FREE NATE MCQ Questions and Answers 2026
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Sample NATE - North American Technician Excellence Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free NATE - North American Technician Excellence practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
What is the purpose of a balancing damper in a duct branch?
- A. Prevent backdrafting
- B. Adjust airflow to individual zones to balance the system and deliver correct CFM to each room
- C. Filter particulates from the airstream
- D. Reduce duct noise
Answer: B. Adjust airflow to individual zones to balance the system and deliver correct CFM to each room
Balancing dampers restrict airflow in over-supplied branches, diverting more air to under-supplied areas for proper room-by-room comfort.
What component allows a heat pump to reverse the refrigeration cycle between heating and cooling modes?
- A. Check valve
- B. Reversing valve
- C. Thermostatic expansion valve
- D. Accumulator
Answer: B. Reversing valve
The reversing valve redirects refrigerant flow so the indoor coil acts as a condenser in heating mode and an evaporator in cooling mode.
A high-efficiency split system AC rated at SEER 18 performs better than a unit rated at which of the following?
- A. SEER 20
- B. SEER 21
- C. SEER 16
- D. SEER 19
Answer: C. SEER 16
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures cooling efficiency; higher numbers indicate better efficiency.
Which EPA section requires technicians to be certified before purchasing refrigerants?
- A. Section 406
- B. Section 608
- C. Section 410
- D. Section 302
Answer: B. Section 608
EPA Section 608 regulations require HVAC technicians to be certified when purchasing and handling refrigerants.
Take the full NATE - North American Technician Excellence practice test
Free NATE - North American Technician Excellence Study Tools
Interactive NATE - North American Technician Excellence resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- NATE - North American Technician Excellence practice test — 92 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
- NATE - North American Technician Excellence flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- NATE - North American Technician Excellence study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- NATE - North American Technician Excellence cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
- Each of the five NATE Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) exams contains 30 questions. (North American Technician Excellence)
- The NATE Senior Level Efficiency Analyst exam is an open-book examination containing 100 questions. (North American Technician Excellence)
- Each NATE Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) exam has a 60-minute time limit. (North American Technician Excellence)
- The NATE Senior Level Efficiency Analyst exam has a four-hour time limit. (North American Technician Excellence)
- The NATE Senior Level Efficiency Analyst exam requires a passing score of 75%. (North American Technician Excellence)
- NATE requires a score of at least 70% on the Core and installation/service specialty certification exams. (North American Technician Excellence)
- NATE lists a $30 fee for renewing the Certified HVAC Professional (CHP-5) certification using continuing education hours. (North American Technician Excellence)
- NATE directs candidates to the Live Online Proctoring tab of their NATE account for current online exam pricing. (North American Technician Excellence)
- NATE CHP-5 and Traditional pathway certifications require recertification every two years. (North American Technician Excellence)
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against North American Technician Excellence. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
NATE Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (CHP-5 — each exam) | 30 questions per exam | North American Technician Excellence |
| Number of questions (Senior Level Efficiency Analyst) | 100 questions; open book | North American Technician Excellence |
| Number of questions (Traditional pathway — Core) | 50 questions | North American Technician Excellence |
| Number of questions (Traditional pathway — Specialty) | 100 questions | North American Technician Excellence |
| Time limit (CHP-5 — each exam) | 60 minutes per exam | North American Technician Excellence |
| Time limit (Senior Level Efficiency Analyst) | 240 minutes | North American Technician Excellence |
| Passing score (Senior Level Efficiency Analyst) | 75% | North American Technician Excellence |
| Passing score (Traditional pathway — Core and installation/service specialties) | 70% or higher | North American Technician Excellence |
| Exam fee (CHP-5 — renewal using continuing education) | $30 renewal fee | North American Technician Excellence |
| Exam fee (Live Online Proctoring) | Current prices available in myNATE | North American Technician Excellence |
| Validity (CHP-5 and Traditional pathway) | Two years | North American Technician Excellence |
| Renewal (CHP-5 and Traditional pathway) | 16 continuing education hours plus renewal fee | North American Technician Excellence |
| Delivery | In person or remotely proctored online | North American Technician Excellence |
| Eligibility (Senior Level Efficiency Analyst) | Two qualifying NATE Service specialty certifications | North American Technician Excellence |
| Testing window | On demand through approved testing organizations | North American Technician Excellence |
| Testing window (CHP-5) | Up to six months between exams | North American Technician Excellence |
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against North American Technician Excellence. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Questions and Answers
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How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- natex.org — Fees, retake policy, score validity, renewal, passing score, score release, test dates, exam format, time limit, eligibility · verified Oct 2026