The ISTQB Certified Tester program provides certification for software testers internationally. There are currently three levels of certification: the Foundation Level, the Advanced Level, and the Expert Level. For each level, international working parties develop and maintain internationally uniform syllabi, exam development procedures, and a Glossary of Terms. One of the core principles of the program is a strict separation between the administration of exams and the training to those who would like to prepare for the exam in ISTQB compliant courses. This is not true of other testing and/or quality assurance organizations.

The Foundation Level exam tests for knowledge, not skill. It provides information about the certificate holder’s level of familiarity with the most common concepts of software testing and the associated terminology. It does not require work experience. The Foundation Level exam is a stepping stone toward the Advanced Level, which is more in-depth and much more practice-oriented.

An ISTQB accredited training provider is someone who has extensive knowledge and experience in testing, and can provide additional insights into testing terminology and the syllabus content, to make it easier to attain the ISTQB certifications.

Since the courses are given by a variety of training providers, the courses will vary. The course syllabus dictates the areas that must be covered in each course, but other details, such as the order of the material, are left to the training provider. The CSTB does not provide course material other than the syllabus and the ISTQB Standard Glossary of Terms.

The cost of training depends on the accredited training provider company you choose. Since all accredited training providers operate independently, their pricing will vary. Each individual pursuing the ISTQB certification should explore the accredited training providers to identify the best match for their needs.

The CSTB will administer the exam independent of any courses. Courses can be taken to prepare for the exam, and ISTQB compliant courses are being offered by ISTQB accredited training providers.

There are no pre-requisites for the Foundation Level exam.

The Foundation Level exam is a 60-minute multiple choice, closed-book exam. The 40 questions making up the exam are designed to evaluate a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the entire Foundation syllabus. A grade of 65% must be attained in order to pass.

The Advanced Level exams are composed of three sections. They correspond to the three different subject areas: ‘Test Analyst,’ ‘Technical Test Analyst,’ and ‘Test Manager’. Each exam is 3 hours in length. All three areas require a passing grade of 65% in order to receive the full Advanced Level certificate. However, exams for each subject area can be taken with successful candidates receiving a certificate identifying the section(s) that have been completed.

The Expert Level exams are a combination of multiple choice questions and essay questions. An Expert Level certificate is valid for 5 years.

Expert Level certification must be renewed every 5 years using one of the following two options:

Pass the Expert Level exam
Achieve 200 “Certification Extension Credits“ (CECs)
CECs may be achieved in a number of areas. For example:

Perform a professional testing activity
Take a relevant training course
Attend a testing conference
Present at a testing conference
Teach a relevant training course
Write a testing article or book
Actively participate in a Working Group (ISTQB® Member Boards, SIGIST, etc.)
Verifiable evidence of CEC related activity must be submitted to the certifier.

The Expert Level Certification Extension Program is published by the ISTQB.

CTAL-TM is an Advanced Test Manager responsible managing a test effort. CTAL-TA is an Advanced Test Analyst responsible for test case design, using black box test case design techniques. Focus is on functional testing and usability testing.