Software testing ensures software or product quality assurance. Hence, it is one of the vital parts of the software development life cycle (SDLC). Professionals responsible for software testing are known as software testers. However, in software testing also there are several roles like –

• Test engineer
• Test analyst
• Testing manager
• Test designer

To excel in any role, certifications help a lot. Most importantly, all sorts of software testing certifications are available – from beginner, intermediate to advanced level. Certifications not only improve your knowledge but also make your portfolio attractive.

Here we have chosen 10 Software testing certifications depending on different levels.

Related post – Most useful certifications for IT professionals

Software testing certifications for Beginner Level (0-5 years)

1. Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)

Conducted by: QAI (Quality Assurance Institute – Florida – USA)

CAST or Certified Associate in Software Testing is a foundation level software testing certification that helps a testing professional showcases his basic understanding level of quality testing principles and practices. Furthermore, if you are new to software testing and want to break this domain, this certification is also the right fit. The exam is conducted at a Pearson VUE Testing Centers online. To go through the certification, you need to go through a Software Testing Body of Knowledge (STBOK) pdf book as part of the preparation.

Eligibility: One of the below:

· 3 Year or 4 Year degree from an accredited college

· 2 Year degree in college with 1 year of experience.

· 3 Years experience in IT.

Fee: $100

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 100
• Total time – 75 minutes
• Passing Score – 70%

Fee: $100

2. Certification: ISTQB – Foundation Level

Conducted by: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)

If you are interested in demonstrating your proficiency in basic software testing, test designing and planning, quality aspects like defect management and product risk, ISTQB’s foundation level certification (CTFL) will help you a lot. This software testing certification will help you bag foundation roles in testing like test analysts, consultants, or even testers.

Eligibility: No prior eligibility criteria.

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 40
• Total time – 60 minutes (15 additional minutes for participants taking the examination in a non-native language.)
• Passing Score – 65%

Fee: $250

3. Certification for Foundation Level Extension – Agile Tester

Conducted by: ISTQB (International software testing qualification board)

Most of the software projects have adopted Agile nowadays. As a result, Agile testing is the new trend to software testing that has been gaining traction lately. Agile testing is based on the Agile software development methodology. 

The certification aims to spread knowledge on agile methodology:

• Entry-level testers are interested in Agile testing.
• Experienced testers in traditional approaches to software development.
• Expert developers associated with Agile projects with basic knowledge of testing.

Eligibility:  

· The ISTQB Foundation Level Certification is a prerequisite

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 40
• Total time – 60 minutes
• Passing Score – 65%

Fee: $150

Software testing certifications for Intermediate Level (5-8 years)

4. Certification: CSTE – (Certified Software Test Engineer)

Conducted by: QAI (Quality Assurance Institute – Florida – USA)

Certified Software Tester certification provides a tester a professional-level competence in the area of QA. It explains the principles and practices of quality control more elaborately. It is the best software testing to start with your career. After achieving the CSTE certification, you can bag the role of a software testing or quality control advisor, as well as quality control manager. However, to enroll in this program, you have to work 18 months minimum in software testing.

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice + Essay-type
• Total Questions – 100 + 12
• Total Time – 75 minutes + 75 minutes
• Passing Score – 70% (average of scores in both exams)

Eligibility: One of the below:

· A 4-year degree from the accredited college-level institution and 2 years’ experience in the information services field

· A 3-year degree from the accredited college-level institution and 3 years’ experience in the information services field

· A 2-year degree from the accredited college-level institution and 4 years’ experience in the information services field

· Six years’ experience in the information services field

· prior 18 months experience in software testing and quality control.

Fee: $350 – Includes fee and pdf format book; $420 – Includes fee, Book, and CD

CSTE certification involves two exams, and both are conducted at Pearson Vue Testing Centers. As part of the preparation, you need to study Software Testing Body of Knowledge for CSTE (STBOK), a 557-page PDF covering the entire syllabus of the examination.

5. Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST)

Conducted by: QAI (Quality Assurance Institute – Florida – USA)

This software testing certification is ideal for the managerial role. It is a global level certification for testing roles. The certification assures the working-level competence in the principles and practices of software testing of the certification holder as well their testing project management capability. The exam is held at Pearson Vue Testing Center. Like other QAI exams for this exam also the eligible candidates need to prepare a STBOK PDF. The whole exam is divided into two parts with 10 minutes break in-between. The exam assesses the candidate’s knowledge and experience in the following areas:

1. Test Management
2. Test Analysis
3. Test Planning and Execution
4. Communications and Relationships

Exam Details:

• Format – Constructed response/essay type
• Total Questions – 7 + 5
• Total Time – 75 minutes + 75 minutes
• Passing Score – 70% (average Score of both exams)

Fee:$450

Eligibility:

• Currently hold an active CSTE Certification (recommended, but not required).
• Be working in the field covered by the certification designation.
• Be prepared to take the required manager’s level examination.

AND any of the below criteria:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution + At least 4 years of working experience in software testing.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution + At least a 6-year working experience in software testing.
• At least 8 years of working experience in the software testing field.

Software testing certifications for Advanced Level (8-11 years)

6. ISTQB – Advanced Level – Technical Test Analyst

This is one of the best software testing certifications for testers who are working in mid-range job profiles in the testing industry. With this certification, they can prove their proficiency as a professional test analyst. This certification aims for the roles of software testers, software engineers, automation engineers, etc. There are three sub-modules are:

• Technical Test Analyst
• Test Analyst
• Test Manager

Eligibility:

• A degree in computer science or related field from an accredited institution + 24 months of software testing experience for taking *2 sub-modules or 36-month experience for taking all the three sub-modules.
• A non-bachelor degree from an accredited institution + At least 60-month experience working in software testing.

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 60
• Total time – 180 minutes
• Passing Score – 75%

Fee:$250

7. Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester

Another prestigious software testing certification to advance your agile testing career is the Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester issued by ISTQB. A certified Advanced Level Agile Tester can apply agile techniques that ensure adequate testing coverage, create and implement several Agile testing approaches, define testable requirements, etc. Areas that are covered by Advanced Level Agile Tester Certification includes:

• Aspects of Code Quality.
• Deployment and Delivery.
• Requirement Engineering.
• Test Automation.
• Test-Driven Development (TDD).
• Testing in Agile.

Eligibility:

Requisites for the software testing certification are:

• A valid ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL) certification,
• A valid ISTQB Agile Tester certification,
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and
• Some professional experience in software testing (determined by the Exam Board through which candidates undertake the course).

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 40
• Total time – 90 minutes (23 minutes extra for candidates giving the examination in a non-native language.)
• Passing Score – 65%

Fee: $249

8. Advanced Level Security Tester

This is another ISTQB certification for experienced testers. The Advanced Level Security Tester certification helps you to take one big step further in your professional life. A certified Advanced Level Security Tester is capable of:

• Analyzing and documenting security test needs.
• Assisting an organization in building information security awareness.
• Evaluating an existing security test suite and suggesting additional security tests.
• Identifying security test objectives for a project.
• Planning, evaluating, and performing security tests from various perspectives, including policy-based, risk-based, and vulnerability-based.

Eligibility:

• Having a valid ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL) certification, and
• At least 3 years of relevant academic, practical, or consulting experience.

Exam Details:

• Format – Multiple-choice
• Total Questions – 45
• Total time – 120 minutes (30 minutes extra for candidates giving the examination in a non-native language.)
• Passing Score – 65%

Fee: $249

9. Certified Software Test Professional Master Level (CSTP-M)

Conducted by: IIST (International Institute for Software Testing)

Objectives of CSTP – Master Level Certification

CSTP – Master Level aims at achieving the following objectives:

1. Help test professionals develop their software testing skills through formal education
2. Establish a common skill set for software testing professionals according to a well-defined Body of Knowledge
3. Create a pool of qualified software test professionals
4. Prepare candidates for a broader range of software testing assignments
5. Complement company in-house and on-the-job training programs
6. Provide professional recognition and career enhancement

Benefits of CSTP – Master Level Certification?

1. Demonstrate a level of competence in software testing methodologies and techniques
2. Helps individuals develop their software testing skills through formal education
3. Individuals develop common methodologies, practical approaches, and skill sets based on a well-defined Body of Knowledge
4. Establishes disciplined and repeatable processes for a company with a team of CSTP – Master Level holders
5. Prepares candidates for a wider range of software testing assignments
6. Provides professional recognition and helps gain greater acceptance of software testing as a profession
7. CSTP – Master Level holders are better prepared to advance toward increased responsibility or management
8. CSTP – Master Level holders are proven to be more marketable and respected in the field

Eligibility:

Two requirements must be satisfied before the CSTP-M certification can be granted. These are the Formal Education Requirement and Job Experience Requirement.

Formal Education Requirements:

Option #1: Achieving CSTP – Master Level as a progression from CSTP – Practitioner Level

1. Satisfying educational requirements of both CSTP – Associate Level & CSTP Practitioner Level.
2. Three days of training as follows:
   1. Two days to cover areas #6 (Test Automation) and #7 (Static Testing) of the Test Professionals Body of Knowledge.
   2. One day elective, which may cover any of the above areas or other test-related areas

Option #2: Achieving CSTP Master Level without achieving CSTP – Practitioner Level. If you have already worked toward CSTP, this is the option you would use.

Ten days of training, of which at least seven days, cover all seven Test Professional Body of Knowledge areas. The remaining ten days can be selected by the candidate the cover any topic on software testing.

Exam Details:

Candidates must complete a written exam for each course and pass with a level of performance no less than 80%. For courses conducted by IIST, a candidate is allowed to retake the exam for a second time without having to attend the course again. There is a $100 fee for retakes. If 80% performance is not achieved on a second attempt, the candidate must retake the course or take another course covering the same BOK area. If the course failed was taken online, you will get access to the online course and a retake exam for $100.

If the course was taken on-site or at public training and is available online, you can access both the online course and retake the exam for half the online course’s original price. If the course is failed for the 3rd time and was taken online, you will get access to the online course and a retake exam for half the original price of the online course. 

Fee: $120

[Ref: https://testinginstitute.com/cstpm.php]

10.Certified Agile Software Test Professional Practitioner Level (CASTP-P)

This certification helps test professionals to adapt to the culture of agile projects easily. It will aid you in developing the skills required to work in an agile environment. This certification will enhance not only your communication skills but also team dynamics skills, a fast-paced, incremental, and iterative project model.

Who can be benefited from this certification?:

· All testing professionals who want to skill themselves to work on agile projects.

· Test leads & test managers who work on managing the test efforts in Agile projects. After acquiring this certification, they will be able to manage the test efforts more effectively.

· Developers who want to perform effective testing in agile projects.

Eligibility:  

There are two prerequisites before attempting the CASTP – P certification exam:

· You should be a Certified Software Test Professional – Associate level or equivalent.

· At least one year of work experience in a software testing related job. You need to provide a letter signed by your supervisor describing the responsibilities you had on that job.

Formal Education Requirements:

You need to cover 3 days of training that will cover the following areas of ATBOB:

· Agile Development Methodologies (CASTP #1)

· Agile Requirement Exploration and Requirement Management (CASTP #2)

· Agile Test Design and Test Execution (CASTP #3)

• Fee: In the US $885 per person (this covers training and certification exam both) for online training & certification mode.
• There will be an additional $50 non-refundable graduation fee after passing the exams.
• A $100 fee for a retake of exams.

Conclusion

We have provided some of the best software testing certifications list in above. If it gives you confidence and motivation, then don’t hesitate to achieve your goal with certification. However, whatever certification you do, the first map I with your current role. It may seem that you are eligible for many of the certifications, but without relevant experience, it hardly guarantees better growth in your career. 

I wish you the best of luck and success!