While not all states and municipalities require that HVAC specialists be licensed, the requirements tend to vary widely from one state to another. For those that do require certification, this always includes some type of test and usually minimum educational, training or experience requirements.
In addition to general licensing exams based on location, there are also numerous certification exams that can be taken to show proficiency, further careers and advance employment and compensation opportunities within the field.
To help streamline your exam preparation, we’ve compiled some of our top HVAC license study guides and EPA 608 study guides for your review.
Types of HVAC Exams
There are numerous types of certification and licensing exams offered to HVAC specialists that are administered by various organizations, groups or state agencies. For example, the EPA requires that anyone handling or purchasing refrigerants be certified (see below). There are also different tests required dependent on whether you are servicing building air conditioning and refrigeration systems or those used for an automobile.
Some of the larger organizations that offer certification programs and licensing exams are HVAC Excellence, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society. Trade and technical schools, unions and other organizations may also offer certification exams, while individual states may offer their own licensing exams.
Here are some examples of the types of HVAC certifications you can be tested for:
- Core Exam – Principles of Electrical and Refrigeration Theory (Prerequisite for all exams)
- Residential Air Conditioning
- Light Commercial Air Conditioning
- Light Commercial Refrigeration
- Heat Pump Service
- Heat Pump Installer
- Gas Heat
- Electric Heat
- Residential Heal Load Calculation
- Residential & Light Commercial Hydronic Heat
- Carbon Monoxide Inspection
- Combustion Analysis
- Universal R-410A
- Green Awareness
HVAC Certification Study Guide
For your HVAC exam guide, consider this HVACR practice exam HYPERLINK “https://www.tests.com/practice/hvac-practice-test”. Consisting of questions developed by HVAC Excellence, this free 300 question practice test provides an assessment of broad HVACR knowledge, as well as practice in the various core specialty areas.
Additionally, the HVAC Licensing Study Guide, Third Edition, provides everything you need to prepare for and pass the major HVAC licensing exams. This HVAC exam guide features 800+ questions and helps you master the material most likely to appear on the ARI, NATE, ICE, RSES and HVAC licensing exams.
This HVAC license study guide covers topics including:
- Heat sources
- Heating systems
- Boilers, burners, and burner systems
- Piping systems
- Ductwork sizing
- Refrigerants
- Cooling and distribution systems
- Refrigeration equipment and processes
- Filters and air flow
- Maintenance, servicing, and safety
- Humidification, dehumidification, and psychometrics
- EPA-refrigerant reclaimers
- Heating circuits
- Safety on the job
- Trade associations and codes
- Troubleshooting for small motors
- Electrical equipment for HVAC
EPA Certification Study Guide
All HVACR technicians must become certified under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) refrigerant recovery and recycling program. Everyone must pass the core 25-question test with a 70% score and one to 3 of the other sections (taking and passing all four sections makes you universally certified).
The certifications and sections to the test are as follows:
- Core Section – Information that applies to all certification types.
- Certification Class I – Small appliances under 5 pounds of refrigerant.
- Certification Class II – High Pressure. HVACR units over 5 pounds.
- Certification Class III – Low Pressure units including Centrifugal chillers.
- Certification Universal – All three. Type I, Type II, and Type III.
For this exam, you can find great EPA 608 study guides at HVAC Training Solutions and EPA 608 App with thorough reviews for all section pertaining to this certification.
