Software Testing Certifications -I

Software testing is growing up as a renowned profession and with the passage of time ,lot many certifications have come up to add value to this profession. It specializes you in your area of expertise, makes you more aware of testing nuisances, allow you to stand out from your peers. Till date, there are not many certified software test engineers,so demand is even more.
This post is not meant to preach that only certified testers should be there.Certification cannot bring intelligence and if a person is not certified that does not mean that he or she is not a good tester.

I am writing this post to provide information about the various available software testing certifications at one stop, the information that I didn’t received.

Listing down a few in no particular order:

• CSQA (Certified Software Quality Analyst)

The regulatory authority is QAI and this designation means a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. This certification requires prior experience.

• CSTE (Certified Software Test Engineer)

The regulatory authority is again QAI and this designation means a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality control in the IT profession. This certification also requires prior experience.
There are advanced levels of certifications also available from QAI like CMST and CMSQ. For detailed information, checkout software certifications .

• CSTP (Certified Software Test Professional)

The regulatory authority is IIST. This certification is an education-based certification, based on a Body of Knowledge that covers areas essential for every test professional to effectively perform their job in testing projects. Prior experience of at least one year is required. For detailed information, checkout Indian institute.

• ISTQB certifications

ISTQB is the regulatory authority that provides certifications in various countries through their approved national boards. For e.g. ‘ISTQB-certified-tester’ certification in India. For detailed information, you can checkout ISTQB

• SECP(Software Engineering Process Certified Professional)

The regulatory authority is learning tree. This certification is for those who mange the development process. For detailed information, you can checkout Learning tree

• CSQE (Software Quality Engineering Certification)

This certification indicates that tester understands software quality development and implementation, software inspection, testing, verification and validation; and implements software development and maintenance processes and methods. For detailed information checkout ASQ

All the links that I have mentioned are official websites, which will provide you the most accurate information.
This is the list of certifications based on body of knowledge. I am in no way claiming that the list is complete. Their will still be lot many certifications available and would like you all to come forward and share that information.

Keep looking for my next post, which will have the list of certifications on the basis of tool knowledge.

Testing for beginners

New to Testing? Don't know how to start your career path so as to become a successful software tester.
Here are some of the tips that I learned along my way and I hope they help you achieve what you want.

First you need to have following know hows:

• Idea about terminologies used in the field of testing like methodologies,test strategies,testing types and all.
• Reading articles to get into the frame of mind of a tester. Read good blogs and books on testing. Begin with a quote "You are here to break the software":-).
  
• Technical skills: If possible go for courses that are offered but even if you don't,its Ok.Get yourself exposed to automation tools and keep in mind,they are not just "record and playback".There is so much more to them.

A good tester has superb soft skills which I would put as "testing skills":

• Be a brilliant observer. Look for what usually doesn't catches the eye.
• Be curious.
• Its very important to be intuitive. As you go along in this field,you will start feeling that your intuition is going strong and strong.Slowly,you start identifying the areas just intuitively where bugs can be found.
  
• Have the perseverance because bugs you find are not always reproducible.You have to try again and again with possible combinations.
• Good communication skills.You will find them so handy in tricky situations when dealing with developers and PMs(project managers).
• Habit of digging deep will not pay you best anywhere but in the field of software testing.
• Out of box thinking. Believe me,this would make you stand apart in the crowd.
• Knowledge of how the user will be using it. You have to be in th customer's shoes.
• Team work. You cannot achieve anything on your own,it has to be a team effort and a good team member is the one which inspires others and take them towards a common goal.
  

Domain knowledge also proves helpful because it allows you to have an idea about the flow of control and data which is bound to uncover series of bugs. And if you feel having a list of test cases in front of you will take you through,you are badly mistaken,always remember its the tester who finds the bugs and not the test case(Courtesy: Its a tester).So go for the kill believing in yourself and not any external help.

Software testing is a very challenging field that helps you grow not only professionally but also personally. Its creative,interesting,intuitive and a great career option.