Paul:

Quality - can't say about E-bay. I always purchase mine from local independent auto parts houses.

Proof of certification - they usually have you fax a copy of your drivers license and your 609 card.

Exam - I got mine thru the Mobile Air Conditioning Society - http://www.macsw.org
That was about 4 yrs. ago. Think it was $20. You contact them - send then the money and they mail you a booklet - self-study exam - 25 quesions. All but 4 were fairly simply - had to answer 21 correctly. The book was 8.5x11 - 53 pages. I had a perfect score - not that hard to do. They mailed we a wall certificate and a laminated card that I've always used when purchasing.

Again, in some areas, a 609 is not enough. Austin, Tx. requires more than this.

Before I ordered the test from MACS, I downloaded and studied the version available @ epatest.com(think I spelled it right?) thinking I'd get a jump on things. Big waste of time. The info in the MACS book was way different.

Everything I've presented here was how it was for me 4 yrs. ago. Things may have changed.

By the way, the test has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with A/C tech. skills. It's all about environmental laws and the proper handling, evacuation of refrigerant. You could pass this test and not know a low pressure switch from a rolling pin.

For me it was all about control - the govt. controlling me. 20 yrs. ago I could walk into any K-Mart on a Sat. and buy 16oz. cans of the stuff for .59 cents. Now it's $30 or more. I have always found it extremely difficult to believe that a guy like me standing out on my driveway with a can of R-12 is killing the environment.

Not long before this 609 requirement went into effect, DuPont's patent on this juice expired. Makes a man wonder. Next thing you know, you'll need a certification to change oil/coolant/etc.
You can bet I'll have everyone required.