ISTQB’s Worldwide Impact

Software errors cause massive problems around the world, ranging from subtle defects hindering customer experience to critical errors causing program failure. Today’s projects require quality and consistent testing from the very beginning, and the market demands it. It’s commonly known, that defects found and corrected early in the life cycle cost an organization far less to correct than those found later on. It also takes less time to correct a defect early in the project than it does as a project progresses. However, with dozens of methodologies and tools available to testers, some are more effective than others – some are even harmful to project outcomes.

This is why software testing certification is so important in the information technology industry. The International Software Testing Qualification Board (ISTQB) has created the world’s most successful scheme for certifying software testers. ISTQB’s Certified Tester scheme has become the de facto standard, recognized worldwide, for its Body of Knowledge allowing testers to be certified based on best practises, connecting the international software testing community and encouraging continued research.

This worldwide impact is marked by the following 2015 figures:

• More than 540,000 exams taken worldwide
• Over 400,000 certifications issued
• 13,500 new certificates issued per quarter
• 50 member boards covering 72 countries, representing 90% of the world-wide GDP
• Over 100 countries covered by ISTQB certification activities
• More than 250 accredited training providers

As the de facto standard in software testing certification with worldwide recognition, organizations find value ensuring their software testers are ISTQB certified, guaranteeing their projects receive the quality and consistent testing practices the market demands. For organizations demonstrating a commitment to software testing certification the ISTQB Partner Program promotes a win-win partnership. Welcoming over 108 partners as of 2015, the ISTQB Partner Program has grown in popularity developing further cooperation between the ISTQB, its member boards and organizations. Organizations may be eligible to become an ISTQB partner if they have employees or external consultants providing services on the organization’s behalf for more than 70% of their time and have passed ISTQB Certification exams.

To find out how your organization can become a CSTB Partner, check out our Partner Program page.

What’s Next from ISTQB?
In line with ISTQB’s vision to continually improve and advance the software testing profession, here’s what you can expect to see next:

Model-Based Testing
Model-based testing (MBT) is an innovative test approach to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the test process using models to drive test analysis and design. ISTQB Model-Based Tester Certification has been designed to complement the core foundation level, as a specialist module providing practical and easy entry to the model-based testing approach.

With ISTQB Model-Based Testing you can expect to:

• Collaborate in a model-based testing team using standard terminology and established MBT concepts, processes and techniques.
• Apply and integrate model-based testing in a test process.
• Effectively create and maintain MBT models using established techniques and best practises.
• Select, create, and maintain test artifacts from MBT models considering risk and value of features tested.
• Support the organization to improve its quality assurance process to be more constructive and efficient.

Read: “Model-Based Tester in a Nutshell” for more information.

Interested in Model-Based testing certification? Stay tuned and follow our news on cstb.ca.

About the CSTB: The CSTB (Canadian Software Testing Board) is the Canadian national branch of the ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board). As such, it advocates education and examination as a practical means to excel in the software testing field. The CSTB is one of many national boards participating in the ISTQB. Please visit www.cstb.ca.