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The Professional Test Engineer

Development Programme

Developing Apprentices & Experienced IT People

into

World-Class Test Engineering Experts

Prepared for: General Release

Prepared by: TSG Training, 150, Minories London EC3N 1LS

Tel: 020 7264 2185

Author: Bernard Melson

Email: [email protected]

Date: November 26th, 2019

Version: 2.0 Released

Our Ref: PTE/2019

mailto:[email protected]

©TSG Training 2019 P a g e | 2


Contents 1 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 4

2 Learning Modes .............................................................................................................................. 5

3 Principles and Competencies of the Programme ........................................................................... 6

4 The 5-Stream Programme ............................................................................................................... 7

4.1 The Five Key Streams .............................................................................................................. 8

4.2 The Test Engineer .................................................................................................................... 8

4.2.1 The Test Engineer Roadmap ........................................................................................... 8

4.2.2 Test Engineer Learning & Development Narrative ....................................................... 10

4.3 The Senior Test Engineer ...................................................................................................... 14

4.3.1 The Senior Test Engineer Roadmap .............................................................................. 14

4.3.2 Senior Test Engineer Courses Narrative ....................................................................... 16

4.4 The Lead Test Engineer ......................................................................................................... 21

4.4.1 The Lead Test Engineer Roadmap ................................................................................. 21

4.4.2 Lead Test Engineer Learning & Development Narrative ............................................... 22

4.5 The Test Architect ................................................................................................................. 26

4.5.1 The Test Architect Roadmap ......................................................................................... 26

4.5.2 Test Architect Courses Narrative .................................................................................. 27

4.6 The Test Expert ..................................................................................................................... 30

4.6.1 The Test Expert Roadmap ............................................................................................. 30

4.6.2 Test Expert Learning & Development Narrative ........................................................... 31

5 Benefits of the Approach .............................................................................................................. 33

A. Training & SFIA Cross Reference ................................................................................................... 34

Index of Figures

Figure 1 - The Long-Term Software Test Engineer Career Development Programme ........................... 7

Figure 2 - The Test Engineer Capability Roadmap .................................................................................. 8

Figure 3 - The Senior Test Engineer Capability Roadmap ..................................................................... 14

Figure 4 - The Lead Test Engineer Capability Roadmap ........................................................................ 21

Figure 5 - The Test Architect Capability Roadmap ................................................................................ 26

Figure 6 - The Test Expert Capability Roadmap .................................................................................... 30

Version Management

Version Date Author Comments

1.0 May 23rd, 2019 Bernard Melson Revised following client workshop

1.1 Jun 13th, 2019 Bernard Melson Internal changes

1.2 Jul 17th, 2019 Bernard Melson Minor revision following market feedback

2.0 Nov 26th, 2019 Bernard Melson New Agile, Scrum and Accelerated learning


1 Executive Summary Following extensive market research, this document sets out a vision for increasing the capability

and competency of professional Test Engineers through a targeted learning and development

programme. People passing through the programme will increase their own thinking, skills and

competencies in multiple disciplines and, importantly, organisational capability to help deliver

systems solutions that underpin day to day business operations.

The programme has been developed in concert with (and rolled out to) a major systems integration

company that was prepared to invest significantly in learning and development to increase capability

and extend its value proposition to new and existing clients alike.

The days of people having a single skill have long gone, so this cogent learning and development

programme is predicated on building multi-skilled competencies within people and organisations. It

will maximise staff capability and utilisation to help reduce operational costs and staff attrition rates.

The basis of the programme is to provide a solid foundation from which professional testers can

grow as they develop and specialise in key disciplines that both challenge and grow them.

The programme comprises five learning and development streams, each of which seeks to imbue

people with multi-layered competencies that are relevant to their experience and which provide

extended capability and thinking to develop cogent solutions to business problems – regardless of

the development method they employ. The first stream defines a programme for apprentices and

people new to testing, with the remaining four streams providing learning matched to career growth

and the needs of a modern Test Practice. Each course and optional pathway within a stream has

been mapped to SFIA, industry-accepted core principles, competencies and roles, as follows:

1. Test Engineer for apprentices and entry level staff joining the Test Practice. Courses in this

stream are aligned with the Government’s ‘Apprenticeship Programme’

2. Senior Test Engineers with at least 2 years’ experience who are keen to develop their test

capability further by specialise in one or more test disciplines

3. Lead Test Engineers with at least 4 years’ experience who are looking to become test

managers with an additional specialism

4. Test Architects and Consultants with at least 5-years’ experience who will be setting out the

stall for major test programmes and influencing decision makers and stakeholders

5. Test Experts who will be driving top level strategy and methods for corporate improvement.

We recommend that each of the five streams be scheduled to run over 2 years, with each one being

structured to provide staff with the right blend of practical and certificated learning to become

multi-skilled, competency based testing professionals. Within each stream is:

• A series of courses that provide the necessary foundation for each person to take as part of

building their general test capability and career growth;

• A series of optional courses and routes to allow an individual and Test Practice to fulfil its

specialist technical needs by developing staff with cross-functional competencies

• Coaching and mentoring to help people implement and use skills learned.

To give the programme additional kudos within companies adopting the programme, we further

recommend that students graduating each stream be awarded an appropriate certificate and that an

overall ‘ Diploma of Testing Excellence’ be awarded to all staff reaching streams 4 and 5.

In closing, the programme develops and prepares the professional test engineer for future roles with

clients and stakeholders, each of whom can be confident in the engineer’s ability to deliver for them.


2 Learning Modes TSG Training offers learning in a number of different modes, each of which provides its own benefit:

• Traditional Classroom. Courses in this mode follow standard timetables at public and private

events.

• Accelerated Classroom: Most ISTQB courses and some others are offered in 12-hour day

format so that students can train in a shorter period of time and be available to return to

normal office duties earlier. ISTQB Test Manager, for example, is offered in 3-days, rather

than the 5-days in a Traditional Classroom event. These courses are intensive and people

sitting them need to be prepared accordingly if they are to sit them.

• Virtual Classroom. Remote learning is offered to accommodate people who are distributed,

either locally or globally, and who cannot attend a public course. This type of course is

generally delivered to private customers and follows the Traditional Classroom format.

• Online Learning. A number of courses are offered online so that students can sit them

where and when they want at a time of their own choosing. Access is provided to materials

for 6-months

Section A, Training & SFIA Cross Reference, shows a complete list of courses within the programme

and the different learning modes available for each.

Every course in the programme is provided with a lifetime’s support from the tutor.

P a g e | 6

3 Principles and Competencies of the Programme Following our experience of learning and development programmes and research into what companies require of testing in the future, we have defined a series of ‘Principles and Competencies’ that fit the gamut and need of corporate

skills required to deliver first-class systems that help underpin business operations, ranging from the raw intake through to experienced Lead Engineers, Architects, and Experts as follows:

Principles Test Engineer Senior Test Engineer Lead Test Engineer Test Architect Test Expert

Engineering at the heart of designing IT solutions

Implements demonstrable and measurable, structured design techniques appropriate to the technology under Test

Responsible for Implementing demonstrable and measurable, structured design techniques appropriate to the technology under Test, aligned to the portfolio strategies

Responsible for the implementation of the test strategies within the scope of their portfolio / squad, aligned to the overarching Strategy.

Accountable for strategies to allow for demonstrable and measurable, implementation of structured design techniques across the estate

Accountable for defining and implementing methods and improvements to corporate level testing and major programmes

Execution excellence through engineering

Implement automation first approaches using industry best practices, targeting appropriate strategies for robust and repeatable automation and the appropriate exploratory / manual testing of change

Responsible for the Implementation of Right Testing approaches, utilising engineered design to enable automation first approaches using industry best practices leveraging test design approaches to maximise opportunity for automation

Responsible for the Implementation of Right Testing Approaches within Squad, including principles & patterns utilising automation first approaches using industry best practices

Responsible for the Implementation of Right Testing Approaches utilising automation first approaches using industry best practices Set Test Engineering principles & patterns

Provision and guidance for testing excellence that helps deliver programmes that meet business needs, on time and to budget

Velocity - Pinpoint accuracy at speed, enabled by technology

Is able to implement testing best practice methods specific to the technology under Test and aware of the benefits of using them. Has real world experience of implementing these practice

Is able to present testing best practice methods specific to the technology under Test and the benefits of using them, agnostic to specific toolsets. Has real world experience of implementing these practice

Is able to present testing best practice methods and the benefits of using them to a disparate audience of technical and non-technical stakeholders, agnostic to specific toolset. As well as experience of implementing these practice

Is able to present to all levels the benefits, both tangible & non-tangible, best practice methods and the benefits of using them, agnostic to toolset. As well as experience of leading teams, in implementing these best practices

Working at board level to define and present the business case for corporate improvement and rollout of methods and competencies to meet it

Culture, Collaboration and lifecycle continual improvement

Works within squad of multi skilled teams to discuss / challenge and inform approach for testable solutions and educating best practices in Testing and Quality

Leads a team within multi skilled teams to discuss / challenge and inform approach for testable solutions and educating best practices in Testing and Quality

Works across squads & within multi skilled teams to discuss / challenge and inform approach for testable solutions and educating best practices in Testing and Quality

Works across the organisation to influence strategy for engineering to challenge and inform approach for testable solutions and educating best practices in Testing and Quality

Works across the organisation to ensure the right process, methods and skills within people is in place to deliver value for money to internal and external clients commissioning new or changed systems that will underpin business operations

This programme isn’t about certification alone, but is one that provides the right blend of theory and practical learning to develop consistently skilled professional test engineers who can deliver for their stakeholders.

P a g e | 7

4 The 5-Stream Programme The professional Test Engineer career development programme contains five key streams, with each being rigorously designed and tested to reflect the principles and competencies that are key to success and growing capability within a

Test Practice. Each stream interfaces seamlessly to the next to provide continuous investment in people and career growth:

ISTQB Foundation

Intro to Risk Based Testing

Role Based Test Techniques

Business Testing

Agile Testing

MobileDevOps

Foundation

DevOps

Performance Testing

Artificial Intelligence

Model Based Testing

Technical Testing

Team Leader/Manager

ISTQB Adv.Test Analyst

BCS Require ts Engineering

Practical Test Management

ISTQB adv. Tech Agile Tester

BCS Modelling Techniques

ISTQB Model Based Testing

Introduction to Test Engineering

ISTQB Agile Extension

Intro to Automation

BCS Intermediate

Introduction to Performance

On Demand Tools Training

iSQI Selenium Webdriver


ISTQB Adv. Tech Test Analyst

ISTQB Adv.Test Analyst

ISTQB Adv. Test Auto Engineer

TMMi Professional

ISTQB Adv. Security Tester


Performance Engineering

KALI/OSCP Security

BCS/EXIN Agile Product Owner

Automated Testing

Technical TestingTeam Leader/

ManagerSecurity Testing

Test Process Improvement

Performance Testing

Architecture & Improvement

Security Strategy

BCS Consultancy Practice

Automation Strategy

Consulting & Leadership

Performance Strategy

Control and Management

Sen

ior

Test

Eng

inee

r &

Tes

t En

gine

er

Co

mpe

ten

cies

Test Architect & Consulting Competencies

Lead Test Engineer, Test Manager and Senior Manager Competencies

Stream 1: From Apprentice/Junior to Test Engineer

Stream 2:From Test Engineer To Senior Test Engineer / Test Team Leader

Stream 4: From Senior Test Engineer to Test Architect / Consultant

Stream 3: From Senior Test Engineer to Lead Test Engineer/Test Manager

ISTQB Adv.Test Manager



ISTQB Adv. Auto Engineer

ISTQB Adv. Security

TMMi Professional

Benefits Mgmt & Bus.Acceptance


Stream 5: From Senior Test Engineer or Architect to Testing Expert

Test Expert Competencies

ISTQB Expert Test Mgmt

ISTQB Exp. Test Process Improve

TMMi Assessor

TMMi Lead Assessor


Programme Test Management

Control & Management

Measurement & Improvement

Test Process

Intro to Performance

BCS Intro to AI

Automated Testing

Agile Scrum

BCS/EXIN Agile Scrum Foundation

BCS/EXIN Agile Scrum Practitioner

BCS Foundation in AI

ISTQB Adv. Tech Agile Tester

Agile Testing

ISTQB Mobile App Tester

BCS Intro to AI

Key:

Same course on Exit/Entry

C

P

Certificated

Practical

Mandatory

Optional Specialisms

Figure 1 - The Long-Term Software Test Engineer Career Development Programme


4.1 The Five Key Streams At the broadest level, each stream is designed to reflect modern test engineering principles, coupled

with competencies that meet the needs of a Test Practice and varying development models,

supported by capability from competent, multi-skilled individuals. The programme is designed for

people to enter a learning stream that is relevant to their experience:

1. The Test Engineer is for apprentices and entry level staff embarking on a career in software

testing, and for experienced staff from other disciplines who may be transferring in.

2. The Senior Test Engineer with at least two years’ experience, who is ready to step up to

using more advanced techniques, choosing to specialise or move to the early stages of

team leadership.

3. The Lead Test Engineer with at least four years’ experience, already specialising and

needing to be ready for the demands of test management or increasingly complex technical

roles.

4. The Test Architect with at least five years’ experience, ready to make the jump to the

business-critical role of defining and building test architectures for major programmes.

5. The Test Expert who has at least 10-years’ experience of leading major programme delivery

and organisational change and benefit.

4.2 The Test Engineer The Test Engineer stream is designed for people with little or no software testing experience and for

others with up to two years’ experience who can join the stream at an appropriate point. The

courses within the stream are mapped to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship scheme and qualify

for funding up to 90%

4.2.1 The Test Engineer Roadmap

DesiredCompetency

ISTQB Foundation

Mobile App Testing

ISTQB Agile Extension

Intro to Risk Based Testing

Role Based Test Techniques

DevOps Foundation

Introduction to Test Engineering

Learning & Development Plan

C

P

Stream 1, From Apprentice/New Starter to Test Engineer

Introduction to Automation

Automated Testing

Business Testing

Agile Testing

Programming

5

7

DevOps/MBT

Consultancy Skills

Coaching & Mentoring

© TSG Training 2019

BCS Intermediate

ISTQB Adv. Test Analyst

Intro to Performance

Performance

Intro to AI


Certificated

Practical

Mandatory


Figure 2 - The Test Engineer Capability Roadmap


The stream supports the key competencies of:

• Agile Testing

• Artificial Intelligence

• to Automated Testing

• Business Testing

• DevOps & Model Based Testing

• Performance Testing

• Programming

As can be seen in Figure 2 - The Test Engineer Capability Roadmap, there is:

• A series of mandatory courses to qualify for Government funding.

• Several optional courses to suit early specialisms.

People passing through the stream will have done so with the skills necessary to function as a Test

Engineer who takes on and manages the tasks of:

• Requirements analysis and de-construction

• Test Analysis, Specification, Design, and Execution

• Test Reporting.

The skills learned are relevant and portable to all development methods.

Note: Unless someone is transferring into a Test Practice who has no software testing experience,

we envisage the Test Engineer role being the only one of the five to be eligible for ‘Government

Apprenticeship Funding’ in full.

© T S G T r a i n i n g 2 0 1 9 P a g e | 1 0

4.2.2 Test Engineer Learning & Development Narrative

T e s t E n g i n e e r

L e a r n i n g & D e v e l o p m e n t M a n d a t o r y D a y s

P r e - R e q u i s i t e s

R a t i o n a l e M o n t h s

E x p . E x p e r i e n c e a n d Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o T e s t i n g &

T e s t E n g i n e e r i n g

Y 2 0 N o n e P r o v i d e s t h e b a s i c s o f t e s t i n g a n d m o d e l - b a s e d t e s t i n g

i n t r a d i t i o n a l , A g i l e a n d D e v O p s e n v i r o n m e n t s .

P r e p a r e s s t u d e n t s f o r t h e I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n c o u r s e .

I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n ,

2 0 1 8 S y l l a b u s a n d E x a m

Y 3 0 - 6 A b i l i t y t o a b s o r b s i g n i f i c a n t a m o u n t s

o f i n f o r m a t i o n i n a s h o r t s p a c e o f

t i m e ; a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l ; w i l l i n g n e s s

t o d o h o m e w o r k .

T h i s i s t h e c o u r s e t h a t p r o v i d e s s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e

c o m m o n t e r m s a n d p r o c e s s e s t h e y w i l l n e e d t h r o u g h

t h e i r c a r e e r s a n d w h i c h a r e i n d u s t r y - r e c o g n i s e d a s t h e

d e f a c t o s t a n d a r d .

B C S I n t r o d u c t i o n t o A r t i f i c i a l

I n t e l l i g e n c e

O p t i o n a l 1 6 - 1 2 A b a s i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t e s t i n g a n d

a n i n t e r e s t i n k n o w i n g m o r e a b o u t

A I

T h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y c o u r s e a d d r e s s e s t h e p o t e n t i a l

b e n e f i t s , t y p e s o f A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e , t h e b a s i c

p r o c e s s o f M a c h i n e L e a r n i n g ( M L ) , t h e c h a l l e n g e s a n d

r i s k s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a n A I p r o j e c t , a n d t h e f u t u r e o f A I

a n d H u m a n s i n w o r k .

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o A u t o m a t i o n Y 1 6 - 1 2 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n a n d a n

i n t e r e s t i n s p e c i a l i s i n g i n o r k n o w i n g

m o r e a b o u t t e s t a u t o m a t i o n .

M o d e r n T e s t P r a c t i c e s s u p p o r t a u t o m a t i o n a s a k e y

s t r e a m a n d d e l i v e r a b l e , a n d t h i s c o u r s e p r o v i d e s

s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e i r f i r s t ‘ h a n d s - o n ’ e x p e r i e n c e . I t c a n

a l s o b e s u p p l e m e n t e d w i t h a n o p t i o n a l I n t r o d u c t i o n t o

P y t h o n o r o t h e r l a n g u a g e

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o P y t h o n

P r o g r a m m i n g

O p t i o n a l 3 6 - 1 2 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n a n d a n

i n t e r e s t i n s p e c i a l i s i n g i n o r k n o w i n g

m o r e a b o u t t e c h n i c a l s c r i p t w r i t i n g

f o r a u t o m a t i o n a n d / o r p e r f o r m a n c e

t e s t i n g .

P r o v i d e s T e s t E n g i n e e r s w i t h t h e b a s i c s o f P y t h o n

P r o g r a m m i n g , a s m a y b e u s e d i n a u t o m a t i o n a n d / o r

p e r f o r m a n c e a n d / o r o t h e r t e c h n o l o g i e s t h e y m a y b e

r e q u i r e d t o s u p p o r t .







I n t r o d u c t i o n t o R i s k B a s e d

T e s t i n g

Y 2 1 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n a n d t h o s e

w h o a r e a w a r e o f t h e n e e d t o

u n d e r s t a n d , p r o f i l e a n d p r i o r i t i s e

r i s k o n t h e p r o j e c t s .

P r o v i d e s a p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h t o i d e n t i f y i n g ,

p r i o r i t i s i n g a n d m a n a g i n g r i s k .

R o l e B a s e d T e c h n i q u e s O p t i o n a l 1 1 2 - 1 8 T h o s e n e e d i n g m o r e t e c h n i q u e s b u t

w h o a r e n o t r e a d y f o r I S T Q B

A d v a n c e d T e s t A n a l y s t .

T h e g a p b e t w e e n F o u n d a t i o n a n d e i t h e r B C S

I n t e r m e d i a t e o r I S T Q B A d v a n c e d c a n b e t o o l o n g f o r

s o m e , a n d t h i s c o u r s e b r i d g e s t h e g a p .

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o

P e r f o r m a n c e

O p t i o n a l 1 6 - 2 4 N o p r e - r e q u i s i t e s , a l t h o u g h s o m e

t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e a n d a n I S T Q B

F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e w o u l d b e

b e n e f i c i a l t o l e a r n i n g a n d o u t c o m e s

T h i s h a n d s - o n c o u r s e p r o v i d e s t h e b a s i c s o f

p e r f o r m a n c e t e s t i n g f o r t h o s e w h o w i s h t o s p e c i a l i s e

i n t h e s u b j e c t a n d g o o n t o s p e c i f i c t o o l s - b a s e d

t r a i n i n g a n d s t r a t e g y w o r k

I S T Q B M o b i l e A p p T e s t e r

a n d E x a m

Y 2 1 2 A b i l i t y t o u s e a c o m p u t e r f o r b a s i c

f u n c t i o n s s u c h a s a c c e s s i n g f i l e s a n d

u s i n g t h e c o m m a n d l i n e i n t e r f a c e .

W i l l i n g n e s s t o l e a r n h o w t o u s e

v i r t u a l m a c h i n e s f o r t e s t i n g .

D e x t e r i t y w i t h f i n g e r s t o t e s t

f u n c t i o n s o n m o b i l e d e v i c e s .

W i t h ‘ m o b i l e ’ b e i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y u s e d a s a d e l i v e r y

p l a t f o r m , i t i s n o w a c c e p t e d t h a t T e s t E n g i n e e r s m u s t

u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o t e s t a p p l i c a t i o n s o n m o b i l e

d e v i c e s .

N o t e : T h e i S Q I C M A P q u a l i f i c a t i o n w a s r e t i r e d i n

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 i n f a v o u r o f t h e I S T Q B M o b i l e A p p

T e s t e r q u a l i f i c a t i o n .

I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n – A g i l e

E x t e n s i o n a n d E x a m

Y 2 1 2 - 1 8 A n I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n

C e r t i f i c a t e i s r e q u i r e d f o r s t u d e n t s

t o s i t t h e e x a m , b u t n o t t h e c o u r s e .

A g i l e i s n o w m a i n s t r e a m , a n d s t u d e n t s m u s t b e a b l e t o

w o r k w i t h i n i t . T h e c o u r s e e x p a n d s o n t h e t e c h n i q u e s

a n d l e a r n i n g i n t h e F o u n d a t i o n C o u r s e a n d t h e

d i f f e r e n c e t h a t A g i l e b r i n g s .







B C S I n t e r m e d i a t e a n d E x a m Y 4 1 8 - 2 4 A s o l i d u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d u s a g e o f

t h e t e r m s , p r o c e s s e s a n d t e c h n i q u e s

g a i n e d o n p r i o r c o u r s e s .

T h i s c o u r s e e x p a n d s u p o n t h e s k i l l s t a u g h t b y I S T Q B

F o u n d a t i o n . P a s s i n g t h e e x a m o n t h i s c o u r s e i s a p r e -

r e q u i s i t e f o r s t u d e n t s t o g r a d u a t e f r o m t h e

A p p r e n t i c e s h i p S c h e m e a n d q u a l i f y f o r f u l l

G o v e r n m e n t f u n d i n g .

D e v O p s F o u n d a t i o n O p t i o n a l 2 2 4 N o n e P r o v i d e s t h e b a s i c s o f D e v O p s t h a t T e s t E n g i n e e r s

m u s t m a s t e r t o w o r k i n t h i s e n v i r o n m e n t .

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t

A n a l y s t w i t h e x a m

O p t i o n a l 4 2 4 M u s t h o l d a n I S T Q B / I S E B

F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e ( f r o m e i t h e r

t h e 2 0 1 1 s y l l a b u s o r t h e m o r e

r e c e n t 2 0 1 8 s y l l a b u s ) t o s i t t h e

e x a m . A t l e a s t 2 4 - m o n t h s s o l i d

t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e u s i n g t e s t d e s i g n

t e c h n i q u e s , s e l f - m o t i v a t e d , a b i l i t y t o

a n a l y s e r e q u i r e m e n t s . A b i l i t y t o s i t a

m u l t i p l e - c h o i c e e x a m l a s t i n g 3

h o u r s .

T h i s i s a n o p t i o n a l c o u r s e t h a t m a y

b e s a t a t 1 8 - m o n t h s f o r t h e h i g h -

f l y e r o r t h o s e o n a c c e l e r a t e d

l e a r n i n g p r o g r a m m e s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s t h e n a t u r a l r o u t e a n d p r o g r e s s i o n f o r

t h o s e w h o w a n t t o m o v e u p t h e l a d d e r . I t w i l l i n c r e a s e

k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f i n d u s t r y s t a n d a r d

f u n c t i o n a l t e c h n i q u e s a n d i m b u e t h e s t u d e n t s w i t h

a d d i t i o n a l s k i l l s t o t a k e o n m o r e c o m p l e x w o r k .

C o a c h i n g a n d M e n t o r i n g O p t i o n a l O n g

o i n g

O n g o i n g N o n e O p t i o n a l f o r t h o s e n o t o n a g o v e r n m e n t s p o n s o r e d

A p p r e n t i c e s h i p p r o g r a m m e , b u t m a n d a t o r y f o r t h o s e

w h o a r e i f f u l l f u n d i n g i s t o b e s e c u r e d







C o n s u l t a n c y S k i l l s O p t i o n a l 1 0 - 2 4 0 - 2 y e a r s o f t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e f o r

t h o s e e x p e c t e d t o b e d e p l o y e d o n

c l i e n t s i t e a s a f e e - e a r n i n g

c o n s u l t a n t .

P r o v i d e s s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e b e h a v i o u r a l a n d

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s t h e y w i l l b e e x p e c t e d t o d i s p l a y

t o b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l s t a k e h o l d e r s .

Table 1 - Test Engineer Learning & Development, Pre-Requisites and Rationale


4.3 The Senior Test Engineer The Senior Test Engineer stream is designed for people who have at least two-years’ software

testing on projects and have expressed a desire to make testing their career goal and move up the

ladder of seniority within a Test Practice.

Students graduating The Test Engineer stream are expected to join this stream at the beginning,

whereas others with relevant experience can join at any point.

4.3.1 The Senior Test Engineer Roadmap

DesiredCompetency

Performance Testing

Model & Auto Testing


Technical Testing

Stream 2: Test Engineer To Senior Test Engineer / Test Team Leader

Team Leader/Manager

Agile Scrum


C

P

ISTQB Adv. Test Analyst

1

8

Consultancy Skills

Optional Coaching & Mentoring


Advanced Agile Testing

Business Testing

Certificated

Practical

Mandatory


ISTQB Model Based Testing

BCS/EXIN Agile Scrum Foundaiton

Introduction to Performance


Requirements Engineering


iSQI Selenium WebDriver


Scrum Master

On Demand Performance

BCS Modelling Techniques

ISTQB Adv. Test Manager


BCS Intro to AI BCS Foundation in AI

Figure 3 - The Senior Test Engineer Capability Roadmap

Some courses in Stream 2 are repeated from Stream 1. However, this is only to ensure that everyone

has the full skill set. If a course has been taken in Stream 1 then it need not be taken again here.

The stream supports and enables people to acquire skill in the key competencies of:

• Advanced Agile Testing

• Agile Scrum

• Artificial Intelligence

• Automated Testing

• Business Testing

• Model Based


• Team Leaders and aspiring Test Managers

• Technical Testing, such as SI, Infrastructure, etc.

Supporting 9 key competencies, Stream 2 contains a mandatory course and 8-optional course paths

that allow the Senior Test Engineer to specialise in key skills areas as they progress toward Lead Test


Engineer or Test Architect. Whilst the paths are optional, we recommend that at least one be

completed to graduate. Staff not taking ISTQB Test Manager in this stream will face it in the next

It is not envisaged that any of the courses in this stream will be eligible for ‘Government

Apprenticeship Funding’ unless someone is transferring into a role where there is a requirement to

learn at least 51% of new skills to fulfil it.


4.3.2 Senior Test Engineer Courses Narrative

S e n i o r T e s t E n g i n e e r





I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t A n a l y s t w i t h

e x a m

Y 4 2 4 - 3 0 M u s t h o l d a n I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n

c e r t i f i c a t e ( f r o m e i t h e r t h e 2 0 1 1 s y l l a b u s o r

t h e m o r e r e c e n t 2 0 1 8 s y l l a b u s ) t o s i t t h e

e x a m . A t l e a s t 2 4 - m o n t h s s o l i d t e s t i n g

e x p e r i e n c e u s i n g t e s t d e s i g n t e c h n i q u e s ,

s e l f - m o t i v a t e d , a b i l i t y t o a n a l y s e

r e q u i r e m e n t s . A b i l i t y t o s i t a m u l t i p l e -

c h o i c e e x a m l a s t i n g 3 h o u r s .

T h e c o u r s e m a y b e s a t a t 1 8 - m o n t h s f o r t h e

h i g h - f l y e r o r t h o s e o n a c c e l e r a t e d l e a r n i n g .

T h i s c o u r s e i s t h e n a t u r a l r o u t e a n d

p r o g r e s s i o n f o r t h o s e w h o w a n t t o

m o v e u p t h e l a d d e r . I t w i l l in c r e a s e

k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f

i n d u s t r y s t a n d a r d f u n c t i o n a l

t e c h n i q u e s a n d i m b u e t h e s t u d e n t s

w i t h a d d i t i o n a l s k i l l s t o t a k e o n m o r e

c o m p l e x w o r k .

I S T Q B M o d e l b a s e d T e s t i n g O p t i o n a l 2 2 4 - 3 6 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e a n d a n

i n t e r e s t i n l e a r n i n g a b o u t t h e u s e o f m o d e l s

i n t e s t i n g .

U s e f u l p r e d o m i n a n t l y i n

m a n u f a c t u r i n g a n d n o n - s e r v i c e - b a s e d

i n d u s t r i e s t o g e n e r a t e t e s t c a s e s f r o m

m o d e l s . A l s o u s e d m o r e a n d m o r e i n

A u t o m a t i o n , w h e r e i t s i t s a t t h e t o p -

e n d o f t h e a p p r o a c h .

O n - D e m a n d A u t o m a t i o n T o o l s

a n d / o r i S Q I S e l e n i u m F o u n d a t i o n

w i t h W e b D r i v e r a n d E x a m

O p t i o n a l 3 /

V a r i a b l e

2 4 - 3 6 A t t e n d e e s s h o u l d h a v e g e n e r a l k n o w l e d g e

o f b a s i c p r o g r a m m i n g a n d s o m e k n o w l e d g e

o f P y t h o n a n d a d e s i r e t o e m b a r k o n

a u t o m a t i o n a t a p r a c t i c a l l e v e l .

T h i s l e a d i n g s h a r e w a r e t o o l h a s n o w

b e c o m e a c c e p t e d a s m a i n s t r e a m a n d

i s b e i n g u s e d b y m o r e a n d m o r e

c o m p a n i e s . T h e c o u r s e p r o v i d e s

p e o p l e w i t h t h e s k i l l s t o d e v e l o p , r u n

a n d m a i n t a i n a u t o m a t e d t e s t p a c k s

w i t h S e l e n i u m a t t h e h e a r t .

O t h e r s p e c i f i c t o o l s - b a s e d t r a i n i n g o n

r e q u e s t t o m e e t c l i e n t d e m a n d







I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e c h n i c a l A g i l e

T e s t e r

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 2 I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n – A g i l e E x t e n s i o n w o u l d

b e b e n e f i c i a l ( b u t n o t m a n d a t o r y ) a s w o u l d

3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e , 2 o f

w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s p e n t t e s t i n g o n

A g i l e P r o j e c t s / S p r i n t s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s p r i n c i p a l l y a i m e d a t t e s t

p r a c t i t i o n e r s w h o h a v e a c h i e v e d a n

a d v a n c e d p o i n t i n t h e i r c a r e e r s i n

s o f t w a r e t e s t i n g a n d a r e e x p e c t i n g t o

b e a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e t e c h n i c a l

a s p e c t s o f s o f t w a r e t e s t i n g u s i n g

a d v a n c e d t e c h n i q u e s i n a n A g i l e

E n v i r o n m e n t

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o P e r f o r m a n c e O p t i o n a l 1 2 4 N o p r e - r e q u i s i t e s , a l t h o u g h s o m e t e s t i n g

e x p e r i e n c e a n d a n I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n

c e r t i f i c a t e w o u l d b e b e n e f i c i a l t o l e a r n i n g

a n d o u t c o m e s

T h i s h a n d s - o n c o u r s e p r o v i d e s t h e

b a s i c s o f p e r f o r m a n c e t e s t i n g f o r

t h o s e w h o w i s h t o s p e c i a l i s e i n t h e

s u b j e c t a n d g o o n t o s p e c i f i c t o o l s -

b a s e d t r a i n i n g a n d s t r a t e g y w o r k

O n - D e m a n d P e r f o r m a n c e T o o l s O p t i o n a l V a r i a b l e 2 4 S o m e h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e o f p e r f o r m a n c e

t e s t i n g w o u l d m o s t d e f i n i t e l y b e n e f i t

l e a r n i n g a n d h e l p f a c i l i t a t e d e s i r e d

o u t c o m e s

S p e c i f i c t o o l s - b a s e d t r a i n i n g o n

r e q u e s t t o m e e t c l i e n t d e m a n d

B C S / E X I N A g i l e S c r u m F o u n d a t i o n O p t i o n a l 3 3 0 - 3 6 3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e , a t l e a s t

1 o f w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s p e n t t e s t i n g

o n A g i l e P r o j e c t s a n d S p r i n t s


s k i l l s f o r a L e a d T e s t E n g i n e e r t o w o r k

e f f e c t i v e l y i n A g i l e S c r u m

e n v i r o n m e n t s







B C S / E X I N A g i l e S c r u m P r a c t i t i o n e r O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 8 A B C S / E X I N A g i l e S c r u m F o u n d a t i o n

c e r t i f i c a t e m u s t b e h e l d b e f o r e s i t t i n g t h i s

e x a m f o r t h i s c o u r s e

3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e , a t l e a s t

2 o f w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s p e n t t e s t i n g

o n A g i l e P r o j e c t s a n d S p r i n t s


s k i l l s f o r a L e a d T e s t E n g i n e e r t o

a d v a n c e t o S c r u m M a t e r , l e a d s p r i n t s

a n d r u n a g i l e t e a m s

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e c h n i c a l T e s t

A n a l y s t

O p t i o n s 3 3 6 3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e a c r o s s

d i f f e r e n t l i f e c y c l e s t a g e s .

T h e I S T Q B C e r t i f i e d T e c h n i c a l T e s t

A n a l y s t A d v a n c e d L e v e l i s p r i n c i p a l l y

a i m e d a t t e s t p r a c t i t i o n e r s w h o h a v e

a c h i e v e d a n a d v a n c e d p o i n t i n t h e i r

c a r e e r s i n s o f t w a r e t e s t i n g a n d a r e

e x p e c t i n g t o b e a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n

t h e t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f s o f t w a r e

t e s t i n g u s i n g a d v a n c e d t e c h n i q u e s

B C S R e q u i r e m e n t s E n g i n e e r i n g a n d

E x a m

O p t i o n a l 3 2 4 - 3 6 S o m e p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f w o r k i n g w i t h

r e q u i r e m e n t s o r u s e c a s e s w o u l d b e

b e n e f i c i a l , a l t h o u g h n o t m a n d a t o r y .

T h e c o u r s e t e a c h e s t h e b u s i n e s s T e s t

E n g i n e e r h o w t o e n s u r e t h a t

r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e c o r r e c t a n d

c o m p l e t e t o f u l f i l t h e n e e d s o f t h e

b u s i n e s s a n d o t h e r s t a k e h o l d e r s .

B C S M o d e l l i n g T e c h n i q u e s a n d

E x a m

O p t i o n a l 3 3 0 - 4 8 N o n e T e a c h e s s t u d e n t s h o w t o w o r k w i t h

s y s t e m s m o d e l l i n g , s t a t i c m o d e l l i n g ,

d y n a m i c m o d e l l i n g a n d m o d e l l i n g i n

c o n t e x t i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e t h e r i g h t

m o d e l s o n c l i e n t p r o g r a m m e s .







P r a c t i c a l T e s t M a n a g e m e n t O p t i o n a l 4 3 0 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e a n d t h e

w i l l t o l e a r n t h e t e c h n i q u e s a n d b e h a v i o u r a l

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a T e a m L e a d e r o r a s p i r i n g

T e s t M a n a g e r .

N o t e : T h i s c o u r s e w a s o r i g i n a l l y

c o m m i s s i o n e d b y I B M t o h e l p t h e i r t e a m

l e a d e r s a n d t e s t m a n a g e r s t o d e v e l o p t h e

c o n s u l t a n c y s k i l l n e c e s s a r y t o m a n a g e c l i e n t

p r o j e c t s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s b a s e d a r o u n d a d e t a i l e d

a n d r e a l i s t i c c a s e s t u d y a n d f o l l o w s

t h i s ‘ v i r t u a l ’ p r o j e c t f r o m i n c e p t i o n ,

r i s k a n a l y s i s a n d t h e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e

t e s t p l a n , t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s p l a n

t o p e r f o r m t h e t e s t i n g , a n d t h e n

c o n s i d e r s t h e t e s t i n g t h a t n e e d s t o b e

p e r f o r m e d o n c e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n g o e s

‘ l i v e ’ b y r e v i e w i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

r e s p o n s e s t o b o t h o n g o i n g a n d n e w

r i s k s .

B C S I n t r o d u c t i o n t o A r t i f i c i a l


O p t i o n a l 1 6 - 1 2 A b a s i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t e s t i n g a n d a n

i n t e r e s t i n k n o w i n g m o r e a b o u t A I

T h i s i n t r o d u c t o r y c o u r s e a d d r e s s e s

t h e p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t s , t y p e s o f

A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e , t h e b a s i c

p r o c e s s o f M a c h i n e L e a r n i n g ( M L ) , t h e

c h a l l e n g e s a n d r i s k s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

a n A I p r o j e c t , a n d t h e f u t u r e o f A I a n d

H u m a n s i n w o r k .

B C S F o u n d a t i o n i n A r t i f i c i a l


O p t i o n a l 2 2 4 - 3 6 A b a s i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t e s t i n g a n d a n

i n t e r e s t i n e s t a b l i s h i n g a s t r o n g f o u n d a t i o n

i n A I f r o m w h i c h a s t u d e n t c a n a d v a n c e

A n y o n e w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n ( o r n e e d t o

i m p l e m e n t ) a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e i n a n

o r g a n i s a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w o r k i n g

i n a r e a s s u c h a s s c i e n c e , e n g i n e e r i n g ,

k n o w l e d g e e n g i n e e r i n g , f i n a n c e ,

e d u c a t i o n o r I T s e r v i c e s .







I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t M a n a g e r a n d

E x a m

Y e s 5 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e a n d a t

l e a s t 3 6 m o n t h s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e . S o m e

t e a m m a n a g e m e n t e x p e r i e n c e h e l p f u l .

I n t e r e s t i n s e t t i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t e s t i n g .

F a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g t e s t

t e a m s i n p r o j e c t s . W i l l i n g n e s s t o s i t a

m u l t i p l e - c h o i c e e x a m l a s t i n g 3 h o u r s . H i g h

f l y e r s o r t h o s e o n a c c e l e r a t e d l e a r n i n g m a y

b e r e a d y t o t a k e t h i s c o u r s e a t 2 4 - m o n t h s .

T o p r o v i d e t h e i n d u s t r y v i e w o f t e s t

m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s a n d p r i n c i p l e s

t o s e t t e s t p o l i c y , s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s t h e l a s t i n t h e s t r e a m ,

b u t m a y o p t i o n a l l y b e s a t a t t h e

b e g i n n i n g o f S t r e a m 3 , T h e L e a d T e s t

E n g i n e e r

C o a c h i n g a n d M e n t o r i n g Y O n g o i n g O n g o i n g N o n e F l o o r w a l k i n g , t e l e p h o n e o r m a i l

s u p p o r t t o h e l p a p p l y s k i l l s l e a r n e d

a n d w i t h s o l u t i o n d e v e l o p e d t o s o l v e

c l i e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s .

C o n s u l t a n c y S k i l l s O p t i o n a l 1 N o n e 2 - 4 y e a r s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e f o r t h o s e

e x p e c t e d t o b e d e p l o y e d o n c l i e n t s i t e a s a

f e e - e a r n i n g c o n s u l t a n t .

P r o v i d e s s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e

b e h a v i o u r a l a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s

t h e y w i l l b e e x p e c t e d t o d i s p l a y t o

b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l

s t a k e h o l d e r s .

Table 2 - Senior Test Engineer Learning & Development, Pre-Requisites and Rationale


4.4 The Lead Test Engineer The Lead Test Engineer stream is designed for people who have already gained a good deal of

testing experience, but who are beginning to think about specialising, either in leadership and

management or more technical disciplines. It is recommended that people embarking on or

entering this stream have a minimum of 4-years’ experience.

4.4.1 The Lead Test Engineer Roadmap

DesiredCompetency

Automated Testing


Technical Testing

Stream 3: From Senior Test Engineer to Lead Test Engineer/Test Mgr

Team Leader/Manager

Security Testing

ISTQB Adv. Test Auto Engineer



TMMi Professional

C

P

Test Process Improvement

2

7

Consultancy Skills


Performance Testing


Agile Testing

Certificated

Practical

ISTQB Adv. Security Tester

Mandatory




KALI/OSCP Security



Figure 4 - The Lead Test Engineer Capability Roadmap


• Technical Testing

• Agile Testing

• Advanced Automated Testing


• Test Team Leader or Test Manager or Product Owner

• Test Process Improvement

• Security Testing

As can be seen in Figure 4 - The Lead Test Engineer Capability Roadmap, there is a series of

mandatory courses and optional paths for Advanced Test Automation, Test Process Improvement

and other key competencies. Whilst the paths are optional, we recommend at least one be

completed to graduate from the stream and attain an ‘Test Practice Diploma’.

Note: It is not envisaged that any of the courses in this stream will be eligible for ‘Government




4.4.2 Lead Test Engineer Learning & Development Narrative

L e a d T e s t E n g i n e e r C o u r s e M a n d a t o r y D a y s




P r a c t i c a l T e s t M a n a g e m e n t O p t i o n a l 4 3 0 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e a n d t h e

w i l l t o l e a r n t h e t e c h n i q u e s a n d b e h a v i o u r a l

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a T e a m L e a d e r o r a s p i r i n g

T e s t M a n a g e r .

N o t e : T h i s c o u r s e w a s o r i g i n a l l y

c o m m i s s i o n e d b y I B M t o h e l p t h e i r t e a m

l e a d e r s a n d t e s t m a n a g e r s t o d e v e l o p t h e

c o n s u l t a n c y s k i l l n e c e s s a r y t o m a n a g e c l i e n t

p r o j e c t s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s b a s e d a r o u n d a d e t a i l e d

a n d r e a l i s t i c c a s e s t u d y a n d f o l l o w s

t h i s ‘ v i r t u a l ’ p r o j e c t f r o m i n c e p t i o n ,

r i s k a n a l y s i s a n d t h e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e

t e s t p l a n , t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s p l a n

t o p e r f o r m t h e t e s t i n g , a n d t h e n

c o n s i d e r s t h e t e s t i n g t h a t n e e d s t o b e

p e r f o r m e d o n c e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n g o e s

‘ l i v e ’ b y r e v i e w i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

r e s p o n s e s t o b o t h o n g o i n g a n d n e w

r i s k s .

T h e c o u r s e m a y h a v e b e e n t a k e n a s a n

o p t i o n i n S t r e a m 2 , a n d i n s u c h a c a s e

i t n e e d n o t b e t a k e n h e r e .


E x a m

Y e s 5 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e a n d a t











t o s e t t e s t p o l i c y , s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n s .






I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e c h n i c a l T e s t

A n a l y s t

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e a c r o s s

d i f f e r e n t l i f e c y c l e s t a g e s .

T h e I S T Q B C e r t i f i e d T e c h n i c a l T e s t

A n a l y s t A d v a n c e d L e v e l i s p r i n c i p a l l y

a i m e d a t t e s t p r a c t i t i o n e r s w h o h a v e

a c h i e v e d a n a d v a n c e d p o i n t i n t h e i r

c a r e e r s i n s o f t w a r e t e s t i n g a n d a r e

e x p e c t i n g t o b e a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n

t h e t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f s o f t w a r e

t e s t i n g u s i n g a d v a n c e d t e c h n i q u e s

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e c h n i c a l A g i l e

T e s t e r

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 2 I S T Q B F o u n d a t i o n – A g i l e E x t e n s i o n w o u l d

b e b e n e f i c i a l ( b u t n o t m a n d a t o r y ) a s w o u l d

3 - y e a r s o f s o l i d t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e , 2 o f

w h i c h s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s p e n t t e s t i n g o n

A g i l e P r o j e c t s / S p r i n t s .

T h i s c o u r s e i s p r i n c i p a l l y a i m e d a t t e s t

p r a c t i t i o n e r s w h o a r e e x p e c t i n g t o b e

a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e t e c h n i c a l

a s p e c t s o f s o f t w a r e t e s t i n g u s i n g

a d v a n c e d t e c h n i q u e s i n a n A g i l e

E n v i r o n m e n t

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t A u t o m a t i o n

E n g i n e e r a n d E x a m

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e ,

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o A u t o m a t i o n a n d , i d e a l l y ,

t h e S e l e n i u m F o u n d a t i o n c o u r s e , a t l e a s t 3 6

m o n t h s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e o r s o m e r e a l

h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e d i f f e r e n t t e s t

m o d e l s t h a t c a n b e a p p l i e d t o r e u s a b l e

f r a m e w o r k s . I n t e r e s t i n t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

p r a c t i c e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s . L e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s

n e e d e d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

s t r a t e g y a n d a p p r o a c h e s f o r p r o g r a m m e s .

S i g n i f i c a n t a n a l y s i s a n d e v a l u a t i o n a n d s k i l l s

i n a t e c h n i c a l s e t t i n g .

T o d e v e l o p a d e e p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f

d e s i g n i n g , d e v e l o p i n g , a n d

m a i n t a i n i n g t h e c o r r e c t f r a m e w o r k s

a n d t e c h n i q u e s f o r t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

s o l u t i o n s






P e r f o r m a n c e E n g i n e e r i n g O p t i o n a l 5 3 6 - 4 8 E x p e r i e n c e o f p e r f o r m a n c e t o o l s - b a s e d

t r a i n i n g i s r e q u i r e d t o f u r t h e r l e a r n i n g

t h r o u g h t o o l s s p e c i f i c c o u r s e s

T o e n a b l e e f f e c t i v e p e r f o r m a n c e

e n g i n e e r i n g t h a t g o e s b e y o n d s i m p l e

t e s t i n g . P r o v i d e s f o r s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n

d e v e l o p m e n t , p r o f i l i n g p r o c e s s e s a n d

a n a l y s i s a n d u s a g e o f o u t p u t s t o

i d e n t i f y p r o b l e m s a n d c o r r e c t t h e m

a c r o s s t h e l i f e c y c l e

B C S / E X I N A g i l e S c r u m P r o d u c t

O w n e r

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 8 2 - y e a r s a g i l e t e s t i n g a n d t e s t m a n a g e m e n t

a r e r e c o m m e n d e d t o s t e p u p t o t h e r o l e o f

P r o d u c t O w n e r i n a n a g i l e e n v i r o n m e n t

W h e n a n o r g a n i z a t i o n m a k e s t h e

d e c i s i o n t o a d o p t a g i l e , i t t a k e s m u c h

m o r e t h a n p u l l i n g t o g e t h e r a

d e v e l o p m e n t t e a m a n d a l l o w i n g t h e m

t o w o r k i n a n i t e r a t i v e m a n n e r . A g i l e i s

a t r u e s h i f t i n h o w i n d i v i d u a l s

c o l l a b o r a t e , c o m m u n i c a t e a n d

o p e r a t e . A g i l e r e q u i r e s a n " a l l i n "

m i n d s e t f r o m b o t h b u s i n e s s a n d

t e c h n o l o g y w h e r e a l l i n d i v i d u a l s w o r k

t o g e t h e r t o d e l i v e r b u s i n e s s v a l u e i n

t h e f o r m o f w o r k i n g s o f t w a r e .

T M M i P r o f e s s i o n a l a n d E x a m O p t i o n a l 2 3 6 - 4 8 N o q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o e m b a r k o n

t h e T M M i P r o f e s s i o n a l c o u r s e . H o w e v e r , i t

i s t h o r o u g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t s t u d e n t s

h a v e s o m e g o o d t e s t m a n a g e m e n t a n d

‘ l e s s o n s l e a r n e d ’ e x p e r i e n c e .

T h i s c o u r s e t e a c h e s p e o p l e t o a s s e s s

t h e t e s t m a t u r i t y o f o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d

t o p u t i n p l a c e p l a n s a n d a c t i o n s t o

i n c r e a s e i t . T M M i i s n o w t h e m o s t

w i d e l y u s e d t e s t i m p r o v e m e n t m o d e l

w o r l d w i d e .






I S T Q B A d v a n c e d S e c u r i t y T e s t e r a n d

E x a m

O p t i o n a l 4 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e , a t l e a s t

3 6 m o n t h s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e I n t e r e s t i n

s e c u r i t y p r a c t i c e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s .

L e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s n e e d e d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e

s e c u r i t y t e s t i n g s t r a t e g y a n d a p p r o a c h e s f o r

p r o g r a m m e s . S i g n i f i c a n t a n a l y s i s a n d

e v a l u a t i o n a n d s k i l l s i n a t e c h n i c a l s e t t i n g .


i s s u e s a n d h o w t o b u i l d i n s e c u r i t y t o

s y s t e m s a n d c o m p l e x s o l u t i o n s t h a t

r i s k b e i n g c o m p r o m i s e d , e i t h e r

i n t e r n a l l y o r f r o m e x t e r n a l t h r e a t s .

K A L I / O S C P A d v a n c e d a n d

C e r t i f i c a t e d S e c u r i t y T e s t i n g

O p t i o n a l O n l i n e 3 6 - 4 8 A n I S T Q B A d v a n c e d S e c u r i t y T e s t e r

c e r t i f i c a t e i s a p r e - r e q u i s i t e o f t h i s c o u r s e ,

a s i s 1 - y e a r s a c t u a l s e c u r i t y t e s t i n g

T o d e v e l o p e t h i c a l h a c k e r s w h o c a n

b u i l d i n s e c u r i t y m e a s u r e s a n d p r o t e c t

c l i e n t s y s t e m s .


4.5 The Test Architect The Test Architect stream is designed for people who want to drive technology solutions, set

strategy, influence the business and operate as an experienced consultant on behalf of both internal

and external stakeholders. It is recommended that people embarking on or joining this stream have

at least 6-years of relevance experience and hold an ISTQB Foundation Level certificate.

4.5.1 The Test Architect Roadmap

RolesDesiredCompetency


Stream 4: From Senior Test Engineer to Test Architect

Architecture & Improvement

Security Strategy

Benefits Mgmt &Bus. Acceptance


BCS Consultancy Practice

Automation Strategy

Consulting Leadership

C

P

3

5

Consultancy Skills (Optional from IBM)


Performance Strategy


Control & Management

Certificated

Practical

Mandatory


ISTQB Advanced Auto Engineer

ISTQB Advanced Security Tester


TMMi Professional

BCS/Exin Agile Product Owner

Figure 5 - The Test Architect Capability Roadmap


• Automation Strategies

• Security strategy

• Performance Strategy

• Test Management and Architecture

• Architecture and Process Improvement

• Control & Management for Consulting Leadership & Business Management

As can be seen in Figure 5 - The Test Architect Capability Roadmap, there are three mandatory

courses, interspersed with five optional paths within the stream. Whist the paths are optional, they

link back to mandatory courses that a student must pass if they are to graduate the stream and

achieve A ‘Test Practice Diploma’.





4.5.2 Test Architect Courses Narrative

T e s t A r c h i t e c t






E x a m

Y e s 5 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n C e r t i f i c a t e a n d a t











t o s e t t e s t s p o l i c y , s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n s .

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t A u t o m a t i o n

E n g i n e e r a n d E x a m

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e ,

i n t r o d u c t i o n t o a u t o m a t i o n a n d , i d e a l l y , t h e

S e l e n i u m F o u n d a t i o n c o u r s e , a t l e a s t 3 6

m o n t h s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e o r s o m e r e a l

h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e d i f f e r e n t t e s t

m o d e l s t h a t c a n b e a p p l i e d t o r e u s a b l e

f r a m e w o r k s . I n t e r e s t i n t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

p r a c t i c e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s . L e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s

n e e d e d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

s t r a t e g y a n d a p p r o a c h e s f o r p r o g r a m m e s .

S i g n i f i c a n t a n a l y s i s a n d e v a l u a t i o n a n d s k i l l s

i n a t e c h n i c a l s e t t i n g .


d e s i g n i n g , d e v e l o p i n g , a n d

m a i n t a i n i n g t h e c o r r e c t f r a m e w o r k s

a n d t e c h n i q u e s f o r t e s t a u t o m a t i o n

s o l u t i o n s .







P e r f o r m a n c e E n g i n e e r i n g O p t i o n a l 5 3 6 - 4 8 E x p e r i e n c e o f p e r f o r m a n c e t o o l s - b a s e d

t r a i n i n g i s r e q u i r e d t o a t t e n d t h i s

p r o p r i e t a r y , p r a c t i c a l a n d n o n - c e r t i f i c a t e d

I B M c o u r s e .

T o e n a b l e e f f e c t i v e p e r f o r m a n c e

e n g i n e e r i n g t h a t g o e s b e y o n d s i m p l e

t e s t i n g . P r o v i d e s f o r s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n

d e v e l o p m e n t , p r o f i l i n g p r o c e s s e s a n d

a n a l y s i s a n d u s a g e o f o u t p u t s t o

i d e n t i f y p r o b l e m s a n d c o r r e c t t h e m

a c r o s s t h e l i f e c y c l e

B C S / E X I N A g i l e S c r u m P r o d u c t

O w n e r

O p t i o n a l 3 3 6 - 4 8 2 - y e a r s a g i l e t e s t i n g a n d t e s t m a n a g e m e n t

a r e r e c o m m e n d e d t o s t e p u p t o t h e r o l e o f

P r o d u c t O w n e r i n a n a g i l e e n v i r o n m e n t

W h e n a n o r g a n i z a t i o n m a k e s t h e

d e c i s i o n t o a d o p t a g i l e , i t t a k e s m u c h

m o r e t h a n p u l l i n g t o g e t h e r a

d e v e l o p m e n t t e a m a n d a l l o w i n g t h e m

t o w o r k i n a n i t e r a t i v e m a n n e r . A g i l e i s

a t r u e s h i f t i n h o w i n d i v i d u a l s

c o l l a b o r a t e , c o m m u n i c a t e a n d

o p e r a t e . A g i l e r e q u i r e s a n " a l l i n "

m i n d s e t f r o m b o t h b u s i n e s s a n d

t e c h n o l o g y w h e r e a l l i n d i v i d u a l s w o r k

t o g e t h e r t o d e l i v e r b u s i n e s s v a l u e i n

t h e f o r m o f w o r k i n g s o f t w a r e .

I S T Q B A d v a n c e d S e c u r i t y T e s t e r a n d

E x a m

O p t i o n a l 4 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n c e r t i f i c a t e , a t l e a s t

3 6 m o n t h s t e s t i n g e x p e r i e n c e I n t e r e s t i n

s e c u r i t y p r a c t i c e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s .

L e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s n e e d e d t o i n f l u e n c e t h e

s e c u r i t y t e s t i n g s t r a t e g y a n d a p p r o a c h e s f o r

p r o g r a m m e s . S i g n i f i c a n t a n a l y s i s a n d

e v a l u a t i o n a n d s k i l l s i n a t e c h n i c a l s e t t i n g .


i s s u e s a n d h o w t o b u i l d i n s e c u r i t y t o

s y s t e m s a n d c o m p l e x s o l u t i o n s t h a t

r i s k b e i n g c o m p r o m i s e d , e i t h e r

i n t e r n a l l y o r f r o m e x t e r n a l t h r e a t s .







T M M i P r o f e s s i o n a l a n d E x a m O p t i o n a l 2 3 6 - 4 8 N o q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o e m b a r k o n

t h e T M M i P r o f e s s i o n a l c o u r s e . H o w e v e r , i t

i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t s t u d e n t s h a v e s o m e

g o o d t e s t m a n a g e m e n t a n d ‘ l e s s o n s

l e a r n e d ’ e x p e r i e n c e .

T h i s c o u r s e t e a c h e s p e o p l e t o a s s e s s

t h e t e s t m a t u r i t y o f o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d

t o p u t i n p l a c e p l a n s a n d a c t i o n s t o

i n c r e a s e i t . T M M i i s n o w t h e m o s t

u s e d i m p r o v e m e n t m e t h o d

w o r l d w i d e .

B C S B e n e f i t s M a n a g e m e n t &

B u s i n e s s A c c e p t a n c e a n d E x a m

Y e s 3 3 6 - 4 8 T h e a r e n o q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a s p r e - r e q u i s i t e s

t o t a k e t h i s c o u r s e . H o w e v e r , i t i s s t r o n g l y

r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t d e l e g a t e s h a v e a g o o d

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f b u s i n e s s a n a l y s i s , h a v e

l e d m a j o r p r o g r a m m e s a n d w a n t t o p r o v i d e

a d d i t i o n a l b e n e f i t s t o h e l p d r i v e p r o j e c t s

f o r w a r d f r o m i n c e p t i o n .

T h e c o u r s e e x p l o r e s h o w s y s t e m s a r e

t e s t e d f o r b u s i n e s s a c c e p t a n c e a n d

c o v e r o t h e r a r e a s s u c h a s u s e r

a c c e p t a n c e t e s t i n g , t e s t d e s i g n a n d

p l a n n i n g , a n d d e l i v e r y o f b u s i n e s s

b e n e f i t s . T h e c o u r s e r e i n f o r c e s

t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t s b y u s i n g r e a l i s t i c ,

p r a c t i c a l c a s e s t u d i e s , t o g a i n

e x p e r i e n c e o f a p p l y i n g b e n e f i t s

m a n a g e m e n t a n d b u s i n e s s a c c e p t a n c e

t e c h n i q u e s .

B C S C o n s u l t a n c y P r a c t i c e a n d E x a m Y e s 5 4 2 - 4 8 T h e a r e n o q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a s p r e - r e q u i s i t e s

t o t a k e t h i s c o u r s e . H o w e v e r , i t i s s t r o n g l y

r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t d e l e g a t e s c a n

d e m o n s t r a t e g o o d c o n s u l t a n c y p r a c t i c e s ,

h a v e l e d m a j o r p r o g r a m m e s a n d a r e

i n t e r e s t e d i n b u s i n e s s e n v i r o n m e n t

a n a l y s i s , d e f i n i n g c o g e n t s o l u t i o n s t o t r i c k y

p r o b l e m s , w r i t i n g b i d s a n d p r o p o s a l s ,

m e a s u r i n g a n d m a n a g i n g s o l u t i o n s a n d

c h a n g e .

T h i s p r o v i d e s c o n s u l t a n t s w i t h t h e

s k i l l s b e y o n d t e s t i n g t o h e l p t h e m

b e c o m e m o r e r o u n d e d i n d i v i d u a l s

w h o c a n l e a d p r o g r a m m e s e f f e c t i v e l y

f r o m a b u s i n e s s a n d m a n a g e m e n t

p e r s p e c t i v e .


4.6 The Test Expert The Test Expert stream is designed for the people who are moving to the very top of their career to

the point where they can lead major programmes, such as business critical integration, drive

technology solutions, set organisational strategy, lead the business and operate as an experienced

consultant on behalf of both internal and external stakeholders.

4.6.1 The Test Expert Roadmap

RolesDesiredCompetency


Stream 5: From Senior Test Engineer or Architect to Expert

Control and Management


Programme Test Management

C

P

1

3

Consultancy Skills


Test Process


Measurement & Improvement

Certificated

Practical

Mandatory


ISTQB Expert in Test Mgmt

ISTQB Exp. Test Process Improve

TMMi Assessor TMMi Lead Assessor

Figure 6 - The Test Expert Capability Roadmap


• Programme Test Management for large scale programmes

• Control and Management

• Test Process Development and Improvement

• Measurement and Improvement

As can be seen in Figure 6 - The Test Expert Capability Roadmap, there is one mandatory course,

ISTQB Test Manager (which is more of a requirement that should have been fulfilled previously),

interspersed with three optional paths within the stream that are targeted to achieving excellence in

key areas of developmental quality and delivery. Whist the paths are optional, they link back to

mandatory courses that a student must pass if they are to graduate the stream and be awarded a

‘Test Practice Diploma’.





4.6.2 Test Expert Learning & Development Narrative

T e s t E x p e r t






E x a m

Y e s 5 3 6 - 4 8 I S T Q B / I S E B F o u n d a t i o n C e r t i f i c a t e a n d a t









I t i s e x p e c t e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t p e o p l e

e n t e r i n g t h i s s t r e a m w i l l h a v e p r e v i o u s l y

c o m p l e t e d t h i s c o u r s e a n d p a s s e d t h e e x a m



t o s e t t e s t s p o l i c y , s t r a t e g y a n d p l a n s .

I S T Q B E x p e r t T e s t M a n a g e m e n t O p t i o n a l 8 6 0 + T h i s c o u r s e , d e l i v e r e d o v e r t h r e e s e p a r a t e

s e s s i o n s o f 3 + 3 + 2 d a y s , r e p r e s e n t s t h e

p i n n a c l e i n t e s t m a n a g e m e n t a n d r e q u i r e s

a n d I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t M a n a g e r

C e r t i f i c a t e a n d s i g n i f i c a n t e x p e r i e n c e a n d

d e d i c a t i o n t o t h e c a u s e b e f o r e i t i s

a t t e m p t e d .

T h i s c o u r s e i s t a k e n o n l y b y t h e f e w

w h o s e e k f u r t h e r i n d u s t r y a c c e p t a n c e

a b o v e a n d b e y o n d t h e i r a l r e a d y

s i g n i f i c a n t e x p e r i e n c e a s a T e s t

M a n a g e r .

I t i s l i k e l y t h a t p e o p l e t a k i n g t h i s

c o u r s e a r e t h o s e w h o p o s s e s s t h e

c a p a b i l i t y t o l e a d l a r g e t e a m s o n

m a j o r p r o g r a m m e s , s u c h a s

i n t e g r a t i o n f o l l o w i n g a m e r g e r .


T e s t E x p e r t





I S T Q B E x p e r t i n T e s t P r o c e s s

I m p r o v e m e n t

O p t i o n a l 7 6 0 + T h i s c o u r s e , d e l i v e r e d o v e r t h r e e s e p a r a t e

s e s s i o n s o f 3 + 2 + 2 d a y s , i s f o r t h o s e w h o

s e e k t o d e v e l o p a n d d e f i n e t e s t p r o c e s s a t

t h e c o r p o r a t e l e v e l a n d w h o w i l l t h e n

p r o v i d e g u i d a n c e t o t e a m s o n f u r t h e r

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c a p t u r e o f m e t r i c s a n d

m e a s u r e s . A n I S T Q B A d v a n c e d T e s t

M a n a g e r a n d s i g n i f i c a n t e x p e r i e n c e o f

l e s s o n s l e a r n e d a n d i m p l e m e n t i n g

i m p r o v e m e n t o v e r s e v e r a l y e a r s i s

m a n d a t o r y .

T h i s c o u r s e i s a i m e d a t t h o s e t a k i n g a n

h o l i s t i c v i e w o f t e s t a n d o p e r a t i o n a l

p r o c e s s e s w h o a r e t a s k e d w i t h :

• D e v e l o p i n g n e w o n e s

• I m p r o v i n g e x i s t i n g o n e s

• M a n a g i n g m e t r i c s a n d

m e a s u r e s f o r o r g a n i s a t i o n a l

e x c e l l e n c e

• A l i g n m e n t o f p r o c e s s e s a n d

m e t r i c s w i t h c o r p o r a t e

s t r a t e g y a n d g o a l s

T M M i A s s e s s o r O p t i o n a l 5 6 0 + G o o d e x p e r i e n c e o f t e s t p r o c e s s d e f i n i t i o n

a n d i m p r o v e m e n t , c o u p l e d w i t h a n I S T Q B

A d v a n c e d T e s t M a n a g e r c e r t i f i c a t e .

T h i s c o u r s e i s a i m e d a t t h o s e w h o

e x p e c t t o a s s e s s a n d r e p o r t o n t e s t

p r o c e s s a n d m e a s u r e m e n t s w i t h i n a

c o n t a i n e d p r o j e c t

T M M i L e a d A s s e s s o r O p t i o n a l 5 6 0 + 2 4 + m o n t h s o f a c t i v i t y a n d 7 a s s e s s m e n t s

a s a T M M i A s s e s s o r

T h i s c o u r s e i s a i m e d a t t h o s e w h o

e x p e c t t o a s s e s s a n d r e p o r t o n

o r g a n i s a t i o n a l t e s t p o l i c y , s t r a t e g y ,

p l a n s a n d m e a s u r e m e n t a n d h o w c a n

l e a d t e a m s o f a s s e s s o r s


5 Benefits of the Approach

In helping to meet the requirements of building capability within a modern Test Practice we have

clearly delineated the roles and mapped them to training functions to be supported, aligned with

stated principles and competencies:

• Courses will be delivered by experienced staff who have at least 20-years’ experience gained from training and programme delivery at the sharp-end.

• The experience the trainers bring will allow them to offer the ever-important analogies and war-stories to make training relevant and accessible.

• All courses are ready to go, except for ISTQB Certified Mobile App Tester.

• Courses can be tailored to meet specific requirements; although for ISTQB courses we are limited to 10% variation without having to reaccredit.

• We can provide private training courses anywhere or staff can attend any of the courses that we run on our public schedule.

• We will agree and put in place a monitoring and measurement system to make sure that: o The delegate experience is rich. o People are passing exams at the expected rate. o The overall programme is delivering against its aims.


A. Training & SFIA Cross Reference The following table identifies:

• The Knowledge Levels (K) that each course and exam is aimed at:

• The SFIA Levels and the suitability of courses by the identified role types.

Table 3 - SFIA Levels by Course and Role Type

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