EPA Section 608 vs Section 609 – What You Need to Know

| Last Updated: July 29, 2021

In most cases, you’ll need an EPA license is either to break into the residential/commercial HVAC industry or to getting into automobile repair.

This article will cover the two EPA certifications available that allow technicians to legally handle refrigerants.

Traditional HVAC personnel will need a Section 608 EPA certification. For technicians repairing or servicing motor vehicle air conditioners, a Section 609 EPA certification is required.

Basic Review of Section 608

If you handle refrigerants in any way related to an appliance or stationary HVAC system you are required, to become EPA certified. This is covered under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Failure to do so can result in massive fines!

The different levels of a Section 608 certification available and the type of work they allow are:

Type I – servicing small appliances

Type II – servicing or disposing of high- or very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs (motor vehicle air conditioning)

Type III – servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances.

Universal – this covers all three types. And of course, your testing will be on all three.

The Section 608 EPA certification covers a very large amount of information. It can require an extensive amount of time and research to acquire. For a more in-depth look at the Section 608 EPA certification, please refer to our full article

If you are looking to take the 608 exams in the near future, make sure to check out our practice tests. These will help you prepare for all of the various exams offered. You can find these practice tests below:

Basic Review of Section 609

Anyone who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) system for compensation, of any kind, must also be trained and certified. This is in accordance with Section 609 of the Clean Air Act. CFC-12, HFC-134a, CO², HFC-152a, and HFO-1234yf are all refrigerants that fall under the 609 certification for MVAC’s.

CFC-12 is a refrigerant that is used in older MVAC’s and is more highly regulated than the others due to its ozone-depleting characteristics. Smaller cans (less than 20 pounds) of many other kinds of refrigerants used in automobiles are available to the public. However, CFC-12 can only be handled by an EPA certified technician. Be aware, though, that further restrictions on other refrigerants are being phased in over several years.

motor vehicle air conditioning unit

A motor vehicle air conditioner (MVAC) is a smaller air conditioning unit, usually built into the vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems, used to cool the passenger section of a vehicle. The Section 609 EPA certification very specifically covers these types of units. It is easier to obtain than a 608 certification because of how concentrated the material is.

However, Section 609 does not cover the air conditioning systems of the cargo areas of tractor trailers or box trucks. These use refrigerants and systems that are covered by the larger and more comprehensive Section 608 EPA certification.

In short, Section 609 covers air conditioning systems for the passenger area of automobiles. It does not cover any of the systems that cool the cargo areas that may be attached. However, there is some overlap between Section 608 and 609 certifications. This has to do with systems that cool off-road and large construction vehicles.

Overlap Between Section 608 And 609

If you are going to service air-conditioners in large construction equipment or off-road vehicles, you will encounter what are referred to as “MVAC-like” units. These units are like MVAC’s because they cool the passenger section of a vehicle. However, they are larger than typical MVAC’s and are often mounted separately. Their larger size and stand-alone characteristics mean they are covered under the Type II classification of Section 608. But they can also fall under Section 609 because they are technically an MVAC.

If you have Section 608 EPA certification, you will be able to service MVAC-like appliances. If you are primarily looking to do only automotive repair, your Section 609 will also allow you to service MVAC-like appliances as long as they use only the refrigerants covered under Section 609. The Section 609 EPA certification is easier to obtain because of the limited scope of refrigerants involved in auto repair. But there are limitations on the handling of various types of refrigerants.

For instance, some passenger buses use the HCFC R-22 to cool the passenger area. Only a Section 608 EPA certified technician could service this type of unit because HCFC’s fall under the more encompassing Section 608. You also cannot service or repair systems in cargo trailers, trains, aircraft, or boats with just a 609 certification. The types of refrigerants in these systems are also covered in Section 608.

mvac-like requirements through the EPA

A good rule of thumb for MVAC license requirement is that if you are going to be an employee at an automotive repair shop and work on passenger vehicles, a Section 609 EPA certification is going to be satisfactory for you.

If you wish to get into commercial vehicles and/or aspire to own your own shop, you need to start working towards a Section 608 certification. You can do this after acquiring your Section 609. If you have a Section 608 and find yourself working on MVAC-like systems, you should consider also acquiring a Section 609. This will help you to better familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of servicing MVAC’s.

Conclusion

Strict regulations govern the handling of refrigerants. So it is important for anyone working in an industry that involves the handling of refrigerant to be familiar with all types of certification. Remember, a Section 608 EPA certification generally covers appliances and HVAC systems associated with structures. It is a more comprehensive certification when it comes to the handling of various refrigerants. A Section 609 EPA certification is meant for technicians who service and repair motor vehicle air conditioners.

However the lines can blur when dealing with off-road and large commercial equipment and, in this case, having both is ideal. We hope you have gained enough knowledge to understand what these certifications cover. From here you can figure out what certification you need to advance your career.



My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.