What You Need To Know About HVAC Certification Testing

 Are you planning to take your EPA certification test but feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin? It's understandable to get a little nervous before a major certification test. The best way to prepare yourself is by understanding the basics of the certification requirements before you get started with your EPA 608 certification test preparation.

Getting an EPA certification is a significant step in becoming an expert heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician. So, whether you're starting directly with the test preparation online or have been taking classes from an accredited trade school like The Refrigeration Institute, a study plan is important to ace this test. But first, let’s understand what to expect in the test.

Fundamentals of EPA 608 Testing.
The Federal government of the United States requires all HVAC/R technicians to be certified before they can secure jobs. Hence, people who work on stationary equipment or use refrigerants to design the systems need to become certified by passing a proctored Section 608 Examination. There are three integral categories of this certification test plus a Universal type.
A Type 1 technician primarily works on small appliances such as domestic refrigerators and window air conditioners etc.
Type 2 technicians progress to work on commercial equipment using high-pressure refrigerants such as an HCFC-22. These may also include residential air conditioners, heat pumps, as well as supermarket refrigeration systems.
Type 3 technicians are the ones that work only using a low-pressure refrigerant such as CFC-123 or CFC-11. These units primarily include commercial refrigeration and cooling systems.
Lastly, any candidate who passes all three of these EPA types is certified as a Universal technician and is eligible to work in the United States at a number of positions.

Format of the test.
To pass any EPA type, you will be required to pass the core section of the test plus one of the technician types listed above. Once you qualify the core, you don't need to take it again. Instead, it can be used for additional EPA types.
Out of the total four sections in the test, each section has 25 multiple choice questions you will be required to answer. These questions will test your knowledge regarding equipment regulations, safety, shipping, and identifying refrigerants as provided in the test sections. A passing score of 70%, i.e., 18 out of 25 correct answers in each section will get you certified.

With a clear understanding of the testing system and score requirements, you can now start your test prep from your study manual. The Refrigeration Institute is a well-reputed school for HVAC certification test preparation with lifetime career placement support. So, join us today to ace your exam and kickstart your career.