Dear colleagues,

ISTQB Certified Tester is the primary international certification in the field of software testing which is available in Israel. If you see yourselves as Software Testing professionals and wish to obtain an international certificate which recognizes this, then this topic of certification should be of your interest. Allow me to invite you to a brief tour of acquaintance with certification and its professional views.

It has been more than a decade now, that we – Testing Managers – have been working together with Development Managers (whether in Startup companies, High-Tech companies or in various government offices), who expect us daily to show technical understanding, innovativeness and professionalism in our field. Professionalism was always the key word when searching for success. The field of Software Testing has been rapidly developing in the country over the past years, and it is only natural for professionals to be sought out here.

You certainly have been asked by your managers – or perhaps have even dared to ask yourselves – how do you test? What do you test? Where do you start from? Is the product / system good or not? Are we ready for the customer’s testing? Are we ready to launch – despite the tight schedule of the project? How many bugs have been detected and how many were closed? What is the severity of their impact on the system? Is the version of the product converging? What is the optimal Return of Investment (ROI) to expect in testing? Is there such, and how can it be measured?

Answers to these questions and many more can be found in our professional study program, whose guidelines are laid out by the ISTQB – International Software Testing Qualification Board – the first international organization for software testing certification.

ISTQB is represented in Israel by the Israeli Testing Certification Board – ITCB – of which I was elected head. As the president of the organization, I also represent it at the international board of similar organizations from various countries.

“Why do we need certification? (Anyone can test software…).” This was a common question up until less than a decade ago. Fortunately, we can curb this saying a bit, in light of the first signs of understanding that Software Testing is a profession by all means (and not "anyone" can be accepted, rather there are requirements and criterions). This understanding is the first step of many which must be taken until our profession is placed in the same line as other engineering professions. (Such steps could be: advancement courses, salary raises, preferred hiring of people with proven theoretical knowledge in the field, etc.)

Nevertheless, why do we require certification in our field of work and are not satisfied with training?

First, let us see what our counterparts did in the field of programming. Well, there are certifications and degrees in the fields of software development, computer science (universities and colleges), Project Management certification (PMI), certification for development tools, operating systems (MCSE) and more… We can deduct from this, that where professional knowledge is organized, where proficiency is required, and where there are needs and expectations, the need for adequate training and the awarding of certification to testify to this acquired knowledge – is also present.

Next, let us take a look at all the environmental conditions and at the competitiveness which exist in the world of software development. Today more than ever, the companies see the need to enrich the knowledge of their employees and to receive confirmation for their level of success in their training, in order to ensure the position they have attained or to allow them to advance to a position needed for their next job. The employees, on their part, understand that the training is not enough; it should be accompanied by written proof, literally – a diploma. The two sides here – the employers and the employees – realize that today, local training and certification do not suffice; there is understanding – and a need, as well – for acquiring internationally-related knowledge, international recognition, and international certification. All these together grant recognition, both to the employees personally or professionally, as well as to the company with which the employee is professionally associated.

The “ISTQB Certified Tester” is the basic international certification, whose objective is “One Certification for All”. This isn’t merely a motto; It is the reality in which the ISTQB exists and operates, with over 46 member countries (among these: the US, Germany, England and India), and more than 120,000 certified foundation level testers (as of October 2009). This certification granted in Israel is valid in all countries in which the organization operates. The certification granted to a tester by the ISTQB in any member country, ensures a similar level of knowledge as possessed by a tester certified in Israel.

The main objectives of the organization are:

• Preservation and constant updating of the knowledge in software testing.
• Promoting international cooperation in the creating of professional study programs, which combine knowledge, experience and methodologies from the best experts in the world. These study plans were written by well-known professionals who are members of the management committees of the various training systems of the ISTQB. (The accumulated experience of the authors of the ISTQB Foundation Level study programs amounts to more than 150 years of experience of the best experts in the field).
• Strictness and preciseness in all aspects of the certification: The learning materials and exams are thoroughly and professionally inspected.

There are many advantages regarding certification, among those are:

• Appreciating testing as a profession
• Acquiring the accumulated knowledge of international experts, which is then summarized in professional study courses.
• The ability to make gradual progress which is professionally supervised and assisted by three levels of certification, in ascending order of difficulty.
• Confidence in understanding testing processes and the ability to create useful and helpful tests. These advantages mentioned are helpful not only to those who received certification, but also to anyone with whom they work: Testing Managers, interfaces which operate against the testers, the organization/company, as well as the clients.

Over 1,500 Testers and Testing Managers have been certified in Israel by the ITCB during its five years of activity. The trend shows a rise in the number of those registered to professional courses offered by the large training providers in Israel, to conventions, to professional forums (in Israel and abroad) and also a rise in the demand to receive the prestigious ISTQB Certified Tester certification. The forecast for the year 2010 is optimistic, with an estimated 500 additional certified testers in Israel.

The ISTQB organization, which, as mentioned, includes over 46 countries, incorporates the best professionals in Software Testing, who dedicate their vigor and time to pass on the knowledge, and consolidate it into an accepted study plan, with a uniform and common style. The organization is voluntarily and a non-profit one. The ISTQB provides a parent-organization to an international community of over 120,000 certified Testers and Testing Engineers worldwide. The levels of ISTQB certification are: Foundation Level, Advanced Level and Expert Level. Today, people in Israel can take the Foundation Level Certification exams (see upcoming dates on this site). At the beginning of 2008, we launched the Advanced Certification exams, while the Expert Level Certification should be available during 2010, or the latest by 2011.

Let me conclude with a recommendation: Come and take a step in upgrading your professional career, by adding the international ISTQB Certified Tester certification to your resume. This way you will achieve recognition for your knowledge, belong to a unique and broad international community, widen your professional ties with other experts in the field, and pave the road to continued professional development.

Sincerely,           

Yaron Tsubery