On what does Type I EPA certification allow a service technician to work?

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The EPA Ozone Protection Hotline toll-free number is 1-800-296-1996

2. What type of A/C systems am I certified to work on with each type of certification?

EPA Section 608 HVAC Type I certification certifies you to work on unitary small appliances containing five pounds or less of refrigerant. Section 608 HVAC Type II certification certifies you to work on high-pressure and very-high-pressure appliances which include split systems and all other non-automotive systems not covered under the category of unitary small appliance or low-pressure appliance. Section 608 HVAC Type III certification certifies you to work on low-pressure appliances, such as chillers. Section 609 MVAC certification is required to work on motor vehicle A/C units.

3. Is EPA Certification valid in countries other than the United States?

No. The EPA is an U.S. agency and therefore is only valid in the U.S.

4. What type of Certification do I need to purchase refrigerants?

If you get a 608 certification (Type I, Type II, Type II, or Universal), you can buy any refrigerant sold in an HVAC/R store in containers of 20 pounds or more. If you get 609 certification you can buy any refrigerant sold in an automotive supply house in any size container; however, these stores typically only sell R-12, R-134a, and replacement blends for R-12.

5. Can HFC refrigerant be released into the air, or does it have to captured? Also, does the technician handling the refrigerant have to be licensed?

You must recover the refrigerant, and the technician has to be certified by EPA.

6. I saw the two acronyms PVE and PAG in a January 2008 RSES article written by Mainstream, but I'm not sure what they are in reference to.

Both these acronyms are for HFC refrigerant lubricants. PVE stands for "polyvinyl ether" and PAG stands for "polyalkylene glycol." Most HFC refrigeration systems use polyolester (POE) oil, which is why the acronyms for the other two oils are not as well known.

Online Testing & Grading Questions

1. Why does my certification status say "PASSED" and not "CERTIFIED" after I passed the R-410A, PM Tech, or IAQ Certification?

Those certifications require you to show proof of EPA 608 certification. Your exam status is PASSED because our system could not find a record of your 608 certification. You can either fax a legible photocopy of your certification to Mainstream at (321) 631-3552, or if you are not yet 608 certified, successfully pass our Section 608 Type I, II, or III certification exam, and your status will automatically show CERTIFIED.

2. How secure is my credit card over the internet?

When you connect to the EPA test site, your browser indicates it's connected with a secure server (note the locked key or lock on your browser). Our webserver uses the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, a security protocol that provides privacy over the internet. This protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in a way that cannot be eavesdropped. Our server site is registered with a certificate authority (CA), in this case VeriSign, so you know who you are connecting to. After we get your credit card information, it is validated through VeriSign. VeriSign encrypts your card information using highly secure 128-bit public key encryption technology. Mainstream Engineering Corporation is using these widely available technologies to guarantee the privacy of your information. If you still have questions or concerns, please e-mail us at .

3. I don't have a credit card. Is there any way to take the exam on-line and pay by check?

Yes. If you would like to pay with a personal check or money order, proceed as though you are going to take a test online, but when you get to the payment options screen select pay by check or money order and follow the directions your are given.

4. I got partially through the exam process, and I lost my connection. What can I do? Will I be charged again? Are all of my answers lost?

Simply log in to your personal certification account and you will be able to reconnect to your exam in progress. Your card will not be charged again and any previously answered questions will not be lost.

5. What does an exam look like?

Here is a sample question from the 609 exam:

6. I lost (or forgot to print out) my certification number. How can I get my certification number again?

Log into your personal certification account by clicking here. You can reprint temporary certification cards, take additional certification tests, view your exam history, or order certification supplies.

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Información relacionada en español

EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act require that technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.

Technicians are required to pass an EPA-approved test to earn Section 608 Technician Certification. The tests are specific to the type of equipment the technician seeks to work on. Tests must be administered by an EPA-approved certifying organization. Section 608 Technician Certification credentials do not expire. Core tests taken as an open book exam cannot be used to get your Universal Certification. The core test must be taken as a proctored exam in order to attain Universal Certification.

EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act define a "technician" as an individual who performs any of the following activities:

Apprentices are exempt from certification requirements provided they are closely and continually supervised by a certified technician.

Types of Certification

EPA has developed four types of certification:

For servicing small appliances (Type I).
For servicing or disposing of high- or very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs (Type II).
For servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances (Type III).
For servicing all types of equipment (Universal).

The tests for each of these certification types cover different topics.