RAC Servicing (DomRAC) NC II exam-day guide
RAC Servicing (DomRAC) NC II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID you registered with (driver's license, passport, UMID, or other government ID). Photocopies are usually not accepted. Confirm with the provider which IDs it accepts and whether a second ID is required.
Printed copy of your application/notice of admission
Bring the confirmation or admission slip the assessment center issued. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Bring safety shoes or closed-toe work shoes, work gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and a hard hat if the center requires one for the work area. Confirm the exact PPE list with the provider; some centers supply PPE, many do not.
Hand tools you were told to bring
Typical DomRAC tools include a manifold gauge set, vacuum pump, flaring and swaging tools, tube cutter, torque wrench, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, multimeter, clamp meter, and leak detector. Confirm with the provider which tools are supplied at the station and which you must bring yourself.
Calculator (non-programmable)
Useful for superheat, subcooling, and charging calculations. Confirm with the provider whether calculators are permitted in the written portion.
Pen and pencil
Bring a black or blue pen and a pencil for answer sheets and for marking measurements. Confirm any restrictions on what may be brought to the table.
Review the competency standards for your qualification
Re-read the unit descriptors for installing, servicing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing domestic refrigeration and air-conditioning units so you know what each station will ask you to demonstrate.
Practice the core hands-on routines
Rehearse flaring and brazing, evacuation and leak testing, refrigerant charging by weight and by superheat/subcooling, electrical fault-finding with a multimeter, and safe lockout/tagout on a practice unit.
Know your safety procedures cold
Be ready to demonstrate PPE use, refrigerant handling precautions, recovery rather than venting, electrical isolation, and correct use of fire extinguishers. Safety violations can end a station early.
Plan your travel and arrival time
Arrive ahead of your call time. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time, location, and whether latecomers are admitted.
Arrange meals, water, and medication
Practical assessments can run long. Bring water and any personal medication you need. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the holding area.
Leave prohibited items at home or in storage
Phones, smartwatches, and notes are usually not allowed in the test area. Confirm with the provider where to leave them.
Plan the day
Re-read the qualification's unit descriptors and the tasks you will be asked to perform. List each station and the sequence of steps you will demonstrate, including safety checks before and after each task.
Do a full dry run on a practice unit: recover refrigerant, isolate power, open the system, flare and braze a joint, pressure-test, evacuate, charge, and verify superheat or subcooling. Time yourself and note where you lose time.
Check your tools against the provider's list. Replace missing flares, gauge hoses with damaged seals, and dull tubing cutters. Confirm with the provider which tools the center supplies.
Confirm your assessment schedule, reporting time, and venue with the provider. Ask about parking, public transport, and what to do if you arrive late.
Lay out your ID, admission slip, PPE, and tools in one bag. Check that work shoes are clean and safe and that gloves and goggles are in good condition.
Review safety procedures and the formulas you will use: superheat equals suction line temperature minus evaporating temperature; subcooling equals condensing temperature minus liquid line temperature. Practice reading a PT chart for the refrigerants used at the center.
Get a full night's sleep and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Eat a proper meal and hydrate.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and present your ID and admission slip at check-in. Listen carefully to the briefing on station layout, time limits, and emergency procedures.
Do a final tool and PPE check before entering the work area. Confirm where the first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and emergency stop are located.
At each station, read or listen to the instruction fully before touching anything. State your safety checks aloud if the assessor expects verbal confirmation, and ask for clarification if an instruction is unclear.
Work methodically: isolate power, recover refrigerant, verify with instruments, and record readings. Do not skip leak testing or evacuation to save time; incomplete steps usually cost more than they save.
Manage the clock. If a step goes wrong, correct it safely rather than rushing. Keep your work area tidy and return tools to their place before moving to the next station.
Return tools and PPE as instructed, clean your station, and follow the provider's sign-out procedure. Ask when and how results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with. If your ID is expired, lost, or shows a different name from your application, contact the provider before test day; do not assume a photocopy will be accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags. Keep prohibited items out of the test area, and confirm with the provider where they may be stored.
Follow all safety instructions and the center's lockout/tagout, refrigerant handling, and electrical safety rules. Unsafe behavior can result in a station being stopped or the assessment being voided; confirm the exact consequences with the provider.
Ask the assessor for clarification if an instruction is unclear, but do not ask for help with the technical steps you are being assessed on. The assessor observes; they do not coach.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled, how long they last, and whether you may leave the holding area. Do not leave the test area without permission.
Scoring is based on the criteria in the competency standards for your qualification, including safety, workmanship, and correct use of instruments. Ask the provider how each station is weighted and what the passing requirement is.
If you have a medical condition, disability, or need an accommodation, request it from the provider well before test day rather than on arrival.
Treat assessors, staff, and other candidates with respect. Arguing with an assessor or disrupting other candidates may lead to removal; confirm the provider's appeals process if you believe a rating was unfair.