Exam fact · with its source
Is the EPA 608 test open book?
Only a mail-in Type I test can be open-book, and it comes with two conditions: it needs 84% to pass and it can't count toward Universal. Type II, Type III and Universal are closed-book and proctored.
Type I onlymail-in format
Open book
Appendix D allows a mail-in, open-book format for Type I alone. Type II, Type III and Universal tests are closed-book, proctored and given in a secure setting.
Source: 40 CFR 82, Appendix D (a)–(b) (eCFR) · as of October 5, 2026
Two ways to take Type I
Mail-in versus proctored Type I test
| Item | Mail-in Type I | Proctored Type I |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Open-book | Closed-book |
| Setting | Completed and mailed to the program | On site or online, with a proctor checking photo ID |
| Pass mark | 84% | 70% |
| Counts toward Universal | No | Yes |
| Wallet card | Within 30 days of the program receiving the test | Within 30 days of the test |
Yellow edge: the two columns say different things on this row.
40 CFR 82, Appendix D (a), (b), (e), (f), eCFR as of October 5, 2026; EPA requirements page, checked October 7, 2026.
The Universal catch, in EPA's words
EPA's requirements page leaves no room: “Core tests taken as an open book exam cannot be used to get your Universal Certification. The core test must be taken as a proctored exam in order to attain Universal Certification.” (checked October 7, 2026) Pass an open-book Type I, decide on Universal later, and you'll sit Core again in front of a proctor.
The open book also raises the bar to 84%, against 70% closed-book. If Universal is the goal from the start, the mail-in route adds a step instead of saving one.
Testing from home doesn't loosen the book rule either: an online Type II, Type III or Universal test is still closed-book under a proctor (40 CFR 82, Appendix D (b), eCFR as of October 5, 2026). Setups and programs are on taking the EPA 608 online. Section sizes are the same in every format; the breakdown is on how many questions each EPA 608 test has.
What you can use, and what counts
Does any program run Type I without a proctor?
SkillCat does: its Type I test is unproctored, while Type II, Type III and Universal are proctored (SkillCat FAQ, checked October 7, 2026).
Is a pressure-temperature chart allowed?
Program rules decide. ESCO supplies a PT chart that's allowed during its exam, and EPA's Type II test topics include reading a standard PT chart (ESCO exam page and EPA test topics, checked October 7, 2026).
Which format fits someone who only repairs small appliances?
Either one certifies you for Type I work. If Universal may matter later, the proctored format lets that pass count toward it (40 CFR 82, Appendix D (a), eCFR as of October 5, 2026).