EPA 608 Cheat Sheet: Facts to Know Cold
By the 608Prep team
An EPA 608 cheat sheet is a condensed list of the specific numbers and rules the test checks: passing scores, question counts, evacuation levels, leak rate thresholds, and cylinder-fill limits. Below is a working one, sourced directly to 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, and EPA’s published test topics, not paraphrased from a third-party study guide.
The numbers that show up on every version of the test
| Fact | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passing score, closed-book (Type I on-site, Type II, Type III, Universal) | 70% | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Passing score, Type I mail-in (open-book) | 84% | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Questions per Type I, II, or III test | 25 Core + 25 type-specific = 50 total | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Questions on the Universal test | 100 total (25 Core + 25 per type) | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Days to receive test results | Within 30 days of test date | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Proctor-to-candidate ratio required | 1 proctor per 50 test-takers, minimum | 40 CFR 82, Subpart F, Appendix D |
| Certification expiration | Does not expire | EPA Section 608 Certification Requirements |
| Recovery cylinder max fill | 80% of capacity | EPA Test Topics, Safety section |
What the passing thresholds actually mean for your score
70 percent on a 25-question section works out to needing at least 18 correct answers, since 70 percent of 25 is 17.5 and partial questions don’t exist. On the 84 percent mail-in Type I threshold, that’s at least 21 correct out of 25. These aren’t officially published as whole-number cutoffs by EPA, they’re simple arithmetic on the published percentage, but they’re the number to keep in your head when you’re tracking a practice score.
Refrigerant identification you should know without looking it up
- R-12 is a CFC (chlorofluorocarbon), the classic high-ozone-depletion refrigerant being phased out.
- R-22 is an HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon), lower ozone impact than a CFC but still regulated under the phaseout schedule.
- R-134a is an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon), zero ozone depletion potential, commonly cited as a small-appliance substitute for R-12.
- Ozone depletion potential ranks in this order: CFCs highest, HCFCs lower, HFCs at zero (HFCs contain no chlorine, which is the ozone-destroying element).
Source: EPA Test Topics, Core section.
Safety numbers worth memorizing
Recovery cylinders should never be filled past 80 percent of capacity. Reusable (“recovery”) cylinders must be DOT-approved and are color-coded yellow and gray; disposable cylinders should never be refilled under any circumstance. Nitrogen, not oxygen or compressed air, is the correct gas for leak detection, always used with a pressure regulator and relief valve.
The three Rs and why the test distinguishes them
Recover means removing refrigerant from a system in any condition, without necessarily testing or processing it. Recycle means reducing contaminants in used refrigerant through oil separation and moisture removal, typically at the job site. Reclaim means processing refrigerant to match new-product purity, verified against AHRI Standard 700-2016, which usually requires lab-level equipment. Test questions sometimes hinge on picking the correct term for a described process rather than testing whether you know what any of the three mean in general.
Rules that trip people up on Type II and Type III sections
Type II (high-pressure) evacuation requirements change based on four variables at once: whether the appliance is being disposed of, whether the repair is major or non-major, whether the appliance leaked, and whether it holds more or less than 200 pounds of refrigerant. Type III (low-pressure) leak test pressurization has a required order of preference: the hot water method or a built-in heating device comes first, nitrogen second. Getting the order backward is a common wrong answer on practice tests.
What a cheat sheet can’t do
A list of facts helps you recall numbers fast, but it won’t tell you which numbers you’re actually shaky on under timed conditions. 608Prep’s free EPA 608 practice quiz tests you against these exact categories, Core, Type I, Type II, and Type III, so you find the gaps before test day instead of during it.
For the full explanation behind each number on this page, including why the regulation sets these specific thresholds, the 608Prep EPA 608 study guide walks through the reasoning section by section.
Frequently asked questions
Is 70 percent the passing score for every EPA 608 test type? For every closed-book, proctored version (Type I on-site, Type II, Type III, and Universal), yes. Only the Type I mail-in, open-book format uses the higher 84 percent threshold.
How many total questions are on the Universal test? 100: 25 from the Core group plus 25 from each of the three type-specific groups (Type I, Type II, Type III).
Do I need to memorize the AHRI 700 standard number? Knowing that reclaimed refrigerant purity is measured against AHRI Standard 700-2016 is enough; you don’t need to memorize the standard’s internal specifications, just that it’s the reference point for “reclaim.”
What’s the maximum fill level for a recovery cylinder? 80 percent of the cylinder’s rated capacity, to leave room for expansion and prevent overpressure.