Free practice test — 12 questions with full explanations
Original CraftPATH practice questions. These are not real exam questions. Every answer includes the reasoning, why each wrong option fails, the code area it comes from, and the misconception it targets.
Question 1. In Georgia's conditioned air licensing structure:
Georgia Business, Law and Safety · Medium · Objective: Distinguish the Georgia conditioned air license classes.
- A. Class I is unrestricted and Class II is limited by tonnage
- B. Class II is unrestricted, while Class I is restricted by equipment tonnage and heat input (correct)
- C. Both classes permit identical work
- D. Class I covers ductwork only and Class II covers refrigeration only
Correct answer: B. Class II is unrestricted, while Class I is restricted by equipment tonnage and heat input
Why this is right: Georgia issues a restricted Class I conditioned air license limited by the size of the equipment installed, measured in tonnage and heat input, and an unrestricted Class II license.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Class I is unrestricted and Class II is limited by tonnage — The classes are reversed; Class II is unrestricted.
- C. Both classes permit identical work — The classes differ materially in the equipment they permit.
- D. Class I covers ductwork only and Class II covers refrigeration only — Neither class is defined by that split of work.
Where this shows up on the job: A Class I holder who installs a rooftop unit above the limit risks the license and the permit.
Code reference: O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14; Division of Conditioned Air Contractors rules
Common misconception: Assuming Class I outranks Class II.
Question 2. Superheat is best defined as:
Refrigeration Cycle and System Diagnostics · Medium · Objective: Define superheat correctly.
- A. Heat added to a liquid below its boiling point
- B. Sensible heat added to a vapor after all of the liquid has boiled off (correct)
- C. Heat removed from a vapor before it condenses
- D. The difference between indoor and outdoor temperature
Correct answer: B. Sensible heat added to a vapor after all of the liquid has boiled off
Why this is right: Superheat is the sensible temperature rise of refrigerant vapor above its saturation temperature at the measured pressure, which only occurs once all liquid has vaporized. It proves no liquid is returning to the compressor.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Heat added to a liquid below its boiling point — That describes sensible heating of a liquid, not superheat.
- C. Heat removed from a vapor before it condenses — Cooling a vapor toward saturation is desuperheating.
- D. The difference between indoor and outdoor temperature — That is a temperature difference, unrelated to saturation.
Where this shows up on the job: Zero superheat at the suction line means liquid floodback and a compressor on borrowed time.
Code reference: ASHRAE fundamentals; manufacturer charging procedures
Common misconception: Using superheat and subcooling interchangeably.
Question 3. A residential split system uses a thermostatic expansion valve. The correct charging method is:
Refrigeration Cycle and System Diagnostics · Hard · Objective: Match the charging method to the metering device.
- A. Superheat, using the manufacturer's target superheat chart
- B. Subcooling, using the manufacturer's target subcooling value (correct)
- C. Weighing in charge until the suction pressure looks right
- D. Adding refrigerant until frost appears on the suction line
Correct answer: B. Subcooling, using the manufacturer's target subcooling value
Why this is right: A TXV maintains superheat itself, so superheat is not a useful charging indicator. Systems with a fixed orifice are charged by superheat; TXV systems are charged by subcooling.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Superheat, using the manufacturer's target superheat chart — Superheat charging applies to fixed-orifice metering devices.
- C. Weighing in charge until the suction pressure looks right — Pressure alone does not verify charge.
- D. Adding refrigerant until frost appears on the suction line — Frost indicates a problem, not a correct charge.
Where this shows up on the job: Charging a TXV system by superheat is one of the fastest ways to overcharge a condenser and kill capacity.
Code reference: Manufacturer charging procedures; ACCA service standards
Common misconception: Using one charging method for every system.
Question 4. Equipment for a Georgia home should be selected based on:
Load Calculation and Duct Design · Medium · Objective: Identify the correct sizing basis.
- A. A rule of thumb of one ton per 500 square feet
- B. A room-by-room Manual J load calculation, then Manual S equipment selection (correct)
- C. Whatever the previous system was rated
- D. The largest unit the ductwork can pass
Correct answer: B. A room-by-room Manual J load calculation, then Manual S equipment selection
Why this is right: Manual J calculates the actual sensible and latent load using orientation, insulation, glazing, infiltration and occupancy. Manual S then matches equipment to that load at design conditions. Rules of thumb systematically oversize.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. A rule of thumb of one ton per 500 square feet — Square-foot rules ignore envelope and latent load entirely.
- C. Whatever the previous system was rated — The old system may itself have been badly sized.
- D. The largest unit the ductwork can pass — Duct capacity is a constraint, not a load calculation.
Where this shows up on the job: In Georgia's humidity, an oversized unit short-cycles, never runs long enough to dehumidify, and leaves a clammy 74 degree house.
Code reference: ACCA Manual J and Manual S
Common misconception: Believing bigger equipment always cools better.
Question 5. Typical design airflow for residential cooling is approximately:
Load Calculation and Duct Design · Hard · Objective: Apply the standard airflow rule of thumb.
- A. 100 CFM per ton
- B. 200 CFM per ton
- C. 400 CFM per ton (correct)
- D. 800 CFM per ton
Correct answer: C. 400 CFM per ton
Why this is right: Roughly 400 CFM per ton is the standard design airflow, often reduced toward 350 CFM per ton in humid climates to increase latent removal.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. 100 CFM per ton — 100 CFM per ton would freeze the coil.
- B. 200 CFM per ton — 200 CFM per ton is far below design airflow.
- D. 800 CFM per ton — 800 CFM per ton would strip latent capacity and blow cold, damp air.
Where this shows up on the job: Lowering airflow slightly in the Southeast is a legitimate humidity strategy, but only from a known baseline.
Code reference: ACCA Manual D and manufacturer performance data
Common misconception: Treating airflow as fixed regardless of climate or coil.
Question 6. A 95 percent AFUE condensing furnace is a Category IV appliance, which means the vent must be:
Combustion, Venting and Fuel Gas · Hard · Objective: Match appliance category to vent material.
- A. Type B double-wall metal vent
- B. A listed corrosion-resistant material suitable for positive pressure and condensate, such as approved plastic vent pipe (correct)
- C. An unlined masonry chimney
- D. Single-wall galvanized pipe
Correct answer: B. A listed corrosion-resistant material suitable for positive pressure and condensate, such as approved plastic vent pipe
Why this is right: Category IV appliances vent under positive pressure with condensing flue gases, so the vent must be gastight under pressure and resistant to acidic condensate. Metal chimney vents designed for negative-pressure, non-condensing appliances will corrode and leak.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Type B double-wall metal vent — Type B vent is for Category I draft-hood and fan-assisted appliances.
- C. An unlined masonry chimney — An unlined masonry chimney will be destroyed by acidic condensate.
- D. Single-wall galvanized pipe — Single-wall galvanized pipe is not rated for positive pressure condensing service.
Where this shows up on the job: Mis-vented condensing furnaces are a carbon monoxide hazard and a common red tag on retrofit jobs.
Code reference: International Fuel Gas Code venting provisions as adopted in Georgia
Common misconception: Reusing the existing chimney when replacing an old furnace with a condensing unit.
Question 7. Sizing a natural gas branch line to an appliance depends primarily on:
Combustion, Venting and Fuel Gas · Medium · Objective: Understand gas pipe sizing inputs.
- A. The appliance's electrical nameplate amperage
- B. The demand in BTU per hour, the developed length of pipe, and the allowable pressure drop (correct)
- C. The color of the pipe
- D. The number of appliances in the house only
Correct answer: B. The demand in BTU per hour, the developed length of pipe, and the allowable pressure drop
Why this is right: Gas pipe sizing tables are entered with the total connected demand in BTU per hour, the longest developed length including fittings, the gas type and delivery pressure, and the permitted pressure drop.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. The appliance's electrical nameplate amperage — Electrical load has no bearing on gas pipe sizing.
- C. The color of the pipe — Pipe color identifies material, not capacity.
- D. The number of appliances in the house only — Appliance count matters only through total BTU demand and length.
Where this shows up on the job: Adding a tankless water heater to an existing line is where undersized gas piping shows up as nuisance lockouts.
Code reference: International Fuel Gas Code pipe sizing tables
Common misconception: Sizing by the appliance connection size rather than by demand and length.
Question 8. A condensing unit nameplate reads minimum circuit ampacity 24.6 and maximum overcurrent protection 40. The correct installation is:
Electrical for HVAC · Hard · Objective: Apply nameplate MCA and MOCP.
- A. Conductors rated at least 24.6 amperes with a protective device no larger than 40 amperes (correct)
- B. Conductors rated 40 amperes with a 40 ampere breaker
- C. Conductors rated 24.6 amperes with a 25 ampere breaker required
- D. Any conductor size as long as the breaker is 40 amperes
Correct answer: A. Conductors rated at least 24.6 amperes with a protective device no larger than 40 amperes
Why this is right: MCA sets the minimum conductor ampacity, and MOCP sets the largest permitted protective device. The device may exceed the conductor ampacity here because it protects the equipment against short circuit and ground fault, with the internal overloads handling running protection.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B. Conductors rated 40 amperes with a 40 ampere breaker — Upsizing conductors to match the breaker is unnecessary though not harmful.
- C. Conductors rated 24.6 amperes with a 25 ampere breaker required — A 25 ampere device is permitted but not required; MOCP is a maximum.
- D. Any conductor size as long as the breaker is 40 amperes — Conductors must still meet the minimum circuit ampacity.
Where this shows up on the job: This is the single most-tested HVAC electrical concept and the most common field error on change-outs.
Code reference: NEC Article 440
Common misconception: Assuming the breaker can never exceed the conductor ampacity.
Question 9. The disconnecting means for an outdoor air conditioning unit must be:
Electrical for HVAC · Medium · Objective: Apply the disconnect location rule.
- A. Located inside the building near the air handler
- B. Within sight from and readily accessible at the equipment (correct)
- C. Anywhere on the property
- D. Optional if the panel is labeled
Correct answer: B. Within sight from and readily accessible at the equipment
Why this is right: A disconnect within sight of and readily accessible at the air conditioning or refrigerating equipment lets a technician isolate power and keep it under their own control while servicing.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Located inside the building near the air handler — An indoor disconnect out of sight of the condenser does not satisfy the rule.
- C. Anywhere on the property — Distance without line of sight defeats the purpose.
- D. Optional if the panel is labeled — Panel labeling does not replace a required disconnect.
Where this shows up on the job: Out-of-sight disconnects are how technicians get restarted on while their hands are in the unit.
Code reference: NEC 440.14
Common misconception: Counting the main panel breaker as the equipment disconnect.
Question 10. Before opening a refrigerant circuit for service, a technician must:
Refrigerant Handling and Environmental Rules · Medium · Objective: Apply EPA Section 608 requirements.
- A. Vent the refrigerant slowly to atmosphere
- B. Recover the refrigerant with certified recovery equipment to the required evacuation level (correct)
- C. Only recover if the system holds more than 50 pounds
- D. Nothing, if the refrigerant is an HFC
Correct answer: B. Recover the refrigerant with certified recovery equipment to the required evacuation level
Why this is right: Knowing venting of refrigerant is prohibited, and technicians must recover using certified equipment to the evacuation levels required for the system type and size. HFCs are covered, not exempt.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Vent the refrigerant slowly to atmosphere — Venting is a federal violation with substantial penalties.
- C. Only recover if the system holds more than 50 pounds — Recovery obligations are not limited to large systems.
- D. Nothing, if the refrigerant is an HFC — HFC refrigerants are subject to the venting prohibition.
Where this shows up on the job: Section 608 certification is federal and separate from the Georgia state license; you need both.
Code reference: 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F
Common misconception: Believing newer refrigerants may be vented.
Question 11. A system shows low suction pressure, low head pressure, high superheat and high subcooling. The most likely cause is:
Refrigeration Cycle and System Diagnostics · Hard · Objective: Diagnose a restriction.
- A. Overcharge
- B. A restriction in the liquid line or metering device (correct)
- C. A dirty condenser coil
- D. An oversized evaporator
Correct answer: B. A restriction in the liquid line or metering device
Why this is right: A liquid line restriction starves the evaporator, driving superheat up and suction down, while liquid stacks ahead of the restriction, raising subcooling even though head pressure is low.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Overcharge — Overcharge raises head pressure and lowers superheat.
- C. A dirty condenser coil — A dirty condenser raises head pressure rather than lowering it.
- D. An oversized evaporator — Evaporator sizing does not produce this combination of readings.
Where this shows up on the job: High subcooling with high superheat at the same time almost always means restriction, and the driers are the first place to look.
Code reference: Manufacturer troubleshooting charts; ASHRAE fundamentals
Common misconception: Adding refrigerant to a system with low suction pressure without reading superheat.
Question 12. A conditioned air contractor license in Georgia is held through a qualifying licensed individual. If that person leaves the business, the company must:
Georgia Business, Law and Safety · Medium · Objective: Understand the qualifying agent relationship.
- A. Keep contracting on the departed licensee's credential
- B. Notify the board and requalify with another licensed individual to keep contracting lawfully (correct)
- C. Automatically convert to Class II status
- D. Do nothing until the annual renewal
Correct answer: B. Notify the board and requalify with another licensed individual to keep contracting lawfully
Why this is right: The authority to contract depends on an active qualifying licensee. Losing that person without notifying the board and requalifying means the company is contracting without a valid license.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A. Keep contracting on the departed licensee's credential — Continuing on a departed licensee's credential is unlicensed contracting.
- C. Automatically convert to Class II status — Class changes require examination and qualification.
- D. Do nothing until the annual renewal — Waiting until renewal leaves a gap of unlicensed work.
Where this shows up on the job: This is a routine enforcement trigger when a qualifier retires or moves to a competitor mid-season.
Code reference: O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 14; board rules
Common misconception: Believing the company holds the license independently of any individual.
How to study for the Georgia conditioned air contractor exam
Confirm your class before you study
Class I is restricted by equipment tonnage and heat input, and Class II is unrestricted. The class you pursue affects the qualifying experience you must document and the equipment scope you will be tested against. Confirm the current limits with the Division of Conditioned Air Contractors rather than relying on numbers quoted in forums.
Split your prep into trade and business
Candidates who know refrigeration cold still fail the business and law component. Budget real study time for license scope, qualifying agent duties, contracts, liens, insurance, permits and inspections. It is the section with the highest points-per-hour return.
Drill the refrigeration cycle until diagnosis is automatic
Build a mental table of the four classic conditions: undercharge, overcharge, restriction and low airflow, and the superheat, subcooling, suction and head pressure signature of each. Exam questions give you readings and ask for the cause, which is exactly how the job works.
Learn the electrical section on purpose
MCA and MOCP from the nameplate, disconnect within sight, working space, motor and compressor circuits, and grounding. Article 440 questions appear on every HVAC contractor exam and are easy points once you understand why the breaker may legally exceed the conductor ampacity.
Take fuel gas and venting seriously
Appliance categories, vent material selection, combustion air, gas pipe sizing by BTU demand and developed length, and condensate handling. These are life-safety topics, weighted accordingly, and they are where retrofit work goes wrong in the field.
Run a six-week plan
Week one: refrigeration cycle and diagnostics. Week two: load calculation, equipment selection and duct design. Week three: combustion, venting and fuel gas. Week four: HVAC electrical. Week five: refrigerant handling and EPA 608 overlap. Week six: Georgia business and law plus full-length timed practice sets.