ISEB Software testing qualification changes

ISEB software testing qualifications are changing. It used to be just two: the ISEB foundation certificate in software testing and the practitioner certificate in software testing. But on reflection ISEB have decided that there was too big a gap between these two levels and the latter tried to cover to much. So what was the practitioner is being replaced with three courses.

First up is the Intermediate Certificate in Software Testing. This certificate is the next level up from the foundation qualification and covers the key topics which are needed as a prerequisite for either of the two new practitioner level exams. It's just becoming available with a lot less organisations currently able to offer this course.

The next level up has been split into two:

• Practitioner Certificate in Test Management - this certificate examines knowledge and skills required for the management of Software Testing.
• Practitioner Certificate in Test Analysis - this certificate examines knowledge and skills required for the technical analysis of Software Testing.

Why two? Well not all software testers want to be test managers but they still want to gain more advanced skills in this field and have them recognised.

You'll need to obtain the intermediate certificate in software testing before you can sit these exams. Incidentally, both of these exams are available (so you can sit them) but you'll be hard pressed to find a training course covering them at the moment.

If you want to know more about these changes try the BCS site or this PDF which covers a whole host of frequently asked questions about these software testing qualification changes. It also covers the differences and aims of ISEB software testing qualification framework and those of ISTQB.