Requirements at a glance
| Who needs it | Anyone paid to work on gas appliance piping, venting, combustion air or altitude derating, except licensed journeyman and residential journeyman plumbers |
|---|---|
| Exam | RMGA certification exam: 100 questions, 4 hours, 80% to pass |
| Book rules | Open book with RMGA's highlighted study guide only (provided at the test) |
| Cost | $100 test voucher (includes one free retake) + testing center fee; optional $350 self-study or $400 course |
| Rule | Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-308b |
Anyone paid to install, modify, maintain, clean, repair or replace the gas piping, combustion air, venting or altitude derating of residential or commercial gas appliances, which includes most HVAC installers and service techs. Licensed Utah journeyman and residential journeyman plumbers are exempt (Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-308b).
Official links
How to get licensed, step by step
Confirm you need it
If you're paid to install or service gas appliances and you aren't a licensed journeyman or residential journeyman plumber, Utah requires this certification.
Utah rule R156-55a-308b (gas technician) (opens in a new tab)
Get the RMGA study materials
Buy RMGA's self-study package or course. Both include the study guide, an IFGC book, online videos and a pre-paid test voucher. Or buy just the $100 voucher.
Book a testing center
With your voucher, schedule at an approved testing center such as Mountainland Technical College or Davis Tech. Fees there run $10–$50.
Pass with 80%
100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. You'll get a highlighted copy of the RMGA study guide, and nothing else is allowed in.
How to prepare
- The passing score is 80%, higher than most trade exams. Aim for 85%+ on our simulations before you test.
- You can't bring your own code book, so learn the material: venting categories and clearances, combustion air methods, pipe sizing with the tables, and derating for altitude.
- Utah is high-altitude, and derating questions are a Utah specialty. Know how input is reduced above the manufacturer's rated elevation.
- Start with the free questions above to find your weak topics, then drill those first.
- Take at least two full timed simulations before exam day. Timing is where most people fail open-book exams.
- Read every explanation, including for questions you got right, and look the section up in your own book.
Books for this exam
This is an open-book exam: you can bring the references below, and most questions come from the RMGA study guide. Tabs and highlighting are allowed. Free online copies are read-only and can't be used in the exam room.
RMGA Gas Technician Certification Study GuideEssential
The only material allowed in the exam (a highlighted copy is provided). Included in RMGA's self-study package and course.
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), Utah-adopted edition
The code behind the exam: sizing tables, venting, combustion air, installation. Study it, though you can't bring it in.
ICC store (2024) (opens in a new tab)Read free (2024) (opens in a new tab)
Utah rule R156-55a-308b and Utah's IFGC amendments
Who must be certified and the topics the exam must cover.
Official reference list (as published by the testing agency)
- RMGA Gas Technician Certification Study Guide (highlighted copy provided at the exam; the only material allowed)
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) with Utah amendments (Utah Code 15A-3-5xx)
- Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-308b (Natural Gas Technician Certification)
What's on the exam
Estimated topic weighting. No official breakdown is published:
| Topic | Questions | |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Appliance Installation | 20 | |
| Venting | 20 | |
| Combustion Air | 15 | |
| Gas Line Sizing | 15 | |
| Gas Line Installation | 12 | |
| Gas Line Materials | 10 | |
| Derating for Elevation | 8 |
Exam day details
- Administered by Rocky Mountain Gas Association (RMGA), under DOPL rule R156-55a-308b.
- Fee: RMGA pre-paid test voucher $100 (includes one free retake), plus the testing center's fee ($10–$50).
- Open book, but only with the highlighted RMGA study guide handed out at the exam. Your own code books and notes are not allowed.
- Standard time is 4 hours (6 hours with an approved accommodation).
- Buy a pre-paid voucher from RMGA, then book at a testing center (e.g. Mountainland Tech, Davis Tech).
- RMGA sells a self-study package ($350) and a course ($400), each including the study guide, an IFGC book and a test voucher.
- By rule, the exam covers appliance installation codes, venting, combustion air, gas line sizing, materials and installation, and derating for elevation.
Note: RMGA doesn't publish a topic breakdown, and its study guide isn't public. Our topic weights follow the subjects the state rule requires, and our questions are based on the International Fuel Gas Code and Utah rules. Ask RMGA which IFGC edition its current guide uses.
Frequently asked questions
Do HVAC technicians in Utah need RMGA certification?
Yes, if they're paid to work on gas appliance piping, venting, combustion air or altitude derating. Utah rule R156-55a-308b exempts only licensed journeyman and residential journeyman plumbers.
What score do I need on the RMGA exam?
80% on a 100-question multiple-choice exam. It's open book, but only with the highlighted study guide RMGA provides at the test.
Can I bring my own code book?
No. You may use only the RMGA study guide provided at the exam, so learn the material, not just where to find it.
Free questions with answers
Show all 10 free questions and answers
Using Table 402.4(2) (Schedule 40 metallic pipe, natural gas, inlet under 2 psi, 0.5 in. w.c. drop, 0.60 SG), what is the smallest pipe size for a single 100,000 Btu/h furnace that is 60 feet from the meter? Assume 1,000 Btu per cubic foot.
Answer: 3/4 inch
Load: 100,000 Btu/h ÷ 1,000 Btu/cu ft = 100 CFH. In Table 402.4(2), go to the 60-ft row: 1/2-inch carries 65 CFH (too small) and 3/4-inch carries 137 CFH. 137 is at least 100, so 3/4 inch works. Picking 1/2 inch usually comes from reading the 10-ft row (172 CFH) instead of the actual length. 1 inch would work, but it is not the smallest size that does.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Table 402.4(2)
A house has a 120,000 Btu/h furnace, a 50,000 Btu/h water heater, a 35,000 Btu/h dryer, a 65,000 Btu/h range and a 30,000 Btu/h fireplace (1,000 Btu/cu ft). The longest length is 80 ft. Using Table 402.4(2), what size is the 20-ft section leaving the meter that carries the whole load?
Answer: 1-1/4 inch
Total load: 120,000 + 50,000 + 35,000 + 65,000 + 30,000 = 300,000 Btu/h = 300 CFH. Under the longest length method, use the 80-ft row: 1 inch = 220 CFH (too small), 1-1/4 inch = 452 CFH (OK). So 1-1/4 inch. Reading the 20-ft row by mistake gives 1 inch = 466 CFH, which looks adequate but understates the run.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 402.4.1; Table 402.4(2)
Under the standard method for indoor combustion air, what minimum room volume is required for an 80,000 Btu/h furnace and a 40,000 Btu/h water heater in the same space?
Answer: 6,000 cubic feet
Section 304.5.1 requires 50 cu ft per 1,000 Btu/h of input, and Section 304.5 says to add up all appliances in the space. Total input: 80,000 + 40,000 = 120,000 Btu/h. 120 × 50 = 6,000 cu ft. 4,000 cu ft counts only the furnace. 12,000 cu ft uses 100 cu ft per 1,000 Btu/h, which is wrong.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 304.5.1
What is the minimum upward slope of a vent connector for a natural-draft Category I appliance?
Answer: 1/4 inch per foot
Section 503.10.8 requires vent connectors to be installed without dips or sags and to slope upward toward the vent or chimney at not less than 1/4 inch per foot. Connectors attached to a listed mechanical draft system are exempt. 1/8 inch per foot is the condensate drain slope in Section 307.2.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 503.10.8
Using Table 504.2(1) (Type B vent connected directly to a single Category I appliance), what is the smallest vent for an 80,000 Btu/h fan-assisted furnace with H = 10 ft and L = 5 ft?
Answer: 4 inches
In Table 504.2(1), H = 10, L = 5: 3-inch FAN Min/Max = 23/57 MBH, so 80 MBH exceeds the max. 4-inch FAN Min/Max = 32/113 MBH. 80 falls between them, so 4 inches works. For a fan-assisted appliance, the input must be at least FAN Min and no more than FAN Max. A draft-hood appliance would use the NAT Max column (77 MBH for 4 inches) and need 5 inches. That is the source of the 5-inch distractor.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Table 504.2(1)
The furnace manufacturer's instructions call for a larger clearance than the code minimum. Which governs, and what must be on the job site at inspection?
Answer: The listing and manufacturer's instructions govern, and the installation instructions must be available on the job site
Section 305.1 requires equipment to be installed per its listing, the manufacturer's instructions and the code. Where a code provision is less restrictive than the listing or instructions, the listing and instructions apply. The manufacturer's installation instructions must be available on the job site at the time of inspection.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 305.1
Where must the shutoff valve for a gas furnace be located under Section 409.5.1?
Answer: In the same room as the furnace, within 6 ft, upstream of the union or connector
Section 409.5.1 requires the appliance shutoff valve to be in the same room as the appliance, within 6 ft of it, upstream of the union, connector or quick-disconnect it serves, and accessible. Valves behind movable appliances such as ranges and dryers are considered accessible. Section 409.1.2 bans shutoff valves in concealed locations and furnace plenums.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 409.5.1
CSST runs through bored holes in studs, and the tubing is less than 1-1/2 inches from the face where drywall attaches. What protection is required?
Answer: Steel shield plates at least 0.0575 inch (No. 16 gage) that extend at least 4 inches to each side of the framing member
Sections 404.7.1 and 404.7.3 require steel shield plates at least 0.0575 inch (No. 16 gage) thick where piping in holes or notches is less than 1-1/2 inches from the face to which membranes attach. The plates must cover the pipe and member width and extend at least 4 inches to each side. At top or bottom plates, they extend 4 inches above the bottom plate or below the top plate. Under the Section 404.7 exception, only black and galvanized steel pipe are exempt.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Sections 404.7.1 and 404.7.3
Where may polyethylene gas pipe be installed under Section 404.17.1?
Answer: Outdoors underground only, with listed exceptions such as anodeless risers and outdoor patio slabs
Section 404.17.1 limits plastic pipe to outdoor underground installations. It may not run within or under any building or slab, or above 100 psig for natural gas. The exceptions are termination above ground in anodeless or service-head-adapter risers, termination in a wall head adapter when inserted in a gas piping material, and runs under outdoor patio, walkway and driveway slabs at the required burial depth.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 404.17.1
Under IFGC Section 402.2, above what elevation must the volumetric gas flow used for pipe sizing be adjusted for altitude?
Answer: 2,000 feet
Section 402.2 says the volumetric flow rate of gas shall be adjusted for altitude where the installation is above 2,000 ft. Nearly all of Utah's populated areas are above 2,000 ft (St. George is about 2,800 ft, and the Wasatch Front is about 4,200 to 4,800 ft), so this usually applies in Utah.
Reference: 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, Section 402.2
Sources
- RMGA: Gas technician certification (opens in a new tab)
- Utah Admin. Code R156-55a-308b (Cornell LII) (opens in a new tab)
Questions last verified October 6, 2026. Licensing rules change. Always confirm current requirements with the licensing agency before you apply.