Free NATE Ready-to-Work Practice Test
Entry-level HVAC questions written to NATE’s Ready-to-Work KATE, every option explained.
A line set run measures 66 inches. How long is it in feet?
98 original NATE Ready-to-Work questions with explanations · 50-question timed mock on the real 90-minute clock · 6 outline areas
NATE Ready-to-Work exam format
NATE’s Ready-to-Work exam is its entry-level certificate for technicians just starting out: 50 questions in 1.5 hours, taken online without a proctor from any computer or the SkillCat app. It tests tools, components, safety, basic heat transfer and measurements.
- Questions
- 50 multiple-choice questions
- Time limit
- 1.5 hours
- Passing score
- Pass/fail. NATE does not publish the passing score for this exam
- Content
- Tools 32%, Components 22%, General Safety 14%, Electrical Safety 12%, Basic Heat Transfer 12%, Measurements/Units 8%
- Where
- Online only, no proctor, from any computer (or the SkillCat app)
- Fee
- $60, including a downloadable study guide; retakes $45 each
- Credential
- A certificate, not NATE certification. Valid five years; renew by retaking the exam
- Who it is for
- Technicians entering the field with little or no formal education or training
What’s on the NATE Ready-to-Work exam
The areas and shares from NATE’s Ready-to-Work KATE. Our timed mock draws its 50 questions in these proportions. Each area links to the free topic drill that practices it; each drill’s first attempt is free.
| Area | What the KATE lists | Share of the exam | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tools | Tool selection and tool identification | 32% · 16 questions | Tools drill |
| Components | Component identification | 22% · 11 questions | Components drill |
| General Safety | Refrigerant, worksite, ladder and driving safety and protective clothing | 14% · 7 questions | Safety drill |
| Electrical Safety | Electrical safety procedures, electrical tool safety and circuit safety | 12% · 6 questions | Electrical safety drill |
| Basic Heat Transfer | Sensible and latent heat and the types of heat transfer | 12% · 6 questions | Heat transfer drill |
| Measurements/Units | Area, volume and using rulers | 8% · 4 questions | Measurements drill |
How to take the NATE Ready-to-Work exam
- Buy the Ready-to-Work exam in the NATE online store (or take it through the SkillCat app). The $60 order includes a downloadable study guide in your myNATE account.
- Study the six KATE areas: tools, components, measurements, electrical safety, basic heat transfer and general safety.
- Take the 50-question exam online, at home, with no proctor. You have 1.5 hours.
- Pass to earn the Ready-to-Work certificate, valid for five years. Retakes cost $45.
Working with refrigerant also needs EPA Section 608 certification, a separate federal exam: EPA 608 practice test.
Common questions
How many questions are on the NATE Ready-to-Work exam?
50 questions with a 1.5-hour time limit. It is taken online and unproctored.
What is the passing score for the NATE Ready-to-Work exam?
NATE reports it as pass/fail and does not publish the passing score. Our mock shows your score by area so you can see where you are weak.
How much does the NATE Ready-to-Work exam cost?
NATE lists it at $60, which includes a complimentary downloadable study guide. Retakes for the same technician cost $45 each.
Is Ready-to-Work a NATE certification?
No. Passing earns a certificate, not NATE certification. NATE certification comes from the Core plus a specialty exam, or the CHP-5 pathway.
Can I take the NATE Ready-to-Work exam at home?
Yes. It is online only, does not need a proctor and can be taken from any computer, or on a phone through the SkillCat app.
Are these official NATE questions?
No. These are original practice questions written to the six areas of NATE’s Ready-to-Work KATE, with an explanation for every option.
Ready for exam day?
50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Ready-to-Work outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.
Or start with a free ten-question drillMore HVAC exam practice
One HVAC pass covers all three timed mocks.
Exam format and outline checked November 2026 on natex.org: NATE: Ready-to-Work and HVAC Support Technician certificates · NATE Ready-to-Work KATE (PDF) · NATE: Frequently asked questions. NATE has not announced a change to this outline.
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.