Excellent (and Free!) EPA 608 Universal Training and Certification

[SVibs]

I’ve been looking at doing a DIY mini split install for my garage and I wanted to do everything above board including pulling electrical and mechanical permits. While my state has a licensing exemption for home owners doing their own work, I was pretty sure the mechanical permit to install the mini split was going to get shot down because of refrigerant reasons and having EPA 608 certification would eliminate that potential hurdle. That and I thought that EPA 608 training might be interesting.

All of the on-line training and certification sites I looked at were either expensive, wanted information such as my SSN and DOB, or both. I stumbled upon SkillCat which offers free on-line training modules and unlike the other sites I looked at, doesn’t want sensitive information that would be likely to result in identity theft if the site was breached.

The training is app based and is broken into small modules with a quiz after each module. The overall experience was excellent. I studied for approx. 20 hours over a total of three days, took the test, passed easily on the first attempt, and received my cert approx. 18 hours after I completed the test. I have no affiliation with these guys but wanted to make others aware of this free and fairly painless option for certification.

[EDIT] Oh, and both the electrical and mechanical permits were issued without question.

 

[Snapped-off]

Are you being reimbursed? I've had my 608 universal for 9 years now. Haven't needed it yet though.

 

[SVibs]

No. The card is optional. They email you a cert with your certification number for free.

 

[SVibs]

Are you being reimbursed?

BTW: I'm not sure if you're insinuating that I'm posting to get the $25 discount but I can assure you I'm not. Besides, I don't think this site qualifies as a "social media platform". I'm guessing they're looking for facebook, twitter/X, InstaGram, none of which I participate in.

 

[pcmeiners]

Yes the test is easy if you have study material. Along with that with a search in google there are plenty of free practice tests, just beware many of the tests have incorrect answers, generally 1 wrong answer per 25 questions. Found one test site with about a third of the answers incorrect.
Before I took the test I asked the proctor how many obtained the universal cert, she stated over 100 took the test, but not one passed for the universal cert, scared me so I really studied. In all about 20-25 hours of study, got 1 question incorrect out of 100. If I knew I would have studied 6 hours, reading the study material once. The EPA 609 test was actually a bit harder but was only 25 questions

 

[mm08822]

There are other apps that offer the same learning mtl/testing. Go on utube and search 608, epa 608, etc.
Vids from this guy are pretty good and he mentions the name of the app....."The DIY HVAC Guy". I believe the test was also free.(?)

FWIIW......an epa fine is supposedly $44K/day. The training material is simple and you will learn some things if you are not in the trade.

 

[SVibs]

Yes the test is easy if you have study material. Along with that with a search in google there are plenty of free practice tests, just beware many of the tests have incorrect answers, generally 1 wrong answer per 25 questions. Found one test site with about a third of the answers incorrect.
Before I took the test I asked the proctor how many obtained the universal cert, she stated over 100 took the test, but not one passed for the universal cert, scared me so I really studied. In all about 20-25 hours of study, got 1 question incorrect out of 100. If I knew I would have studied 6 hours, reading the study material once. The EPA 609 test was actually a bit harder but was only 25 questions

I used a free flashcard type app called "EPA 608 Practice Test 2023". It was pretty handy but I found 3 or 4 questions that definitely had incorrect answers. While that's not bad in the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there were others I didn't catch which isn't awesome if you're answering test questions using incorrect info the you assume is correct. Overall, I found most of the 608 material made sense and even if I was unsure of the answer, I could usually eliminate the incorrect answers using a bit of common sense. The area I struggled with the most was the refrigerant related questions mostly because of the goofy ASHRAE numbering scheme which seems completely random and entirely unrelated to the refrigerant type. So of course I ended up with an oddly large percentage of those in the test. I ended up with an 87 so I can't complain. Congrats--a 99 is pretty impressive.

 

[SVibs]

There are other apps that offer the same learning mtl/testing. Go on utube and search 608, epa 608, etc.
Vids from this guy are pretty good and he mentions the name of the app....."The DIY HVAC Guy". I believe the test was also free.(?)

FWIIW......an epa fine is supposedly $44K/day. The training material is simple and you will learn some things if you are not in the trade.

Yup, "The DIY HVAC Guy" is where I found out about SkillCat.

 

[Wiz02]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a Mobile Air Conditioning certificate from the 80's. I wonder how to find out if it is still valid. Hopefully someone in the field knows how I can check.

 

[mm08822]

I believe the EPA 608 requirement went into force in early 90's.

Search epa 609.....that one is for motor vehicle ac systems (only).

 

[pcmeiners]

"The area I struggled with the most was the refrigerant related questions mostly because of the goofy ASHRAE numbering scheme"

Same here, way too much info to memorize, that was a weak area for me, I realized I could not memorize the area well so I accepted I would get some related questions wrong. Turned out most question in that area were easy compared to what could have been asked.
I now have 4 minisplits at my home ( one to go) so the test was a good investment should I need to do repairs.

"......an EPA fine is supposedly $44K/day."

Wonder if any individual ever was fined this amount. Likely only a very large company would receive a large fine. Still if you were fined you would need a lawyer, a few days involvement in the process, a day in court, likely travel time, a small fine.. who needs the aggravation? plus getting refrigerant would be a pain.... easier to get the cert.

 

[mm08822]

"The area I struggled with the most was the refrigerant related questions mostly because of the goofy ASHRAE numbering scheme"

Same here, way too much info to memorize, that was a weak area for me, I realized I could not memorize the area well so I accepted I would get some related questions wrong. Turned out most question in that area were easy compared to what could have been asked.
I now have 4 minisplits at my home ( one to go) so the test was a good investment should I need to do repairs.

"......an EPA fine is supposedly $44K/day."

Wonder if any individual ever was fined this amount. Likely only a very large company would receive a large fine. Still if you were fined you would need a lawyer, a few days involvement in the process, a day in court, likely travel time, a small fine.. who needs the aggravation? plus getting refrigerant would be a pain.... easier to get the cert.

Even if happy HO got slapped with $1K fine, it's still not worth the aggrevation.
The training may also save someone from doing something dangerous to themself or the equipment.

 

[mm08822]

Yup, "The DIY HVAC Guy" is where I found out about SkillCat.

Yes, you are right. He did mention the SkillCatapp.

 

[Wrench97]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a Mobile Air Conditioning certificate from the 80's. I wonder how to find out if it is still valid. Hopefully someone in the field knows how I can check.

No you need to upgrade to the 609 cert to purchase anything over 2lbs.

 

[86turbodsl]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a Mobile Air Conditioning certificate from the 80's. I wonder how to find out if it is still valid. Hopefully someone in the field knows how I can check.

They're valid forever. I have a 20+ year old 609 and a 608 Type 1 cert. Nobody ever questions it. Just show the card, bring home the tank.

 

[Wrench97]

They're valid forever. I have a 20+ year old 609 and a 608 Type 1 cert. Nobody ever questions it. Just show the card, bring home the tank.

The cert from the 80's was not a 609, it would have been a ASE cert not a EPA cert which started in 92/93 with the Clean Air Act of 1990.

 

[Wiz02]

The cert from the 80's was not a 609, it would have been a ASE cert not a EPA cert which started in 92/93 with the Clean Air Act of 1990.

So the bottom line question is, can I still buy refrigerant with my old card? Probably depends on the counter guy.

 

[Wrench97]

So the bottom line question is, can I still buy refrigerant with my old card? Probably depends on the counter guy.

Is the old card the one that uses your SSN as the license number?
if not your probably good, if it is I wouldn't want to use it.

 

[86turbodsl]

Just looked at mine. 609 is Macs from 1998, the 608 is mainstream engineering and doesn't even have a date on it.

 

[Wiz02]

I will dig my cert out if I can remember where I filed it.

 

[branimal]

I'm using SkillCat now to study for the EPA 608. It's a great format. Short sections of materials followed by quizzes. Available on both my phone and laptop.

 

[pcmeiners]

Multiple free EPA practice tests, occasionally an incorrect answer (not many). If you can pass all these you will be OK on the proctored test.

EPA 608 Practice Tests | HVAC Certification Practice Tests

 

[rlitman]

I'm using SkillCat now to study for the EPA 608. It's a great format. Short sections of materials followed by quizzes. Available on both my phone and laptop.

I started using SkillCat when I saw this thread, and got my 608 Universal Cert today. Now I'm not sure what to do next with all my free "throne time".

Unfortunately, as of yesterday, SkillCat has gone from free to a $10/month subscription model, but I'd say it's still quite worth it.

 

[pcmeiners]

"I started using SkillCat when I saw this thread, and got my 608 Universal Cert today. Now I'm not sure what to do next with all my free "throne time".

Excellent, congratulations

Well now you can get the 609 cert

The GJ crew is on it's way to saving the world from global warming...and saving a lot of money.

 

[mm08822]

I started using SkillCat when I saw this thread, and got my 608 Universal Cert today. Now I'm not sure what to do next with all my free "throne time".

Unfortunately, as of yesterday, SkillCat has gone from free to a $10/month subscription model, but I'd say it's still quite worth it.

As I plan on doing my furnace/ac upgrade shortly, $10/month for a few months to take the free test/cert is a well worth investment!

 

[branimal]

I started using SkillCat when I saw this thread, and got my 608 Universal Cert today. Now I'm not sure what to do next with all my free "throne time".

Unfortunately, as of yesterday, SkillCat has gone from free to a $10/month subscription model, but I'd say it's still quite worth it.

@rlitman

Where did you take the exam? Online or in person? I called a few EPA certified exam locations near me and they said they don't offer the exam anymore.

 

[rlitman]

@rlitman

Where did you take the exam? Online or in person? I called a few EPA certified exam locations near me and they said they don't offer the exam anymore.

I took the exam on my iphone in the SkillCat app from the comfort of my own home. After the last unit of training, you go to the test unit where the app asks for permission to use your camera. You then see a thumbnail of your face in the corner, and are instructed to keep your face visible for the duration of the test. It sends a record of this back to the SkillCat test proctor for later review, so they can say you took a proctored exam. That's why you find out you passed immediately, but it can still take a couple of days for the certification to be issued.

Not wanting to hold my phone still for the duration of the test, I found a comfortable way to plant it so I could keep my face on camera before I started. Supposedly the web version will use your laptop's webcam in the same way.

It's all multiple choice questions, so using a phone isn't much trouble, EXCEPT for the questions where you need to pull up refrigerant temperature/pressure charts. They have a reference page you can get to while in the exam, but some users in the forum have complained that their test crashed when they tried to get there. It all worked smoothly for me. YMMV, but if you do get stopped by a technical issue you can always message their support, and that broken exam shouldn't be counted against your 5 attempts.

The training unit quizzes require 80%, but the actual test only needs 70% correct to pass. And because of the way the questions are broken up, you don't even have to pass the whole thing. So long as you pass the core questions and the Type 1 questions, they'll give you a 608 Type 1 cert instead of universal, if you failed the next blocks of questions for Type II and III. Outside of the industry, you'll hardly have use for the Type III anyway (though that part's a breeze).

 

[branimal]

@rlitman Thanks for the detailed explanation.

 

[rlitman]

@rlitman Thanks for the detailed explanation.

Any time. Thanks for the app recommendation (you're the only reason I have my cert) and good luck with the test. I'm sure you'll pass.

It's 100 questions. 25 core, 25 Type I, 25 Type II and 25 Type III. Technically the EPA allows you to open-book the core and Type I, but SkillCat doesn't support that, since the core part needs to be closed book to be used with the Type II and III (and therefore universal) certs.
There is a LOT of overlap in sections, so don't be surprised to see the same exact question repeated several times. The good news is those questions are usually also well covered in the training.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Technically the EPA allows you to open-book the core and Type I, but SkillCat doesn't support that"

Slight correction..... Skillcat is only following the EPA mandate

From EPA site...

"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."

"Outside of the industry, you'll hardly have use for the Type III anyway (though that part's a breeze)."

Type III is a give away, even the study material was short in length. Basically if you pass the core, it is difficult to fail type II and III

 

[pcmeiners]

They should have given Mr Rlltman extra points for using a cell phone.
If I was using a cell, I would have failed and the phone would have been in pieces

 

[threewood]

I passed the 608 Universal today. Thanks for the thread. Skillcat is a really good study aid. I got an email notice that it is going to a pay site but I haven't paid yet. Probably will for the other info.

I'm now working on getting my 609 for mvac through GCADA. I've had a guide for a while, but this site says it does on line testing AND it is listed on the EPA website.

 

[mm08822]

I passed the 608 Universal today. Thanks for the thread. Skillcat is a really good study aid. I got an email notice that it is going to a pay site but I haven't paid yet. Probably will for the other info.

I'm now working on getting my 609 for mvac through GCADA. I've had a guide for a while, but this site says it does on line testing AND it is listed on the EPA website.

Yes, it's now $10/month and $50 for the 608 cert. Still pretty cheap compared to others!

 

[pcmeiners]

608 practice exams........

EPA 608 Practice Tests | HVAC Certification Practice Tests

609 practice tests.....

EPA 609 Practice Tests | HVAC Certification Practice Tests

 

[threewood]

$25 bucks later and my 609 Certification is in the mail lol.

 

[cgrutt]

I realize this is an older thread but just finished an ESCO online Univeral 608 course. It was pretty inexpensive (I think it was $34 for the four parts). Course seemed decent enough but I really don't have anything to compare it to. I took the practice exam and passed all four parts. Have to schedule a proctored exam. I want to read the course materials (so far I just did the online course) and probably take a few more practice exams before taking the actual test. No real plans for this at the moment but may want to explore some opportunities working with mini splits in the future. I'd recommend the ESCO course if anybody is interested in pursuing this.

 

[dante2]

I got my universal 608 cert a couple of weeks ago on Skillcat. Not very hard and they give you a paper cert or you can pay for a card. I paid for a month after the 3 day trial period and I'm looking at other material while I have it.

 

[cgrutt]

I just took and passed the Universal 608 on Skillcat for free! Beats the $85 proctoring fee and three-day wait from ESCO. Thanks OP for posting link to this App.

 

[SVibs]

I just took and passed the Universal 608 on Skillcat for free! Beats the $85 proctoring fee and three-day wait from ESCO. Thanks OP for posting link to this App.

Congrats!

 

[vincesant]

I too just took the Universal 608 on SkillCat for free and passed the EPA Universal. I did not purchase the plastic wallet size SkillCat card, I just printed the certificate myself. My question is about the certification number. My certification number looks more like a computer-generated password than an actual EPA certification number, 3 capital letters, 4 small letters, and 3 numbers. I also have the EPA 609 certification, from another training company, and it's not like that. Could this be a SkillCat certificate code of some kind or is this an actual EPA number?