EPA 608 Test Day Checklist
Everything to prepare the night before and the morning of your EPA 608 certification exam — in-person and online formats.
The EPA 608 certification exam is administered by approved private testing organizations including ESCO Institute, Mainstream Engineering, HVAC Excellence, and SkillCat. Requirements differ slightly by format — in-person at an HVAC wholesale location, online proctored, or (for Type I only) open-book mail-in. This checklist covers both common formats.
Night Before Checklist
- Review cheat sheet key numbers: passing score (72%), key dates, leak rates, recovery thresholds
- Do 10–15 warm-up practice questions — no heavy cramming
- Confirm your exam appointment time and location (or login URL for online)
- Locate your government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Get a full night of sleep — fatigue impairs recall more than any knowledge gap
- Log into the testing platform and verify your account works
- Test your webcam: open your camera app to confirm video is clear and properly lit
- Test your internet connection: run a speed test (minimum 5 Mbps recommended)
- Identify the room you'll use — quiet, private, well-lit, with no windows behind you
- Save the provider's technical support phone number from your confirmation email
- Close unnecessary apps and browser tabs on your test computer
Morning of Exam Checklist
- Eat a normal breakfast (low blood sugar impairs concentration)
- Bring government-issued photo ID
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early — late arrivals may forfeit their slot without refund
- Leave phone in your car or bag before entering the testing area
- Know the specific address — HVAC wholesale locations (Johnstone Supply, Ferguson, Wesco) can have multiple nearby branches
- Eat a normal breakfast
- Log in 15 minutes before your scheduled start time
- Have your government-issued photo ID within reach for identity verification
- Clear your desk completely — no paper, no notes, no books
- Close all browser tabs except the exam platform
- Put your phone in another room or at minimum out of webcam view
- Remove smartwatch — considered a prohibited device in most proctored exams
- Ensure your room is quiet — roommates, family, and pets should not be able to interrupt
What Is Prohibited
The following items are not permitted at your workstation during any closed-book proctored EPA 608 exam:
- Notes, study guides, or flashcards
- Textbooks or printed reference materials
- Smartphones or tablets (even face-down)
- Smartwatches or other wearable devices
- Unauthorized calculators (most EPA 608 questions do not require calculation)
- Headphones or earbuds (unless required for disability accommodation)
Type I Open-Book Exception
The Type I section may be offered as an open-book mail-in exam by some providers. Notes and reference materials are allowed in that format only. The open-book format uses a higher passing threshold — 84% (21 of 25) instead of 72% (18 of 25). Confirm your exam format with your provider before exam day.
What Happens During the Exam
In-person: A proctor monitors the room. You'll be directed to your seat, asked to show your ID, and told the rules. Paper-based or computer-based depending on the location. Results for computer-based administration may be immediate; paper-based results arrive by mail in 2–4 weeks.
Online proctored: After login, you complete identity verification (show your ID to the webcam), then perform a 360-degree room scan showing all walls and your desk surface. The proctor monitors your webcam throughout the exam. Score is typically displayed immediately after submission.
For a detailed walkthrough of the online proctored process, see our EPA 608 exam day guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take One More Practice Exam Before Test Day
Simulate the real exam — 25 questions, timed, no notes. Confidence comes from repetition.