EPA 608 Type 1 Practice Test: 25 Free Questions

Twenty-five practice questions on the EPA Section 608 Type I (small appliance) technical group, with the answer and a sourced explanation under every one. The federal Type I test structure also includes 25 Core questions, so pair this focused drill with our 25 free Core questions.

25 questions · answer and explanation under each · no sign-up · Original, unofficial practice questions, not real EPA exam items.

Question 1 · T1P-01

Recovery requirements · Small appliance definition

You're reading a unit's nameplate to decide whether Type I certification covers it. Which facts decide whether it's a "small appliance" under EPA's rule?

A. The whole unit weighs 5 pounds or lessB. It was fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerantC. It plugs into a standard 120-volt outletD. Its cooling capacity is under 12,000 BTU per hour

Reveal answer

Answer: B. It was fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant.
Why: EPA's definition has two parts, and both must be true. The system was built, charged, and sealed in the factory, and its refrigerant charge is 5 pounds or less.
Why not the others: The 5-pound limit is the refrigerant charge, not the weight of the unit. Voltage and BTU rating aren't part of the definition at all.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, "Small appliance"
Review topic: Small appliance definition

Question 2 · T1P-02

Recovery requirements · Small appliance definition

A self-contained commercial reach-in cooler was built, charged, and sealed at the factory. Its nameplate shows a 7-pound charge of R-134a. Which certification covers servicing its refrigerant circuit?

A. Type I, because it was factory-sealedB. Type III, because R-134a is a low-pressure refrigerantC. Type II, because a 7-pound charge is over the small-appliance limitD. No certification, because it plugs into a wall outlet

Reveal answer

Answer: C. Type II, because a 7-pound charge is over the small-appliance limit.
Why: Factory sealing is only half of the small-appliance test. At 7 pounds, the charge is over the 5-pound limit, so this isn't a small appliance. R-134a is a medium-pressure refrigerant, and Type II covers medium-, high-, and very high-pressure appliances other than small appliances.
Why not the others: Type I needs both conditions, not just factory sealing. EPA lists R-134a as medium-pressure, not low-pressure, so Type III doesn't fit. Being a plug-in unit doesn't exempt anyone from certification.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, "Small appliance" and "Medium-pressure appliance" · 40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(i)–(ii)
Review topic: Small appliance definition

Question 3 · T1P-03

Recovery requirements · Opening an appliance

A technician wants to connect gauges to a household refrigerator only to read its pressures. Nothing will be cut or removed. Which statement is correct?

A. Connecting gauges isn't "opening" the appliance, so no recovery is needed first, but attaching gauges is still work that requires Section 608 certificationB. Refrigerant must be recovered to the small-appliance level before the gauges go onC. No certification is needed, because connecting gauges isn't opening the applianceD. Certification is needed only if refrigerant will be added

Reveal answer

Answer: A. Connecting gauges isn't "opening" the appliance, so no recovery is needed first, but attaching gauges is still work that requires Section 608 certification.
Why: EPA defines "opening an appliance" to exclude connecting and disconnecting hoses and gauges to measure pressure, add refrigerant, or recover it. So the recovery requirement that applies before opening isn't triggered. But EPA's definition of "technician" specifically includes attaching and detaching hoses and gauges, so the person doing it needs certification (or must be a closely supervised apprentice).
Why not the others: Recovering first isn't required just to read pressures. "Not opening" and "no certification needed" are separate questions; gauge work is technician work. Certification isn't limited to jobs that add refrigerant.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, "Opening an appliance" and "Technician" · 40 CFR 82.156(b)
Review topic: What counts as opening

Question 4 · T1P-04

Recovery requirements · Recovery levels

Each technician below used recovery equipment made after November 15, 1993 on a small appliance. Which result does NOT meet EPA's recovery requirement?

A. Compressor working; 90% of the charge recoveredB. Compressor not working; 80% of the charge recoveredC. Compressor working; the tech stopped at 85% recovered and never pulled 4 inches of mercury vacuumD. Compressor not working; the appliance evacuated to 4 inches of mercury vacuum

Reveal answer

Answer: C. Compressor working; the tech stopped at 85% recovered and never pulled 4 inches of mercury vacuum.
Why: With post-1993 equipment and a working compressor, the rule is 90% recovered, or evacuation to 4 inches of mercury (in. Hg) vacuum. Stopping at 85% meets neither.
Why not the others: 90% with a working compressor meets the rule. 80% is the requirement when the compressor isn't working. Evacuating to 4 in. Hg vacuum satisfies the rule in any of these cases.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(2)–(3)
Review topic: Recovery percentages

Question 5 · T1P-05

Recovery requirements · Recovery levels

A drinking-water cooler's compressor is dead, and the technician has no reliable way to tell what percentage of the charge has been recovered. Which target satisfies the small-appliance rule?

A. Evacuate the appliance to 0 psigB. Evacuate the appliance to 4 inches of mercury vacuumC. Evacuate the appliance to 10 inches of mercury vacuumD. Evacuate the appliance to 25 mm Hg absolute

Reveal answer

Answer: B. Evacuate the appliance to 4 inches of mercury vacuum.
Why: The small-appliance rule gives a vacuum option alongside the percentages: evacuate the appliance to 4 in. Hg vacuum. It works whatever the equipment date or compressor condition, which makes it the practical target when you can't measure a percentage.
Why not the others: 0 psig and 10 in. Hg come from the rules for larger, non-small appliances. 25 mm Hg absolute is the level for low-pressure appliances such as chillers.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(3) · 40 CFR 82.156(a), Table 1 (shows the other levels)
Review topic: The 4-inch vacuum option

Question 5 clarification: B names the 4-in.-Hg vacuum target stated in the small-appliance rule. The deeper vacuums in C and D also reach that target, so this practice scorer accepts B, C, or D. The approved answer and explanation above are shown unchanged.

Question 6 · T1P-06

Recovery requirements · Recovery equipment date

Your shop's recovery rules depend on whether your recovery equipment was made before or after November 15, 1993. Where do you find the date that matters?

A. The manufacture date on the appliance's nameplateB. The date of manufacture on the recovery equipment's EPA certification labelC. The date on the refrigerant cylinderD. The date on your Section 608 certification card

Reveal answer

Answer: B. The date of manufacture on the recovery equipment's EPA certification label.
Why: The November 15, 1993 date in the small-appliance rule refers to when the recovery equipment was made. Equipment certified by an EPA-approved testing organization must carry a permanent label that shows its date of manufacture.
Why not the others: The appliance's age doesn't change which percentage applies. Cylinder dates and your own certification date have nothing to do with it.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(1)–(2) · 40 CFR 82.158(h)
Review topic: November 15, 1993 date

Question 7 · T1P-07

Recovery requirements · Recovery equipment date

A refrigerator built in 1990 still has a working compressor. The technician's recovery unit was made in 2015. What does the rule require?

A. Recover 90%, or evacuate to 4 inches of mercury vacuumB. Recover 80%, because the refrigerator was built before November 15, 1993C. Recover 80%, or evacuate to 4 inches of mercury vacuumD. Recover 100% of the charge

Reveal answer

Answer: A. Recover 90%, or evacuate to 4 inches of mercury vacuum.
Why: The rule keys to the recovery equipment's date, not the appliance's. Equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, used on a small appliance with a working compressor, must recover 90% or reach 4 in. Hg vacuum.
Why not the others: The refrigerator's 1990 build date is a trap; it doesn't lower the requirement. 80% applies to pre-1993 equipment or to a compressor that isn't working. No rule requires 100%.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(2)–(3)
Review topic: Recovery percentages

Question 8 · T1P-08

Recovery requirements · Certified recovery equipment

A technician buys a newly manufactured recovery bag. It has no label showing certification by an EPA-approved equipment testing organization. Can it be used to recover refrigerant from a small appliance?

A. Yes, because passive devices don't need certificationB. Yes, if the technician holds Type I certificationC. No; small-appliance recovery must use recovery equipment certified under EPA's equipment standardsD. Yes, as long as the appliance holds under 5 pounds

Reveal answer

Answer: C. No; small-appliance recovery must use recovery equipment certified under EPA's equipment standards.
Why: EPA requires refrigerant to be recovered from small appliances with recovery equipment certified under 40 CFR 82.158. New small-appliance recovery equipment must be certified by an EPA-approved testing organization and carry a label saying so. That applies to passive (system-dependent) devices too.
Why not the others: There's no passive-device exception. The technician's card doesn't certify the equipment. The appliance's charge size doesn't waive the equipment rule.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b) · 40 CFR 82.158(a), (e), (h) · 40 CFR 82.154(b)(2)
Review topic: Certified equipment

Question 9 · T1P-09

Recovery techniques · Passive recovery

A recovery device has no pump or compressor of its own. It collects refrigerant only by using the appliance's own compressor or the pressure already inside the appliance. What type of equipment is it?

A. Self-contained recovery equipmentB. Reclaim equipmentC. A recycling machineD. System-dependent (passive) recovery equipment

Reveal answer

Answer: D. System-dependent (passive) recovery equipment.
Why: EPA defines system-dependent equipment as recovery equipment that needs help from components inside the appliance to remove the refrigerant. That's exactly this device.
Why not the others: Self-contained equipment removes refrigerant without help from the appliance. Recycling cleans refrigerant for reuse, and reclaiming reprocesses it to a purity standard; neither describes how this device pulls refrigerant out.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, "System-dependent recovery equipment" and "Self-contained recovery equipment"
Review topic: System-dependent vs self-contained

Question 10 · T1P-10

Recovery techniques · Passive recovery

Which statement about the 15-pound limit in EPA's recovery rules is correct?

A. A small appliance may hold up to 15 pounds of refrigerantB. Passive recovery devices are banned on anything over 5 poundsC. The 15-pound limit is where system-dependent recovery equipment may be used; it doesn't define a small applianceD. The 15-pound limit applies only to self-contained recovery machines

Reveal answer

Answer: C. The 15-pound limit is where system-dependent recovery equipment may be used; it doesn't define a small appliance.
Why: EPA bars system-dependent equipment on appliances with a full charge over 15 pounds, unless it's a pump-out unit permanently attached to the appliance. That's a limit on the equipment. The small-appliance definition has its own separate 5-pound limit.
Why not the others: Small appliances top out at 5 pounds, not 15. Passive devices are allowed up to 15 pounds, so a 5-pound cutoff is wrong. The limit applies to system-dependent equipment, not self-contained machines.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(e) · 40 CFR 82.152, "Small appliance"
Review topic: The 15-pound limit

Question 11 · T1P-11

Recovery techniques · Inoperative compressor

A window unit's compressor won't run. The technician pierces only the low-side process tube, connects a passive recovery device, and recovery stalls well short of the target. What's the most likely fix?

A. Add a second access valve on the high side so refrigerant can be recovered from both sidesB. Keep waiting; passive recovery always finishes on its ownC. Vent the rest, since the recovery attempt was made in good faithD. Add nitrogen through the low-side valve to push the refrigerant out

Reveal answer

Answer: A. Add a second access valve on the high side so refrigerant can be recovered from both sides.
Why: EPA's Type I topics call for installing both high- and low-side access valves when recovering from a small appliance with an inoperative compressor. With no compressor moving refrigerant, charge on the high side can stay trapped behind the metering device.
Why not the others: Waiting won't move refrigerant that's trapped on the other side. Releasing what's left isn't a de minimis release; the rule requires reaching the recovery level. Pushing with nitrogen isn't an EPA-listed technique and contaminates the recovered refrigerant with a gas that doesn't condense.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques · 40 CFR 82.154(a)(2)
Review topic: Access on both sides

Question 12 · T1P-12

Recovery techniques · Inoperative compressor

Recovering passively from a small appliance whose compressor won't run, which step is NOT one of the techniques EPA lists for this situation?

A. Install access valves on both the high side and the low sideB. Heat the compressor and sharply strike it to release refrigerant from the oilC. Use a vacuum pump with a non-pressurized recovery containerD. Pressurize the system with nitrogen to force refrigerant into the recovery container

Reveal answer

Answer: D. Pressurize the system with nitrogen to force refrigerant into the recovery container.
Why: EPA's Type I topic list names three moves for an inoperative compressor: access on both sides, heating and sharply striking the compressor, and using a vacuum pump with a non-pressurized recovery container. Pushing refrigerant out with nitrogen isn't on the list.
Why not the others: Options A, B, and C all appear on EPA's list. Nitrogen mixes a noncondensable gas into the refrigerant you're recovering, which makes it harder to reuse or reclaim.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques
Review topic: Dead-compressor techniques

Question 13 · T1P-13

Recovery techniques · Operative compressor

A vending machine's compressor works. Using a passive recovery device made in 2010, the technician leaves the machine switched off the whole time and stops after recovering 80% of the charge. What went wrong?

A. Nothing; 80% is the requirement for passive devicesB. The compressor works, so the requirement is 90% (or 4 inches of mercury vacuum), and EPA's technique is to run the working compressor during passive recoveryC. The tech should have removed the compressor firstD. Vending machines have to be recovered with self-contained equipment only

Reveal answer

Answer: B. The compressor works, so the requirement is 90% (or 4 inches of mercury vacuum), and EPA's technique is to run the working compressor during passive recovery.
Why: With post-1993 equipment, a working compressor raises the target to 90%, or 4 in. Hg vacuum. EPA's Type I topics say to operate a working compressor during system-dependent recovery; the appliance's compressor does the pumping a passive device can't.
Why not the others: The percentage depends on compressor condition and equipment date, not on whether the device is passive. Pulling the compressor opens the system before recovery is done. Passive devices are allowed on small appliances.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(2)–(3) · EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques
Review topic: Run a working compressor

Question 14 · T1P-14

Recovery techniques · Identifying refrigerant

A recovered refrigerant cylinder has been allowed to stabilize at 70°F. To use a pressure-temperature (PT) chart as an identification check, what should you compare?

A. The cylinder gauge pressure with the saturation pressure listed for 70°FB. The cylinder weight with the appliance's factory chargeC. Room humidity with the cylinder pressureD. The cylinder pressure with a compressor's running discharge pressure

Reveal answer

Answer: A. The cylinder gauge pressure with the saturation pressure listed for 70°F.
Why: EPA's Type I topics include using pressure and temperature to identify refrigerants. A PT chart gives the saturation pressure expected at a known temperature, so a stabilized cylinder can be checked by comparing its gauge pressure with the chart value at that temperature.
Why not the others: Cylinder weight does not identify the refrigerant. Humidity is not the PT-chart comparison. Running discharge pressure is a system operating condition, not the saturation-pressure check used here.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques · Hudson Technologies R-134a pressure-temperature chart · Hudson Technologies R-12 pressure-temperature chart
Review topic: Pressure-temperature checks

Question 15 · T1P-15

Recovery techniques · Noncondensables

You recovered R-134a into a recovery cylinder, which has now sat at a steady 70°F. A pressure-temperature chart lists R-134a at about 71 psig at 70°F. Your gauge reads 90 psig. What's the most likely explanation?

A. The reading is normal; cylinders always read well above the chartB. The cylinder is less than half full, which raises its pressureC. Noncondensable gases, such as air, are in the cylinderD. The cylinder actually holds R-12

Reveal answer

Answer: C. Noncondensable gases, such as air, are in the cylinder.
Why: At a stable temperature, a cylinder containing liquid and vapor should sit near the refrigerant's saturation pressure. A reading about 19 psi above the chart value is a warning sign for noncondensables, gases such as air that add pressure without condensing at that condition.
Why not the others: A stabilized cylinder should not simply run far above the chart because it is partially filled. R-12 is also about 70 psig at 70°F on the cited chart, so it would not explain a 90-psig reading.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques · Hudson Technologies R-134a pressure-temperature chart · Hudson Technologies R-12 pressure-temperature chart
Review topic: Pressure-temperature checks

Source link update (September 28, 2026): The Danfoss chart link in the approved source package now returns 404. The displayed links instead lead to Hudson Technologies R-134a and R-12 pressure-temperature charts; these are different documents. At 70°F they list 71.2 and 70.2 psig, respectively.

Question 16 · T1P-16

Recovery techniques · Access fittings

After recovering and recharging a dorm refrigerator, a technician starts removing the bolt-on (solderless) piercing valve he clamped on. The customer asks him to leave it for next time. What should he do?

A. Leave it on, since it will save time on the next visitB. Leave it on, but wrap it with tapeC. Leave it on if it passes a quick leak check todayD. Remove it; EPA's Type I topics call for removing solderless access fittings at the end of service

Reveal answer

Answer: D. Remove it; EPA's Type I topics call for removing solderless access fittings at the end of service.
Why: EPA's Type I topic list says solderless access fittings should be removed at the conclusion of service. Left on the line, a clamp-on fitting is one more joint that can leak later.
Why not the others: Convenience, tape, or one good leak check today doesn't change EPA's listed practice.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques
Review topic: Solderless fittings

Question 17 · T1P-17

Recovery techniques · Substitute refrigerants

EPA's Type I topics name R-134a as the likely substitute for R-12 in small appliances. Which statement about R-134a in household refrigerators is accurate today?

A. R-134a can't legally be used in any refrigerator after January 1, 2021B. An existing R-134a refrigerator can still be serviced with R-134a; EPA's SNAP program lists HFC-134a as unacceptable in new household refrigerators and freezers as of January 1, 2021C. Existing R-134a refrigerators must be converted to R-600aD. R-134a depletes ozone, so it can't be used for servicing

Reveal answer

Answer: B. An existing R-134a refrigerator can still be serviced with R-134a; EPA's SNAP program lists HFC-134a as unacceptable in new household refrigerators and freezers as of January 1, 2021.
Why: EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) list, which rules on refrigerant substitutes, marks HFC-134a "unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021" for household refrigerators and freezers. That restriction is on new equipment. It doesn't stop a technician from servicing an existing R-134a refrigerator with R-134a.
Why not the others: The 2021 change covers new equipment, not every refrigerator. No rule requires converting existing units, and R-600a isn't listed as a retrofit for them. R-134a is an HFC with zero ozone depletion potential.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Recovery Techniques · EPA SNAP, Substitutes in Household Refrigerators and Freezers
Review topic: R-12, R-134a, and newer refrigerants

Question 18 · T1P-18

Safety · Flammable refrigerants

A customer asks you to convert an older R-134a refrigerator to R-600a (isobutane) because newer models use it. What's the accurate answer?

A. Yes, as long as you change the oilB. Yes, as long as you add a flammable-refrigerant labelC. Yes, because you hold Type I certificationD. No; EPA lists R-600a for new household refrigerators and freezers, not as a retrofit for existing ones

Reveal answer

Answer: D. No; EPA lists R-600a for new household refrigerators and freezers, not as a retrofit for existing ones.
Why: On EPA's SNAP list for household refrigerators and freezers, R-600a is marked for new equipment only and is "acceptable with use conditions." It's also classed A3, the highest flammability group. Converting an existing R-134a unit isn't an EPA-listed use.
Why not the others: An oil change, a label, or a Type I card doesn't turn an unlisted retrofit into a listed one.
Source: EPA SNAP, Substitutes in Household Refrigerators and Freezers (R-600a: New; A3)
Review topic: Hydrocarbons in small appliances

Question 19 · T1P-19

Safety · Venting exemptions

EPA exempts certain hydrocarbon refrigerants from the venting prohibition, but only in listed uses. Which refrigerant and use is NOT on EPA's exempt list?

A. R-290 (propane) in a household refrigeratorB. R-290 (propane) in a self-contained room air conditionerC. R-600a (isobutane) in a vending machineD. R-600a (isobutane) in a window air conditioner

Reveal answer

Answer: D. R-600a (isobutane) in a window air conditioner.
Why: EPA's exemption for R-600a covers stand-alone retail food refrigerators and freezers, household refrigerators and freezers, and vending machines. Room and window air conditioners aren't on the R-600a list. R-290's list does include self-contained room air conditioners.
Why not the others: R-290 is exempt in household refrigerators and in self-contained room air conditioners. R-600a is exempt in vending machines.
Source: 40 CFR 82.154(a)(1)(viii)–(ix)
Review topic: Hydrocarbons in small appliances

Question 20 · T1P-20

Safety · High-temperature decomposition

EPA's public Type I safety topic specifically tells candidates to know what can happen when refrigerants are exposed to high temperatures. Which statement is accurate?

A. High heat can create toxic and corrosive decomposition productsB. High heat makes refrigerants chemically harmlessC. Only flammable refrigerants can decompose when heatedD. Refrigerant decomposition is a Type II topic only

Reveal answer

Answer: A. High heat can create toxic and corrosive decomposition products.
Why: EPA lists decomposition products of refrigerants at high temperatures as a Type I safety topic. Refrigerant safety data also warns that flames, welding, hot spots, and other high-temperature sources can produce toxic or corrosive decomposition products.
Why not the others: Heating does not make refrigerants harmless, the hazard is not limited to flammable refrigerants, and EPA explicitly includes it in Type I.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Safety · Hudson Technologies R-22 SDS, §10
Review topic: Heat and open flames

Question 21 · T1P-21

Safety · Decomposition products

R-22 vapor is present near a flame or welding hot spot. What's the best safety conclusion?

A. Frostbite is the only concernB. Remove the high-temperature source and follow ventilation and exposure precautions because toxic or corrosive decomposition products can formC. A stable pressure reading means the area is safeD. Heating the refrigerant converts it into oxygen

Reveal answer

Answer: B. Remove the high-temperature source and follow ventilation and exposure precautions because toxic or corrosive decomposition products can form.
Why: The R-22 safety data sheet warns that high-temperature sources such as flames, hot spots, and welding may yield toxic or corrosive decomposition products. EPA also makes high-temperature refrigerant decomposition a Type I safety topic.
Why not the others: The hazard is not limited to frostbite, pressure does not prove the air is safe, and heating refrigerant does not convert it into oxygen.
Source: EPA Test Topics, Type 1 → Safety · Hudson Technologies R-22 SDS, §10
Review topic: Heat and open flames

Question 22 · T1P-22

Disposal and scope · Disposal

A worker at an appliance recycler recovers the refrigerant from old refrigerators before they're crushed. He doesn't service appliances. Does he need Section 608 certification?

A. Yes, he needs Type I certificationB. Yes, he needs Universal certificationC. No, and recovery isn't required because the units are being scrappedD. No, disposing of small appliances doesn't require certification, but the refrigerant must still be recovered to the small-appliance levels with certified equipment

Reveal answer

Answer: D. No, disposing of small appliances doesn't require certification, but the refrigerant must still be recovered to the small-appliance levels with certified equipment.
Why: EPA's certification rule says people who dispose of small appliances aren't required to be certified. The safe-disposal rule still applies: refrigerant recovered for disposal must meet the small-appliance levels, using certified recovery equipment.
Why not the others: Type I and Universal are for maintaining, servicing, or repairing. Scrapping doesn't cancel the recovery requirement; the venting prohibition covers disposal too.
Source: 40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(vii) · 40 CFR 82.155(a) · 40 CFR 82.154(a)(1)
Review topic: Disposal rules

Question 23 · T1P-23

Disposal and scope · Disposal

A scrap yard is the last stop for used refrigerators and window units. Besides recovering refrigerant itself or collecting signed statements, what must it do for the people who deliver appliances?

A. Nothing more; EPA contacts suppliers directlyB. Notify suppliers that refrigerant must be properly recovered before delivery, for example with signs or lettersC. Test each supplier for Section 608 certificationD. Report every delivery to EPA within 30 days

Reveal answer

Answer: B. Notify suppliers that refrigerant must be properly recovered before delivery, for example with signs or letters.
Why: The final processor, meaning the last business in the disposal chain such as a scrap recycler or landfill, must notify suppliers that refrigerant has to be recovered before delivery. EPA says signs, letters to suppliers, or equivalent means will do.
Why not the others: EPA doesn't do the notifying. Suppliers delivering appliances don't need certification, since disposal of small appliances is exempt. There's no 30-day delivery report to EPA.
Source: 40 CFR 82.155(b)(2)(ii) · 40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(vii)
Review topic: Disposal rules

Question 24 · T1P-24

Disposal and scope · Disposal

A freezer arrives at a scrap yard empty of refrigerant. A corroded line failed on its own months ago, and all the refrigerant escaped before anyone recovered it. What should the scrap yard get?

A. A signed statement that all the refrigerant leaked out before delivery and recovery isn't possibleB. Nothing; an empty freezer has no paperwork requirementC. A notarized report sent to EPAD. Proof that the owner held Section 608 certification

Reveal answer

Answer: A. A signed statement that all the refrigerant leaked out before delivery and recovery isn't possible.
Why: When all the refrigerant has leaked out, the final processor must obtain a signed statement saying so. EPA's "leaked out" covers system failures, accidents, and other unavoidable events, like a corroded line giving way. It doesn't cover deliberate acts such as cutting lines.
Why not the others: An empty unit still needs the statement. EPA doesn't require notarization or a report to the agency. The owner's certification isn't part of this rule.
Source: 40 CFR 82.155(b)(2)(iii), (c)
Review topic: Disposal rules

Question 25 · T1P-25

Disposal and scope · Scope

A car's air conditioner holds about 2 pounds of refrigerant. A shop repairs it for pay. Which certification applies?

A. Section 608 Type I, because the charge is under 5 poundsB. Section 608 Type IIC. Section 609 motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) certificationD. No certification, because the charge is so small

Reveal answer

Answer: C. Section 609 motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) certification.
Why: EPA's Section 608 rule says people who service motor vehicle air conditioners for consideration (pay) must be certified under the separate MVAC program, Section 609. Type I covers small appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, and vending machines.
Why not the others: A small charge doesn't make a car's A/C a small appliance. Type II covers stationary high- and medium-pressure equipment. Small charges still need certification.
Source: 40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(vi) · 40 CFR 82.152, "Small appliance"
Review topic: Which certification applies

Score it: count your correct answers out of 25, then use the topic review below to decide what to revisit.

Your Type I practice result

Your score here is feedback on these 25 original Type I technical questions. It is not an official EPA score, a separate federal Type I-section pass/fail result, or a prediction that you'll pass the certification test.

For context, federal Appendix D sets a 70% passing standard for closed-book Type I certification tests and an 84% passing standard for Type I certification tests using the mail-in format. A Type I certification test contains 25 Core questions plus 25 Type I technical questions. Appendix D does not establish separate federal 18-of-25 or 21-of-25 pass lines for this practice set (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Appendix D, sections a, d, and e).

To see where your misses cluster, tally them by topic:

Your Type I practice result
Topic	Questions	Your misses
Recovery requirements	1–8	___ / 8
Recovery techniques	9–17	___ / 9
Safety	18–21	___ / 4
Disposal and scope	22–25	___ / 4

A handful of questions per topic is enough to point you somewhere, not enough to measure you. Treat repeated misses in one topic as a reason to reread that topic, nothing more.

What to do with your misses

Reread each missed explanation, then close it and say the rule out loud. Recognizing a rule and producing it are different skills.
Check the one-screen summary below. The main recovery decisions in this set come back to three questions: is it a small appliance, when was the recovery equipment made, and does the compressor work?
Open the matching topic on EPA's list. Our topic labels follow the Type I groups on EPA's Test Topics page.
Check the current instructions from the approved program giving your test. Program delivery, scheduling, and candidate instructions can differ. EPA does not review or approve prep materials, including ours (EPA certification programs page).
Retest another day, not right away. Scoring well on the same 25 questions an hour later mostly measures your memory of these questions.

Type I rules on one screen

Most Type I recovery questions come down to this table. The date is when your recovery equipment was made, not the appliance (40 CFR 82.156(b)).

Type I rules on one screen
Recovery equipment made…	Appliance compressor	You must…
Before November 15, 1993	Working or not	Recover 80% of the refrigerant, or evacuate to 4 in. Hg vacuum
On or after November 15, 1993	Working	Recover 90%, or evacuate to 4 in. Hg vacuum
On or after November 15, 1993	Not working	Recover 80%, or evacuate to 4 in. Hg vacuum

Four more rules that decide a lot of questions:

Small appliance means both conditions. It was fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory, and it holds 5 pounds of refrigerant or less. A 4-pound mini-split connected in the field fails the first condition, so it isn't a small appliance (40 CFR 82.152).
Passive recovery is fine on small appliances. System-dependent (passive) equipment is barred only on appliances with a full charge over 15 pounds, unless it's a pump-out unit permanently attached to the appliance (40 CFR 82.156(e)).
Dead compressor, passive device: put access valves on both the high and low sides, and heat and sharply strike the compressor or use a vacuum pump with a non-pressurized recovery container. Working compressor: run it during passive recovery. When you're done, remove solderless access fittings (EPA Test Topics, Type 1).
Scrapping is different from servicing. People who dispose of small appliances don't need certification, but the refrigerant still has to be recovered to these levels with certified equipment (40 CFR 82.161(a)(1)(vii); 40 CFR 82.155(a)).

How the real Type I test works

A Type I certification test contains 50 questions under the federal test-bank structure: at least 25 from Core and at least 25 from the Type I technical group (40 CFR 82.161(c); Appendix D, sections a and d). This page drills the Type I technical group; our EPA 608 exam prep guide has 25 free Core questions.

The federal passing standard depends on the test format. Appendix D sets 70% for closed-book Type I certification tests and 84% for Type I certification tests using the mail-in format. A Type I-only certifying program may choose on-site or mail-in testing. Mail-in Type I results cannot be used toward Universal certification; Universal testing must be closed-book and proctored (Appendix D, sections a, b, and e).

EPA's current approved-program list separately notes that some programs offer remote or online testing and identifies programs with a mail-in Type I option. Those labels should not be treated as automatically interchangeable. Check the actual candidate instructions from the program you choose (EPA certification programs).

Who gives the test. EPA approves certifying programs; approved programs administer the certification test. Each program provides its own scheduling, delivery, fee, and retake information. When you're ready to book, start with EPA's list of approved certifying programs.

Quick answers

Does Type I certification expire? No. EPA says Section 608 credentials don't expire (EPA certification requirements).

Can I buy refrigerant with only a Type I card? Yes. The sales rule is met by any Section 608 type: I, II, III, or Universal (40 CFR 82.154(c)(1)(i)). Your card limits the equipment you can service, not the refrigerant you can buy. A Type I card doesn't cover servicing a split system, for example.

Are these real EPA exam questions? No. EPA releases its question bank only to approved certifying programs (40 CFR 82.161(c)). We wrote these questions from EPA's public topic list and the current regulations.

Want more practice? Our EPA 608 Universal practice test has 100 more original questions across Core and Types I, II, and III.

Sources and how we checked

Last verified: September 27, 2026 — EPA's Type I test topics, the current text of 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F (§§ 82.152, 82.154, 82.155, 82.156, 82.158, 82.161, and Appendix D), EPA's certification and approved-program pages, and EPA's SNAP listings for household refrigerators and freezers.

We checked every answer against the regulation, EPA page, manufacturer safety data sheet, or technical pressure-temperature source cited under it, and we wrote every question ourselves.

By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team.

Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We aren't affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or any EPA-approved technician certifying program. The questions on this page are original, unofficial study items, not real, recalled, or official certification questions. Exam and credential names are used only to identify what they cover, and any trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Type I practice questions

Your Type I practice result

What to do with your misses

Type I rules on one screen

How the real Type I test works

Quick answers

Sources and how we checked