May 6, 2019 at 19:45ISTQB certification. Part 1: to be or not to be?
As our latest study shows : education and diplomas, unlike experience and the format of work, have almost no effect on the level of wages of a QA specialist. But is this really so and what then is the point in obtaining an ISTQB certificate? Why can obtaining a certificate be more beneficial to the employer company than to the specialist himself? Is the ISTQB worth the time and money that will have to be paid for its delivery? We will try to find answers to these questions in the First part of our article on certification ISTQB.
What is ISTQB, ISTQB Certification Levels and Do You Need It?
ISTQB is a non-profit organization that deals with the development of software testing, founded by representatives of 8 countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the UK.
ISTQB Tester Certification is a program that allows specialists to obtain an international testing certificate.
As of December 2018, ISTQB conducted 830,000+ exams and issued more than 605,000+ certificates, which are recognized in 126 countries.
Sounds great, right? However, is certification really necessary? What are the benefits of having a certificate for testing specialists and what opportunities does it offer them?
Which ISTQB to choose?
To begin with, we’ll deal with certification options for testing specialists. ISTQB offers 3 levels of certification and 3 directions for each of the levels according to the matrix:
What you need to know about choosing levels and directions:
1. The Foundation (F) level of the Core direction is the basis for any certificate of a higher level.
2. Level F of the Specialist direction - for it highly specialized certification is provided: usability, mobile application, performance, acceptance, model-based testing, etc.
3. Level F and Advanced (AD) of the Agile direction - the demand for certificates of this type over the past 2 years increased by more than 20%.
4. Level AD - certification is provided for / by:
- test managers;
- Test automation engineers;
- test analytics;
- technical test analytics;
- security testing.
5. Expert Level (EX)- involves certification in areas of test management and improving the testing process.
By the way, when choosing certification levels for the direction you need, refer to the information on the ISTQB main site , because Provider sites have inaccuracies in the description.
Talk about the benefits
From the point of view of a Qa-specialist, certification is:
1. First of all, confirmation of qualifications and professional suitability by international experts in the field of testing, and this, in turn, opens up access to new labor markets. At the international level, the certificate is recognized in 126 countries of the world - a paradise for remote work or a prerequisite for moving.
2. Improving competitiveness in the labor market: although most employers do not require ISTQB certificate from applicants, about 55% of test managers say they would like to have 100% staff of certified specialists (study ISTQB_Effectiveness_Survey_2016-17) .
3. Confidence in tomorrow.The certificate does not guarantee a top salary at employment or automatic promotion of work, but it is a kind of “fireproof amount” below which your work will not be appreciated.
4. Expansion and systematization of knowledge in the field of QA. Certification is a great way for a QA specialist to build and enrich testing knowledge. And if you are a seasoned tester, then update and streamline knowledge in the subject area, including through international standards and industry methodologies.
From the point of view of the company, certification is:
1. An additional competitive advantage in the market: companies with a staff of certified experts are much less likely to provide low-quality consulting and QA services, which positively affects the reputation and flow of new orders.
2. Bonus when participating in large tenders: the availability of certified specialists gives an advantage to companies in participating in competitive selection in relation to tenders.
3. Risk reduction: the certificate indicates that experts have a testing methodology, and this reduces the risks of poor-quality test analysis and can increase the speed of testing by optimizing the number of test scenarios.
4. Advantages in the international marketwhen providing software testing services intended for foreign customers and foreign software.
5. Growth of competencies within the company through mentoring and training of non-certified specialists to recognized international standards in the field of testing.
There are several more interesting bonuses and directions for companies offered by ISTQB:
1. ISTQB International Software Testing Excellence Award
International award in the field of software testing for outstanding services in the field of software quality, innovation, research and promotion of the profession of software testing.
Prize winners are experts in the field of testing and development, authors of research, new approaches in testing.
2. Partner Program (ISTQB)
The program recognizes organizations with a demonstrated commitment to software certification testing. The program includes four partnership levels (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Global), and the organization’s partnership level is determined by the number of certification points it has earned (Eligibility Grid).
What features:
- Inclusion in the list of partner organizations on the ISTQB website.
- Mentioning the organization on the websites of the National Council of ISTQB Members or the exam provider.
- Privileges for events and conferences related to ISTQB.
- The right to receive a beta version of the new ISTQB Syllabi program with the ability to make 5. your contribution to the preparation.
- Honorary Membership in the exclusive ISTQB Partner Forum.
- Mutual recognition of ISEB and ISTQB certification.
3. You, as the organizer of the event in the field of QA, can apply for participation in the ISTQB Conference Network.
In turn, ISTQB publishes conference information on the official website, and event organizers participating in the Conference Network provide a discount:
- holders of ISTQB certificates for participation in the event ;
- Partners Partner Program .
4. Publication of research in the field of testing in the Academic Research Collection "ISTQВ Academic Research Compendium"
5. A collection of best practices in testing from around the world. ISTQB Academia Dossier
It is a collection of examples and practices of companies and institutions from different countries in collaboration with ISTQB. For example, the development of a new direction taking into account the development trends of testing in the country (Canada), the development of ISTQB certification among students (Czech Republic).
What do testing experts think about ISTQB certification?
Opinions of the specialists of the "Quality Laboratory".
Angelica Pritula (ISTQB CTAL-TA certification), Leading Testing Specialist, Quality Laboratory company:
- What motivated you to receive this certificate?
- This is a necessary requirement abroad in order to get a job in a serious company as a tester. I then lived in New Zealand, I was hired by an organization that produces an anesthesia control system for operating rooms. The system was approved by the NZ government, therefore there was a mandatory requirement that the tester be certified. The company paid for my both certificates. All that was required of me was to prepare and pass.
- How did you prepare?
- I downloaded free textbooks from the official site and prepared on them. I prepared 3 days for the first general exam, 2 weeks for the second advanced exam.
Here I must say that my experience is not suitable for everyone, because I'm a developer by education. And by that time, I had been developing software for 2 years before going into testing. In addition, I have English almost at the level of a native speaker, so for me it was not a problem to prepare and pass exams in English.
- What advantages and disadvantages do you personally see in the ISTQB certification?
- The advantages are undeniable, this certificate was required everywhere when applying for a job. And the presence of an advanced certificate in a test analysis later became a pass for work in the Ministry of Economy of the National Economy and then on at a Microsoft subsidiary.
The disadvantages here are only the high price. If the certificate is not paid by the company, then the cost is tangible. When I rented, the usual one cost 300 dollars, and the advanced one cost 450.
Artem Mikhalev, Account Manager, Quality Laboratory:
- Your opinion and attitude towards ISTQB certification?
- In my experience, this certificate in Russia is received mainly by employees of companies participating in tenders. As for testing the level of knowledge during certification, I think that this is a good preparation.
- Please tell us about tenders in more detail.
- As a rule, to participate in tenders you need a certain number of certified employees in the company. Each tender has its own conditions, and in order to participate in it, one must meet the criteria.
Julia Mironova, co-trainer of the Natalia Rukol course "Integrated system for training testers in the ISTQB FL program", holder of the ISTQB FL certificate: - What sources did
you use in preparing for the exam?
- Prepared by exam dumps and with the help of an integrated training system (CSP) for ISTQB from Natalia Rukol.
- What advantages and disadvantages do you personally see in the ISTQB FL certification?
- The main plus: the person had the patience to study and pass the theory - which means that he strives for training, will be able to get used to new projects and tasks.
The main drawback is the outdated course program (2011). Many terms are no longer used in practice.
2. Opinions of experts from different countries:
And what do experts in the field of software testing and development from the USA and Europe think:
“Creative thinking is more valuable than certification. In a hiring situation, I tend to prefer a person who has the most direct work experience, rather than a certified specialist. In addition, if the certification of a certified specialist does not add value to the work, it becomes for me rather a negative indicator than a positive one. ”
Joe Coley Mendon, Massachusetts.
“Certificates can help in selecting the best part of specialists in the labor market, from which you can then choose a subset that truly meets all the requirements. Certificates are not a panacea for recruitment problems and will not become a reliable, iron-ore guarantee of the employee having the necessary skills. ”
Debashish Chakrabarti, Sweden.
“Does the certificate mean that the project manager is a good specialist? Not. Does this mean that he is interested in wasting time on himself and promoting the profession through continuing education and participation? Yes".
Riley Horan St. Paul, Minnesota
Link to the original article with reviews.
3. What is happening on the labor market: is certification in the field of testing necessary when applying for a job?
As a basis, we took publicly available data on vacancies with LinkedIn and analyzed the ratio of certification requirements for testing specialists to the total number of vacancies in testing.
Observations from LinkedIn labor market analysis:
- In the vast majority of cases, certification is not a requirement when applying for a job as a testing specialist.
- Although certification is granted indefinitely, in vacancies there are requirements for time limits for obtaining a certificate (Certified ISTQB Foundation level in the past 2 years will be a plus).
- Job seekers with high qualifications in specialized areas of testing are required to have a treasured piece of paper: self-testing, test analysis, test management, senior QA.
- ISTQB is not the only certification option; equivalents are allowed.
conclusions
Certification may be a mandatory requirement for individual companies or government projects. When deciding whether to obtain an ISTQB certificate, you should focus on the following realities:
- When choosing a candidate for the position of testing specialist, experience and knowledge , and not the availability of a certificate, will be decisive . Although, in the presence of similar skills, preference will be given to a certified specialist.
- Certification helps in career development (for 90% of managers it is important to have 50-100% of certified testers in the team), in addition, in some foreign companies obtaining a certificate is an occasion to increase salaries .
- Certification helps increase your self-confidence . It also helps you develop the ability to think about things from different angles; you grow as a specialist.
In the first part of our article, we tried to answer the question: “Is the ISTQB certificate necessary”; and if needed, then to whom, what and why. We hope you find this article useful. Write in the comments - whether any new horizons have opened up to you after receiving the certificate or, in your opinion, ISTQB is another useless piece of paper.
In the second part of the article, the QA engineers of the “Quality Laboratory” Anna Paley and Pavel Tolokonina will tell by personal example how they prepared, registered, tested and received ISTQB certificates in Russia and abroad. Subscribe and stay tuned for new posts.
Anna Paley,
Test Manager, Quality Laboratory company.