Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs

Any person who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) system for consideration (payment or bartering) must be properly trained and certified under section 609 of the Clean Air Act by an EPA-approved program. All technicians servicing MVAC-like appliances must be certified.

EPA-approved technician training and certification (TT&C) programs provide education on the proper use of MVAC servicing equipment, the applicable regulatory requirements, the importance of refrigerant recovery, as well as the effects of improper handling of refrigerants on the ozone layer and climate. To be certified, technicians must be trained by an EPA-approved program and pass a test demonstrating their knowledge in these areas.

The following companies and  programs are approved by EPA to train and certify individuals under section 609 of the Clean Air Act. Please contact the programs directly for specific information.

Section 609 TT&C Programs
AM General Corporation
ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence)
ESCO Institute
Ferris State University (FSU)
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association
KPA
Mainstream Engineering Corporation
Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association
Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide
New York State Association of Service Stations and Repair Shops, Inc.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)
Universal Technical Institute
Wyoming Technical Institute
Section 609 TT&C Programs Intended Specifically for Their Own Employees
Jiffy Lube International
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
U.S. Department of Defense (Department of the Army,
U.S. Army Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School)
U.S. Department of Defense (United States Marine Corps,
Motor Transport Maintenance Instructional Company)
Whayne Supply Company

Note to refrigerant retailers:

The following companies formerly offered Section 609 TT&C programs, and retailers should continue to accept Section 609 TT&C cards from them:

E F Technical Institute, Inc.; Geneva Steel; The International Mobile Air Conditioning Association (IMACA)*; Marine Safety Consultants/Tidewater School of Navigation; Mechanic's Education Association; Minnesota Department of Transportation; New York State Department of Motor Vehicles; Pennsylvania College of Technology; Penske Auto Centers (formerly K-Mart); Rancho Santiago College; Refrigerant Certification Services; Ryder Trucks; Snap-On; The Refrigeration School; Vatterott College; and Waco Chemicals, Inc.

*The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide maintains IMACA's technician certification records.