United States · Certification testWhat is ESCO EPA certification?
- Headquarters in Mount Prospect, Illinois
- Also approved for Section 609, the motor vehicle air-conditioning program
- One of the programs EPA names for replacing lost cards, including for people whose program has closed
ESCO’s EPA 608 practice test and manual
EPA’s list says ESCO has a training manual. It doesn’t mention practice tests, and EPA doesn’t review or approve any prep material from any program. Whether ESCO sells practice tests, and at what price, is on ESCO’s own site.
The practice material described on this site, from Mainstream, SkillCat, Faraday and others, is on the study options page.
Mainstream Engineering EPA certification
- Based in Rockledge, Florida, and certifying Section 608 Types I, II, III and Universal, plus Section 609
- Universal online through ProctorU, or in person with a proctor found through its testing locator
- Type I open-book online, with free Type I training software
- EPA’s list notes remote testing, Spanish and locations nationwide
- A Certification Credentials Lookup that searches the certificates it issued
Approved programs that test remotely or online
These are the programs open to anyone that EPA’s list marks for remote or online testing:
| Program | Based in | EPA’s note |
|---|---|---|
| AC/C Tech | Indianapolis, IN | Remote, Spanish |
| CHEERS | Sacramento, CA | Remote |
| ESCO Institute | Mount Prospect, IL | Remote |
| Faraday EPA Certification | New York, NY | Online only |
| International Development Institute | New York, NY | Remote |
| Interplay Learning | Austin, TX | Remote |
| Licensed Trades of America | Lovejoy, GA | Remote |
| Mainstream Engineering | Rockledge, FL | Remote, Spanish |
| National Certification Institute | Alice, TX | Remote, Spanish |
| SkillCat EPA Certification | Houston, TX | Online only, Spanish |
| Solar One | Long Island City, NY | Online only |
| Trade Masters Online | Las Vegas, NV | Remote |
| The Training Center | Wrightstown, NJ | Remote |
| Two Brothers Air & Heat | Brandon, FL | Remote |
| Video General Inc. | Arlington, TX | Remote, Spanish |
EPA’s list was last updated October 27, 2026, and programs join and leave it, so check the list before you book.
How to read EPA’s list of approved programs
- The addresses are headquarters. EPA says many programs test around the country, and each can give you its locations.
- An asterisk marks programs that test only their own company’s employees, such as Amtrak, Whirlpool and the US Marine Corps.
- A few entries limit what they offer: the North Carolina State Board of Refrigeration Contractors has Type I mail-in tests, and the Seattle Maritime Academy at Seattle Central Community College gives Universal only, to its own students.
- A program that has left the list doesn’t cancel your card. Credentials it issued while approved stay valid.
- Being on the list means the program may give the test. EPA doesn’t review or approve training courses or prep materials.
Sources: EPA · Mainstream Engineering and 4 more. Checked October 2026.
- EPA: Certification Programs for Section 608 Technicians ↗
- EPA: Organizations That Are No Longer Approved Section 608 Programs ↗
- EPA: Steps for Replacing a Lost Section 608 Technician Certification Card ↗
- EPA: Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs ↗
- Mainstream Engineering: EPA Section 608 ↗
- Mainstream Engineering: Get Your EPA Certification Online ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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