Quality in Software

[QAI vs ISTQB] & PMP

QAI - Refer to Links Certification - QAI

CSTE : Mandatory to have 2 yrs experience. Validity : 3 yrs

CSQA : Mandatory to have 2 yrs experience. Validity : 3 yrs

CSPM : Mandatory to have 3 yrs experience.

ISTQB - Refer to Links Certification - ISTQB (ITB)

Foundation Level : 0 yrs experience. Validity : Life Time

Advance Level : Mandatory to have 2 yrs experience. Validity 3 yrs

Expert Level : Mandatory to have 5 yrs experience.

To become Quality Analyst, appear for CSQA

To become  Test Engineer, appear for CSTE

To become Manager, appear for CSPM

To become Test Engineer, Analyst, Manager, appear for ISTQB(Foundation + Advance + Expert)

Generally, in sofware testing professionals gain experience as the tester first QC(manual / automation), second in process QA, and third in management.
According to the experience and exposture professionals can go for certifications such as CSTE /  CSQA or ISTQB.
It is up to the  Professionals to go for QAI(CSTE / CSQA / CSPM) banner or ISTQB banner.

If a testing professional got 2+ years experience (exactly as tester or process oriented), one can go for CSTE / CSQA or ISTQB (Foundation + any 2 in Advance).

If a testing professional got 3+ years experience (as tester + process oriented), he/she can go for CSTE. At the end of its validity or middle of its validity, he/she should take CSQA. After obtaining valid CSQA, he/she should plan for CSPM.

If a testing professional got 3+ years experience (as tester + process oriented), one can go for ISTQB (Foundation + all 3 levels in Advance). Within 5 years one should get CTAL(Foundation + Advance). After obtaining valid CTAL, he/she should plan for Expert Level.

Any Certification is valid for 3 years. After three years, you need to renew the certificate by appearing for CSTE / CSQA or ISTQB again. So, plan in such a way that by the time certification ends you can appear for a certification such as PMP.

ISTQB vs CSTE

CSTE is more widely recognized and is already used for hiring test engineers. Refer Links Certification - QAI

ISTQB (CTFL and CTAL) is new as compared to CSTE (The ISTQB was officially founded as an International Software Testing Qualifications Board in Edinburgh in November 2002.
The Indian version,Indian Testing Board was founded in February 2004
and it was granted permission by ISTQB in April 2004), hence it is not known widely. Refer Links Certification - ISTQB (ITB)

Exam Fees : ISTQB consists of Foundation + Advance Level (3 sub levels), totally 4 levels, each level costs Rs.4000. In total Rs.16000 which is equivalent to cost of CSTE.

CSTE--> No split.
ISTQB--> They split as 4 levels.

ISTQB exam can be taken from 0 years experience in software testing field. (Foundation Level).
Once any testing professional got 2+ years experience they can start writing Advance Level one by one or 3 sub level in single attempt.

Then comes ISTQB Expert Level for 5+ yrs exp.

CSTE exam can be taken by any testing professional got 2+ yrs exp.

Syllabus: ISTQB(Foundation + Advance) and CSTE, they almost the same.

Exam Pattern : CSTE 4 papers(2 objective + 2 subjective)
                        : ISTQB 4 Papers(All objective)

To have regular touch in certifications, reading douments and appearing for exam ISTQB is better. We can split our certifications and we can go for it.

To get certification on sigle attempt as a whole CSTE is better.

Tips for ISTQB Certification

Syllabus: Can be downloaded from the Links Certification - ISTQB (ITB)

Foundation Level:

If you have sound basics (Foundation Level Syllabus + terms in its Glossary) with 6 months to 1 year real time experience in software testing, Foundation level exam can be cleared without any problem.

Regarding questions, questions will be objective types which is concenterated in Testing terminologies and terms with few real time experience based questions.

To Clear Foundation level score required is 27/40

Advance Level:

If you are 3+ yrs experience in software testing in manual or automation or process with sound knowledge in testing basics ( ISTQB - Foundation Level Syllabus, its Glossary), you can start taking 3 sub levels one by one according to your requirement. It is mandatory to have 2+ yrs experience. But if you cross 3+ yrs exp, it will be quite easy.

Refer the douments which is uploaded in my ID. One will gain confidence in taking exam.

Regarding questions, question numbers may change time to time, each question will carry different marks. Pattern will similar to Foundation level (Objective types) with more experince based and some senerio based questions.

To Clear Functional Tester, score required is 18.5/37.5

To Clear Technical Tester, score required is 20.5/41

To Clear Test Manager, score required is 28.5/57

ISTQB - Advance Level Materials

Book - Software Testing Process: Test Management: A Study Guide for the Certified Tester Exam ISTQB Advanced Level - Andreas Spillner

Above book Covers the syllabus for Test Manager.

Book can be purchased through Amazon.com

Materials uploaded in http://www.ziddu.com

Functional Tester :

Materials uploaded in http://www.ziddu.com

Technical Tester :

Materials uploaded in http://www.ziddu.com

ISTQB - Foundation Level Materials

Book - Software Testing Foundtions : A study Guide for the Certified Tester Exam - Andreas Spillner.

Book can be purchased through Amazon.com.

Materials and Samples Papers are uploaded in http://www.ziddu.com

Syllabus, Glossary, Information about Exam can be found in the Links "Certification - ISTQB (ITB)"