Certification

Several certification programs exist to support the professional aspirations of software testers and quality assurance specialists. No certification currently offered actually requires the applicant to demonstrate the ability to test software. No certification is based on a widely accepted body of knowledge. This has led some to declare that the testing field is not ready for certification. Certification itself cannot measure an individual's productivity, their skill, or practical knowledge, and cannot guarantee their competence, or professionalism as a tester.


Software testing certification types
Certifications can be grouped into: exam-based and education-based.

Exam-based certifications: For these there is the need to pass an exam, which can also be learned by self-study: e.g. for ISTQB or QAI.
Education-based certifications: Education based software testing certifications are instructor-led sessions, where each course has to be passed, e.g. IIST (International Institute for Software Testing).

Testing certifications
Certified Software Tester (CSTE) offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)
Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) offered by the International Institute for Software Testing8]
[[CSTP (TM)]] (Australian Version) offered by K. J. Ross & Associates9]
CATe offered by the International Institute for Software Testing0]
ISEB offered by the Information Systems Examinations Board
Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) offered by the International Software Testing Qualification Board
Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL) offered by the International Software Testing Qualification Board
CBTS offered by the Brazilian Certification of Software Testing (ALATS)

Quality assurance certifications
*CSQE offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ)
*CSQA offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)

Certifications
Required Certification: At least Should have done any on Certification

1 Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)[42]

2 CATe offered by the International Institute for Software Testing [43]

3 Certified Manager in Software Testing (CMST) offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)[42]

4 Certified Software Tester (CSTE) offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)[42]

4 Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) offered by the International Institute for Software Testing [43]

5 CSTP (TM) (Australian Version) offered by K. J. Ross & Associates [44]

6 ISEB offered by the Information Systems Examinations Board

7 ISTQB Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) offered by the International Software Testing Qualification Board [45] [46]

8 ISTQB Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL) offered by the International Software Testing Qualification Board [45] [46]

9 TMPF TMap Next Foundation offered by the Examination Institute for Information Science [47]

10 TMPA TMap Next Advanced offered by the Examination Institute for Information Science [47]



Quality assurance certifications


1 CMSQ offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI).[42]

2 CSQA offered by the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)[42]

3 CSQE offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ)[48]

4 CQIA offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ)[48]