To request shipping quotes from UPS, in real life ecomm site, ca we use a TEST access key ONLY? Or comply with their certification process to have a production access key?

What are the requirements from UPS to get shipping quotes for a production e-commerce website?
Is the "test access key" sufficent (permanent use) or if the "production access key" MUST be obtained. In that case, it means having to go though their certification process. And that is not what I expected when I acquired ecart.
I had simply read, at item 11 of the Getting Started with eCart - tutorial:

Once you have specified your shipping options, click Next.
If you chose a Shipping Provider, the next step will prompt you for your API access credentials. Enter those details and click Next.

SEEMED quite simple.
I am asking about the "certification" process with UPS, to know if I keep trying to make e-cart work(requesting shipping quotes) in "test" access or if I drop e-cart altogether.
Thanks for a straightforward answer on that.

That's a question for UPS, really.

I dont think the UPS service will remove access for the test key if you continue to use it. But i would question wether the test server returns the same up to date shipping rates as the production server.

Your answer is logical. But it seems to me that there should be more information on all the constraints in using a shipping provider in the documentation of ecart (I may be naive but I understood that it would handle the shipping quotes.).
From what I have seen on the UPS site, it seems that I can keep using the "test access key" when we go live. To be verified with them. I even think that the test key, for this particular purpose can access the production site; so the rates would be ok.
As for using ecart, it does not help me very much. I cannot have one and only one "service type". STANDARD was suggested to me earlier. But I have done some tests and it is not available in France, Hawai-USA to name just a few exemples. So I will have to code-and-code all kinds of exceptions. Might as well get on it. Or find another solution.
PLUS, there are all kinds of limitations on the size and weight allowed for STANDARD.
1) Failure (Hard): The maximum per package weight for the selected service from the selected country is 150.00 pounds.

2) Failure (Hard): Package exceeds the maximum length constraint of 108 inches. Length is the longest side of a package.

3) Failure (Hard): Package exceeds the maximum size total constraints of 165 inches (length + girth, where girth is 2 x width plus 2 x height).
108 + ((2x8)+ (2X108))

on the confirm page, the shipping country gets stored to a session named eCartCheckoutForm_shipping_country.

you could add a switch case statement just before the UPS Shipping behavior code to set a new session named UPSService based on the selected shipping state. then go to the bindings panel, click the plus button and select session, name the new session binding UPSService. and in the shipping behavior, bind the service setting to the UPSService session.

an example of the switch statement would look like this:

<?php
/*	
		UPS Service codes:
		01 Next Day Air
   	02 2nd Day Air
		03 Ground
		07 Worldwide Express
		08 Worldwide Expedited
		11 Standard
		12 3 Day Select
		13 Next Day Air Saver
		14 Next Day Air Early AM
		54 Worldwide Express Plus
		59 2nd Day Air AM
		65 Express Saver
*/
@session_start();
switch(isset($_SESSION["eCartCheckoutForm_shipping_country"])?$_SESSION["eCartCheckoutForm_shipping_country"]:"") {
	case "CA":
	case "US":
		$_SESSION['UPSService'] = "03";
		break;
	case "GB":
	case "IE":
		$_SESSION['UPSService'] = "07";
		break;
	default:
		$_SESSION['UPSService'] = "03";
		break;
}
?>