Aug 31, 2019 The software testing certification helps professional to enhance their testing skills. They are also able to learn the standards and principles associated with auditing. CQE: Certified Quality Engineer (CQE. Aug 21, 2019 You should be Certified Software Test Professional – Associate level or equivalent. At least one year of work experience in a software testing related job. You need to provide a letter signed by your supervisor describing the responsibilities you had on that job. Formal Education Requirements.
Certifications For QA Testing Professionals – Let’s Find Which Suits You
In last topic we discussed – Is it worth getting a QA Software Testing certification. Certification is very much important if we want to have a holistic growth in our professional life.
Certification not only adds to your profile but also acts as a catalyst to boost your knowledge and changes your way to think “the other way”. When implemented correctly, helps to organize better and helps to think strategically and have long term vision.
Learning should never be stopped.
Keeping this thought in my mind, here I am trying to jot down the certifications available for QA professionals right from the beginning of the career to higher experience. But we should keep in mind that the certification you do should be well mapped to your experience level.
Please note that these are just recommendations. The choice of selecting a certification / course is based on one’s personal aspirations.
What You Will Learn:
Level #1 – Beginner (0-5 Year experience)
1) Institute: QAI ( Quality Assurance Institute – Florida – USA)
Certification: CAST – Certified Associate In Software Testing
Eligibility: One of the below:
3 Year or 4 Year degree from an accredited college
2 Year degree in college with 1 year of experience.
3 Year experience in IT.
Fee: $100
How to Apply: To apply for the CAST certification candidates must first login to their Customer Portal account. If new to the Portal then need to create one by clicking on the Register Now link, and then the Register as a New User tab.
Link to Register: Register here
How to Prepare: Once you register and pay the fee, you would receive the ” Software Testing Body of Knowledge (STBOK) for CAST (367 pages) book. That should be sufficient to prepare for the exam.
Exam Format: 100 multiple choice questions in 75 minutes time
Pass%: 70
2) Institute: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)
Certification: ISTQB – Foundation Level
Eligibility: None
Fee: Rs 4500 – India (Approx.), US $250 – For USA
How to apply: Connect with your National or Regional Board for information on Exam Providers, exam dates, applicable fees and booking information.
If there are more than 10 candidates from the same company for the exam, then the exam can be conducted in the company by ITB.
Link to register: Register here
How to Prepare: Click here to get the study material.
Recommended: We have 100% sure pass study guide on ISTQB foundation level exam. It contains 800+ practice questions, 200+ premium questions, and many eBooks based on ISTQB exam syllabus. If you are interested in getting this study guide please check this page. It’s a premium study guide.
Exam Format: 40 multiple choice question in 60 minutes
Pass%: 65%
Level #2 – Intermediate (5 – 8 Years’ Experience)
#1) Institute: QAI ( Quality Assurance Institute – Florida – USA)
Certification: CSTE – (Certified Software Test Engineer)
Eligibility: One of the below:
A 4-year degree from accredited college-level institution & 2 years’ experience in the information services field
A 3-year degree from accredited college-level institution & 3 years’ experience in the information services field
A 2-year degree from accredited college-level institution & 4 years’ experience in the information services field
Six years’ experience in the information services field
AND
Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field within covered by the certification designation.
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Fee: $350 – Includes fee and pdf format book; $420 – Includes fee, Book, and CD
How to apply: To apply for the CSTE certification candidates must first login to their Customer Portal account. If new to the Portal then need to create one by clicking on the Register Now link, and then the Register as a New User tab.
Link to register: Register here
How to Prepare: CBOK (Common Body of Knowledge) book is sufficient to prepare for the exam. Read the book thoroughly and take up some mock tests available on internet to prepare for the exam.
Exam Format: Exam is divided into 2 parts: 100 Multiple choice questions in 75 minutes; 12 essay type questions in 75 minutes.
Pass%: 70% which is average of both the parts.
#2) Institute: HP
Certification: HP HP0-M102 for UFT version 12.0
Fee: $350 approx.
How to apply: You need to have HP Learner ID.
Create an account with PearsonVUE. Once you submit the form, you need to schedule your exam through Schedule Proctored Exam link. You would find the details of the cost and language of the exam and need to select date, time and up to 3 centers to give the exam.
Link to register: Check this link for getting learners Id; and this link for creating account with PearsonVUE.
How to Prepare: Self-study, practice and taking up the mock exam.
Exam Format: Total 69 questions of multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and point and click
Pass%: 75%
Level #3 – Advance Level (8 – 11 Years Experience) – If Aspiring for a Test Architect kind of a role
Institute: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)
Certification: ISTQB – Advanced Level – Test Analyst, ISTQB – Advanced Level – Technical test Analyst
Eligibility: Foundation level certification/score card. AND
Any one from below:
For Degree holders in computer science or related fields, you need 24 months of testing experience if you want to take 2 sub modules and 36 months of experience is mandatory if you want to take all the three sub modules.
For non-bachelor degree in computer science, 60 months of experience
Fee: India – Rs-4500 approx. for each of the sub paper; USA- $250 for each of the sub paper
How to apply: You need to find your exam provider and freshly enroll yourself in the ISTQB site for the advance module. The enrollment is same as that for the foundation level.
Click here to download the syllabus for Test Analyst
Click here to download the syllabus for Technical Test Analyst
Link to register: For Indian board register here or go through this link. Check these links for US board and For UK board.
How to Prepare: Study material + self-study and knowledge gained through experience would all combine to prepare for the exam
Exam Format: Total 65 multiple choice questions in 180 minutes. For Technical test Analyst – Total 45 multiple choice questions in 120 minutes.
Pass%: 75%
Level #4 – Advance Level (8 – 11 Years Experience) – If Aspiring for a Test Manager kind of a role
Institute: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)
Certification: ISTQB – Advanced Level – Test Manager
Eligibility: Foundation level certification/score card. AND
Any one from below:
For Degree holders in computer science or related fields, you need 24 months of testing experience if you want to take 2 sub modules and 36 months of experience is mandatory if you want to take all the three sub modules.
For non bachelor degree in computer science, 60 months of experience
Fee: India – Rs-4500 approx. for each of the sub paper; USA- $250 for each of the sub paper
How to apply: You need to find your exam provider and freshly enroll yourself in the ISTQB site for the advance module. The enrollment is same as that for the foundation level.
How to Prepare: Study material + self-study and knowledge gained through experience would all combine to prepare for the exam
Click here to download the material.
Link to register: For Indian board or go through this link. For US board and For UK board.
Exam Format: Total 65 multiple choice questions in 180 minutes
Pass%: 75%
Level #5 – (Expert Level11+ years) If aspiring for Delivery manager – QA / OA Leaders kind of a role
Institute: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)
Certification: ISTQB – Expert Level – Test Manager
Divided into 3 sub-modules:
Strategic management
Operational test management
Managing test team
ISTQB – Expert Level – Improving the testing process
Divided into 2 sub-modules
Assessing test process
Implementing test process improvement.
Eligibility: Foundation level certification/score card.
Advanced certificate depending upon the expert module desired
Minimum 5 years of testing experience.
Minimum 2 years of experience in the selected Expert level
Fee: US $375 for each exam
How to apply: You need to find your exam provider and freshly enroll yourself in the ISTQB site for the advance module. The enrollment is same as that for the foundation level.
Link to register: For Indian board or go through this link. For US board register here and for UK board here.
How to Prepare: Study material + self-study, referenced books, and knowledge gained through experience would all combine to prepare for the exam.
Click here for Syllabus.
Exam Format:
25 multiple type questions in 45 minutes
2 out of 3 Essay type questions in 90 minutes
Click here for more details.
Pass%: 75%
As we all know that Agile methodology is widely used these days and gaining a lot of popularity, let us now talk about some Agile certifications for software testers.
Certification for Foundation Level Extension – Agile Tester
Institute: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)
Certification: ISTQB Agile Tester Certification
No doubt, a tester working in an Agile team will work differently than the one working in a traditional team. For a tester to work effectively in an Agile Environment, this certification is very useful. This certification is an add-on to the ISTQB Foundation Level certification.
Who can be benefited from this certification? :
Testers experienced with traditional SDLCs
Entry level testers who are interested in Agile Testing
Experienced developers with some knowledge of testing who work in Agile projects
Roles include testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers, software developers
Eligibility:
The ISTQB Foundation Level Certification is a pre-requisite
Fee: US $150
How to apply: First, you need to create an account at ASTQB registration site. If you already have an account, you can log in with existing credentials. There are four ways to take the exam:
Via an Online exam center
Via an accredited Training Provider course
Onsite at your company
Onsite your college or University
The detailed instructions to apply for the exam are available at the link to register (below).
Link to register: Click at this link to register for the exam.
How to Prepare: To prepare for the Agile Tester extension, you can review the free resources on ASTQB which includes syllabus, Agile tester extension overview, PPT on ‘Summary: Agile Tester in a Nutshell’, webinar, ISTQB Agile Foundation Introduction Video, Sample Exam, answer sheet and more sample questions. If you wish then you can also attend two days accredited training for foundation level Agile certification.
Click here for Syllabus.
Exam Format:
Software Testing Certifications List
40 multiple choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes
Click here for more details.
Pass%: 65%
Note: In future, two Advanced Agile modules certifications will also be available.
Certified Agile Software Test Professional Practitioner Level (CASTP-P)
Institute: IIST (International Institute for Software Testing)
Certification: CASTP – P Certified
This certification is designed to help the test professionals in adapting to the culture of agile projects. It will aid you in developing the skills required to work in agile environment. This certification will enhance your communication skills, team dynamics skills, enable you to work in a fast paced, incremental and iterative project model.
Who can be benefited from this certification?:
All testing professionals who want to skill themselves to work on agile projects.
Test leads & test managers who work on managing the test efforts in Agile projects. After acquiring this certification, they will be able to manage the test efforts more effectively.
Developers who want to perform effective testing in agile projects.
Eligibility:
There are two prerequisites before attempting CASTP – P certification exam:
You should be Certified Software Test Professional – Associate level or equivalent.
At least one year of work experience in a software testing related job. You need to provide a letter signed by your supervisor describing the responsibilities you had on that job.
Formal Education Requirements:
You need to cover 3 days of training that will cover the following areas of ATBOB:
Agile Development Methodologies (CASTP #1)
Agile Requirement Exploration and Requirement Management (CASTP #2)
Agile Test Design and Test Execution (CASTP #3)
Click here to check on the training options.
Fee: US $885 per person (this covers training and certification exam both) for online mode of training & certification.
There will be an additional $50 non-refundable graduation fee after passing the exams.
A $100 fee for retake of exams.
How to apply: You need to register for attending the training modules. Upon registration, you will be receiving access codes for all the above three modules and their associated exams.
The detailed instructions to apply for the exam are available at the link to register (below).
Link to register: Click at this link to register for the course.
Exam Format:
There will be a written exam associated for each module. Windows 8 x64 free download. So, on total there will be 3 exams. The time duration to complete each module and exam is upto 30 days.
Pass%: 80%
Click here for complete details.
Certified Agile Software Test Professional Master Level (CASTP-M)
The prerequisite to obtain this certification is that you should be CASTP-P certified & must hold 2 years of work experience in the field of software testing. It is very helpful for the experienced test professionals who want to do even better in their agile projects.
Click here to explore further details on this certification regarding training options, exam format, etc.
The validity of this certification is 3 years i.e. it will expire after 3 years it is granted. You will have to complete recertification requirements before that time.
Professional Scrum developer certification
Apart from these above certifications in Agile testing, you can also go for professional scrum developer certification offered by Scrum.
This certification is mainly meant for developers, however, since testers are the part of development team or overall agile team, so this certification can prove very useful for testers as well. This certification course has a very rich content for agile testing as well.
It costs you $200.
Click here for the complete details on the certification.
Having talked enough on agile testing certifications, lets now explore some automation testing certifications which help you to stand out in the field of automation testing:
Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer
This certification offered by ISTQB is meant for professionals who have already reached at an advanced point in their software testing career and want to further develop expertise in automation testing.
If you equip yourself with this certification, you will be able to contribute greatly towards building automation solutions for business and designing test automation architecture (TAA).
Software Testing Certifications In Usa
Click here for the exam syllabus.
The exam consists of 40 MCQs to be completed in 90 mins with 65% passing percentage. Click here for more details on examination structure.
You may go through the below embedded pdf for end to end details on this certification:
Certified Automation Functional Testing Professional
This certification is provided by V Skills -A government of India & govt. of NCT Delhi joint venture.
It is a government certification and there is not any minimum education qualification required. It is beneficial for both professionals and students who are engaged (or want to engage) in the field of software testing.
This course covers a lot on automation testing & QTP.
The study material is sent to you once you enroll for the certification. The exam consists of 50 questions to be completed in 1 hour with 50% passing percentage.
It costs you Rs. 3,499.
Click here for complete details on this certification.
Certified Software Test Automation Specialist
This certification offered by IIST aims at those test automation personnel who want to further enhance their test automation skills and become an expert in this area.
Click here for complete details on prerequisites, exam structure, certification requirements, fees, etc.
Certified Software Test Automation Architect
If you are CSTAS certified, then you are eligible for this certification.
Software Testing Certification Online
This is intended for those test professionals who want to engage themselves in developing TAA (test automation architecture) and database frameworks.
Click here for complete details on prerequisites, exam structure, certification requirements, fees, etc.
These days mobile software testing is also in great demand. So, one of the certification which can help you in that area is Certified Mobile Software Test Professional (CMSTP) which is again offered by IIST.
Click here to explore all the certifications offered by IIST.
With the growing technologies and expansion in the field of software testing, there are lot of certifications and courses which can help you to move ahead. Furthermore, you need to choose the best certification for yourself based on your experience level and kind of job role you are in or you want to be in.
I was recently reading a job description at an organization for Test Analyst with 3-5 years total exp. They were demanding any of the Technical/Business/Quality Certification: CSTE, ISTQB, CMMI, LOMA.
So, what I will suggest you is to stay up to date with the market demands and check out what certifications are most demanded by the job roles. And, then you can go for those certifications!
Conclusion
The learning does not stop here. Post expert level, one can opt for PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or / and move to Agile certifications like CSM (Certified Scrum Master) / CSPO (Certified Product Owner).
After completing your CSM certification, you can continue your learning by moving on to next level which is CSP (Certified Scrum Professional) and gradually towards Agile Coach or Trainer.
As I have already discussed before, whatever certification you do, it should map to your experience. Though you become eligible for many advance / expert level certification at an initial stage of the career, but merely doing the certification would not guarantee better growth, both in terms of personal learning and professional aspirations.
For example, in spite of having a Test manager certification from ISTQB , organizations wont prefer to give you role and designation of QA manager if you have only 5 years of experience. Similarly, a PMP certified professional with 5 -6 years of experience would not fit to perform a project manager kind of a role. Hence, one should be really careful to choose a certification.
Please see that the recommendations and thoughts made by me are all based on personal experience, and observations and may have disparity in opinions.
Author: This certification guide is written by STH team member Shilpa Roy.
If you still have any question about pursuing your certification, feel free to to post it in comments below.
Recommended Reading
When we think of IT (information technology) we tend to focus on development, network, and database issues. It's easy to forget that before sending work out to the user, there is a crucial middleman. That person or team is quality assurance (QA).
QA comes in many forms, from the developer who tests her own code, to the testing gurus who work with automated testing tools. Many vendors and groups have recognized testing as an integral part of the development and maintenance process and have developed certifications to standardize and demonstrate knowledge of the QA process and testing tools.
Software Testing Certification Training
Vendors That Offer Testing Certifications
Vendor-Neutral Testing Certifications
Software Testing Certified
ISTQB Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) — The Foundation Level qualification is aimed at professionals who need to demonstrate practical knowledge of the fundamental concepts of software testing. This includes people in roles such as test designers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers and IT Professionals. The Foundation Level qualification is also appropriate for anyone who needs a basic understanding of software testing, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors, and management consultants.
Quality Improvement Associate Certification (CQIA) — The Certified Quality Improvement Associate has a basic knowledge of quality tools and their uses and is involved in quality improvement projects, but doesn't necessarily come from a traditional quality area.
Certified Test Manager (CTM) — The CTM Certification was developed based on the Test Management Body of Knowledge (TMBOK) to fill the gap in the management skills required by test managers and test leads to effectively manage the test process, the test project and the test organization.
Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) — CSTP is the short form for “Certified Software Test Professional.' This was initiated by International Institute for Software Testing (IIST) in 1991, and so far has been successful in enhancing the career of thousands of aspirants by providing the professional skill set for software application testing. This certification program could be taken by any newcomer in the testing field as well as for the managers and leaders in the testing field.
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (CSSBB) — The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt is a professional who can explain Six Sigma philosophies and principles, including supporting systems and tools. A Black Belt should demonstrate team leadership, understand team dynamics and assign team member roles and responsibilities. Black Belts have a thorough understanding of all aspects of the DMAIC model in accordance with Six Sigma principles. They have basic knowledge of Lean enterprise concepts, are able to identify non-value-added elements and activities and are able to use specific tools.
Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) — Prove your level proficiency as a manager or advisor when it comes to IT principles and practices of quality assurance when you become Certified Software Quality Analyst certified.
Software Testing Certifications For Experienced
Although this list is short, the links above go to sites that offer more niche certifications for you to research. Those listed here are respected in IT and are a must-have for anyone considering an entry into the world of testing and Quality Assurance.