Certified Software Tester (CSTE) Certification

Certified Software Tester (CSTE)

CSTE testing certification is the basic certification to check testers skill and understanding of software testing theory and software testing practices.

The CSTE program was developed by leading software testers as a means of recognizing software testers who demonstrate a predefined level of testing competency. The CSTE program is directed by an independent Certification Board and administered by the Quality Assurance Institute. The CSTE program was developed to provide value to the profession, the individual, the employer, and co-workers.

Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK)-

The Certification Board defines the skills upon which software testing certification is based. The current CBOK includes these skill categories: 

1) Test Principles; 
2) Test Planning; 
3) Test Management; 
4) Building a Test Environment; 
5) Risk Analysis; 
6) Text Execution; 
7) Test Design; 
8) Defect Tracking; 
9) Acceptance Testing; and 
10) Test Analysis and Reporting.

Examination Process to Evaluate Competency-

The successful candidate must pass a four-part examination (based on the CBOK) with a grade of 75%, or greater, on each part. Only 31% of the prequalified applicants pass the examination the first time, making this a prestigious certification to obtain.

Here are some important links that would be handy to all aspirants:
(I have collected these at one location as I found them)

1. Main website for Certified Software Tester (CSTE)

2. CSTE software testing certification exam question pattern

3. Check your eligibility for CSTE certification
(Take this sample CSTE examination)

4. Learning resource

5. Resources for Professional s/w testers (Bret Pettichord)

6. CSTE CBOK V6.2

7. V-Model of software testing

8. CSTE Certification Mock Test
(Test has 50 Multiple Choice Question with only ONE answer   
To pass you need 38 marks)

9. CSQA V6.2 CBOK  [this is not required but just in case anyone wants]


Lets see more (as given in the official website) about CSTE certification:

Checking Prerequisites:

To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet one of four prerequisites:

1. A 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 2 years experience in the information services field
2. A 3 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 3 years experience in the information services field
3. A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 4 years experience in the information services field
4. 6 years experience in the information services field

AND

Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field within covered by the certification designation

Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide detailed education and/or employment documentation supporting the prerequisite option selected on the application. If selected for verification, the applicant must supply the documentation to the program. Applicants who fail to provide the requested documentation will not be allowed to sit for the exam or, if the exam has been taken and passed, may be subject to de-certification.

If you want to apply for the examination:
A. A completed Certification Candidacy Application must be submitted through the Customer Portal for entrance to Software Certifications as a candidate for any particular certification. It should be submitted by individuals who:

1. Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field covered by the certification designation
2. Have significant experience and breadth of knowledge to have mastered the basics of the entire Software Testing Common Body of Knowledge
3. Have reviewed the Software Testing Common Body of Knowledge

The Application Fee options are:

• $350.00 ~ (Fees to be paid in US Dollars - see Payment Policy). Fees includes CBOK (PDF) & Initial Exam. OR
• $420.00 ~ (Fees to be paid in US Dollars - see Payment Policy). Fees includes CBOK (PDF, Book, and CD) & Initial Exam

How will certification help me?

* In today's compititive IT industry there is a need for you to stand out in the crowd, to get distinguished from others. By doing the certification you are telling the management & world that your expertise is now recognized and you are serious about your profession. It gives confidence to others that  you can now lead and demonstrate a level of understanding in carrying out assignments according to industry principles and practices.

* You get recognized by business and professional associates as a PROFESSIONAL

* The certifications will lead you to  career advancement and will help you lead at your job better in a way that you can never imagine.

* Studies show that Certified professionals get higher salaries and its easy to get better jobs as compared to Non certified professionals

   

Answers to sample CSTE exam questions

Answers to sample CSTE exam questions

1.  (d) Fit for use
2.  (a) Unit testing
3.  (b) Standard
4.  (a) Management support
5.  (d) Critical listening
6.  (a) Code of ethics
7.  (e) All of the above
8.  (c) Quantify loss
9.  (d) a, b and c
10. (a) Build a system boundary diagram
11. (b) Defect severity
12. (c) After system testing
13. (c) Determine if software is fit for use
14. (e) All of the above
15. (b) Cultural differences
16. (c) Factors that must be present
17. (a) Risk
18. (d) Vulnerability
19. (b) e-business
20. (a) Level 1

Check your eligibility for CSTE certification - Sample CSTE examination

Check your eligibility for CSTE certification. Take this sample CSTE examination

Below you will find 20 multiple choice questions from all skill categories. There are around 10 skill categories and I have included 2 questions from each category.

Skill categories:

•Software Testing Principles and Concepts
• Building the Test Environment
• Managing the Test Project
• Test Planning
• Executing the Test Plan
• Test Reporting Process
• User Acceptance Testing
• Testing Software Developed by Contractors
• Testing Internal Control
• Testing New Technologies

These are the latest sample questions from the CSTE CBOK.

Mark the answers somewhere so that you can check the score at the end of the test.

1. The customer’s view of quality means:
a. Meeting requirements
b. Doing it the right way
c. Doing it right the first time
d. Fit for use
e. Doing it on time

2. The testing of a single program, or function, usually performed by the developer is called:
a. Unit testing
b. Integration testing
c. System testing
d. Regression testing
e. Acceptance testing

3. The measure used to evaluate the correctness of a product is called the product:
a. Policy
b. Standard
c. Procedure to do work
d. Procedure to check work
e. Guideline

4. Which of the four components of the test environment is considered to be the most important component of the test environment:
a. Management support
b. Tester competency
c. Test work processes
d. Testing techniques and tools

5. Effective test managers are effective listeners. The type of listening in which the tester is performing an analysis of what the speaker is saying is called:
a. Discriminative listening
b. Comprehensive listening
c. Therapeutic listening
d. Critical listening
e. Appreciative listening

6. To become a CSTE, an individual has a responsibility to accept the standards of conduct defined by the certification board. These standards of conduct are called:
a. Code of ethics
b. Continuing professional education requirement
c. Obtaining references to support experience
d. Joining a professional testing chapter
e. Following the common body of knowledge in the practice of software testing

7. Which of the following are risks that testers face in performing their test activities:
a. Not enough training
b. Lack of test tools
c. Not enough time for testing
d. Rapid change
e. All of the above

8. All of the following are methods to minimize loss due to risk. Which one is not a method to minimize loss due to risk:
a. Reduce opportunity for error
b. Identify error prior to loss
c. Quantify loss
d. Minimize loss
e. Recover loss

9. Defect prevention involves which of the following steps:
a. Identify critical tasks
b. Estimate expected impact
c. Minimize expected impact
d. a, b and c
e. a and b

10. The first step in designing use case is to:
a. Build a system boundary diagram
b. Define acceptance criteria
c. Define use cases
d. Involve users
e. Develop use cases

11. The defect attribute that would help management determine the importance of the defect is called:
a. Defect type
b. Defect severity
c. Defect name
d. Defect location
e. Phase in which defect occurred

12. The system test report is normally written at what point in software development:
a. After unit testing
b. After integration testing
c. After system testing
d. After acceptance testing

13. The primary objective of user acceptance testing is to:
a. Identify requirements defects
b. Identify missing requirements
c. Determine if software is fit for use
d. Validate the correctness of interfaces to other software systems
e. Verify that software is maintainable

14. If IT establishes a measurement team to create measures and metrics to be used in status reporting, that team should include individuals who have:
a. A working knowledge of measures
b. Knowledge in the implementation of statistical process control tools
c. A working understanding of benchmarking techniques
d. Knowledge of the organization’s goals and objectives
e. All of the above

15. What is the difference between testing software developed by a contractor outside your country, versus testing software developed by a contractor within your country:
a. Does not meet people needs
b. Cultural differences
c. Loss of control over reallocation of resources
d. Relinquishment of control
e. Contains extra features not specified

16. What is the definition of a critical success factor:
a. A specified requirement
b. A software quality factor
c. Factors that must be present
d. A software metric
e. A high cost to implement requirement

17. The condition that represents a potential for loss to an organization is called:
a. Risk
b. Exposure
c. Threat
d. Control
e. Vulnerability

18. A flaw in a software system that may be exploited by an individual for his or her advantage is called:
a. Risk
b. Risk analysis
c. Threat
d. Vulnerability
e. Control

19. The conduct of business of the Internet is called:
a. e-commerce
b. e-business
c. Wireless applications
d. Client-server system
e. Web-based applications

20. The following is described as one of the five levels of maturing a new technology into an IT organization’s work processes. The “People-dependent technology” level is equivalent to what level in SEI’s compatibility maturity model:
a. Level 1
b. Level 2
c. Level 3
d. Level 4
e. Level 5

Done? Check the answers. 

Which certification is better? CSQA, CSTE or something else.

To make such decisions it is important to understand what each of these certifications mean, Understanding about these will help you make the right decision.

According to QAI 

"Acquiring the designation of Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. CSQA certification is a highly respected attestation of skills in this critical area of information technology."

"The Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) Program is intended to establish standards for initial qualification and provide direction for the testing function through an aggressive educational program."

CSTE is more geared towards testing function. So if you are into Testing, testing automation tools and want to pursue your career in that area, CSTE is a very good certification to consider

If you are a project leader, Entry level PM, SQA or associated with Quality team in your organization then you already are doing lot of QA activities. 

CSQA will be the best for you.

Salary for CSTE Certified Software Test Engineer in India - years of experience

Median Salary by Years Experience - Certification: Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) (India)

Salary for CSTE Certified Software Test Engineer in India

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) (India)