EPA Section 608 (ESCO Institute)
About This Exam
Federal refrigerant handling certification required by the EPA Clean Air Act. It is illegal to purchase or handle refrigerants without this certification. Elevate is a nationally authorized proctor site for both ESCO Group and Mainstream Engineering. Required for any HVAC technician who services, maintains, or disposes of equipment containing refrigerants.
Official verification / more infoExams Available
Core
Covers EPA regulations, refrigerant safety, environmental impact of ozone-depleting substances, and proper handling procedures. Required as part of every certification type. Must pass Core to earn any Section 608 certificate.
Type I — Small Appliances
Covers equipment containing 5 lbs or less of refrigerant — window AC units, refrigerators, freezers, and dehumidifiers. Focuses on safe recovery techniques for sealed systems.
Type II — High-Pressure
Covers high-pressure systems using refrigerants like R-22 and R-410A — residential and commercial AC, heat pumps, and refrigeration equipment. The most common certification for residential HVAC technicians.
Type III — Low-Pressure
Covers low-pressure systems using refrigerants like R-11 and R-123 — large commercial chillers found in office buildings, hospitals, and industrial facilities.
Universal (All Sections)
Passes all four sections — Core, Type I, Type II, and Type III — in a single sitting. Required for technicians who work across residential, commercial, and industrial systems. Most employers require Universal certification.
How It Works
All exams are proctored. Most are administered in-person at our Indianapolis testing center.
In-Person (Required)
Proctored at our Indianapolis testing center. Appointment required — no walk-ins. Arrive 15 minutes early with valid government-issued photo ID.
Jobs This Credential Unlocks
Employers use these credentials as a hiring filter. Knowing the target level before you test helps you prepare to the right standard.
Appliance Repair Technician
Refrigerators, window AC, dehumidifiers
Property Maintenance Tech
Apartment complexes, hotels
Residential HVAC Technician
Central AC, heat pumps, split systems
HVAC Installer
New construction and replacement systems
Refrigeration Technician
Grocery stores, restaurants, cold storage
Commercial Chiller Technician
Office buildings, hospitals, industrial
Building Engineer
Large facility HVAC systems
HVAC/R Technician (Full)
Residential, commercial, and industrial — required by most employers
HVAC Service Manager
Supervises technicians across all system types
Union HVAC Apprentice
Sheet Metal Workers, UA Plumbers — Universal required at entry
Facilities Engineer
Hospitals, universities, manufacturing plants
Ready to Get Certified?
All exams are by appointment only. Walk-ins are not accepted. Same-day appointments may be available depending on capacity — call us to check.