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Trades, Construction & Engineering

Trades, Construction & Engineering

There are 5 trades, construction & engineering credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 5 national certifications awarded by a single body, and 0 licences issued by individual state boards across 0 states.

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, welding, automotive and crane credentials, plus NCEES FE and PE engineering licensure.

Credentials: 5
Specialisms: 4
National: 5

How do the main trades, construction & engineering credentials compare?

Verified figures for 4 of the national trades, construction & engineering credentials, drawn from each awarding body's published material. Fees change — confirm with the body before you book.

Credential	Awarded by	Exam fee	Length	Pass mark
ASE A8 Engine Performance Certification Test	National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)	~$50-$60	90 minutes	Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
ASE T7 Medium-Heavy Truck Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certification Test	National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)	~$34 registration fee + ~$62 per test (2026 pricing)	60 minutes	Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
EPA Section 608 Universal Certification	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved programmes	~$100-$150	~2 hours	Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil Exam	National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)	~$175 (set by NCEES; state surcharges may apply)	6 hours (two sessions of 3 hours)	Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report

Which trades, construction & engineering credentials lead to the highest published pay?

Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks — the most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil Exam

$99,590 median for civil engineers (BLS, May 2024)

NCEES publishes FE Civil pass rates: about 61% first-time, 32% repeat

Verified 2026-08
ASE T7 Medium-Heavy Truck Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certification Test

$60,640 median for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (BLS, May 2024)

ASE publishes no pass rate — and does not even publish the passing score

Verified 2026-08
EPA Section 608 Technician Certification

$59,810 median for HVAC mechanics (BLS, May 2024)

70% to pass (closed-book); 84% for mail-in Type I

Verified 2026-08
EPA Section 608 Universal Certification

$59,810 median for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (SOC 49-9021, BLS May 2024)

The EPA publishes no pass rate — it sets passing scores: 70% per closed-book section and 84% for the open-book Core/Type I path, and the "84%" applies to that open-book path, not to Universal

Verified 2026-08
ASE A8 Engine Performance Certification Test

$49,670 median for automotive service technicians and mechanics (BLS, May 2024) — and ASE certification is the credential that moves techs up the wage scale and into the positions dealerships require it for

ASE publishes no pass rate for A8 — but industry sources commonly cite a first-attempt pass rate around two-thirds, and the published cut is that about 70 percent of scored questions must be correct

Verified 2026-08

Automotive & Diesel 2 credentials

HVAC & Refrigeration 1 credential

EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Federally mandated certification for anyone who maintains, services or disposes of equipment containing regulated refrigerants. Certification

HVAC/Refrigeration & Energy 1 credential

EPA Section 608 Universal Certification EPA Section 608 Universal Certification — Trades & Construction credential from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved programmes Certification

NCEES FE Exams 1 credential

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil Exam Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil Exam — Engineering & Design credential from National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Exam

Frequently asked questions about trades, construction & engineering credentials

How many trades, construction & engineering credentials are there?

How much do trades, construction & engineering exams cost?

Across the 4 national trades, construction & engineering credentials we have verified fee data for, exam fees run from $34–$175. Renewal, membership and study-material costs are additional and vary by awarding body — each guide breaks out its own full cost table.

Do you need a certification to work in trades, construction & engineering?

None of the 5 credentials in this field is a state-issued licence — all 5 are national certifications awarded by a professional body. That usually means the certification is not legally mandatory, but employers, insurers or clients may require it as a condition of the work.

Which trades, construction & engineering credential should you start with?

Start with the one your target employer or state board names. The most widely recognised national options in this field are ASE A8 Engine Performance Certification Test, ASE T7 Medium-Heavy Truck Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Certification Test, EPA Section 608 Universal Certification — each has a full guide with eligibility rules, fees and a week-by-week study plan.

How often do trades, construction & engineering requirements change?

Fees are revised most years and eligibility rules change whenever a state legislature or awarding body acts. Every guide on TestPrepPilot links to the primary regulatory source it was verified against, and the "Sources" section is the authoritative place to confirm current figures before you book.