Methodology
Where our information comes from, how we label it, and how we keep it current for every certification.
Sources we use
For each certification we go to the primary source: the regulation and the agency that writes it. This table is built automatically from our list of live certifications, so it always matches the site. Each certification's own pages list their exact sections and links in a "Scope and sources" box.
| Certification | Primary official sources |
|---|---|
| EPA Section 608 | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F |
| EPA Section 609 | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart B |
| CDL federal rules (FMCSA) | FMCSA, 49 CFR Parts 382 to 396 |
| Forklift operator | OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.178 and 1926.602 |
| OSHA construction safety | OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1926 |
| OSHA general industry safety | OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1910 |
| OSHA crane operator (construction) | OSHA, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC |
| Drinking water operator (federal rules) | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Parts 141 and 143 |
| Wastewater operator (federal rules) | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Parts 122, 133, 136, 403 and 503 |
| EPA Lead-Safe Renovator (RRP) | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Part 745 |
| Asbestos (OSHA construction and EPA schools) | OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1101; EPA 40 CFR Part 763 Subpart E |
| Pesticide applicator (federal standards) | U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Part 171 |
| Industrial radiography (NRC rules) | U.S. NRC, 10 CFR Part 34 |
| FAA Part 107 remote pilot | FAA, 14 CFR Parts 48, 89 and 107 |
| FAA aviation mechanic (A&P) | FAA, 14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D and Part 43 |
For every certification we also watch the Federal Register for new and proposed rules. We cover a certification only when its rules are published by a U.S. government agency, so every answer can be checked against the official text. Exams built on copyrighted codes (for example electrical and plumbing codes) or on a private organization's own question bank (for example ASE) are not covered.
We do not use exam question banks, "dumps", other prep sites or forum posts as sources. Trade press can point us to a change, but we only publish what the official document says.
How our pages are made: AI tools and their limits
We use AI tools (Anthropic's Claude) to draft and check practice questions, study guides and news posts. We say this plainly because you should know how a page was made before you rely on it.
- Drafting. Each page is drafted from a dated copy of the official text (for example the eCFR text of a regulation as of a stated date). The draft must quote that text word for word.
- Automatic checks. Every quotation in a study guide or on a certification page is matched against the dated copy when the site is built; if a quote is not found word for word, the build fails and the page does not go live.
- Separate AI review passes. Each question set and study guide is then checked in several separate passes, each run by an AI reviewer that did not write the draft: a fact check against the official text, three originality checks (to keep wording away from known exam and prep-course items) and further study guide audits. When our corrections log says "independent reviews", it means these separate AI review passes.
- What this does not include. No licensed professional or subject-matter expert reviews our content at present. The pages are a careful reading of the official rules, not professional training or advice. This matters most for safety topics such as radiation safety, electrical work and confined spaces: use our pages to study the rules, and rely on your employer's training and your licensing authority for how to do the work safely.
If you find an error, tell us. Every fix is logged on the corrections page.
How we label information
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Official data | Taken from a government or certifying-body source, shown with a link and the date we checked it |
| Our calculation | A formula applied to official data, with the formula explained on the page |
| Your input | A value you entered in a tool and can change |
Dates on every page
- Last checked is the date we last compared the page with its sources.
- Last updated is the date we last changed the page.
- News posts show the date they were first published, and an updated date if we corrected them.
Keeping pages current
- We re-check every page and every practice question against its sources at least once every 12 months.
- When an agency publishes a final rule that affects a certification we cover, we update the affected pages and write a news post explaining the change.
- A proposed rule is never described as being in effect.
Practice questions
How we write and check questions is described in our question writing standards.
Mistakes
If you find an error, please contact us. We review every report within 7 days, and every fix is logged on the corrections page.