International Software Testing Qualifications Board
ISTQB Certified Tester is the name for a standardized qualification for software testers. The International Software Testing Qualifications Board ( ISTQB ) has the objective of developing a standardized training for professional software testers. The training program is offered in 69 countries (as of March 2013). The ISTQB was founded in November 2002 in Edinburgh.
Certificates
- Foundation Level ( CTFL )
- Advanced Level - Test Manager
- Advanced Level - Test Analyst (formerly Functional Tester )
- Advanced Level - Technical Test Analyst (formerly Technical Tester)
- Advanced Level ( CTAL ) - Full Advanced Level ( by existence of a part or the Advanced Level examinations )
- Expert Level - in preparation
Content of the tests
The examination for Foundation Level asks knowledge from across the test area.
The Advanced Level examination sections are of a practical nature and deepen their knowledge. Test Manager deal with the planning and control of the testing process. Functional Tester deal among other things with reviews and the Black- box testing techniques. Technical tester contact with Unit Tests (also called unittest ) apart, in addition to other white -box testing techniques, and non-functional test techniques and test tools are used. The Expert Level is still in preparation.
Training for the Certified Tester
The Certified Tester elements training, auditing and curriculum definition are organized independently. Certified Tester training may only be offered and conducted by training companies, the board has an ISTQB accredited ( eg, the GTB in Germany, the ATB in Austria, ...) for each level of education. With the accreditation, according to the training provider that his training converts your curriculum complete and technically correct.
Requirements
The Foundation Level exam has no formal prerequisites and can be taken without previous training. At the Advanced Level examinations to pass the Foundation Level is required and at least 18 months have considerable professional experience. In the U.S., 36 months and 24 months in India are required.
Examination
Tests can be completed immediately following course independently as an open test (eg in a testing center) at an accredited training or.
The tests are carried out as a multiple-choice test, which existed until 2005, approximately 80 % of subjects. The pure audit costs are for Foundation Level around 268 euros, the Advanced Level 238 euros or 119 euros ( pupils and students ) per test and a one-time processing fee of 58 Euros (all figures include VAT, as of July 2012). The certificates are valid for life-long existence ( both for Foundation Level and Advanced Level ) and do not require renewal.
In Germany tests can also be stored online in a testing center. The national or regional testing boards are responsible for the quality and auditing. Worldwide, there are testing boards in 37 countries (as of April 2008). In Germany, the organ, the German Testing Board (GTB ).
Number and distribution of certified testers worldwide
Currently there are more than 295,000 worldwide ISTQB Certified Tester (March 2013), with more than 25,000 authorized by the German Testing Board exams were taken (as of mid 2012). In Austria, there are, according to Austrian Testing Board currently (as of July 2010) around 2000 Thus, it is the world's most widely used certification program for software testers. . One reason for the rapid spread, is that organizations of other certificates for software testers ( such as ISEB (Information Systems Examination Board ) ) join together with the ISTQB. Another reason is that even without preparatory courses, ie through self-study, can be learned because the curricula on the Internet are freely available and relevant literature is available.