- What Basic ETS Actually Is
- The 15 Modules at a Glance
- Format, Delivery & What "Exam" Means Here
- Costs & Access: What You're Actually Paying For
- Domain-by-Domain Cheat Notes
- Recertification, Refreshers & the MSHA Wrinkle
- A One-Week Cram Timeline Before Test Day
- Who Hires for This, and Why It Matters
- FAQ
- Basic ETS is a 200-level Certificate of Completion from TIA, not the separate Certified ETS 300/400 credential.
- The course/exam scope is defined by 15 unweighted modules, not a percentage-weighted blueprint.
- Training runs through TIA Online University or in-person kits - a full kit is $995 member / $1,995 non-member.
- Online University location access runs $305/year with certificates or $155/year without, plus a $20 annual membership fee per location.
What Basic ETS Actually Is
Before memorizing a single fact, get the identity of this credential straight. Basic Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) is a 200-level Certificate of Completion administered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA). It is earned by successfully completing the final exam tied to the Basic ETS course - it is not the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway, which is a distinct, more advanced track intended for experienced OTR technicians. If you're prepping for the Basic level, everything you need to know lives inside 15 official modules, and this page is your compressed reference for all of them.
For a deeper walkthrough of how this credential fits into the broader tire-service world, see What Is ETS? and ETS Meaning. If you're still sorting out terminology before you even start studying, What Does ETS Stand For? and What Is A ETS? cover the basics in plain language.
The 15 Modules at a Glance
These are the exact building blocks of the Basic ETS course and exam scope. No domain weighting is published, so don't waste time trying to reverse-engineer percentages - just make sure you can speak confidently to each one.
- Domain 1: Introduction
- Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves
- Domain 3: Service Truck Operation
- Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
- Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
- Domain 6: Service One-Piece on Machine
- Domain 7: Service Three-Piece on Machine
- Domain 8: Service Five-Piece on Machine
- Domain 9: Service Double Gutter on Machine
- Domain 10: Service One-Piece Loose
- Domain 11: Service Three-Piece Loose
- Domain 12: Service Five-Piece Loose
- Domain 13: Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems
- Domain 14: Install & Remove Wheel Fitment
- Domain 15: Install and Remove Rim Fitment
For a full breakdown of what each of these actually tests, not just the title, read ETS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas. If you want to know how these modules translate into difficulty on test day, How Hard Is the ETS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 is a useful companion read.
Format, Delivery & What "Exam" Means Here
Basic ETS training is delivered two ways: through TIA Online University, or in person using videos, workbooks, and paper exams. The Online University path is self-paced and includes videos, knowledge checks along the way, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form. Administrators can log in and monitor a technician's progress and test results, which matters if your employer is the one enrolling you.
One detail worth flagging directly: the Basic ETS brochure references a roughly three-hour video component. That is the length of the training video content - it is not an examination time limit. Don't confuse total training runtime with how long you'll have to sit for the final exam itself.
Key Takeaway
The three-hour figure describes video length, not exam duration. There is no published exam time limit, question count, or separate exam code in the reviewed official source - plan your study time around mastering content, not clock-watching.
Basic-level training is specifically designed for two audiences: new-hire orientation and experienced technicians who need documented, verifiable training on file. That framing matters for how the questions are likely written - expect scenario-based items that mirror real shop and field tasks rather than abstract trivia. For guidance on exactly what a passing result requires, check ETS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Costs & Access: What You're Actually Paying For
Cost questions around Basic ETS get confusing fast because there are two separate pricing structures: training-material purchases and organizational subscription access. Neither is a "per-candidate exam registration fee" in the way some other credentials structure things.
| Item | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
|---|---|---|
| Full Basic ETS kit (2 DVDs, 1 workbook, 1 test booklet) | $995 | $1,995 |
| Student workbook + 1 test booklet (qty 1-9) | $95/copy | $195/copy |
| Additional test booklet only (qty 1-9) | $75/copy | $175/copy |
| Online University access, with certificates | $305/location/year | |
| Online University access, without certificates | $155/location/year | |
Both Online University tiers require full headquarters membership plus a $20 annual membership fee per location, and both allow unlimited technicians at that subscribed location. Shipping and handling are additional on physical kits. These numbers are training-material and access prices, not standalone exam fees or certificate validity periods - a distinction worth remembering if you're budgeting for a whole crew instead of one technician. For the complete pricing picture including how these figures compare across purchase types, see ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Domain-by-Domain Cheat Notes
Here's a fast-reference pass through the modules most likely to trip up candidates who skim instead of study. Pair this with the full domain guide linked above for depth.
Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
Covers safe setup before any tire work begins - ground stability, equipment positioning, and lifting procedures around massive OTR machinery.
- Know the sequence: assess site, secure the machine, then stage lifting equipment
Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
Tests understanding of the tools that separate the tire bead from the rim - a step that fails often when done out of sequence or with the wrong equipment for the rim configuration.
- Match bead breaker type to rim assembly (one-piece vs. multi-piece)
Domains 6-9: On-Machine Service (One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece, Double Gutter)
These four modules test servicing tires while they remain mounted on the machine, across the major rim configurations. Candidates should be able to distinguish the assembly steps unique to each rim type.
- Three-piece and five-piece rims add lock ring and side ring handling steps that one-piece rims don't require
Domains 10-12: Loose Service (One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece)
Mirror domains 6-8 but for tire/wheel assemblies removed from the machine. Expect questions probing whether you know when loose service is required versus on-machine service.
- Removal procedure and reassembly torque/fastening sequence matter here
Domains 13-15: Fastening Systems & Fitment
The final stretch covers wheel and rim fastening systems, plus correct install/removal procedure for both wheel fitment and rim fitment. These are frequently tested because fitment mistakes cause field failures.
- Be precise about torque sequence and fastener inspection before reinstallation
If you want a structured breakdown of how to allocate study time across all fifteen areas rather than cherry-picking, the ETS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through a fuller preparation sequence.
Recertification, Refreshers & the MSHA Wrinkle
This is where a lot of confusion creeps in, because the Basic ETS scope does not carry the same recertification rules as the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway. Basic CTS and Basic ETS actually serve as prerequisites for that more advanced Certified ETS 300/400 track - but the two-year online recertification rule attached to that pathway does not apply back down to the Basic ETS level.
Where a genuine refresher requirement does show up is in mining contexts. For technicians covered by MSHA Part 46, 30 CFR 46.8 requires at least eight hours of annual refresher training. In that specific context, TIA describes eight hours of refresher instruction followed by testing, resulting in an updated Certificate of Completion and wallet ID card. That's a regulatory mine-safety requirement layered on top of Basic ETS - it is not a universal expiration date on the Basic certificate itself, and it's not a CEU system in the way some professional credentials use that term.
Key Takeaway
Don't assume your Basic ETS Certificate of Completion has a blanket expiration. The eight-hour annual refresher only applies if you're working under MSHA Part 46 mining rules - check your employer's specific regulatory context.
A One-Week Cram Timeline Before Test Day
If you already have shop experience and just need a structured final push, here's a compressed week that maps directly onto the module groupings above rather than generic study advice.
Foundations (Domains 1-3)
- Review Introduction module and terminology
- Study Tires, Rims & Valves construction basics
- Walk through Service Truck Operation procedures
Site & Tools (Domains 4-5)
- Drill Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting sequences
- Memorize Hydraulic Bead Breaker & Ram operation by rim type
On-Machine & Loose Service (Domains 6-12)
- Compare on-machine vs. loose procedures side by side
- Focus extra time on three-piece and five-piece distinctions
Fastening & Fitment (Domains 13-15)
- Review fastening system inspection steps
- Run a full practice set on ../ to simulate exam conditions
Practicing under realistic question conditions before test day matters more than re-reading the manual a fourth time. You can run timed practice sets on the main practice test site to see how the material feels in question form rather than lecture form.
Who Hires for This, and Why It Matters
Basic ETS training exists because OTR tire work - on mining, construction, and agricultural equipment - carries real injury risk if done wrong, and employers need documented proof that a technician has been trained. That's why the course is explicitly designed for new-hire orientation as well as experienced technicians who need paperwork on file. Employers in mining operations, OTR tire service companies, and heavy equipment dealerships are the most common source of demand for this documentation.
If you're weighing whether this certificate is worth pursuing relative to your career goals, Is the ETS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs. For a general sense of where tire service work sits on the pay spectrum, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a broad occupational benchmark - not certificate-specific and not OTR-specific - of $37,710 median annual wage (May 2025) for tire repairers and changers generally. Treat that as context, not a promise; see ETS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis for more nuance. Job-seekers can also browse what postings actually ask for on ETS Jobs.
Curious how test-takers generally perform, or what "prerequisites" actually means for eligibility before you register? See ETS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and ETS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Basic ETS is the 200-level exam-backed Certificate of Completion covering 15 modules. Certified ETS 300/400 is a separate, more advanced pathway for experienced OTR technicians, and Basic ETS (along with Basic CTS) is a prerequisite for it.
The reviewed official source does not publish an exam time limit, question count, or separate exam code. The roughly three-hour figure in the brochure refers to training video length, not exam duration.
There's no universal expiration or CEU cycle described for the Basic ETS Certificate of Completion itself. The exception is MSHA Part 46 miners, who need at least eight hours of annual refresher training under 30 CFR 46.8, after which TIA describes issuing an updated certificate and wallet ID card.
A full training kit runs $995 for members or $1,995 for non-members, plus shipping. Online University access is priced per location per year: $305 with certificates or $155 without, plus a $20 annual per-location membership fee. These are training-material and subscription prices, not per-candidate exam fees.
They run from Introduction and Tires, Rims & Valves through Service Truck Operation, Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting, Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams, on-machine and loose service across one-piece, three-piece, five-piece, and double gutter configurations, and finish with Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems plus wheel and rim fitment installation and removal.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference sheet, but don't stop here - pair it with focused practice questions on the main practice test site and the deeper domain guide before you sit for the actual final exam.