EPA 608 Certification: Everything you need to know Before your Write
The Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (RACM) Red Seal exam is the interprovincial certification for HVAC/R technicians in Canada. If you work in the US rather than Canada, the EPA 608 certification is the baseline credential — see our guide to EPA 608 certification. Some US states require additional HVACR licensing — see our guide to HVACR technician licensing state by state.
The Exam Format
The RACM Red Seal exam (trade code 313A) has 125 multiple-choice questions. You have 4 hours. The pass mark is 70%.
How the Questions Are Weighted
A — Performs common occupational skills: 13 questions (10%)
B — Performs routine trade activities: 19 questions (15%)
C — Plans installation: 18 questions (14%)
D — Performs installation: 26 questions (21%)
E — Performs commissioning: 21 questions (17%)
F — Performs maintenance and service: 28 questions (22%)
Maintenance and Service (F) and Installation (D) together account for 43% of the exam.
Where Candidates Struggle
Refrigerant regulations trip up candidates who learned their trade before the current rules. Heat pump diagnostics are another common weak spot. Electrical troubleshooting on HVAC/R systems is tested more heavily than many candidates expect. If you also service oil-fired heating equipment, the Oil Heat Technician certification covers a related but separate set of skills — see our Oil Heat Technician exam guide.
The RACM Red Seal Exam Prep book gives you 1,000 practice questions across 8 full-length tests matched to the 6 MWA structure.
[Get the RACM Red Seal Exam Prep book on Amazon →]
[See the full RACM trade page → /refrigeration-tech/]
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Red Seal RACM exam?
125 multiple-choice questions. 4 hours. Pass mark is 70%.
Is the Red Seal RACM exam the same as EPA 608?
No. The Red Seal RACM is a Canadian interprovincial trade certification. The EPA 608 is a US federal certification for refrigerant handling. They are completely different credentials.
Do I need both RACM and EPA 608?
Only if you work cross-border. Canada: Red Seal RACM. US: EPA 608 plus any state requirements.
