FAQs- BCS delivery of ISQTB Advanced level exams and the withdrawal of ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Manager Practitioner (March 2011)

Transcription

1 FAQs- BCS delivery of ISQTB Advanced level exams and the withdrawal of ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Manager Practitioner (March 2011) At BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, we strive to meet the demands of the industry and that includes ensuring that the educational requirements of the software testing profession continue to be met. On 15th March 2010 BCS and UKTB (the UK National Testing Board for ISTQB) signed an agreement which will see the two organisations working more closely to promote and support software testing accreditation and certification internationally. UKTB will become the preferred supplier for the Institute s software testing exams at Foundation and Advanced levels in accordance with the international ISTQB program. The following FAQs should help answer your queries. Why are BCS withdrawing the ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner certifications and examinations as of March 2011? At BCS, we recognise the significant value of a single consistent international software testing certification scheme. The benefits to the UK testing industry include: Clarity of career paths for software testing professionals Consistency in standards and vocabulary Clear understanding of the global standards that software testers need to meet Simplified choice of certification scheme from Foundation to post Foundation level leading to internationally recognised qualifications BCS decision to withdraw both ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner reflects our commitment to ensuring there is only one global standard. When will BCS be withdrawing the ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner certifications and examinations? March Course and examination dates, including re-sit dates will continue to be available from your Accredited Training Provider (re-sit dates may be available after March 2011 for a limited period). Public examination dates will continue to be published on the BCS website. I have an ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner certification (or the original ISEB Practitioner) what do these changes mean to me? ISEB Test Management Practitioner and ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner certification will continue to be industry recognised relevant qualifications and provide a valuable contribution to your career development plan and your professional development portfolio. Holders of Practitioner level certifications can demonstrate and apply significant in-depth specialist knowledge of software testing practices and techniques which are highly valued within the software testing community. The good news is that the ISEB Practitioner certifications will now contribute to your progression

2 within the internationally recognised ISTQB software testing certification scheme. They will count towards achieving higher level certification within the ISTQB scheme, such as the Expert level (when released), as your Practitioner certification will provide some of the necessary prerequisites so long as the Expert level exams are taken with either the UK Testing Board or ISEB. The Practitioner certifications also count towards ISEB Professional and BCS much valued CITP standard. I am just about to attend an ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner course and examination, should I proceed? Yes. BCS recommend that you proceed with your selected ISEB Practitioner course and examination; an ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner will provide excellent learning and you will attain a valid, relevant and highly respected qualification if you are successful with your exam. Holders of Practitioner level certification can demonstrate and apply significant specialist knowledge of software testing practices and techniques which are highly valued within the software testing community. The good news is that the ISEB Practitioner certifications will now contribute to your progression within the internationally recognised ISTQB software testing certification scheme. They will count towards achieving higher level certification within the ISTQB scheme, such as the Expert level (when released), as your Practitioner certification will provide some of the necessary prerequisites so long as the Expert level exams are taken with either the UK Testing Board or ISEB. The Practitioner certifications also count towards ISEB Professional and BCS much valued CITP standard. I am a candidate who needs to re-sit the ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner exam, can I still do this? Yes. The ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner examinations will continue to be available until March 2011 (possibly later for re-sit candidates). Please contact either your Training Provider or ISEB to make arrangements. When will the ISTQB Advanced level exams be available from BCS? BCS will be providing Advanced Test Analyst, Test Manager from 1st April and details of public exam dates and accredited training providers can be found on the BCS website. Technical Test Analyst exams will follow shortly. Is BCS replacing the ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner certifications with the ISTQB Advanced level certifications? No. BCS decision to withdraw both ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner in March 2011 reflects our commitment to ensuring there is only one global standard. The Advanced level exams are being made available by BCS at the same time as announcing withdrawal of the Practitioner certifications but are not replacements. Details of the ISTQB Expert Level will be advised when available.

3 Am I going to receive additional certificates? No. The ISEB certificates you already hold will remain valid for your ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner certifications. Your certification will be verified by BCS, as necessary, should you wish to progress within the ISTQB software testing certification scheme to Expert Level (when available). Is the format of the ISTQB Advanced level examinations (Test Manager, Test Analyst and Technical Test Analyst) different to the ISEB Practitioner exam? Yes. The format of the Advanced level examinations is a 65 question multiple choice, 3 hour examination. Each question has a value of 1, 2 or 3 marks, the total available mark for each exam is 100 and the pass mark is 65. The Advanced level exam has pick n mix questions which consist of a stem (question) followed by a list of options (minimum 5). The candidate is asked to pick 2 or 3 of the options listed. (Note: The Technical Test Analyst exam is not yet released but will be available shortly). The ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner exams test up to level K6 as defined in the Bloom's Taxonomy how do the ISTQB Advanced level exams compare? The ISTQB Advanced level exams breakdown as follows: 60% K2 (39 questions) 25% K3/K4 standard (16 questions) 15% K4 complex (10 questions) It is important to note that the Advanced level exams are not replacing the ISEB Practitioner certifications which examine. BCS will be delivering the ISTQB Advanced level exams as part of our move towards facilitating a single consistent internationally recognised certification scheme. Whilst they remain available the ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner and ISEB Test Management Practitioner will continue to test in-depth specialist knowledge to the K6 Level. BCS recommend that those seeking to show this higher level of expertise still proceed with the relevant ISEB Practitioner certification whilst available (until March 2011). Within the ISTQB scheme the Expert level, when available, will test to these higher K levels. What would be the benefit of sitting all 3 ISTQB Advanced modules? Passing all modules allows the candidate to obtain the Full Advanced Level Testing Professional certification. (Note: the Technical Test Analyst exam has not yet been released but will be available shortly).

4 Is the ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing still available and is it worth doing? The ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing is a very relevant and important certificate. The Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing is aimed at helping newly qualified testers to learn the skills across the whole discipline of software testing needed to take them to the next level, and for those who seek a more practical approach to the core software testing material covered at Foundation level. The Intermediate syllabus contains a number of learning objectives related to the analysis of testing situations and the exams will test a candidate s ability to apply the key ideas in a practical and realistic setting. Developed by BCS, the ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing syllabus has sufficient breadth and depth to stand-alone as a next step up from the Foundation certificate and is highly recommended as well as providing valuable preparation and an effective bridge for those who wish to move onto ISEB Practitioner or ISTQB Advanced levels. Feedback from the international market shows that the Intermediate is not only relevant as a certificate in its own right, but also as a stepping stone towards higher levels. A number of BCS certification partners have already started offering the Intermediate exams. This supports our vision that Intermediate is the logical next step after Foundation. How do I sit an ISTQB Advanced course and/or examination? You will need to contact an Accredited Training Provider to book the relevant course. A list of Accredited Training Providers is available on the BCS website. The Accredited Training Provider will book the examination via ISEB (within the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands). ISEB will also schedule public examinations information will be made available on the BCS website. I am based outside of the UK and want to sit the ISTQB Advanced examination, what do I need to do? You can contact BCS for assistance outside of the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands at or +44 (0) or (lo-call rate) or (Accessibility) or link to the ISTQB website for details of the local Testing Board for help. How much will the ISTQB Advanced examinations cost? The ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst and Test Manager examinations from ISEB will each cost 180 plus VAT (please note the Technical Test Analyst is not available yet and cost will be available when released). Some Training Providers will include this fee into the cost of the training course. How long are the ISTQB Advanced courses? Typically each ISTQB Advanced course is 5 days in duration.

5 I am still confused; I hold the Foundation Certificate in Software testing what should I do? There are a number of options available: 1) ISEB Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing -The Intermediate Certificate has sufficient breadth and depth to stand-alone as a next step up from the Foundation certificate and covers the testing fundamentals to help newly qualified testers learn the skills needed to take them to the next level. It will give a more practical approach to the core material covered at Foundation level with broad coverage of the whole discipline of software testing. The Intermediate Certificate also provides valuable preparation and an effective bridge for those who wish to move onto either ISEB Practitioner or ISTQB Advanced levels. 2) ISEB Test Analysis Practitioner or ISEB Test Management Practitioner Holders of Practitioner level certification can demonstrate and apply significant specialist knowledge of software testing practices and techniques which are highly valued within the software testing community. BCS recommends that this should be considered as your next step after Intermediate though you may choose to enter directly from Foundation. The Practitioner certifications will remain available until March ) ISTQB Advanced level Test Manager, Test Analyst and Technical Test Analyst The Advanced level examinations would suit candidates who wish to gain a much more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the separate software testing disciplines at a practical level, for test management, test analysis and technical test analysis. The advanced level qualifications are aimed at people who have achieved an advanced point in their careers in Software Testing. BCS is confident in the global standing of these as a next step from Foundation towards the higher Expert level when available. The ISEB Intermediate exam provides a good stepping stone from Foundation level. What is the relationship between ISTQB, UKTB and BCS? ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) is responsible for the international qualification scheme called "ISTQB Certified Tester". ISTQB's role is to support a single, universally accepted, international qualification scheme, aimed at software and system testing professionals, by providing the core syllabi and by setting guidelines for accreditation and examination for national boards. UKTB is the UK national board for ISTQB. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, will be delivering the Foundation and Advanced level exams; ISTQB will be providing the syllabus and UKTB the questions. BCS have been delivering Software Testing Foundation exams based on the ISTQB syllabus for some time now. BCS will continue to provide and develop the Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing which is considered a valuable stepping stone between Foundation and Advanced level as well as a relevant stand alone qualification. BCS also offers certifications in Green IT, Business Analysis and ITIL. How do I obtain further information? Please contact us at or +44 (0) or (lo-call rate) or (Accessibility)