How do I become EPA Section 608 Certified?

Step One: Choose the EPA Type(s) for which you wish to seek certification.
The Federal Government of the United States requires all individuals who open a system or container holding a controlled refrigerant to be certified. Persons who work on stationary equipment or use refrigerant designed for these systems can become certified by passing a proctored Section 608 examination. Candidates for this test can be certified in any of three equipment categories plus Universal. Read the descriptions, and choose the certification type that seems most like you.

  • Type I - A Type I technician primarily works on small appliances such as domestic refrigerators, window air conditioners, PTAC's and vending machines.
  • Type II - A Type II technician primarily works on equipment using a high pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-22. The equipment includes residential air conditioners and heat pumps, supermarket refrigeration and process refrigeration.
  • Type III - A Type III technician primarily works on equipment using a low pressure refrigerant such as HCFC-123 or CFC-11. The units are primarily chillers.
  • Universal - Any candidate passing all three of these EPA types is certified as UNIVERSAL.

Note: To pass any EPA type, a candidate must pass a CORE section of the test plus one of the technician types listed above. Once CORE is passed it need not be taken again and it may be used for additional EPA types.

Step Two: Register for a testing session.
VGI Training has a network of hundreds of Testing Organizations across the country. You may register at any testing location. Testing takes place year 'round.

Please call 1-800-886-4109 for your nearest local testing organization. Call the testing organization in your area for schedules, test sites, and pricing information. The Testing Organization will be able to provide you with an EPA Section 608 Applicant Study Guide. This manual has:

  • Quick Review Questions
  • Service Reminders
  • Helpful Illustrations
  • Memory Tools
  • Sample Test Format/Questions

Preparation time needed for the Section 608 test may vary greatly from one technician to another. Typically, a technician with a working knowledge of HVAC terms and techniques may not require as much time as a person just entering the HVAC field. No matter what background a person might have, the probability of passing the Section 608 test is greatly increased by studying VGI's EPA Section 608 Applicant Study Guide in advance.

 

 

© 2000 - 2009 VGI Training All Rights Reserved.