Category A1 Certificate in English – Training & Exam

Special offer – September 2026

1,410.00 € net
per person, Platinum package delivered in English

Full 4-day programme
Two certificates included
Theoretical and practical examination
Dates: 22–25 September 2026

Category A1 certification in English – get ready for the new requirements of the HVACR industry

Advancing technology and successive pieces of legislation are changing the rules of the game in the HVACR industry. Qualifications that are sufficient today may soon no longer cover the scope of work being performed.
EU Regulation 2024/573, in force since 11 March 2024, sets new requirements for technical personnel servicing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and heat pumps. The scope of the new certification categories goes beyond fluorinated greenhouse gases and focuses primarily on flammable refrigerants (A2L / A3), while also covering CO₂ and ammonia at a basic level.
For technicians, this translates into a specific task: build up their competences before the new generation of installations enters the market.
This edition of the training is delivered entirely in English – classes, materials, e-learning and the examination. The subject matter is identical to the Polish-language edition, and the certificate carries the same legal force across the EU.

Obtain your European A1 certificate today

The new European rules are already in force, while the national regulations implementing them have not yet been adopted. This is why the PROZON Foundation, together with the Slovak Association for Training and Certification, is already running training courses and examinations that give access to the Category A1 certificate.

✔ Valid throughout the EURecognised in all EU Member States.

✔ F-gases and hydrocarbonsA single certificate covering both areas.

✔ Flammable refrigerants in practicePreparation for working with the new generation of installations.

✔ Compliant with 2024/573Meets the requirements of the regulation currently in force.

We were the first to introduce F-gas certification to the Polish market – back in 2014. Today we are again the first to provide access to the European A1 certificate, including an English-language edition.

Earn the international REAL Alternatives certificate

REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE is the leading European training programme dedicated to flammable refrigerants, occupational safety and modern refrigeration technologies.
The PROZON Foundation has run this project in Poland as national lead for years – the programme is co-financed by the European Union and delivered together with more than a dozen European industry organisations. The materials are available in English, which makes this edition of the training linguistically consistent at every stage.

Training delivered in English

Classes are delivered by the trainer in English, without simultaneous interpretation. We recommend a working command of the language sufficient to take part comfortably in technical sessions.

Training component	Language
Lectures and theoretical part	English
Workshops and equipment instruction	English
E-learning platform and instructional videos	English
Mock tests and task sheets	English
Theoretical and practical examination	English
A1 and REAL Alternatives certificates	English

The English-language edition responds to the needs of:

Service technicians and engineers from abroad

International teams that need a single training language

Companies whose technical documentation is in English

Individuals planning service work in another EU country

Quality you can verify

A certificate is worth only as much as the preparation behind it. That is why, instead of promising a high standard, we show you what it is built on.

Our own facilities, not simulators
Practical sessions are held at the Foundation’s Training Centre, alongside our refrigerant decanting installation and Reclaim Centre. Participants work on real systems.

Independent certification body
The examination is held at the PROZON Foundation training centre. The certificate is issued by the Slovak Association for Training and Certification.

Over a decade in certification
We launched the first F-gas certificates in Poland in 2014 – and have been delivering training without interruption ever since.

International subject-matter backing
As national lead for REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE, we develop the programme together with more than a dozen European industry organisations, with EU co-financing.

Hands-on practice, not just discussion
In the Platinum and Gold packages, every participant carries out service operations themselves under the trainer’s supervision.

No surprises at the examination
The price includes mock examination tests, open-question task sheets and consultations before you sit the exam.

Practical arrangements – transfers between the hotel and the training centre

A multi-day course means more than just classes – it also means getting there. We take care of that part: participants use transfers between selected hotels in Mszczonów and Żyrardów and the 4R Training Centre in Grabce Józefpolskie – both ways, on every day of training.

HotelMszczonów / Żyrardów

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4R Training CentreGrabce Józefpolskie

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Hotelreturn transfer

Participants do not need to rent a car or plan their journeys – simply get to the hotel. We provide the list of recommended hotels and the transfer times before the training begins.

Choose the package that suits you

There are three routes to choose from, differing in entry level, the length of on-site sessions and the mode of learning. Each one ends with an examination that opens the way to the European Category A1 certificate.

PLATINUM PACKAGE“From the ground up”

4 days of on-site training with practical workshops and e-learning. For those starting out in the HVACR industry or working without an F-gas certificate. Full theoretical and practical scope.

4 days · A1 + REAL Alternatives certificates

GOLD PACKAGE“Refresher”

2 days of focused on-site training with workshops. For holders of an F-gas certificate who are adding flammable refrigerants to their competences. Every participant works on the equipment themselves.

2 days · A1 + REAL Alternatives certificates

SILVER PACKAGE“Flexible”

1 day on site, preceded by self-study on the e-learning platform (9 modules). For experienced specialists who combine independent study with a practical demonstration.

1 day · A1 certificate

	🔹 PLATINUM PACKAGE “From the ground up”	🔹 GOLD PACKAGE “Refresher”	🔹 SILVER PACKAGE “Flexible”
Who it is for and objective
Who is it for?	Starting out in the HVACR industry, or working without an existing F-gas certificate	Service engineers holding an F-gas certificate and with hands-on experience, who need full knowledge of flammable refrigerants	Practitioners already working with alternative refrigerants who want to reduce time spent on site
Training objective	Full onboarding to work with alternative refrigerants and passing the A1 examination	Topping up competences and passing the A1 examination	Reaching the A1 examination via a flexible route
Duration	4 days	2 days	1 day
Language of training and examination	English	English	English
Certificates
European A1 certificate	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
REAL Alternatives certificate	✔ YES	✔ YES	✖ NO
Format and materials
Training format	On-site sessions + practical workshops + e-learning	Focused on-site sessions + practical workshops	E-learning + practical part as a demonstration
E-learning	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
Access to the online platform	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
Access to the e-library	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
Mock examination tests	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
Subject scope
Theoretical scope	Full – built from scratch	Extended, with emphasis on technological changes	A selection of key topics
Flammable refrigerants (A2L/A3)	✔ YES	✔ YES	✔ YES
CO₂ and ammonia	✔ Basic level	✔ Basic level	✔ E-learning only
F-gases	✔ YES	✖ NO	✔ Printed materials only
Good service practice and occupational safety	✔ YES – practical exercises	✔ YES – practical exercises	✔ YES – trainer demonstration
Practical part
Open-question task sheets for examination preparation	✔ YES	✔ YES	✖ NO
Participants working on the equipment	✔ YES	✔ YES	✖ NO
Format of the practical part	Independent exercises under the trainer’s supervision	Independent exercises under the trainer’s supervision	Demonstration and walkthrough of operations by the trainer
Level of hands-on practice	High	High	Demonstration only
Key benefit	A solid start in modern refrigeration	Strong hands-on practice without repeating the basics	Time saved and learning at your own pace

Why train with PROZON?

you will sit the A1 examination properly prepared, not relying on guesswork,
you will leave with two certificates compliant with current EU requirements,
you will build an advantage based on the new European qualifications before they become the market standard,
you will gain access to an international e-learning platform and instructional videos,
you will obtain qualifications valid in every European Union country,
you will work at a Training Centre with its own refrigerant decanting installation and Reclaim Centre,
you will use the transfers between the hotel and the training centre – with no travel to arrange,
you will raise the level of safety – your own and your customers’,
you will complete the entire course and examination in English, with no language barrier.

Legal basis – what do the new rules change?

EU Regulation 2024/573, together with Implementing Regulation 2024/2215, introduces the following rules:

every F-gas certificate must be updated by 12 March 2029 at the latest,
certified personnel must complete refresher training or a competence assessment at least once every 7 years,
the new certificates are valid throughout the European Union,
competences acquired earlier, in line with EU requirements, may be taken into account in future national certification processes,
holders of an A1 certificate need take no further action once the national regulations are implemented.

Special offer – September 2026

1,410.00 € net / person
Platinum package in English, dates 22–25 September 2026

This offer is addressed to students. Places are limited by the size of the training group – allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Don’t wait for the changes – get ready for them today!
The competences the market will ask for in the coming years can be certified now.

Choose the package that suits you and sign up for the training.

PLATINUM PACKAGE – “From the ground up”

From the first theoretical topics to the certificate in your hand – in a single cycle
The programme guides you step by step: from the properties of F-gases and flammable refrigerants, through safety and good service practice, to working on the installation yourself and sitting the examination. All sessions, materials and the examination are delivered in English.

4 daysof theory, practice and examination

2 certificatesEuropean A1 + REAL Alternatives

Englishsessions, materials and examination

Examination includedtheoretical and practical

Who this package is for

people starting work in the HVACR industry or without an F-gas certificate,
those who want to build solid foundations for working with alternative refrigerants.

How the programme is structured

E-learning – theoretical preparation before the sessions, access to the platform and e-library,
On-site sessions – theory, regulations, calculations and a tour of the Foundation’s facilities,
Practical workshops – working on the equipment yourself under the trainer’s supervision,
Consultations and examination – revision, open-question task sheets, theoretical and practical examination.

The theoretical part covers:

the properties of F-gases and flammable refrigerants, as well as ammonia and carbon dioxide,
occupational safety and the legal requirements in force,
good service practice in refrigeration,
an introduction to technologies based on flammable refrigerants,
differences in system design, including worked calculation examples.

The practical part covers:

key service operations on refrigeration systems, including refrigerant recovery into cylinders and the procedure for controlled venting of R290 to atmosphere,
brazing of copper pipes and fittings and pressure leak testing – with a demonstration and walkthrough of the technique,
evacuation of the system and charging the installation,
the design and operation of the training refrigeration system.

Detailed training programme ▾

Day one – Theory and practice

A visit to our innovative refrigerant decanting installation and to the Refrigerant Reclaim Centre,
refrigeration based on F-gases and flammable refrigerants – an introduction,
thermodynamics in refrigeration applications – the fundamentals,
characteristics of refrigerants: F-gases and hydrocarbons,
safety, refrigerant recovery, the environmental impact of fluorinated refrigerants,
good service practice and refrigeration system components,
safe installation, operation and maintenance; installation materials used in refrigeration.

Day two – Theory and practice

Continuation of installation, operation and maintenance topics, and of installation materials,
controls, fittings and instrumentation in refrigeration systems,
regulations on F-gases and alternative refrigerants in refrigeration,
leak checks and record-keeping in practice,
differences in system design and construction,
refrigerant charge limit calculations based on worked examples.

Day three – Practice

Tools used in refrigeration and differences in equipment construction,
the training refrigeration system – design and operation,
brazing of copper pipes and fittings – demonstration and walkthrough of the technique,
pressure leak testing – principles and execution,
refrigerant recovery into cylinders and controlled venting of R290 to atmosphere,
evacuation of the system,
charging the system with refrigerant.

Day four – Consultations and examination

Theoretical and practical consultations,
theoretical examination – examination questions,
theoretical examination – open-question task sheets,
practical examination,
presentation of certificates.

Choose the PLATINUM package if:

you want complete knowledge built from scratch,
you see your future in modern refrigeration,
you want to leave the course prepared both in theory and in practice.

The package also includes:

access to mock examination tests,
access to the e-library of training and technical materials.

GOLD PACKAGE – “Refresher”

European A1 qualifications in two days – without going back over the basics
A compact format for service engineers who already hold an F-gas certificate and have hands-on experience, and who need to close the gap on flammable refrigerants and pass the examination. All sessions, materials and the examination are delivered in English.

2 daysof intensive theory and workshops

2 certificatesEuropean A1 + REAL Alternatives

Englishsessions, materials and examination

Hands-on equipment workperformed by you, under supervision

Who this package is for

HVACR service engineers and specialists holding a valid F-gas certificate,
experienced professionals who want full knowledge of flammable refrigerants,
technicians who need European qualifications without the four-day cycle.

How the programme is structured

E-learning – materials for self-study, access to the platform and e-library,
In-depth theory – technological changes, occupational safety, EU requirements,
Equipment workshop – every participant carries out the exercises themselves under the trainer’s supervision,
Examination preparation – open-question task sheets and analysis of real-life service scenarios.

The theoretical part covers:

working with flammable refrigerants and with CO₂ and ammonia,
occupational safety and the legal requirements in force,
good service practice in refrigeration,
an introduction to technologies based on flammable refrigerants,
differences in system design, including worked calculation examples.

The practical part covers:

key service operations on refrigeration systems, including refrigerant recovery into cylinders and the procedure for controlled venting of R290 to atmosphere,
leak testing,
evacuation of the system,
charging the installation,
brazing of refrigeration system components.

Detailed training programme ▾

Day one – Theory and practice

Refrigeration based on flammable refrigerants – an introduction,
safety and the properties of flammable refrigerants,
the legal framework,
characteristics of flammable refrigerants,
differences in system design and construction,
refrigerant charge limit calculations based on worked examples.

Day two – Practice and examination

Good service practice,
refrigerant recovery into cylinders and controlled venting of R290 to atmosphere,
leak testing,
evacuation of the system,
charging with a new refrigerant,
theoretical examination (examination questions and open-question task sheets),
practical examination,
presentation of certificates.

Choose the GOLD package if:

you already hold an F-gas certificate,
you want to obtain European A1 qualifications quickly and with genuine hands-on practice,
working on the equipment yourself and in-depth theory matter to you,
you want to be well prepared for the A1 examination.

The package also includes:

access to mock examination tests,
access to the e-library of training and technical materials.

SILVER PACKAGE – “Flexible”

Theory online at your own pace, one day on site
A package for practitioners who want to keep on-site attendance to a minimum. The theoretical content moves to the e-learning panel, while the day on site is devoted to consultations, a practical demonstration and the examination. The materials and the examination are available in English.

1 dayon site, including the examination

9 modulesin the e-learning panel

Englishmaterials and examination

A1 certificaterecognised throughout the EU

Who this package is for

people with experience of working with alternative refrigerants,
technicians who cannot afford several days away from service work,
participants who prefer to learn online at their own pace.

How the programme is structured

E-learning panel – 9 modules on F-gases and alternative refrigerants, completed independently,
Demonstration workshop – the trainer demonstrates and explains the key service operations and good practice for working with flammable refrigerants,
Consultations – a walkthrough of the theoretical and practical topics before the examination,
Examination – theoretical and practical parts on a single day.

The e-learning panel contains the following modules:

Introduction to alternative refrigerants – safety, efficiency, reliability and good practice (mandatory),
Safety and risk management when using alternative refrigerants (mandatory),
Design differences for systems using alternative refrigerants (mandatory),
Containment principles for systems using alternative refrigerants (mandatory),
Service and maintenance checklist for systems using alternative refrigerants (mandatory),
Retrofitting existing systems with low-GWP refrigerants (mandatory),
Legislation and regulation checklist (mandatory),
Assessing the cost of leakage of alternative refrigerants (mandatory),
Guidance on advising customers on leak reduction (mandatory).

Detailed training programme ▾

Day one – Consultations and examination

Theoretical and practical consultations,
theoretical examination – examination questions,
theoretical examination – open-question task sheets,
practical examination,
presentation of certificates.

Choose the SILVER package if:

you work with alternative refrigerants and have experience in doing so,
a flexible mode of learning is valuable to you,
you want to combine e-learning with a practical demonstration,
you want to make the most efficient use of your training time.

Not included in this package:

work on open-question task sheets,
practical exercises carried out by participants themselves.

Dates and location

We organize training sessions on pre-scheduled dates. Check which date best suits your needs and sign up for the training to expand your knowledge and skills. If you cannot find a suitable date, contact us – together we will certainly find a solution.