EPA 609 Certification Guide: Who Needs It, the Test, Cost & Refrigerant Rules
Anyone who services car air conditioning for pay needs Section 609 certification. Here is how it works under EPA's rules, what one approved program's test looks like, what it costs, and what the card lets you buy, plus three sample questions from our video.
Anyone who repairs or services motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for payment or bartering must be trained and certified by an EPA-approved Section 609 program. EPA does not give the test itself or set one format. One approved program, MACS, uses a 25-question online test with a passing score of 84 (21 of 25) for $29, and its certification has no expiration date.
EPA 609 facts at a glance
| Who needs it | Paid MVAC work: anyone who repairs or services MVAC for payment or bartering; MVAC-like appliances too |
|---|---|
| Who tests | EPA-approved programs: EPA lists 23 public programs and 8 in-house programs; EPA sets no single format |
| Example: MACS questions | 25: multiple choice, online or by mail |
| Example: MACS passing score | 84: 21 of 25 correct |
| Example: MACS fee | $29: a second attempt is another $29 |
| Example: MACS validity | Lifetime: MACS: EPA is not requiring recertification at this time |
| Small-can exception | 2 lb or less: DIY cans with self-sealing valves may be sold without certification |
Checked against the official EPA page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: EPA 609 video
EPA 609 Certification 2026: Exam Questions, Passing Score, Cost & Where to Test
Who needs EPA 609 certification
The requirement comes from Section 609 of the Clean Air Act. EPA says anyone who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning system for consideration, meaning payment or bartering, must be properly trained and certified. That covers shop technicians, mobile specialists, and anyone else doing the work for pay. Technicians who service MVAC-like appliances must be certified too.
Section 609 is not Section 608. Section 608 certification is for stationary equipment such as home air conditioning and commercial refrigeration, and a 609 card does not let you buy refrigerant intended for stationary systems. It is also separate from ASE's A7 heating and air conditioning test, which measures repair skill rather than refrigerant handling rules.
How to get certified
Pick a program from EPA's list of approved Section 609 training and certification programs. The list (updated June 25, 2026) includes ASE, the ESCO Institute, Mainstream Engineering, and MACS (the Mobile Air Climate Systems Association), among schools and training companies. Review that program's training material, pass its test, and the program issues your certificate and wallet card.
EPA tells candidates to contact each program for its details, because formats, fees, and passing scores belong to the program. As one example, MACS says the test must be bought by the person being certified, in their own account; it issues a temporary certificate good for 90 days and mails the certificate and wallet card within 5 business days. If you fail, you buy a second attempt.
What the training covers
EPA says Section 609 training covers the proper use of MVAC servicing equipment, the regulatory requirements, the importance of refrigerant recovery, and the effects of improper refrigerant handling on the ozone layer and the climate. The rule applies whatever the refrigerant, whether R-134a or the newer R-1234yf.
Use your chosen program's study manual as the real checklist. Learn where topics sit in it, since MACS opens its study manual in a separate tab during its online exam.
Buying refrigerant with a 609 card
This is where the certification pays off. EPA's sales restriction lets Section 609 certified technicians buy refrigerant that is acceptable for MVAC use, and an employer can buy it with written evidence that it employs a certified technician.
There is one exception for do-it-yourselfers: small cans of 2 pounds or less of non-exempt MVAC refrigerant, with unique fittings and self-sealing valves, may be sold without certification for use on the buyer's own vehicle.
Shops have a record-keeping duty as well. EPA's servicing rules require on-site records showing that each person using refrigerant handling equipment is 609 certified, kept for 3 years.
Does EPA 609 certification expire?
EPA's MVAC pages do not state an expiration date. MACS says its certification is good for life because EPA is not requiring recertification at this time. If your card is lost, contact the program that certified you; your record is held by that program, not by EPA.
Many technicians treat the 609 as a first step: add EPA 608 certification for stationary systems, then any state or local HVAC license your work requires.
Three EPA 609 sample questions
These are the original sample questions from our EPA 609 video, based on EPA's sales and servicing rules. They are not from any program's actual test.
A 30-pound cylinder of R-134a for car air conditioning can be bought by:
- Anyone with a credit card
- A Section 609 certified technician
- Only a driver who owns the car
- A Section 608 technician only
Show answer
B. A Section 609 certified technician
Refrigerant for MVAC service is restricted to Section 609 certified technicians (or an employer with written proof that it employs one). Only small DIY cans of 2 pounds or less are exempt.
A 1-pound can of R-134a has a self-sealing valve and is sold for do-it-yourself use. May a store sell it to an uncertified customer?
- Yes, small cans of 2 pounds or less are exempt
- No, never
- Only to licensed shops
- Only with written EPA approval
Show answer
A. Yes, small cans of 2 pounds or less are exempt
EPA allows small cans of 2 pounds or less of MVAC refrigerant, with unique fittings and self-sealing valves, to be sold without certification for use on the buyer's own vehicle.
Technicians servicing vehicle air conditioning must use refrigerant handling equipment that is:
- Any homemade recovery setup
- Certified only by the shop owner
- Certified by the EPA or an independent standards testing organization
- Used only for stationary systems
Show answer
C. Certified by the EPA or an independent standards testing organization
MVAC service requires approved recovery or recycling equipment, certified by EPA or by an independent standards testing organization. Homemade or self-certified equipment does not qualify.
EPA 609 FAQ
Who needs EPA 609 certification?
Anyone who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning system for payment or bartering, and technicians who service MVAC-like appliances. Certification comes from an EPA-approved Section 609 program.
How many questions are on the EPA 609 test, and what is the passing score?
It depends on the program, because EPA does not set one format. MACS, one approved program, uses 25 multiple-choice questions and a passing score of 84, which is 21 correct.
How much does EPA 609 certification cost?
Each program sets its own price. MACS lists its online Section 609 exam at $29, and a second attempt costs another $29.
Does EPA 609 certification expire?
EPA's MVAC pages state no expiration. MACS says its certification is good for life because EPA is not requiring recertification at this time.
Can I buy R-134a without a 609 card?
Only in small cans of 2 pounds or less with unique fittings and self-sealing valves, for use on your own vehicle. Larger containers of MVAC refrigerant are for certified technicians or employers of certified technicians.
Is EPA 609 the same as EPA 608?
No. Section 609 covers motor vehicle air conditioning; Section 608 covers stationary refrigeration and air conditioning. A 609 card does not let you buy refrigerant intended for stationary equipment.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
- EPA: Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs
- EPA: Refrigerant Sales Restriction
- EPA: Regulatory Requirements for MVAC System Servicing
- MACS: Section 609 Online Exam
- MACS: EPA Section 609 Certification course
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with the EPA, MACS, or any certifying program. The sample questions are original, not from a real test. Program formats, fees, and EPA rules can change; confirm them with EPA and your chosen program before you test.