ISTQB CertificationSetting the Standard for Tester Professionalism

Gary Mogyorodi, B.Math., M.B.A.

Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL)Certified Tester, Advanced Level – Functional Tester (CTAL-FT)Certified Tester, Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM)

President - Canadian Software Testing Board

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You Have Questions, I Have Answers

What is tester certification? What is the CSTB and the ISTQB? What are the levels of certification?         What is the benefit/impact of certification?

On the testerOn the organizationOn the testing profession

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Software Tester CertificationA tester certification confirms the professional capabilities of software testers through objective, carefully-designed exams ISTQB’s approach

Focuses on practical, real-world testing activitiesSupports a career path with levels of certificationPromotes the software testing professionRepresents the distilled wisdom of many experts including practitioners, consultants, trainers, and academicsTraining is not required to take exams, and there are a number of training providers to select fromRe-certification is not required

The last three points in particular distinguish ISTQB’s approach from other testing certifications

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Canadian Software Testing Board - CSTB

Composed of practitioners, consultants, and trainersGary Mogyorodi, President (consultant, trainer)Stephanie Ripeau, Vice President (consultant)Eran Barlev, Treasurer (consultant, trainer)Susan Burgess, VP Marketing (consultant)Paul Huddleston, VP English Accreditations (practitioner) Sylvette Morissette, VP French Accreditations (practitioner)Susan Lovekin, VP at Large (training consultant) Raymond Rivest, VP at Large (consultant)Christina Becker, Secretariat

Administers examsAccredits training providersParticipates in ISTQB meetings and activities

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ISTQBComposed of 41 National Boards Based in Brussels, BelgiumRex Black, PresidentErik van Veenendaal, Vice PresidentA collegial, sharing organizationWorking parties (composed of National Board delegates) define syllabi (bodies of knowledge), the Glossary of Terms, processes, etc.These working parties distill the collective experience and wisdom represented across boards (>1,000 person-years)

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Foundation Level CertificationEntry-level certification: 0+ years of experience

GoalsEnsure a broad understanding of the fundamental best practices and key concepts in software testingProvide a foundation for professional growth

Syllabus/body of knowledge coversFundamentals of testing, testing in the software development lifecycle, static (review) techniques, white-box and black-box test case design techniques, test management, and testing toolsSyllabus-based training courses are typically 2 1/2 days

Status: The ISTQB released the latest version of the Foundation Level Syllabus in 2007.

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Advanced CertificationMid-level certification: 5+ years experience, or 2 years experience and a Batchelor’s degree in (Computer Science or a related degree)Goals

Ensure an understanding of advanced best practices and key concepts in software testing by committed test professionalsSupport on-going professional growth

Syllabus/body of knowledge coversAdvanced behavioral (black-box) testing for independent testers, test automation, advanced structural (white-box) testing for testers and programmers, and sophisticated test management conceptsSyllabus-based training courses are typically 3 1/2 days

Status: The ISTQB released the latest version of the Advanced Level Syllabus in October, 2007.

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Expert CertificationGuru-level certification: 7+ years experienceGoals

Ensure consistent understanding and execution of proven cutting-edge techniques by seasoned test professionalsLead the software testing profession

Syllabi/bodies of knowledge will coverTest process improvement, test automation, test management, and moreSyllabus-based training courses will be offered

Status: A working party is developing a new Expert Syllabus, and the ISTQB may experiment with locally-developed syllabi from National Boards next year.

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Visualizing the Levels of Certification

Foundation Level

Advanced Technical

Advanced Functional

Advanced Manager

Expert [TBD]

Expert [TBD]

Expert [TBD]

Expert [TBD]

…

Relative size of figures indicates expected relative numbers of potential certificate holders (not to scale). There will be more than four expert certifications.

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ISTQB by the Numbers – Q3, 2008BOARD

ANZTB (Aus/New Zealand)FOUNDATION

2,585ADVANCED

25TOTAL CERTIFICATIONS

2,610

ASTQB (United States) 4,533 150 4,683

ATB (Austria) 929 350 1,279

BNTQB (Belgium/Netherl.) 6,515 492 7,007

BSTB (Bangladesh) 0 0 0

BSTQB (Brazil) 202 0 202

CaSTB (Czech/Slovak) 77 0 77

CSTB (Canada) 326 51 377

CSTQB (China) 219 7 226

CTFL (France) 223 54 277

DTB (Denmark) 649 33 682

ETB (Estonia) 0 0 0

FiSTB (Finland) 0 0 0

GSTB (Gulf States) 0 0 0

GTB (Germany) 8,545 2103 10,648

HASTQB (South America) 28 0 28

HTB (Hungary) 5 0 5

ISTB (Ireland) 9 0 0

ITA-STQB (Italy) 27 0 27

ITB (India) 15,128 548 15,676

ITCB (Israel) 1234 13 1,247

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ISTQB by the Numbers – Q3, 2008

BOARDJTCB (Japan) 1828

ADVANCED0

TOTAL CERTIFICATIONS1,828

KSATB (Saudi Arabia) 0 0 0

KTB (Korea) 1044 3 1,047

LSTQB (Latvia) 76 0 76

MSTB (Malaysia) 100 0 100

NSTB (Nigeria) 15 0 15

NTB (Norway) 320 11 331

PTB (Poland) 386 0 386

PTB (Portugal). 0 0 0

RSTQB (Russia) 388 17 405

SASTQB (South Africa) 0 0 0

SEETB (So’East Europe) 578 31 609

SSTB (Sweden) 1221 0 1,221

SSTQB (Spain) 23 0 23

STB (Switzerland) 2,103 921 3,024

TTB (Turkey) 157 23 180

UKTB (UK) 42461 1,543 44,004

USQB (Ukraine) 73 0 73

VTB (Vietnam) 34 0 34

Total 92,041 6,375 98,416

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The Trend

Copyright (c) 2008 ISTQB Page 15

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Value of CertificationTo the tester

Demonstrate mastery of the best practices and key concepts in the fieldAdvance career opportunities in competitive markets

To the organization Ensure better testing for better software, reduced costs, and improved qualityAchieve consistency and re-usability of testing

To the professionBuild on our best work and provide test processesDefine the profession and what testers should know

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Further ResourcesThe CSTB web site offers more information, including local exam dates, training provider contacts, reference materials, and qualifications for each exam level at www.cstb.caSee the current Foundation Syllabus, Advanced Syllabus and Glossary of Terms at www.istqb.orgThe ASTQB, the UK ISEB, and the Indian Test Board web sites also provide useful information

www.astqb.orgwww.bcs.orgIndia.istqb.org

The ISTQB Web site offers the international perspective at www.istqb.org

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Q and A