Introduction to the CSTE Program

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Introduction to the CSTE Program

• Nancy Phelps

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Software Certification Overview

• The certification program helps to
• Define the tasks associated with software testing
  duties in order to evaluate skill mastery.
• Demonstrate an individuals willingness to
  improve professionally.
• Acknowledge attainment of acceptable standard of
  professional competency.
• Aid organizations in selecting and promoting
  qualified individuals.
• Motivate personnel having software testing
  responsibilities to maintain their professional
  competency.
• Assist individuals in improving and enhancing
  their organizations software testing programs.

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Program History

• QAI established in 1980.
• First certification began development in 1985.
• First formal examination process launched 1990.
• Since its inception, over 27,000 IT professionals
  have become certified.

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Why Become Certified

• To help management be able to distinguish
  professional and skilled individuals in the field
  when hiring.
• Acquiring the designation of CSTE indicates a
  professional level of competence in software
  testing.
• Potential for more rapid career advancement.
• Greater acceptance in the role as advisor to
  management.

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Benefits of Becoming a CSTE

• Value provided to the profession
• Value provided to the individual
• Value provided to the employer
• Value provided to co-workers
• How to improve testing effectiveness through CSTE
  certification

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Value Provided to the Profession

• Common body of knowledge
• Examination process to evaluate competency
• Code of ethics

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Value Provided to the Individual

• Recognition by peers
• Personal desire for self-improvement
• Increased confidence in personal capabilities
• Recognition by IT management for professional
  achievement

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Value Provided to the Employer

• Increased confidence by IT users and customers
• Improved process to build/acquire/maintain,
  operate and measure software
• Independent assessment of testing competencies
• Testing competencies maintained through
  recertification

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Value Provided to Co-Workers

• Mentoring of testing staff
• Testing resource to IT staff
• Role model for testing practitioners

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How to Improve Testing Effectiveness Through CSTE
Certification

• By creating an awareness of the CSTE program and
  its benefits to your testing practitioners
• By requiring or encouraging your testing
  practitioners to become certified
• By recognizing and rewarding successful
  candidates
• Supporting recertification as a means of
  maintaining testing competency

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Meeting CSTE Qualifications

• Prerequisites for Candidacy must meet one of
  four credentials
• A 4 year degree from an accredited college-level
  institution and 2 years experience in the
  Information Technology field
• A 3 year degree from an accredited college-level
  institution and 3 years experience in the
  Information Technology field
• A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level
  institution and 4 years in experience in the
  Information Technology field
• Six years of experience in the information
  services field
• And have worked in the information services field
  within the prior 18 months

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Expectations of the CSTE

• Must be actively engaged in professional practice
  and seek opportunities to stay aware of and learn
  emerging practices
• Attend professional conferences
• Take education and training courses
• Develop and offer training to share knowledge and
  skills with other professionals and the public
• Publish information in order to disseminate
  personal, project and research experiences
• Participate in the profession through active
  committee memberships and formal special interest
  groups
• Be a change agent be able to change the culture
  and work habits of individuals

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Professional Skill Proficiency Responsibilities

• Three Cs of todays workplace
• Change
• Complexity
• Competition
• Develop a lifetime learning habit

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Code of Ethics

• Purpose A distinguishing mark of a profession
  is acceptance by its members of responsibility to
  the interests of those it serves. Those certified
  must maintain high standards of conduct in order
  to effectively discharge their responsibility.
• Responsibility
• Voluntary
• Assumes an obligation of self-discipline
• Professional Code of Conduct
• Refer to page Intro-10 for the code of conduct
• Decertification

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Submitting the Initial Application

• Submit your application only if you are prepared
  to sit and pass the CSTE exam
• A completed Certification Candidacy Application
  must be submitted through the Customer Portal for
  entrance to Software Certifications as a
  candidate for any particular certification.
• The candidate must take the initial exam within
  12 months after acceptance
• A second or third sitting, if required, must be
  completed within 24 months of acceptance of the
  original application

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Arranging to Sit Take the Exam

• Be prepared
• Study CBOK
• Vocabulary Appendix A
• References Appendix B
• If you plan to take your exam at a Prometric
  testing center, you will schedule your
  appointment through Prometrics web site after
  first applying through Software Certifications
  Customer Portal and receiving a Prometric Exam
  Code. Candidates should allow 3 business days
  from the time they submit their application
  request before attempting to schedule an
  appointment at Prometric.
• Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled exam start
  time

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Maintain Competency

• Continuing profession education
• You need to earn 40 hours of continuing
  professional education each year to stay
  certified
• Attend profession seminars and conferences
• On-the-job training
• Attend professional meetings
• Take e-learning courses
• Attend professional association meetings

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Prepare for the CSTE Exam

• Assess your CSTE CBOK competency
• Complete the CSTE skill assessment worksheet
• Assess your competency of each skill listed on
  the worksheet
• Study those skills you rated None
• Reassess those skills you studied after a rating
  of None
• Calculate your CSTE CBOK competency rating

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Understand the Key Principles Incorporated into
the Exam

• Learn the vocabulary
• Learn how to apply the testing principles to
  everyday practice

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Review the List of References

• Search your library for availability
• Use your assessment results from the previous
  step to determine which books would help you
  build your skills in those areas
• Review the list of references from the
  perspective of the types of materials that might
  be included on the exam

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Initiate a Self-Study Program

• Assess your skills against the CSTE 2006 CBOK and
  complete the assessment worksheet
• Study the key reference documents from the
  previous step
• Attend formal courses, seminars, local
  testing-oriented chapter meetings, and testing
  conferences to gain a comprehension of the
  practice of testing

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Take the Sample Exam

• CSTE examination overview
• Guidelines to answer questions
• Sample CSTE exam