FDNY-approved 200-hour course · Code Q-01 / Q-99
NYC Q-01 Refrigeration System Operating Engineer
This is the license that lets you take charge of a refrigeration room in New York City. You need it to work as a watch engineer, stationary engineer, custodian or superintendent in most large residential, commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in the city, and it is recognized throughout the United States.
Course price
$7,500
12 months access
Includes the EPA 608 course, the NYC A2L course, the 200-hour letter and the Simulator. FDNY exam fees are separate.
Already hold a 200-hour letter
$3,750
12 months access
For anyone who already holds a letter but has not passed the exam.
No card required.
There are no refunds.
FDNY exam fees ($60 Part I, $225 Part II, per attempt) are paid to the FDNY
What it costs
The course price, then the city's fees
Q-01 course, including the EPA 608 course, the NYC A2L course, the 200-hour letter and the Simulator
$7,500
12 months
Tauris Tech
Same course if you already hold a 200-hour letter but have not passed the exam
$3,750
12 months
Tauris Tech
Part I, written (Z-51), per attempt
$60
n/a
FDNY
Part II, Practical (Z-52), per attempt
$225
n/a
FDNY
FDNY exams are not included: they are set and charged by the FDNY.
A narrower option: the Practical only
Simulator practice without the written course material. Students in the $7,500 course already have it: the Practical is included.
$2,000 / 1 MONTH
Buy the PracticalWhat you get
Included in the $7,500
- The full 200-hour FDNY-approved course, in the Tauris Training app, on Android, iPhone and iPad, Mac, and Windows.
- The EPA 608 course, which the FDNY requires before your Q-01 application is complete.
- The NYC A2L course, which sells on its own for $525.
- The 200-hour letter.
- Practical preparation in the Simulator, and that time counts toward your 200 hours.
- A student group chat alongside the course, and optional field trips that run from time to time.
Since 2016, about 90 percent of students have passed the EPA, written and practical exams on the first attempt, counted across all three.
Exam day
The exam is in two parts
Part I · Fundamentals (Z-51) · $60 per attempt
The FDNY changed the exam on July 1, 2026. The written part is now RSOE Exam Part I (Fundamentals), built on a new 10-category curriculum. 70% to pass.
Part II · Practical (Z-52) · $225 per attempt
The Simulator covers two systems, a centrifugal chiller and a reciprocating chiller. Questions come in six categories: operations, validation of repairs or maintenance, refrigerant handling, troubleshooting, multi-step questions and scenario questions. 70% to pass.
If you fail
Fail the Practical three times and you have to retake the written exam. A no-show counts as a failure, and if your Z-52 passing letter expires you have to retake the written too.
What students say
In their own words
The very first call with Tauris was different, I could tell he wasn’t all about the money but genuinely cared about the success of the students.
While studying for both my written and practical exams I would study at all hours of the day due to my schedule and was surprised that if I got stuck at 3 in the morning a text message would be answered. Tauris and his team keeps all the students past and present together through a group chat that allows us to support each other which is amazing. The new guys get the support they need and the guys he helped to success are willing to support because of the culture he created with the group.
Tauris once asked me to trust him when I was doubting myself if I was ready for the practical exam. That if he thought I wasn’t ready he wouldn’t put me out there to fail. I am happy I put my trust in Tauris Tech and his team.
Kelvin Gomez Matthew Sabaron Dennis Santiago
How to start today
Three steps, and you can start now
01
Install the app
Create an account and open the Q-01 course.
02
See part of it free
Preview the learning material, practice in the Simulator.
03
Start the course
Full material, on your own schedule.
FAQ
Q-01 frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
Most students hold the license in under six months, studying around a shift.
Do I need a high school diploma?
Yes. A diploma, a GED, or an overseas diploma evaluated by a service the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services accepts.
Can I ask an instructor a question?
Yes, while you are studying and after you have passed. Call or text, or ask in the student group chat.
Is this actually FDNY-approved?
Yes, since March 2018. Both approval letters are published here in full.