Testing Exam Providers are responsible for delivering the ISTQB Accreditation, which is a certificate in software testing that is recognized globally. Those who are successful in completing the ISTQB Certified Tester examination earn a certificate in return.
Candidates have the opportunity to get ISTQB certification in any one of the more than 70 countries across the world in which the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) operates member boards.
The names of the Member Boards might differ from country to country. The abbreviation that is used in the United States is “ASTQB,” which stands for the American Software Testing Qualifications Board. On the other hand, “Indian Testing Board” refers to the member board that is located in India (ITB). In contrast, the content of the exam, as well as the questions, their order, and other aspects of the test, will not be changed in any way. The ISTQB, which is run entirely by volunteers and subject matter experts, is a non-profit organization.
Justifications for picking ISTQB as your preferred testing certificate include the following:
- This certification may be earned by IT experts as well as non-IT professionals by passing an examination that is taken online.
- There are three tiers of the ISTQB Foundation Level certification, none of which require any previous professional experience to get.
- This certification is the one that is most well recognized across the software testing business, and it is also one of the most rapidly expanding certifications.
- The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) certification, in contrast to other qualifications, which are only acknowledged in certain countries, opens doors to testing employment all around the world.
- The ISTQB certification is valid indefinitely, in contrast to the CSTP certification, which becomes invalid after three years and necessitates re-qualification in order to keep one’s credentials.
This certification has three levels, which are as follows:
- Fundamental Level Certification
- Advanced Level Certification
- Expert Level Certification
- Fundamental level Certification is the initial step toward becoming an ISTQB Certified Tester and is awarded at the fundamental level of certification (ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation). This certification will not only give you an education on the fundamental concepts and best practices of software testing, but it will also provide the groundwork for your future career progress. All of these testing-related topics—testing theories, testing in the software development life cycle, static procedures like reviews, behavioral tests (black-box), and structural tests—are taught in the context of a single course outline (white-box).
- Those having a minimum of five years’ worth of testing experience should work toward attaining the Advanced Certification, which is the certification level that falls roughly in the center of the spectrum. The purpose of Advanced Certification is to provide committed software testers with the knowledge and skills essential to further their careers. The training is divided into three parts for testers who are focused on the business side of things: advanced testing standards and advanced testing of behavior, also known as black-box testing; test automation and advanced testing of structure, also known as white-box testing; and advanced test management ideas for management.
- Expert Certification is the most prestigious level of accreditation available, and it may be earned by software testers who have at least eight years of experience. The Expert Certification was developed with the intention of ensuring that experienced testing professionals continually understand and use cutting-edge methods, as well as guiding the software testing profession in the direction that was outlined. Due to the fact that specialists want to specialize in particular areas, we want to provide a choice of expert curricula that include subjects such as test automation, test management, and industry-specific test processes.
The Five Easy Steps to Obtaining Your ISTQB Certification
Following these five essential steps will lead to employment and promotion opportunities in the software testing business. This is what the ISTQB Certification website recommends.
- Learn about ISTQB Foundation Certification to get started.
- Preparation is easy when you have access to resources like the free ISTQB curriculum (which teaches everything you need to know to pass the exam), practice exams, and a terminology dictionary. The other alternative is to go through an approved (tested) software testing certification program. ISTQB Foundation Level test hints may also be found here.
- ASTQB and AT*SQA, our ISTQB exam supplier, will help you register for your exam. In the United States, ASTQB and AT*SQA are used to certify your ISTQB certification. Why? Managers want you to take the ASTQB’s version of the ISTQB test to show that you can communicate successfully with your American colleagues. You must register for the ISTQB certification exam through ASTQB and AT*SQA in order to appear on the official US list of Certified Software TestersTM and collect points towards your Testing TiersTM software tester rating.
- Pass the final exam. Excellent! Employers in the United States may now access the ISTQB Certified Software TestersTM in the U.S. list, which has been updated. Additionally, we will add you to the ISTQB successful candidate list. At the same time, AT*SQA will contribute points to your Software Testing TiersTM rating! In addition to a declaration that you are on the official U.S. list, you may now display your software testing certification proudly in your portfolio or CV. Use your AT*SQA account to post your certifications to LinkedIn for free.
- Keep on climbing. Look at the Software Testing Career Path to see where you want your career to go. Agile and mobile testing certifications are in high demand, and both need only a few hours of training. You may begin using them right away. Use the ASTQB and AT*QSA to gain more points toward your Testing TiersTM software tester rating by putting them through these two standards. As an added perk, ASTQB and AT*SQA are the only two organizations that let you retake your ISTQB exam for free if you use an ASTQB accredited training provider and meet the eligibility conditions.