EPA 609 Certifications - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skippy · #1 01-24-2012, 03:19 AM

I've been looking for better employment* and some of the jobs I'm looking at require ASE certifications, which I have, and an EPA 609 refrigerant recycling cert, which I don't. I did a quick search on the internet and found an outfit called epatest.com which will test you for about twenty dollars and certify you if you pass. Are they legit? Is their "free study software" anything good?

Who here has a refrigerant certification, and whom did you get it through? What would you recommend for someone looking to get certified?

Thanks in advance.

*I currently do warehouse work for a company we've all heard of. I actually like the job, except that I only get about 22-24 hours most weeks, and this doesn't result in adequate income.

TwitchKitty · #2 01-25-2012, 05:58 PM

That looks like the company I used for my 608 (universal) and 609 certifications, not sure. Never used either license except for the connection at Johnstone, ask them. Being able to buy HVAC stuff through a wholesaler was the payoff for me.

You don't need to buy any study material for 609 certification. Pay for the test and open the study material in one window and the test in another. Look up the answers as you go, open book.

The certifications don't teach you anything that is worth money to anyone. They are licenses to learn.

If you understand superheat, subcool, sensible heat and latent heat of evaporation you know more than most techs.

retmil46 · #3 01-25-2012, 06:27 PM

You can check with one of the HVAC contractors/equipment suppliers in your area, to see who they recommend - might even be someone local that does it - some of the larger companies actually conduct cert courses as a sideline.

Got mine courtesy of the Navy back in 93, we had to have it just to operate the A/C units on board ship, when they first came out with the regs on freon - so I can't speak as to what they teach now.

But what I can tell you is that it DOES make a difference to a prospective employer if you already have the cert in hand, versus them having to spend the time and money to get you certified after the fact, given experience, training, and all other things being equal.

Skippy · #4 01-26-2012, 12:11 AM

I found a free study guide at UTI's web site. It's only 23 pages long.I'll probably study it this weekend and test afterward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

You don't need to buy any study material for 609 certification. Pay for the test and open the study material in one window and the test in another. Look up the answers as you go, open book.

Hey! That's cheating. Also probably what I'll do.

Quote:

The certifications don't teach you anything that is worth money to anyone. They are licenses to learn.

If you understand superheat, subcool, sensible heat and latent heat of evaporation you know more than most techs.

Well, I did ace thermodynamics in college.

I've been talking to one specific company that requires a 609 cert. They are looking for a fleet maintenance tech (something I've done for my entire Navy career) and pay considerably more than where I work now.

Air&Road · #5 01-26-2012, 08:17 AM

You can get a 609 cert with about fifteen or twenty dollars on your credit card and an hour or two taking an open book test on one of the sites. Absolutely nothing to it.

If I remember correctly I got mine at imaca.org. Just google 609 certification and you'll have a long list of them.

I got mine a long time ago and at the same time got my ASE Master because I thought I was going to have to fall back on nut twisting for a living. I've since let the ASE cert lapse, but the 609 is forever as far as I know.

retmil46 · #6 01-26-2012, 06:20 PM

Yep, my universal cert for stationary applications (Types 1 thru 4), dated back in 93, is still considered valid - at least the two employers I had down in TX considered it valid.