EPA 609 Motor Vehicle
AC Certification

What Is EPA Section 609?

EPA Section 609 of the Clean Air Act establishes certification requirements for technicians who service Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) systems. Unlike EPA 608 which covers stationary refrigeration and AC equipment, Section 609 specifically governs automotive AC systems.

Anyone who services, maintains, repairs, or disposes of MVAC systems - and anyone who purchases refrigerants in containers larger than two pounds for use in MVAC systems - must be certified under Section 609.

Section 609 vs Section 608

Feature	Section 608	Section 609
Covers	Stationary refrigeration & AC systems	Motor vehicle AC (MVAC) systems
Common refrigerants	R-22, R-410A, R-134a, R-404A	R-12, R-134a, R-1234yf
Recovery requirement	Yes - mandatory	Yes - mandatory
Venting prohibition	All refrigerants > de minimis	All refrigerants
Who needs it	HVAC/R technicians	Auto AC technicians
Certification expires	Never	Never
Exam questions	100 (Core + Type sections)	25 questions

What the Exam Covers

The EPA 609 exam is a 25-question multiple choice exam with a passing score of 84% (21 out of 25 correct). Topics include:

• Section 609 regulations - who must be certified, what systems are covered, penalties
• MVAC refrigerants - R-12, R-134a, R-1234yf properties, GWP, ODP, flammability
• Recovery equipment - MVAC-specific machines, SAE standards, proper use
• Service procedures - evacuation, charging, leak testing, oil management
• Refrigerant handling - cylinder safety, transportation, storage
• Environmental impact - ozone depletion, global warming, Montreal Protocol

Where to Get Certified

EPA 609 exams are administered by EPA-approved organizations. Common certification bodies include:

• MACS Worldwide - Mobile Air Conditioning Society, the leading 609 certifying organization
• ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
• ESCO Institute - offers online and in-person testing
• Many automotive parts suppliers and trade schools

Exams are available online through approved testing organizations and typically take 30-45 minutes to complete.

How to Use This Course

This course is structured to cover all 609 exam topics efficiently:

1. Module 1 - Read the law, understand who is covered and why
2. Module 2 - Study refrigerant properties in depth (heavily tested)
3. Module 3 - Learn MVAC-specific recovery equipment and SAE standards
4. Module 4 - Service procedures: evacuation, charging, oil management
5. Module 5 - Leak detection methods and repair procedures
6. Practice Exams - Take both exams, aiming for 90%+ before sitting for the real exam