Exam fact · with its source
How much does EPA 608 certification cost?
There's no single EPA 608 certification cost: each EPA-approved program sets its own fee. Among programs that publish one, ESCO Institute lists $85, CHEERS $150 to $175, and SkillCat a $10 monthly membership (all checked October 7, 2026).
Per programno EPA price
Who sets the price
EPA doesn't sell the test or set its price. Approved certifying programs charge their own fees, and Appendix D only asks that fees be reasonable. The table below names each program, its published price and the date it was read.
Source: U.S. EPA, certification programs for Section 608 technicians · as of October 7, 2026
Published fees by program
EPA 608 certification fees published by named programs
| Program | Published price | What it includes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESCO Institute | $85 | Online-proctored exam: Core, Type I, II and III, one attempt each. A failed section is retaken alone for an extra fee; booking less than 72 hours ahead adds a rush fee. | ESCO exam page |
| CHEERS / ConSol | $150 Type I, II or III; $175 Universal | Course, practice exam, study guide and three attempts at an online-proctored exam; a computer with a webcam is required. | CHEERS EPA 608 page |
| SkillCat | $10 a month or $96 a year; physical card $50 | Membership includes the course and the online exam; up to four attempts, 4 hours apart. | SkillCat FAQ |
| Trade Masters Online | $224 listed for a Universal class plus online test | Five-day video class and online test. The storefront shows several price tiles, so don't assume one; confirm the total at checkout. | Trade Masters storefront |
| Mainstream Engineering, Interplay Learning, NATE, RSES and other listed programs | Not published or not verified | Approved programs; ask the program directly. | EPA program list |
Every price read on each program's own page, checked October 7, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you pay.
Five checks at checkout
- What the price buys: exam, course or both. ESCO's prep bundle at $32.95 (365-day access, 2018 edition) leaves the exam out (ESCO e-learning store, checked October 7, 2026).
- Included attempts and the retake fee, compared on EPA 608 retake rules by program.
- Online or in-person testing, and the setup each needs: see taking the EPA 608 online.
- The physical card: SkillCat charges $50 for it (SkillCat FAQ, checked October 7, 2026).
- The program's name on EPA's approved list.
Where the numbers differ
Does Universal cost more than a single type?
At CHEERS, yes: $150 for one type and $175 for Universal. ESCO's $85 exam covers Core and all three types in one booking (CHEERS and ESCO pages, checked October 7, 2026).
Why do other sites show different prices?
Programs change their fees and many pages carry figures copied years ago. Every price on this page was read on October 7, 2026; check the program's own page before paying.
Is study material priced separately?
Usually. Verified prices for courses, manuals and flashcards are listed on EPA 608 prep options compared, each with its date.
- Certification programs for Section 608 technicians — checked October 7, 2026U.S. EPA
- Remote EPA 608 exam, 2026 version — checked October 7, 2026ESCO Institute
- EPA 608 certification — checked October 7, 2026CHEERS / ConSol
- SkillCat FAQs — checked October 7, 2026SkillCat
- Storefront — checked October 7, 2026; tile display ambiguousTrade Masters Online
- EPA Section 608 preparatory course bundle — checked October 7, 2026ESCO e-learning