the night before the EPA 608 exam is counterproductive. Your brain consolidates memory during sleep — stay on schedule, do a brief review of cheat sheet numbers, get a full night's rest, and arrive ready.
What to Use Each Day
- Core section: EPA 608 Core study guide + Core practice test
- Type I: Type I study guide + Type I practice test
- Type II: Type II study guide + Type II practice test
- Type III: Type III study guide + Type III practice test
- Numbers to memorize: EPA 608 cheat sheet
- Full Universal simulation: Timed practice exam
Frequently Asked Questions
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Free practice tests for every section — Core, Type I, II, III, and Universal.