A technician passed the Core section as an open-book exam. Can that score be used toward Universal certification?

Section 608 regulations · EPA 608 Core. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

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The question

A technician passed the Core section as an open-book exam. Can that score be used toward Universal certification?

• AYes, any passing Core score counts
• BYes, if Types I, II and III are passed within a year
• CNo, Universal requires closed-book, proctored testingCorrect answer
• DNo, Universal requires retaking Type I by mail

Why “No, Universal requires closed-book, proctored testing” is correct

Universal certification requires passing all sections under closed-book, secure, proctored conditions. EPA states that open-book Core tests cannot be used to get Universal, and Appendix D says mail-in Type I tests cannot count toward it either.

Source: EPA: Certification Requirements; 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Appendix D

Why the other answers are wrong

• Yes, any passing Core score counts — An open-book Core score does not count toward Universal.
• Yes, if Types I, II and III are passed within a year — There is no time-window rule that turns an open-book score into a valid one.
• No, Universal requires retaking Type I by mail — Mail-in Type I tests cannot be used toward Universal.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Core practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.