Free HVAC Practice Test
Original HVAC questions written to NATE’s published outlines, every option explained.
A metric thermometer reads 20°C. What is the temperature in Fahrenheit?
390 original questions with explanations · 3 timed NATE mocks: Core, Ready-to-Work and Support Technician · 14 topic drills
Choose your NATE exam
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) runs the best-known certification program for HVACR technicians. Its entry-level Ready-to-Work certificate, its HVAC Support Technician certificate and its Core exam all test the same foundations: safety, tools, electricity, heat transfer, comfort and the components of heating and cooling systems.
NATE Core Exam
- Format
- 50 questions · 1.5 hours
- Passing score
- 70%
Technicians with about two years of experience; Core plus one specialty exam earns NATE certification.
NATE Ready-to-Work Exam
- Format
- 50 questions · 1.5 hours
- Passing score
- Not published
Entry-level technicians with little or no formal training.
NATE HVAC Support Technician Exam
- Format
- 100 questions · 2.5 hours
- Passing score
- Not published
Technicians with 6 to 12 months of experience.
Handling refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification, a separate federal exam: EPA 608 practice test.
Sit a full NATE exam under the real clock
50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Core outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.
Or start with a free ten-question drillHVAC practice questions by topic
Each topic has a guide with free sample questions and a free ten-question drill. Together they cover every area of NATE’s Ready-to-Work, Support Technician and Core outlines.
HVAC SafetyLadders, PPE, refrigerant and cylinder handling, brazing gases, confined spaces, hazmat and SDS.
Free drill
HVAC Electrical SafetyLockout/tagout, testing for voltage, capacitors, GFCI, grounding, meter categories and arc flash.
Free drill
HVAC ToolsTubing tools, gauges, meters, sheet-metal tools, evacuation and recovery equipment and instruments.
Free drill
HVAC Math and MeasurementsReading rulers, area, volume, unit conversions, airflow and scale drawings.
Free drill
Basic Science for HVACMatter, combustion, pressure, gas laws, simple machines, air and fluid basics and formula work.
Free drill
HVAC ElectricalVoltage, current and resistance, Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, magnetism, transformers, power and solid-state parts.
Free drill
HVAC Wiring Diagrams and MotorsThermostat wiring, ladder and pictorial diagrams, single- and three-phase motors, capacitors, ECMs, actuators and meter use.
Free drill
Heat TransferSensible and latent heat, conduction, convection and radiation, Btu and tons, and heat calculations.
Free drill
Comfort and Indoor Air QualityComfort factors, humidity control, ventilation, filtration, odor control and sound.
Free drill
Temperature and Humidity MeasurementThermometers, calibration, wet and dry bulb, dew point, psychrometric charts, enthalpy and delta T.
Free drill
HVAC ComponentsCompressors, coils, metering devices, driers and accumulators, contactors and capacitors, furnace parts and controls.
Free drill
HVAC InstallationCopper tubing and brazing, leak testing and evacuation, ducts, drains, gas furnace venting and field wiring.
Free drill
Refrigeration Cycle and ServiceThe refrigeration cycle, superheat and subcooling, split and packaged systems, heat pumps, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Free drill
Construction and BlueprintsFraming terms, insulation, fenestration, roofs and chimneys, plan reading and ACCA design manuals.
Free drill
NATE exam formats at a glance
All three exams are multiple choice and built from NATE’s Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs). NATE says no question appears on its exams unless it is referenced in a KATE.
| Exam | Questions and time | How it is taken | Credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-Work | 50 · 1.5 hours | Online, unproctored, $60 | Certificate, 5 years |
| HVAC Support Technician | 100 · 2.5 hours | Proctored, closed book | Certificate, 5 years |
| Core | 50 · 1.5 hours, 70% to pass | Proctored, closed book | With a specialty exam: NATE certification, renewed every 2 years |
Common questions
Which HVAC certification test should I take first?
If you will handle refrigerant, EPA Section 608 certification comes first: federal law requires it to buy and work with refrigerant. For NATE: the Ready-to-Work certificate suits people just entering the trade, the HVAC Support Technician certificate suits 6 to 12 months of experience, and the Core plus a specialty exam (about two years of experience) earns NATE certification.
How many questions are on the NATE exams?
Ready-to-Work: 50 questions in 1.5 hours, online and unproctored. HVAC Support Technician: 100 questions in 2.5 hours, proctored. Core: 50 questions in 1.5 hours, proctored, with a 70% pass mark. Specialty exams: 100 questions in 2.5 hours.
What is the passing score for NATE exams?
NATE’s FAQ says the Core and the installation and service specialty exams need 70%: 35 of 50 on the Core. NATE reports the Ready-to-Work and Support Technician certificate exams as pass/fail and does not publish their passing scores.
Is NATE certification required to work in HVAC?
No law requires NATE certification; it is voluntary. Many employers and manufacturers look for it. EPA Section 608 certification is the federal requirement for handling refrigerant, and states and cities set their own contractor licenses.
Are these official NATE questions?
No. NATE does not publish its exam questions. These are original practice questions written to NATE’s Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs) and standard HVACR references, with an explanation for every option.
What does the HVAC pass include?
Every drill has one free try. The HVAC pass unlocks the three timed mocks (NATE Core, Ready-to-Work and HVAC Support Technician) and unlimited drills for every exam and topic.
Ready for exam day?
50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Core outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.
Or start with a free ten-question drillExam formats, outlines, fees and passing scores checked November 2026 on natex.org: NATE: Ready-to-Work and HVAC Support Technician certificates · NATE Ready-to-Work KATE (PDF) · NATE HVAC Support Technician KATE (PDF) · NATE Core Exam KATE (PDF) · NATE: Traditional certification pathway · NATE: Frequently asked questions · NATE: Getting started · NATE: Policies and fees · NATE: Live online proctoring · NATE: Industry Competency Exam notice · NATE: Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise. NATE has not announced a change to these outlines.
NATE is a mark of North American Technician Excellence, Inc. Game Assessment Prep is an independent practice site, not affiliated with or endorsed by NATE. Every question is original; none is taken from NATE exams, NATE study guides or another prep provider.