- Basic ETS is a 200-level Certificate of Completion from TIA, not the separate Certified ETS 300/400 credential.
- Fifteen unweighted modules define the current scope - there is no published weighted blueprint to memorize.
- Training runs through TIA Online University or in-person kits using DVDs, workbooks, and paper exams.
- Kit pricing starts at $995 (members) or $1,995 (non-members) for a two-DVD kit, workbook, and test booklet.
What Basic ETS Actually Certifies
Basic Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) is a 200-level Certificate of Completion administered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA). Passing the final exam tied to the course is what earns the certificate - this isn't a passive attendance credential. If you're researching this space for the first time, our overview at What Is ETS? and the plain-language breakdown in ETS Meaning are good starting points before you dive into module content.
One thing worth stating clearly upfront: Basic ETS is not the same thing as Certified ETS 300/400. That advanced pathway is designed for experienced OTR (off-the-road) technicians and sits outside the scope of this guide. Basic CTS and Basic ETS actually serve as prerequisites for that advanced track, so the 200-level certificate you're studying for now is a stepping stone, not an endpoint. If you're unclear on how the acronym is used across the industry, What Does ETS Stand For? and What Is A ETS? both address common confusion points.
The 15 Modules That Define the Exam Scope
Unlike credentials that publish a weighted blueprint (e.g., "Domain 3 is worth 20% of the exam"), Basic ETS works differently. The 15 official modules are unweighted - they define the course and exam content, but TIA does not publish percentage allocations per domain. That changes how you should plan your study time: don't obsess over which domain "counts more," because none is officially weighted higher than another.
Domain 1: Introduction
Foundational orientation to earthmover tire service, safety culture, and why OTR tire work carries different risk than passenger or light-truck service.
- Understand why earthmover tires require specialized handling versus standard tires
Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves
Component identification is the backbone of everything that follows - you can't service what you can't name correctly.
- Distinguish rim styles and valve types used across earthmover wheel assemblies
Domain 3: Service Truck Operation
Covers the mobile service truck as a workspace: setup, tool staging, and safe operation in field conditions.
- Know pre-service truck checks and positioning around heavy equipment
Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
Before any tire comes off, the site and the machine need to be secured. This domain tests judgment as much as procedure.
- Sequence lifting and blocking steps to prevent machine movement during service
Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
Hands-on equipment knowledge - bead breakers and rams are central tools for earthmover tire removal and mounting.
- Match tool selection to rim/tire configuration
Domains 6 through 9 group together as "on machine" service scenarios, while Domains 10 through 12 mirror the same tire types serviced "loose" (off the machine). This pairing is intentional in the course design - you're expected to know how the same rim system behaves differently depending on whether it's mounted or removed.
Domains 6-9: On-Machine Service (One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece, Double Gutter)
Each rim configuration has its own disassembly and reassembly logic while the wheel remains attached to the machine.
- Compare procedural differences between one-piece, three-piece, five-piece, and double gutter rims
Domains 10-12: Loose Service (One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece)
Same rim families, different context - servicing components once they're off the machine and on the shop floor or field pad.
- Identify which steps change (or don't) when a rim is serviced loose versus on-machine
Domain 13: Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems
Torque sequences, fastener types, and the consequences of getting fastening wrong on heavy equipment.
- Know correct fastening sequence and inspection points for wheel/rim hardware
Domains 14-15: Install & Remove Wheel/Rim Fitment
The final two domains test end-to-end fitment procedures - the practical culmination of everything from Domains 2 through 13.
- Walk through a complete install/remove cycle without skipping a safety check
For a deeper breakdown of how these domains interrelate and where candidates commonly lose points, see ETS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas.
Exam Format, Delivery, and What to Expect
Training and testing happen through two channels: TIA Online University, which is self-paced and includes videos, knowledge checks, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form, or an in-person format using DVDs, workbooks, and paper exams. If your employer is enrolled, administrators can monitor technician progress and test results through the online platform - useful context if you're wondering how your results get reported back to a training coordinator.
A note on timing confusion: the brochure references a roughly three-hour training video. That is a video runtime, not an examination time limit. Don't confuse instructional content length with how long you'll have to complete the final exam itself. If you've seen conflicting claims elsewhere about exam duration, treat this as the authoritative clarification.
Key Takeaway
The reviewed official TIA source does not list a separate exam code, published time limit, or fixed question count for Basic ETS - plan your study around mastering the 15 modules rather than reverse-engineering a blueprint that doesn't exist.
Because the exam ties directly to course completion rather than a standalone testing event, your prep strategy should mirror the course structure closely. For a broader sense of how challenging candidates find the material in practice, read How Hard Is the ETS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and if you want a sense of the pass/fail landscape, ETS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows covers what's actually documented versus assumed.
Training Paths and What They Cost
Basic ETS pricing runs through training-material purchases rather than a standalone exam registration fee. Here's what TIA publishes:
| Item | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic ETS kit (2 DVDs, 1 workbook, 1 test booklet) | $995 | $1,995 |
| Student workbook + test booklet (qty 1-9) | $95/copy | $195/copy |
| Additional test booklet only (qty 1-9) | $75/copy | $175/copy |
Shipping and handling are additional on all of the above. Separately, TIA's undated Online University brochure lists Basic ETS access at $305 per location per year including technician certificates, or $155 per location per year without certificates. Both tiers require full headquarters membership plus a $20 annual membership fee per location, and both allow unlimited technicians at that subscribed location - which matters if you're a shop administrator budgeting for a whole crew rather than a single test-taker.
For the complete pricing picture including how kit purchases and Online University subscriptions compare, see ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're deciding whether the investment makes sense for your career trajectory, Is the ETS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through the tradeoffs without inflating the numbers.
Who Actually Needs Basic ETS
Basic-level training is built for two overlapping groups: new-hire orientation for technicians just entering earthmover tire service, and experienced technicians who need documented training on file - for compliance, insurance, or employer policy reasons. This isn't a credential aimed at generalist mechanics; it's specifically for people who will be breaking down, mounting, and fastening OTR wheel assemblies in the field or shop.
Employers hiring for these roles include OTR tire service companies, mining operations, construction equipment dealers, and independent service trucks that handle earthmover fleets. If you're mapping out career paths, ETS Jobs covers the kinds of positions where this certificate gets requested, and ETS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify lays out what you need before you enroll.
For anyone still deciding whether "certification" is the right word for what this program provides, What Is ETS Certification? and ETS Certification both clarify the Certificate of Completion structure versus a licensing exam model.
A Domain-by-Domain Study Plan
Because the 15 modules are unweighted, a reasonable approach is to group them by conceptual cluster rather than trying to guess exam emphasis. Spacing your review across a few weeks, with deliberate repetition of the rim-type modules, tends to work better than cramming the night before your final exam session.
Foundations
- Domain 1: Introduction - orientation and safety culture
- Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves - memorize component names cold
- Domain 3: Service Truck Operation - walk through a real truck setup if possible
Site and Tools
- Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting - practice the sequencing logic
- Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams - hands-on if your training path allows it
On-Machine Service
- Domains 6-9: One-piece, three-piece, five-piece, double gutter - compare and contrast each
Loose Service and Fastening
- Domains 10-12: Same rim families, loose context - note what changes
- Domain 13: Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems - torque sequences and inspection points
Fitment and Final Review
- Domains 14-15: Install & remove fitment - run a full cycle end to end
- Full review pass across all 15 modules using practice questions
Once you've cycled through the modules once, a second pass focused specifically on the paired domains (6 vs. 10, 7 vs. 11, 8 vs. 12) helps cement the on-machine versus loose distinction, which is one of the more commonly confused areas for new candidates. Our ETS Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is designed as a fast final-week reference once you've done the deeper module work, and for a clearer sense of what "passing" actually requires, check ETS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
If you want to test your recall against realistic scenario-style questions before the real thing, running through practice questions on the main practice test site is a solid way to surface weak spots across the rim-type domains before you sit for the actual final exam.
Refresher Training and MSHA Considerations
If you work under MSHA Part 46 - meaning you're at a mine site subject to that regulatory framework - 30 CFR 46.8 requires at least eight hours of annual refresher training. TIA describes this in the ETS context as eight hours of refresher instruction followed by testing, which results in an updated Certificate of Completion and wallet ID card.
This is a good place to slow down if you're comparing notes with a colleague who holds Certified ETS 300/400 - their recertification timeline does not carry over to your Basic ETS status, and vice versa. Keeping these two tracks separate in your head avoids a lot of unnecessary confusion when scheduling your next training cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Basic ETS is a 200-level Certificate of Completion covering 15 foundational modules. Certified ETS 300/400 is a separate, more advanced pathway for experienced OTR technicians, and Basic ETS (along with Basic CTS) serves as a prerequisite for it.
TIA's reviewed official materials do not publish a specific exam time limit. The roughly three-hour figure sometimes mentioned refers to training video runtime, not exam duration.
A full kit (two DVDs, one workbook, one test booklet) costs $995 for TIA members or $1,995 for non-members, plus shipping. Online University access runs $305 per location per year with certificates, or $155 without, on top of TIA membership requirements.
No published weighting exists. The 15 modules define the course and exam scope, but TIA does not assign percentage values to individual domains, so all modules deserve thorough review.
There's no universal expiration or CEU cycle documented for the Basic certificate itself. The eight-hour annual refresher applies specifically to technicians covered under MSHA Part 46, and it results in an updated certificate and ID card rather than a full recertification exam.
Whether you're just starting to research this credential or you're deep into module review, keeping the scope tight to these 15 domains - and not importing assumptions from other certifications sharing the same acronym - is the single most reliable way to prepare accurately. For a refresher on the fundamentals before your final review pass, revisit ETS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt or start practicing directly on the practice test platform.