ISTQB
Encyclopedia
The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) is a software testing
qualification certification
organisation. Founded in Edinburgh in November 2002, ISTQB is a non-profit association legally registered in Belgium.
The ISTQB is responsible for the international qualification scheme called "ISTQB Certified Tester". The qualifications are based on a syllabus
, and there is a hierarchy of qualifications and guidelines for accreditation and examination. The ISTQB is the world’s leading issuer of Software Testing Qualifications having more 165000 certifications issued; the ISTQB consists of 47 member boards worldwide representing more than 60 countries (date: March 2011).
Currently ISTQB provides 3 levels of certification:
The contents of each syllabus are taught as courses by training providers, which have been accredited by national or regional boards.. Each course is usually concluded by an examination covering the contents of the syllabus. After the examination, each successful participant receives the "ISTQB Certified Tester" certificate (or the local variant with the added "ISTQB compliant" logo). It is not compulsory to follow a course in order to attend the exam.
It is the ISTQB's goal to provide a single, universally accepted, international qualification scheme, aimed at software and system testing professionals, by providing the core syllabi and by setting guidelines for accreditation and examination, as well as auditing that the rules are observed by all the member boards. The ISTQB syllabi content has been used by thousands of organizations worldwide.
More detailed information can be found on the ISTQB Official Website.
Despite some criticism, the ISTQB is today the most widespread and fast growing scheme for the certifications of competences on software testing. Anybody interested in improving the ISTQB Syllabi and certification rules can apply to one of the National Boards and contribute to the several international ISTQB Working Groups that continuously enhance the ISTQB Body of knowledge, ensuring that all improvement opportunities are taken into account.
Software testing
Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
qualification certification
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
organisation. Founded in Edinburgh in November 2002, ISTQB is a non-profit association legally registered in Belgium.
The ISTQB is responsible for the international qualification scheme called "ISTQB Certified Tester". The qualifications are based on a syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
, and there is a hierarchy of qualifications and guidelines for accreditation and examination. The ISTQB is the world’s leading issuer of Software Testing Qualifications having more 165000 certifications issued; the ISTQB consists of 47 member boards worldwide representing more than 60 countries (date: March 2011).
Currently ISTQB provides 3 levels of certification:
- Foundation Level
- Advanced Level
- Test Manager
- Test Analyst
- Technical Test Analyst
- Expert Level
- Improving the Test Process
- Test Management
- Test Automation (planned to be deployed in 2012)
- Security Testing (planned to be deployed in 2012)
The contents of each syllabus are taught as courses by training providers, which have been accredited by national or regional boards.. Each course is usually concluded by an examination covering the contents of the syllabus. After the examination, each successful participant receives the "ISTQB Certified Tester" certificate (or the local variant with the added "ISTQB compliant" logo). It is not compulsory to follow a course in order to attend the exam.
It is the ISTQB's goal to provide a single, universally accepted, international qualification scheme, aimed at software and system testing professionals, by providing the core syllabi and by setting guidelines for accreditation and examination, as well as auditing that the rules are observed by all the member boards. The ISTQB syllabi content has been used by thousands of organizations worldwide.
More detailed information can be found on the ISTQB Official Website.
Controversy
There is controversy surrounding the ISTQB's certification scheme. Many leaders in the software testing field do not recognise ISTQB certification as a worthwhile qualification.Despite some criticism, the ISTQB is today the most widespread and fast growing scheme for the certifications of competences on software testing. Anybody interested in improving the ISTQB Syllabi and certification rules can apply to one of the National Boards and contribute to the several international ISTQB Working Groups that continuously enhance the ISTQB Body of knowledge, ensuring that all improvement opportunities are taken into account.
See also
- International Software Testing Qualifications Board Certified TesterInternational Software Testing Qualifications Board Certified TesterISTQB Certified Tester is a standardized qualification for software testers. The certification is offered by the ISTQB , and is based on a multiple-choice exam covering the freely available syllabus...
- Software TestingSoftware testingSoftware testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software...
- Verification and Validation (software)
- ISTQB Exam Dates