Software testing is an important aspect of the software development cycle. It makes the product more efficient and encourages the speedy delivery of products without errors.
The people who are involved in the software testing profession are called software testers.
Depending on the complexity and type of product, a single or a team of software testing professionals is required.
For the same, to encourage and validate the relevant software testing skills, numerous number of software testing certificates are available for both learners and professionals.
These certificates can be earned after certain exams or relevant tests and these certificates give a boost in the software testing career.
The best and most important software testing certificates are given below:
Best Software Testing Certifications
ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) offers 3 very valuable software testing certificates. Each of these three certificates is elaborated below.
1. ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL)
This certificate is for beginner level testers and can be earned through an exam conducted by ISTQB.
There are no eligibility criteria to appear for this exam.
Anyone who is interested in demonstrating his/her basic level skill in testing can take up this exam.
Once you earn the certificate it will help you in getting a foundation level job as testers, test analysts, or test consultants.
The exam pattern is as follows-
Question type- 40 Multiple Choice Questions
Duration – 60 minutes writing time and additional 15 minutes for non-native language aspirants.
Cut off – 65%
Exam fee – $250.
2. ISTQB Agile Tester Certificate
Agile testing is a new way to test software. It is based on Agile software development methodology and is for you if you are an entry-level tester and is interested in Agile testing.
If you are an experienced tester or advanced expert developer then also you can also take up this exam for getting a traditional approach or for working with Agile projects.
It is like the second stage after earning the ISTQB Foundation Level certificate. Only those who have an ISTQB For Level (CTFL) certificate can take up this exam.
The exam pattern is as follows-
Question type- 40 Multiple Choice Questions
Duration – 60 minutes
Cut off – 65%
Exam fee – $150.
3. ISTQB Advanced Level Test Analyst
It is one of the best certifications for working professionals who are yet to advance in their careers.
To appear for the exam in order to earn this certification, you should satisfy certain criteria.
1. You must have a degree in computer science or equivalent field from an accredited institution along with 2 years of software testing experience for 2 sub-modules and 3 years of software testing experience for 3- modules.
2. Non-bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with 5 years of software testing work experience.
The sub-modules are:
- Test Analyst
- Technical Test Analyst
- Test Manager.
Exam pattern: The exam pattern is as follows-
Question type – 60 Multiple Choice Questions
Duration – 180 minutes
Cut off – 75%
Exam fee – $250
In order to apply for this, you must have earned the foundation and intermediate level ISTQB certifications.
4. Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)
It is a Beginner level exam.
This certification denotes that the person who has earned ut possesses good basic level skills in software testing.
The eligibility requirements for being able to take up this exam is as follows:
- A 3 or 4-year degree from an accredited institution.
- A two-year degree with 1 year of IT industry work experience.
- 3-year work experience in the IT industry.
This exam is conducted at Pearson VUE centers.
To prepare for this exam, a pdf is provided after the successful submission of the application.
The exam pattern is as follows:
Question type – 100 Multiple Choice Questions
Duration – 75 minutes
Cut off – 70%
Exam fee – $100.
5. Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST)
It is an advanced level certification.
It is a certification that gives global level recognition and is helpful for those who want to work for management level software testing roles. Thus exam is conducted at Pearson VUE Testing Centers.
Apart from ensuring working competence in software testing principles and practices, CMST also ensures that the candidate has relevant managerial skills required for software testing projects.
The eligibility criteria to appear for CMST is:
- Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of software testing work experience. or,
- Associate degree with 6 years of software testing work experience. or,
- 8 years of work experience in software testing.
Eligible candidates are provided with STBOK PDF to prepare for the exam.
The exam pattern is as follows:
Question type – 7+5 Essay type Questions
Duration – 75 minutes for each set (75 minutes + 75 minutes)
Cut off – 70%(average of both sets of exams)
Exam fee – $450.
6. Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
It is an intermediate level certification offered by QAI.
Earning this certificate ensures that you have a good professional-level knowledge of testing principles and relevant practice in this domain.
Through this certificate your chances of getting a job as a software testing or quality control advisor or manager increase.
To appear for this examination, the candidate must have working experience in the software testing field in the past 18 months.
Apart from this, the candidate must also satisfy one of the following criteria:
- 4 years of Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of work experience in the IT sector. or,
- 3 years of Bachelor’s degree with 3 years of work experience in the IT sector. or,
- 2 years Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of work experience in the IT sector. or
- 6 years of work experience in the IT field.
It consists of two exams and the pattern is as follows:-
Question type- 100 MCQ questions+12 Essay type Questions
Duration – 75 minutes for each set (75 minutes + 75 minutes)
Cut off – 70%(average of both sets of exams)
Exam fee – $350
A STBOK pdf is also provided for preparation and in that case, the examination fee along with pdf charges is $420.
7. Certified Software Test Professional Practitioner Level (CSTP-P)
It is conducted by the International Institute for Software Testing.
It is useful for all testing professionals, developers, leaders, and managers who are working or want to work on Agile projects and the Agile environment.
To be able to take up this exam, you must complete the three days of training that includes:–
- Agile Development Methodologies (CASTP #1)
- Agile Requirement Exploration and Requirement Management (CASTP #2)
- Agile Test Design and Test Execution (CASTP #3)
The exam pattern is as follows:-
Type – 3 written exams for 3 modules
Duration – 30 days for 3 modules
Cut off – 80%
Exam fee – $885 which includes online training as well as certification.
A STBOK pdf is also provided for preparation and in that case, the examination fee along with pdf charges is $420.
8. Certified Agile Software Test Professional Master Level (CASTP – M)
To appear for this exam you must initially have cleared the CASTP – P exam and should have earned the certificate for the same.
You should also have two years of work experience in the software testing field.
This certification is very helpful for advanced level testing professionals who want to further excel in their career and agile projects.
This certificate is valid for three years and recertification is required before expiration.
To be eligible you require to complete 3 days of training that covers:-
1. Agile test management (CASTP #4)
2. Agile test automation (CASTP #5)
3. Collaboration and team dynamics Tools and techniques (CASTP #6)
Written exam for each module if the training and a cutoff score if 80% is required.
You can retake the exam in case the 80% criteria are not satisfied without retaking the course.
The fee for the retake is $100.
Conclusion
We have provided you with the information on the best certifications for software testing that you could choose from.
These certificates are very valuable and useful for advancing in the respective software testing career and hence you should earn a couple of these.
