Appendix D to Part 82 Subpart F - Standards for Becoming a Certifying Program for Technicians

Standards for Certifying Programs a. Test Preparation

Certification for Type II, Type III and Universal technicians will be dependent upon passage of a closed-book, proctored test, administered in a secure environment, by an EPA-approved certifying program.

Certification for Type I technicians will be dependent upon passage of an EPA-approved test, provided by an EPA-approved certifying program. Organizations providing Type I certification only, may chose either an on-site format, or a mail-in format, similar to what is permitted under the MVACs program.

Each certifying program must assemble tests by choosing a prescribed subset from the EPA test bank. EPA expects to have a test bank with a minimum of 500 questions, which will enable the certifying program to generate multiple tests in order to discourage cheating. Each test must include 25 questions drawn from Group 1 and 25 questions drawn from each relevant technical Group. Tests for Universal technicians will include 100 questions (25 from Group 1 and 25 from each relevant technical Group). Each 50-question test represents 10 percent of the total test bank. Questions should be divided in order to sufficiently cover each topic within the Group.

Each certifying program must show a method of randomly choosing which questions will be on the tests. Multiple versions of the test must be used during each testing event. Test answer sheets or (for those testing via the computer medium) computer files must include the name and address of the applicant, the name and address of the certifying program, and the date and location at which the test was administered.

Training material accompanying mail-in Type I tests must not include sample test questions mimicking the language of the certification test. All mail-in material will be subject to review by EPA.

Certifying programs may charge individuals reasonable fees for the administration of the tests. EPA will publish a list of all approved certifying programs periodically, including the fees charged by the programs. This information will be available from the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Hotline.

b. Proctoring

A certifying program for Type II, Type III and Universal technicians must designate or arrange for the designation of at least one proctor registered for each testing event. If more than 50 people are taking tests at the same time at a given site, the certifying organization must adhere to normal testing procedures, by designating at least one additional proctor or monitor for every 50 people taking tests at that site.

The certification test for Type II, Type III and Universal technicians is a closed-book exam. The proctors must ensure that the applicants for certification do not use any notes or training materials during testing. Desks or work space must be placed in a way that discourages cheating. The space and physical facilities are to be conducive to continuous surveillance by the proctors and monitors during testing.

The proctor may not receive any benefit from the outcome of the testing other than a fee for proctoring. Proctors cannot know in advance which questions are on the tests they are proctoring.

Proctors are required to verify the identity of individuals taking the test by examining photo identification. Acceptable forms of identification include but are not limited to drivers’ licenses, government identification cards, passports, and military identification.

Certifying programs for Type I technicians using the mail-in format, must take sufficient measures at the test site to ensure that tests are completed honestly by each technician. Each test for Type I certification must provide a means of verifying the identification of the individual taking the test. Acceptable forms of identification include but are not limited to drivers’ licenses numbers, social security numbers, and passport numbers.

c. Test Security

A certifying program must demonstrate the ability to ensure the confidentiality and security of the test questions and answer keys through strict accountability procedures. An organization interested in developing a technician certification program will be required to describe these test security procedures to EPA.

After the completion of a test, proctors must collect all test forms, answer sheets, scratch paper and notes. These items are to be placed in a sealed envelope.

d. Test Content

All technician certification tests will include 25 questions from Group I. Group I will ask questions in the following areas:

I. Environmental impact of CFCs and HCFCs II. Laws and regulations III. Changing industry outlook

Type I, Type II and Type III certification tests will include 25 questions from Group II. Group II will ask questions covering sector-specific issues in the following areas:

IV. Leak detection V. Recovery Techniques VI. Safety VII. Shipping VII. Disposal

Universal Certification will include 75 questions from Group II, with 25 from each of the three sector-specific areas.

e. Grading

Tests must be graded objectively. Certifying programs must inform the applicant of their test results no later than 30 days from the date of the test. Type I certifying programs using the mail-in format, must notify the applicants of their test results no later than 30 days from the date the certifying programs received the completed test and any required documentation. Certifying programs may mail or hand deliver the results.

The passing score for the closed-book Type I, Type II, Type III and Universal certification test is 70 percent. For Type I certification tests using the mail-in format, passing score is 84 percent.

f. Proof of Certification

Certifying programs must issue a standard wallet-sized identification card no later than 30 days from the date of the test. Type I certifying programs using mail-in formats must issue cards to certified technicians no later than 30 days from the date the certifying program receives the completed test and any required documentation.

Each wallet-sized identification card must include, at a minimum, the name of the certifying program including the date the certifying program received EPA approval, the name of the person certified, the type of certification, a unique number for the certified person and the following text:

[name of person] has been certified as [Type I, Type II, Type III and/or Universal—as appropriate] technician as required by 40 CFR part 82, subpart F.

g. Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

Certifying programs must maintain records for at least three years which include, but are not limited to, the names and addresses of all individuals taking the tests, the scores of all certification tests administered, and the dates and locations of all testing administered.

EPA must receive an activity report from all approved certifying programs by every January 30 and June 30, the first to be submitted following the first full six-month period for which the program has been approved by EPA. This report will include the pass/fail rate and testing schedules. This will allow the Agency to determine the relative progress and success of these programs. If the certifying program believes a test bank question needs to be modified, information about that question should also be included.

Approved certifying programs will receive a letter of approval from EPA. Each testing center must display a copy of that letter.

h. Additional Requirements

EPA will periodically inspect testing sites to ensure compliance with EPA regulations. If testing center discrepancies are found, they must be corrected within a specified time period. If discrepancies are not corrected, EPA may suspend or revoke the certifying programs's approval. The inspections will include but are not limited to a review of the certifying programs’ provisions for test security, the availability of space and facilities to conduct the administrative requirements and ensure the security of the tests, the availability of adequate testing facilities and spacing of the applicants during testing, a review of the proper procedures regarding accountability, and that there is no evidence of misconduct on the part of the certifying programs, their representatives and proctors, or the applicants for certification.

If the certifying programs offer training or provide review materials to the applicants, these endeavors are to be considered completely separate from the administration of the certification test.

i. Approval Process

EPA anticipates receiving a large number of applications from organizations seeking to become certifying programs. In order to certify as many technicians as possible in a reasonable amount of time, EPA will give priority to national programs. Below are the guidelines EPA will use:

First: Certifying programs providing at least 25 testing centers with a minimum of one site in at least 8 different states will be considered.

Second: Certifying programs forming regional networks with a minimum of 10 testing centers will be considered.

Third: Certifying programs providing testing centers in geographically isolated areas not sufficiently covered by the national or regional programs will be considered.

Fourth: All other programs applying for EPA approval will be considered.

Sample application forms may be obtained by contacting the Stratopheric Ozone Hotline at 1-800-296-1996.

j. Grandfathering

EPA will grandfather technicians who successfully completed voluntary programs whose operators seek and receive EPA approval to grandfather these technicians, in accordance with § 82.161(g). As part of this process, these certifying programs may be required to send EPA-approved supplementary information to ensure the level of the technicians’ knowledge. Technicians will be required to read this supplementary information as a condition of certification. The certifying programs will also issue new identification cards meeting the requirements specified above.

k. Sample Application

EPA has provided a sample application. The Agency designed the application to demonstrate the information certifying programs must provide to EPA. Programs are not required to use this form or this format.