There is not "a" NATE test--there are several. NATE tests are divided into tests for service technicians and those for installation  technicians. Each NATE test is a test of relevant applied knowledge.

The NATE Family of Tests To become NATE certified choose either SERVICE or INSTALLATION path and take
Core Service		Core Installation
PLUS ONE SPECIALTY BELOW
Air Conditioning Service		Air Conditioning Installation
Air Distribution Service		Air Distribution Installation
Air to Air Heat Pump Service		Air to Air Heat Pump Installation
Gas Heating (Air) Service		Gas Heating (Air) Installation
Oil Heating (Air) Service		Oil Heating (Air) Installation
Hydronics Gas Service		Hydronics Gas Installation (beta testing)
Hydronics Oil Service		Hydronics Oil Installation (beta testing)
Light Commercial Refrigeration Service-Fractional to 7.5hp (beta testing)		Light Commercial Refrigeration Installation- Fractional to 7.5hp (beta testing)
Commercial Refrigeration Service-7.5hp to 80hp  (beta testing)		Commercial Refrigeration Installation -7.5hp to 80hp  (beta testing)

SENIOR CERTIFICATION--HVAC Efficiency Analyst test.  To sit for this exam, the candidate must already hold valid certification in two separate NATE specialties, one for heating and one for cooling.

Earning Certification: To earn NATE -certification, a technician must pass both a CORE and a SPECIALTY test with a grade of 70% or higher on each. There are 50 questions on CORE tests and 100 on SPECIALTY tests. When a technician passes both a CORE and a SPECIALTY of his choice, he/she is sent a wallet card reflecting the certifications earned or credited, a certificate for the certification earned, and a NATE patch and specialty chevron for the test passed.

If a technician fails one of the two tests, certification is not awarded until the candidate successfully retakes the test failed. The test the technician passed does not need to be re-taken. Tests should not be retaken for 30 days from the original test date to give the candidate time to study and review.

Candidates must complete certification requirements within two years of the first test they passed, or they have to start over. Candidates who do not retake the test they failed lose credit for the test they passed if they do not successfully pass their retest within two years. If two years elapse, and they have not passed both tests, they must retake BOTH.

Example: A technician taking a CORE INSTALLATION and an AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION test and passing them becomes certified in Air Conditioning Installation. He is awarded a wallet card, certificate, and a white NATE patch and blue Air Conditioning Installation chevron.

Example: A technician taking a CORE SERVICE and an AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE test and passing them becomes certified in Air Conditioning Service. He is awarded a wallet card, certificate, and a white NATE patch and burgundy A/C Service chevron. His wallet card reflects that he also has credit for A/C Installation, but he is not given the blue A/C Installation chevron unless he purchases it.

Heat Pump or A/C test, which one to take?   There is one special consideration with NATE tests. If a candidate passes a HEAT PUMP test, he does not need to take the Air-Conditioning test, because he is automatically credited with it, as the Heat Pump test is more comprehensive than the Air Conditioning test and includes information on both air conditioning and heating. The air conditioning test does not contain questions about the heat portions found in a heat pump test.

If the technician passed the Heat Pump Service test, his wallet card will show Heat Pump Service, Heat Pump Installation, Air Conditioning Service, and Air Conditioning Installation--but he will only be given the Heat Pump Service burgundy patch and the white NATE patch. This is because heat pump includes air conditioning credit, and service tests include installation credit, but not vice-versa. The technician is given the patches for the test he successfully passed, but not those he was awarded. He must purchase the additional patches if he wishes to wear them.

Cost of Tests: Prices vary.  Some testing organizations offer tests only; others offer the test and variable training; some include lunch--check with the testing organization for the cost of the test.  Partners can mark up the test price to cover their costs, such as a proctor or a room etc... Some Testing Organizations (TO's) offer training and roll the cost of the test into a package with the cost of the training.

Testing Conditions: Technicians have 4 hours to complete a NATE testing session. Generally, technicians complete the CORE test in about one hour and fifteen minutes, and they take about two hours and ten minutes to complete a SPECIALTY test. A technician may bring a calculator to use ( a non-programmable calculator) during the test.  No blackberries, cell phones or other electronic devices can be brought into the test area.

Special Considerations for ADA: The NATE test complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Technicians with ADD or dyslexia, or for whom English is a second language may have a reader to help them read the test questions and answers--however, the reader should be someone who is non-technical and not employed in HVAC/R. They should let the test administrator, testing facility, or proctor know a couple of weeks before the test so special considerations can be provided so they may take the test without disturbing other students. Candidates with physical disabilities need to inform the TO (Testing Organization) or proctor when registering prior to the test if they require special treatment.