There are plenty of HVAC certifications depending on what area you specialize in such as, ventilation, refrigeration and gas. The most popular, and often mandatory, is the EPA Section 608 Certification. Most certifications available are school specific. There are no state specific certifications available as there are with say Real Estate license in each state. Most HVAC certifications vary by school, but make no mistake about them, employers value your school’s HVAC certification highly. Typically, passing the EPA Section 608 exam will be a part of the Air Conditioning module during your HVAC training.
Although we highly discourage online HVAC training, this is actually one fo the certifications that you can take online training for. The reason is that the EPA Section 608 exam deals primarily with policy and instructs you on how to safeguard your air conditioning equipment, what levels of gases you can legally release into the atmosphere along with best practices on how to do that. The key thing is knowing the regulations. Therefore, there isn’t really any hands-on training needed for this exam.
About the EPA Certification
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has a series 608 examination which encompasses several areas of HVAC certification: Types I, II, III and Universal certification.
Type I Certification – This certification allows the HVAC technician to work on small appliances that contain less than 5 pounds of refrigerant.
Type II Certification – This certification allows the HVAC technician to work on medium, high and very high pressure systems. This encompasses all appliances that are not covered by the Type I and Type III HVAC certifications.
Type III Certification – This certification allows the HVAC Technician to work on all low-pressure appliances.
Type IV / Universal Certification – The certification allows the HVAC technician to work on all appliances.
How long does it take to get certified?
It depends on what method you choose in order to become certified. If you select to go to a technical school full time you can complete your HVAC training in 15 months. For part time, expect to be complete in 24 months (2 years). By going to a community college the HVAC training course will take 2 years and will culminate in either a certificate or an Associates degree in Applied Science for HVAC Systems.
In truth, anyone can sit an take the EPA Section 608 exam to get certified. There are numerous study guides online. Some schools, such as Penn Foster, give online module based courses. The courses are usually taken at the student’s pace, but some other schools require you to complete the modules in a set period of time.
How much does this certification cost?
Most vocational schools include it in their curriculum and cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 for the course. Colleges will vary and you should check their ‘Tuitions and Fees’ section of their website to find out how much the program would cost. Online training schools have various prices, but they will give you the exam vouchers, so that you don’t have to pay for them. This happens once you complete their training and is to ensure that you do not lose money on the test fees before you are ready to take the exam.
If you are going to go the self-study route for the exam then the fees are roughly $25 per exam, or $47 for the Type IV/Universal Exam.
Will this certification help me get a job?
It does help. But, as with most career fields, experience is really paramount. Having the EPA Section 608 certification can demonstrate that you have the knowledge of safely installing and repairing fluid levels in air conditioners, but it doesn’t necessarily demonstrate your competency in the remaining HVAC career field. Most employers will make it mandatory for you to have this certification is you are to go anywhere near an A/C unit. To increase your chances of getting an HVAC position, it is best to get certified and complete some formal training such as an apprenticeship, community college courses or vocational school.
You can learn more about this exam and certification by clicking here.