- Basic ETS is a 200-level Certificate of Completion from the Tire Industry Association, not a standalone credential.
- Fifteen unweighted modules - from Introduction through Install and Remove Rim Fitment - define the current scope.
- Training runs through TIA Online University or in-person videos, workbooks, and paper exams; passing the final exam is required.
- Basic ETS kits are priced $995 members/$1,995 non-members; Online University access runs $305 or $155 per location per year.
What Is ETS, Exactly?
ETS stands for Earthmover Tire Service, and in this context it refers specifically to Basic ETS, a 200-level Certificate of Completion administered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA). Basic ETS is built for technicians who mount, dismount, and service off-the-road (OTR) tires and rims used on earthmoving, mining, and construction equipment. It is not a generic "tire technician" badge - it is a documented training pathway tied to specific technical modules covering rim types, service trucks, hydraulic tools, and machine-mounted versus loose-wheel procedures.
If you've landed here after seeing "ETS" used elsewhere for a different credential, it's worth resetting expectations: this article, and the rest of the resources on this site, address Basic Earthmover Tire Service only. For a broader definitional breakdown, see ETS Meaning and What Does ETS Stand For?
Who Administers Basic ETS
The Tire Industry Association governs and administers Basic ETS. TIA delivers the training and testing either through TIA Online University - a self-paced digital platform - or through in-person sessions built around videos, printed workbooks, and paper exams. Both paths lead to the same 200-level Certificate of Completion once the final exam is passed.
Because TIA is a membership-based trade association, pricing and access are structured around organizational subscriptions and training kits rather than individual exam-day registration fees. That distinction matters a lot when candidates try to compare Basic ETS to other credentials - more on this in the cost section below, and in full detail at ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
The 15 Modules That Define the Scope
Basic ETS content is organized into 15 official modules. TIA does not publish a weighted exam blueprint for these - they function as course-defined content areas rather than percentages of exam questions. Still, understanding each one is the most direct way to prepare, since the final exam draws from this exact scope.
Domain 1: Introduction
Orientation to OTR tire service, safety culture, and why documented training matters for both new hires and experienced techs.
Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves
Core terminology and components - tire construction basics, rim types, and valve hardware you'll reference throughout every other module.
Domain 3: Service Truck Operation
Safe operation of the service vehicle used to transport tools, rims, and tires to the job site.
Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
Setting up a safe work area and correctly lifting heavy earthmoving equipment before service begins.
- Ground stability checks
- Chocking and lift-point identification
Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
Correct and safe use of hydraulic tools used to break tire beads on large OTR assemblies.
Domain 6: Service One-Piece on Machine
Mounting and demounting one-piece rim assemblies while still attached to the machine.
Domain 7: Service Three-Piece on Machine
The added complexity of multi-piece rim components serviced on-machine.
Domain 8: Service Five-Piece on Machine
Five-piece rim configurations and their specific assembly sequence on-machine.
Domain 9: Service Double Gutter on Machine
Double gutter rim service procedures performed while the wheel remains on the machine.
Domain 10: Service One-Piece Loose
The same one-piece procedures, this time performed off-machine on a loose wheel assembly.
Domain 11: Service Three-Piece Loose
Loose-wheel handling of three-piece rims, including component reassembly order.
Domain 12: Service Five-Piece Loose
Loose-wheel handling of five-piece rims and the inspection points unique to this configuration.
Domain 13: Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems
Torque specifications, fastener types, and securement systems that keep a wheel assembly safe in service.
Domain 14: Install & Remove Wheel Fitment
Correct fitment procedure when installing or removing a complete wheel assembly.
Domain 15: Install and Remove Rim Fitment
Rim-specific fitment steps, distinct from full wheel assembly work, closing out the module list.
Because these are course-defined modules rather than a weighted blueprint, don't assume any one domain is worth more points than another. Treat all 15 as equally testable. A module-by-module breakdown with study priorities is available in ETS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Since TIA has not published domain weighting, budget roughly equal study time across all 15 modules rather than guessing which ones "matter more" on exam day.
Exam Format and What to Expect
Basic ETS training materials include a brochure video that runs about three hours - but that video length is a content duration, not an examination time limit. Don't confuse the two when planning your test-day schedule. The reviewed official TIA sources do not list a separate exam code, published question count, or fixed time limit for the Basic ETS final exam.
What is confirmed is the mechanism: candidates work through videos and workbooks (in-person) or self-paced online modules (TIA Online University), complete knowledge checks along the way, and then sit for a final exam. Online University also requires a skills-demonstration form, and administrators can track technician progress and results - useful for employers managing multiple trainees at once.
For a realistic picture of exam difficulty given the absence of published weighting or timing, see How Hard Is the ETS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, and for scoring specifics see ETS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Training Options and Costs
Basic ETS materials are sold as training products, not per-candidate exam registration fees. TIA publishes the following USD pricing:
| Item | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic ETS kit (2 DVDs, 1 workbook, 1 test booklet) | $995 | $1,995 |
| Student workbook + 1 test booklet (qty 1-9) | $95 | $195 |
| Additional test booklet only (qty 1-9) | $75 | $175 |
| Online University access, per location/year (with certificates) | $305 (full membership + $20 annual location fee required) | |
| Online University access, per location/year (no certificates) | $155 (full membership + $20 annual location fee required) | |
Shipping and handling are additional on physical kits. The Online University subscriptions cover unlimited technicians at a subscribed location for the year - they are organizational access fees, not individual certificate validity periods. A full cost breakdown, including how these figures compare across training formats, is covered in ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Who Needs Basic ETS
Basic-level training is designed for two groups: new-hire orientation for technicians just entering OTR tire service, and experienced technicians who need documented, verifiable training on file. Employers in mining, construction, and heavy equipment support often use Basic ETS to standardize how new techs are brought up to speed on rim types, hydraulic tools, and fastening systems before they're allowed to work unsupervised.
There's also a regulatory angle worth knowing: for miners covered by MSHA Part 46, federal rule 30 CFR 46.8 requires at least eight hours of annual refresher training. In that context, TIA describes eight hours of refresher instruction followed by testing that results in an updated Certificate of Completion and wallet ID card. This refresher requirement is specific to MSHA-covered mine sites - it is not a universal expiration date on every Basic ETS certificate, and it's separate from any CEU system or the Certified ETS recertification cycle.
If you're weighing whether this training pathway fits your career plans, Is the ETS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and ETS Jobs walk through the hiring landscape in more depth. For baseline pay context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a broad median annual wage for tire repairers and changers generally - that figure is an occupational benchmark, not OTR-specific or Basic ETS-specific earnings data. See ETS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis for how to interpret it responsibly.
Basic ETS vs. Certified ETS 300/400
It's easy to conflate Basic ETS with the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway, but they serve different purposes:
- Basic ETS (200-level): An exam-backed Certificate of Completion covering the 15 modules listed above, aimed at new-hire orientation and documented baseline training.
- Certified ETS 300/400: A separate credential intended for experienced OTR technicians, for which Basic CTS and Basic ETS serve as prerequisites. It carries its own two-year online recertification rule that does not apply to Basic ETS.
If your goal is the 300/400 pathway eventually, Basic ETS is the required starting point - not a substitute. Full prerequisite mapping is available at ETS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify, and general certification structure is explained in ETS Certification and What Is ETS Certification?
A Week-by-Week Study Approach
Because Basic ETS has 15 discrete modules and no published weighting, a simple sequential study plan works better than trying to guess which topics carry more exam weight. Here's a four-week structure that groups related modules together:
Foundations
- Domain 1: Introduction
- Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves
- Domain 3: Service Truck Operation
Site Setup & Tools
- Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
- Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
On-Machine and Loose-Wheel Service
- Domains 6-9: On-machine service (one-piece through double gutter)
- Domains 10-12: Loose service (one-piece through five-piece)
Fastening & Fitment, Then Review
- Domain 13: Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems
- Domain 14: Install & Remove Wheel Fitment
- Domain 15: Install and Remove Rim Fitment
- Full review using knowledge checks and workbook exercises
Pairing the on-machine domains (6-9) with their loose-wheel counterparts (10-12) in the same study week helps you compare procedures side by side rather than learning them in isolation. For a more detailed walkthrough of this kind of scheduling, along with practice-question strategy, see ETS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt and try sample questions on our practice test platform.
Key Takeaway
Group on-machine and loose-wheel service modules together in your study schedule - the procedures overlap heavily, and contrasting them side by side reduces confusion on exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a Certificate of Completion at the 200 level, earned by passing the final exam after completing the 15 official modules. It is distinct from the separate Certified ETS 300/400 credential, which uses different terminology and its own recertification rules.
The three-hour figure describes the brochure's training video duration, not an exam time limit. TIA's reviewed official sources do not publish a fixed exam time limit for Basic ETS.
There is no universal Basic ETS expiration or CEU cycle documented in TIA's official materials. The eight-hour annual refresher requirement applies specifically to MSHA Part 46-covered mine sites, and the two-year recertification rule applies to the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway, not to Basic ETS generally.
Yes. TIA Online University offers self-paced training with videos, knowledge checks, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form. In-person training uses the same core content delivered through DVDs, workbooks, and paper exams.
Employers hiring new OTR tire technicians commonly use it for structured onboarding, and experienced technicians use it to create documented training records, particularly at sites subject to MSHA refresher requirements.
For related definitional questions, browse What Is ETS?, What Is A ETS?, and What Does ETS Mean? - or start practicing the module content directly on the main practice test site.