F-Gas Course and Certificate: What You Need to Know
Which category to choose, what the course and exam involve, and how to prepare so you pass first time.
Who needs an F-Gas certificate?
If you install, service, leak check or recover refrigerant from stationary refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump systems, you need an F-Gas certificate in the category that matches your work. Working above your category's scope is outside the law, so pick the course for the work you actually do.
Which category do you need?
Category I
Installation, servicing, leak checking and recovery on systems of any size.
The full certificate most refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump engineers need.
Category II
Installation, servicing and recovery on systems under 3 kg (under 6 kg if hermetically sealed and labelled).
City & Guilds marks its 2079-12 Category II route as no longer awarded; check which bodies still offer it.
Category III
Refrigerant recovery only, on systems under 3 kg (under 6 kg if hermetically sealed and labelled).
A specialist certificate for recovery work.
Category IV
Leak checking only, without breaking into the refrigeration circuit.
A specialist certificate for leak-check roles.
Not sure? Read the full comparison in F-Gas categories 1 to 4: which certificate do you need?
What the course and exam involve
F-Gas certification is assessed at an approved training and assessment centre. Courses combine theory with hands-on practice, and course length and price vary by provider. For Category I on the City & Guilds route (2079-11):
- an online knowledge test of 40 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes
- a pass mark of 24
- a practical assessment as part of the qualification
This site doesn't run courses. It helps you arrive prepared, so the theory test isn't the part you have to resit.
Revise before your course, for free
Common questions
Which F-Gas certificate do I need?
Match the category to the work you do. Category I covers every activity on systems of any size. Categories II and III are limited to systems under 3 kg, and Category IV covers leak checking without breaking into the circuit.
What is in the Category I exam?
On the City & Guilds route, Category I maps to the 2079-11 award. The online knowledge test is 40 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes with a pass mark of 24, and the qualification also includes a practical assessment.
Can I get an F-Gas certificate online for free?
No. The certificate needs an assessment through an approved training and assessment centre, including a practical element. You can revise for free online before your course, which is what the practice tests on this site are for.
Is a UK F-Gas certificate valid in the EU?
Not automatically. Cross-border work may need separate recognition, so check with the country you plan to work in.
Practise the theory before course day
460+ F-Gas questions with explanations on iOS and Android.
