ETS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

What "Passing" Actually Means for Basic ETS

If you searched for an "ETS passing score," you're probably picturing something like a state licensing exam: a fixed percentage, a scaled score, maybe a pass/fail cutoff printed on a candidate handbook. Basic Earthmover Tire Service, administered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA), doesn't work that way. Basic ETS is a 200-level Certificate of Completion, and successful completion of the final exam is what's required to earn it. There is no publicly documented percentage cutoff, no scaled score, and no separate exam code attached to that final exam in TIA's official materials.

That distinction matters. A lot of confusion online comes from other credentials that share the "ETS" acronym - different governing bodies, different fee structures, different scoring systems entirely. This article sticks strictly to Basic Earthmover Tire Service as TIA defines it. If you want the full picture of what the credential is and who it's for before you get into pass/fail mechanics, our What Is ETS? and ETS Certification overviews are good starting points.

Why There's No Published Percentage Score

TIA's live Basic ETS page and its Basic ETS brochure and order form describe the course structure, the training formats, and the completion requirement - but neither source publishes a minimum score, a number of questions, or a time limit for the final exam. The brochure references a roughly three-hour video component, but that's runtime for the training videos, not an examination time limit. Conflating the two is one of the most common mistakes candidates make when researching this credential.

What this means practically:

• You should not spend energy hunting for a "70% to pass" or "80% to pass" rule - TIA's reviewed official source doesn't assert one for Basic ETS.
• Your prep should focus on mastering the content of all 15 modules thoroughly rather than gaming a specific score threshold.
• Administrators using Online University can monitor technician progress and test results directly, which functions as the real-world "did you pass" signal for employer-sponsored training.

For a deeper breakdown of how difficult candidates actually find this material - independent of any numeric score - see How Hard Is the ETS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. And if you're trying to gauge your odds before you commit to a training kit, our ETS Pass Rate 2026 article walks through what the available data does and doesn't tell you.

The 15 Modules That Define What You're Tested On

Basic ETS doesn't use a weighted blueprint the way some multiple-choice certification exams do. Instead, its scope is defined by 15 unweighted official modules - meaning each one is presented as a required course/exam content area rather than a domain worth a specific percentage of your final score. That's actually good news for planning: you don't need to guess which domain deserves more study hours based on scoring weight, because none is officially declared heavier than another.

For anyone who wants the module list broken down with more granular study notes, our companion piece ETS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas goes module-by-module in more depth than a passing-score article can.

Final Exam Format: Videos, Knowledge Checks, Skills Demo

Training is available two ways: through TIA Online University, or in person using videos, workbooks, and paper exams. The self-paced Online University track includes videos, knowledge checks along the way, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form. That skills-demonstration component is worth emphasizing - Basic ETS isn't purely a multiple-choice knowledge test. It's built around confirming that a technician can actually perform the procedures covered in the on-machine and loose-wheel servicing modules, not just recognize the correct answer on a screen.

Employers or training administrators using Online University can monitor technician progress and test results, which is how most shops actually verify that new hires or experienced techs have completed the requirement - rather than a candidate self-reporting a score.

If you want a structured walkthrough of exactly how to prepare for this format - knowledge checks, final exam, and skills demonstration - our ETS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt lays out a fuller preparation approach than we can fit here. For a quick-reference version once you're close to test day, the ETS Cheat Sheet 2026 condenses must-know facts into one page.

Training Routes and What They Cost

Because Basic ETS is delivered as training-plus-exam rather than a standalone registration, cost depends on which format your employer or you choose. These are published TIA training-product prices, not a separate per-candidate exam registration fee.

Both Online University tiers require full headquarters membership plus a $20 annual membership fee per location, and shipping and handling are additional on physical kits. These are organizational subscriptions covering unlimited technicians per location - not a validity period tied to an individual's certificate. For the complete cost breakdown, including how these figures compare across formats, see ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're also weighing whether the investment makes sense for your career trajectory, Is the ETS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 takes that question head-on.

Who Actually Hires Basic ETS Holders

Basic-level training is designed for two groups: brand-new hires going through orientation, and experienced technicians who need documented training on file. In practice, that means tire dealers, OTR service fleets, and mining or construction operations bringing on service truck techs all use Basic ETS as a documentation baseline - proof that a technician has been walked through the same 15 modules in a structured way, whether they're new to the trade or simply need it on record.

It's worth being clear-eyed about where this credential sits in a career path. Basic CTS and Basic ETS serve as prerequisites for the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway, which targets experienced OTR technicians and carries its own two-year online recertification rule - a rule that does not apply to the Basic ETS scope covered in this article. If you're mapping out where Basic ETS fits versus that advanced credential, or want context on job prospects and pay ranges, check ETS Jobs and ETS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis. For a broad wage benchmark, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $37,710 for tire repairers and changers generally - a general occupational figure, not OTR-specific or certificate-holder-specific pay.

A Domain-by-Domain Study Plan

Because there's no weighted blueprint to chase, the smartest prep strategy is simply sequencing the 15 modules in the order they build on each other, then circling back to the pair of module groups technicians most often confuse: on-machine versus loose-wheel procedures for the same rim type.

This sequencing works because it groups conceptually related modules together instead of studying them in isolation. Technicians training through Online University can also use the built-in knowledge checks after each module as a self-assessment before attempting the final exam - a far more useful signal than trying to reverse-engineer a passing percentage that TIA doesn't publish. For more on structuring review sessions around this exact module order, revisit the ETS Study Guide.

MSHA Refresher Training vs. the Basic Certificate

One more distinction candidates frequently get wrong: Basic ETS itself doesn't carry a universal expiration date or CEU requirement in TIA's published materials. However, if you work at a site covered by MSHA Part 46, federal regulation 30 CFR 46.8 requires at least eight hours of annual refresher training for miners. In that specific context, TIA describes eight hours of refresher instruction followed by testing that results in an updated Certificate of Completion and wallet ID card.

That MSHA refresher cycle is a mine-safety compliance requirement, not a Basic ETS recertification rule, and it's separate from the two-year online recertification tied to the advanced Certified ETS 300/400 pathway. Don't assume your Basic ETS certificate has a hard expiration unless your specific worksite falls under Part 46 - check your employer's compliance requirements directly. For eligibility questions more broadly, including who qualifies to start Basic ETS training in the first place, see ETS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.

If you want to test your readiness before committing to an official training kit, running through practice questions built around these same 15 modules on our practice test platform is a low-cost way to spot weak modules early. You can also browse additional ETS-focused practice resources to reinforce the on-machine versus loose-wheel distinctions covered above.

Frequently Asked Questions