Technician Refrigerant Certification

Since it’s important that refrigerants aren’t released into the atmosphere, the EPA established a certification program for technicians who perform maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment.

A technician must be certified if he or she performs one of the following activities:

• Attaching and detaching hoses and gauges to and from the equipment to measure pressure.
• Observe and test system operation, using gauges and instruments.
• Read and understand pressure temperature charts for refrigerants.
• Adding refrigerant to or removing refrigerant from the equipment.
• Clean piping practices with dry nitrogen purge during brazing.
• Perform proper evacuating process.
• Any other activity that violates the integrity of the equipment.
• Use personal protective equipment including safety glasses, gloves, and safety shoes when filling and handling refrigerant cylinders.

Technician apprentices are exempt from certification requirements provided the apprentice is closely and continually supervised by a certified technician.

Technicians are required to pass an EPA-approved test given by an EPA-approved certifying organization to become certified under the mandatory program. Section 608 Technician Certification credentials do not expire.