The International Software Testing Qualification Board or ISTQB is a governing body that is recognised for its software quality assurance and testing certifications for working professionals. It is a non-profit body that is registered officially in Belgium and was established in 2002 to set the standard for the qualifications of software testers globally. Today, the ISTQB represents 80 countries in the world and has 58 members on the board. 

In comparison to its leading competitor - the International Software Certification Board (ISCB) - the ISTQB is newer and more advanced. It provides a qualification chain that follows a predefined hierarchy for aspiring candidates. As an applicant, you need to clear the various levels of certification in order by preparing the given syllabus for each of them.

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Benefits of an ISTQB Software Testing Certification:

1. It reduces coding errors, software bugs and defects:

According to data analytics, the integrated working of pre-test defect removal, defect prevention and standardised testing by a certified expert is 99% effective in removing defects while shortening schedules and simultaneously reducing costs. This data also shows that an amateur software tester or developer rarely tops 35%. Additionally, there’s a 7% top of new bugs or bad fix injections that appear while fixing existing bugs if untrained or unqualified personnel do it. For this reason, businesses should always pair their developers with qualified testers for improved results to avoid easily avoidable bugs. 

2. It increases cost saving and returns on investments:

every programming error and software bug can cost an organisation hundreds of thousands in revenues, laws uits or customers. if an istqb certification can help you eliminate even a single bug after software production is complete, you can save your employer a large amount of money. this results in greater promotions, appraisals and higher earning opportunities. through the course of your career, this can amount to more than 1500% returns on your investments towards earning the istqb certification. 

3. It ensures efficient and enhanced software development:

Software testing managers have reported that using concepts and terms from the certification glossary and body of knowledge ISTQB verified for software testing ensures more effective communication and higher efficiency across teams. A developer usually chooses to not fix software bugs himself. Reportedly, they find this task frustrating, overwhelming and resentful.

Developers also complain that they feel burned out and want to leave their jobs. 32% of developers say they spend about 10 hours a week trying to fix programming bugs, 16% spend about 15 hours a week and 6% spend as much as 20 hours a week for the same. 52% of software developers reported that this time could easily be spent on identifying and rectifying software errors and creating new features and functions instead. This makes it even more important for organisations to hire only certified software testers so that they can ensure these tasks can be dealt with faster.

Meanwhile, this will also help developers focus on their area of expertise instead of working on things that waste their time. As an ISTQB-certified software tester, you have an edge over your colleagues and other candidates.

4. It gives you global acceptance and recognition:

Today, the ISTQB has issued over 750,000 software testing certifications in more than 100 countries across the world. This certification is the globally accepted standard for software testing and is currently the leading testing standard by a long shot. It also certifies all related personnel and roles that help in software bug elimination. 

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5. It aids practical daily applications:

The ISTQB certification for software developers has been created to focus on daily operations and practical software testing applications that technical staff and software testers need to identify and remove errors in programming. This covers everything from performance testing to Agile testing and encompasses all the software testing skills needed by teams for Agile, QA and DevOps to help in reducing programming errors. 

6. It improves employee retention and motivation:

The APA (American Psychological Association) reported that when supervisory support is missing in career development, less than 50% of employees are motivated to give their best. Meanwhile, over 90% of employers with supervising support say the opposite. Additionally, over 50% of employees also seek employment beyond the company in less than a year after joining. As a certified software tester, you have the skills needed to lead a team, help existing programmers evolve and motivate everyone you work closely with. 

Importance of an ISTQB Certification:

Digitisation is taking the world by storm. Global organisations are rapidly advancing along their digital transformation journeys. As a result, the role of specialised software and software testing has also gained more importance. With software becoming more complex, software testing requires at least a high level of specialisation from qualified professionals. With an ISTQB tag, this expert label is exactly what you get. 

ISTQB is among the few certifications that a large group of countries value and recognise for its expertise. By adding this credential to your resume, you get an edge over the other applicants for the same role you apply to and see a boost in your confidence. It also helps you apply your skills to real-world scenarios.

Earning an ISTQB certification is almost a guarantee that your career will reach a whole new level as it gives you the tag of a certified software tester. If you work in an organisation involved in software testing, being a certified tester can make you a valuable asset for an organisation by increasing their revenue and improving your skills. 

ISTQB Certification Levels:

As we’ve seen before, ISTQB certifications come at different levels. These are the Foundation Level, Advanced Level and Expert Level.

1. Foundation Level: The foundation level exam is mandatory for any professional who wishes to advance to any level in the ISTQB ranks or the software testing domain. Any certification level higher than this will require you to have a Foundation Level certification. At this level, you will understand the fundamentals of software testing. If you are in a related ancillary field such as project management, IT director, quality management etc, you can benefit from this certification. It will add to your skills and help you advance in your career. 
    
2. Advanced Level: If you are close to the top of your software testing career, the advanced level exam is the right test to prove it. The Advanced Level ISTQB certification gives you a deeper understanding of the domain and introduces you to the smallest details of quality testing necessary for practical purposes. This can be tedious if you are not so invested in your career, but if you want to achieve expertise, you will find this exciting and invigorating. 
    
3. Expert Level: The expert level takes your advanced knowledge a step further and provides an in-depth understanding of several other subjects in the domain of software testing. Getting this certification can ensure you succeed in your career, both in terms of recognition and knowledge. 

How to Apply for the ISTQB Certification Exam:

The first step is to create an account on the official website governing the ISTQB exam. Once this is done, choose a date when you want to give the exam as well as a testing centre from the given list. You also must pay a USD 199 registration fee. Make sure you choose the date, venue and timing for your examination carefully, as you will have to pay a cancellation fee later. 

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Preparation Tips for ISTQB Certification Exam:

• The greater your time, effort and dedication, the higher you will score in the exam. However, you can train with the help of various training courses to understand the direction you should work towards.
• Deeply understand the contents of the syllabus you are about to study before you start preparing. Practice as many sample papers as you can.
• Familiarise yourself with the glossary and technical jargon mentioned in the syllabus, approved curriculum and previous years’ question papers.
• Time yourself while attempting sample papers, as you will have a fixed time while giving the exam. 
• Revise all the critical topics with greater weightage and higher chances of coming in the exam on the day you appear for the exam.
• Understand concepts instead of memorising them to increase your chances of a higher score. 

Conclusion:

this is all the infor mation that any candidate would need to know about how to get an istqb certification. getting this globally recognised it certification can take your career to new heights. give your career the boost it deserves and start your learning journey by enrolling in a training course on koenig today.

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