ISTQB testers are certified testers from the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). The non-profit organisation has been assessing various relevant qualifications for software testers with standardized test procedures since 2002. The certificates, which are classed according to complexity, classify the ISTQB testers hierarchically in the categories Foundation CTFL, Advanced CTAL and Expert CTEL.
ISTQB testers can be locally certified in around 100 countries, and worldwide more than 400,000 certificates have been issued. Every quarter sees 13,000 new ISTQB testers. The facility is the world’s largest certification authority for software testers.
What does an ISTQB tester do?
An ISTQB tester checks for error-free operation of programs and tracks bugs. Software is never truly error free due to the complex interplay of program code, languages, libraries, APIs and hardware.
A software tester’s work is therefore very important. Not every ISTQB tester has advanced programming knowledge. Depending on the project, various qualifications in the following areas are needed:
- Test management and test coordination
- Cooperation with development and quality management
- Creating test concepts and test specifications
- Creating test cases and test scenarios for business and technical requirements
- Perform and document integration, system and acceptance testing of test runs in the test levels
- Acceptance of the software and hand over to productive operation.
ISTQB testers at Foundation Level know the necessary basics such as software life cycle, statistical tests, test case design technique and usual test tools. This is often enough to strengthen existing teams in standardised test environments in established departments. Experience of Agile software development is not included without an additional certificate.
The ISTQB Advanced Level builds on the Foundation Level and further expands on the existing areas. The additional requirement of at least 10 months of practical experience is also an important factor. Unlike Foundation Level, you can be sure that you will not find anyone who has only learned from a book.
At ISTQB Expert Level they also need to show skills for the creation and management of test teams. These include the design, improvement and automation of test routines, as well as specific management tasks.
ISTQB testers with additional qualifications
As you can see from the structure of the ISTQB certification system, programming knowledge plays little to no role. Among ISTQB testers you will therefore find a wide spectrum of pure software testers without much programming knowledge, up to fully-fledged software developers who has completed ISTQB courses and certificates as additional qualifications.
It is obvious that the latter have extensive expertise, but such an ISTQB tester is especially expensive.
Indian ISTQB testers at expert level
When selecting an ISTQB tester, restricting it to only candidates at Advanced or Expert Level is often sensible, because these candidates have a deeper knowledge in addition to valuable practical experience.
A developer who is also an ISTQB tester will have high rates, and is also not necessarily needed. When creating a new test team the additional costs could very well be worth it in some cases.
Programming skills should always be considered valuable, even if the ISTQB tester has never worked as a software developer.
Whatever your decision, an Indian ISTQB will be cheaper in every scenario. At Outsourcing4work we can provide you with a highly qualified ISTQB tester as a temporary or dedicated employee.
Alternatively you can also give over the entire software development to Indian experts who will develop your product either at a fixed rate, or as a branch (light) together with you. In both cases, designated ISTQB testers from India are always on board.
