EPA 609 Technician Certification
THE EPA REGULATIONSSince January 1, 1993, any person, repairing or servicing motor vehicle air conditioners shall certify, to the EPA that such person has acquired, and is properly using, approved equipment, and that each individual authorized to use the equipment is properly trained and certified under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act. In addition, only Section 609 Certified Motor Vehicle A/C technicians can purchase refrigerants in any size container from an auto supply house for use in cooling the passenger compartment of vehicles, including containers of 20 pounds or less.
Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (MVAC) are defined as mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment used to cool the driver or passenger compartments of any motor vehicle. This definition is NOT intended to encompass the hermetically sealed refrigeration system used on motor vehicles for refrigerated cargo or the air conditioning systems on passenger buses which use HCFC-22 refrigerant. Section 609 certification is required for working on MVAC systems while Section 608 certification is required for working on non-motor vehicle air conditioning systems. Note that Section 608 certification is required for working on hermetically sealed refrigeration systems used on motor vehicles for refrigerated cargo or the air conditioning systems on passenger buses which use HCFC-22 refrigerant.
Mainstream is approved by the EPA as a certifying agency for 609 MVAC Technician Certification and 608 Type I, II, III, and Universal HVAC Technician Certification Exams.
1. FIRST STUDY THE TRAINING MANUAL
A self-study On-Line training manual is available. It contains all the information needed to successfully train for the EPA approved Section 609 Examination. You can study on-line or download a single copy of this training manual for your personal use. There is no charge for this service.
This On-Line textbook and On-Line exam is only for Section 609 Motor Vehicle A/C Technician Certification. Section 609 addresses the mobile motor vehicle air conditioning industry. Section 609 Certification allows the purchase of any refrigerant in any size container from an auto supply house for use in cooling the passenger compartment of vehicles including the "one pound" cans. The purpose of 609 (Mobile Vehicle Air Conditioning) certification, as established by EPA, is to teach technicians and test their ability to properly handle and recover refrigerants. Technicians will also learn about the laws enacted to protect the stratospheric ozone layer.
2. TAKE THE EPA EXAM ON-LINE
When you are ready to take this exam, you will be given an open book On-Line exam consisting of 25 questions. By carefully reading the study manual, you will find the information necessary to correctly answer these questions. You must get a minimum of 21 of 25 questions correct to pass the exam.
To Obtain Your EPA Motor Vehicle A/C Technician Certification you must:
- Properly complete the On-Line registration, including the use of a VISA or MasterCard (issued in your name) to pay for the exam. Exam cost is $19.95 billed to your credit card. If you don't have a VISA or MasterCard you will be given the option to mail in check or money order and take the exam after payment is received.
- Correctly answer 21 of the 25 questions, (84% passing), without any help from any other person.
- Complete the Self-Certification Statement, where you pledge that you received no help from anyone in completing the test.
- Your exam will be automatically graded immediately after it is submitted to us.
If you fail the exam you should go back and review the manual. If you would like to take practice exams you should download Mainstream's free training software. When you are confident you have addressed your weakness, you can re-take the exam. You can re-take the exam as often as necessary (the test changes each time you take the exam) but there is a $4.95 fee each time you take the exam.