NATE Core and Air Conditioning Service Specialty Exams — North American Technician Excellence
NATE certification in air conditioning service takes two closed-book exams from North American Technician Excellence: the Core exam of 50 questions in 1.5 hours and the Air Conditioning Service specialty exam of 100 questions in 2.5 hours. NATE sets pass marks by study and does not publish a cut score. SummitCert's portal offers explained practice questions for both exams, flashcards, a timed 150-question combined mock exam and progress tracking.
One-time purchase · lifetime access · study on any device
Everything included — in full detail
This is exactly what you unlock. No vague promises — real numbers, straight from the portal.
Your full practice pool — 350 questions total, written to mirror the real exam blueprint, with full answer explanations for every question.
Including Core: Basic Electricity, Core: Safety, Core: Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements, and more.
A complete, realistic exam-day simulation with the same question count and time limit as the real thing.
Covering every key term, concept, and framework you're expected to know.
Hand-picked walkthroughs and explainers organized by topic.
Visual breakdowns of the frameworks and models the exam tests you on.
The exact formulas and calculations you need, ready to review before test day.
A searchable glossary so unfamiliar terminology never slows you down.
See your accuracy by domain, spot weak areas early, and follow a built-in study schedule.
Tailored to this exam: it knows your progress and weak areas, remembers your earlier chats, and picks up where you left off on your other devices.
Study anywhere — your progress syncs on the device you are using and picks up where you left off.
No subscriptions, no renewals — buy once and keep studying until you pass.
See the NATE Air Conditioning Exam portal
Real screenshots — this is exactly what you'll be studying in. Click to zoom in.
How would you like to start?
Try before you buy, or jump straight into full access.
Topics you'll drill
8 core topics pulled straight from the real question bank.
- Core: Basic Electricity
- Core: Safety
- Core: Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements
- Core: Achieving Desired Conditions
- Core: Tools
- Core: Using Basic Science
- Core: Basic Construction
- AC Service: Installation
NATE Air Conditioning Exam exam requirements & cost
Straight from the certifying body — separate from what we charge for the study portal.
NATE certification in air conditioning service requires the Core exam (50 multiple-choice questions in 1.5 hours) and the Air Conditioning Service specialty exam (100 questions in 2.5 hours); both are closed book (NATE proctor script). NATE sets passing scores through a passing score study with experienced HVAC professionals; they may vary slightly by form and the numeric cut score is not published. This portal's 150-question mock exam combines the Core and AC Service outlines; because NATE publishes no cut score, use your percentage as a self-check. NATE reports pass or fail for each exam and does not publish a numeric cut score, so this guide does not state one. Use the percentage in this portal as a self-check, not a prediction. NATE exam fees are set by the testing organization or proctor where you take the exam; confirm the price when you register. The content outline spreads questions across 11 areas; the largest are AC Service: Service (30.0%); AC Service: System Components (16.7%); AC Service: Installation (10.0%). The full list of areas and weights is on the portal exam page. NATE sets no formal prerequisite for the knowledge exams; it recommends field experience before testing, so check NATE for current guidance.
NATE Air Conditioning Exam exam blueprint
Real domain weighting from the certifying body's own published exam syllabus.
- Core: Basic Electricity8.7%
- Core: Safety6%
- Core: Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements4.7%
- Core: Achieving Desired Conditions4.7%
- Core: Tools3.3%
- Core: Using Basic Science3.3%
- Core: Basic Construction2.7%
- AC Service: Installation10%
- AC Service: Service30%
- AC Service: System Components16.7%
- AC Service: Applied Knowledge10%
Real pass rate, retake policy, scoring, and a study timeline for NATE Air Conditioning Exam — free, no purchase required.
Common questions
You might also need
Core plus Type I, II and III refrigerant handling — full prep for the Universal certification EPA-approved organizations require to work on any HVAC/R system.
General knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles and every core topic on the CDL Class A permit test — full-length timed mock exam included.
Treatment process, laboratory analysis, equipment operation, and source water characteristics — full prep for the entry-level Class I water treatment operator exam used by 70+ state and provincial certification programs.
Hazard and risk identification, emergency preparedness and incident response, safety-program development, and leadership/training content across all four BCSP-tested domains — full prep for the 200-question Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) exam.
Business organization and licensing, finances, employment, insurance and liens, contracts, public works and safety — practice for the California CSLB Law and Business exam, with 1,000 flashcards, 350 quiz questions and a 115-question mock exam.