More than exam preparation. Learn the ISTQB fundamentals from someone who has spent more than 40 years applying software testing in the real world.
e-Learning: 20 hours
Live Virtual: 5 four-hour segments (includes breaks)
In-house classroom: 3 days (4-day version recommended)
To schedule a private presentation for your company, contact us for details.
“Just wanted to let you know I took the CTFL exam on Friday and got a 95%! Thanks for your online training course and for answering questions as they came up!”
M.H., Florida
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles, practices, and terminology of software testing while preparing participants for the ISTQB Foundation Level certification exam.
The course fully covers the current ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus (Version 4.0) and uses terminology from the official ISTQB glossary. But this course goes beyond simply preparing you to pass an exam. Randy Rice brings more than 40 years of real-world software testing experience to the material, providing practical insights, examples, and guidance that help you understand how testing actually works in real projects.
This course is ideal for people who are new to software testing, experienced testers seeking CTFL certification, or professionals who want to refresh and strengthen their understanding of fundamental testing practices.
You will learn the essential concepts and processes of software testing, including test planning, test analysis and design, test execution, defect management, risk-based testing, and the effective use of testing tools. You will also learn techniques for designing effective tests and applying them at different levels of testing.
Most importantly, you will develop a stronger understanding of why we test, how to think like a tester, and how to make better testing decisions. The goal is not simply to know the terminology, but to become more confident and effective in applying sound testing principles in the real world.
Whether your goal is to earn the internationally recognized ISTQB CTFL certification, build a solid foundation for a career in software testing, or strengthen skills you already have, this course provides both the knowledge needed for certification and the practical perspective needed to put that knowledge to work.
The course is available in both instructor-led and e-learning formats.
Return on Investment
- Prepare for the ISTQB foundation level certification exam (CTFL)
- Understand the key issues in testing software applications.
- Learn how to design tests that adequately cover requirements and business events.
- Learn from an industry recognized expert in software testing and quality
- Advance your career by reinforcing your testing expertise.
Who Will Benefit
- Test managers and leaders
- Testers
The program requires only basic IT knowledge or experience. Testing knowledge or experience is not a pre-requisite.
Topics
Module FNDA – Fundamentals of Testing – 180 minutes
- What is Testing?
- Test Objectives
- Testing and Debugging
- Why is Testing Necessary?
- Testing’s Contributions to Success
- Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)
- Errors, Defects, Failures, and Root Causes
- Testing Principles
- Test Activities, Testware and Test Roles
- Test Activities and Tasks
- Test Process in Context
- Testware
- Traceability between the Test Basis and Testware
- Roles in Testing
- Essential Skills and Good Practices in Testing
- Generic Skills Required for Testing
- Whole Team Approach
- Independence of Testing
Module FNDB – Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle – 130 minutes
- Testing in the Context of a Software Development Lifecycle
- Impact of the Software Development Lifecycle on Testing
- Software Development Lifecycle and Good Testing Practices
- Testing as a Driver for Software Development
- DevOps and Testing
- Shift-Left Approach
- Retrospectives and Process Improvement
- Test Levels and Test Types
- Test Levels
- Test Types
- Confirmation Testing and Regression Testing
- Maintenance Testing
Module FNDC – Static Testing – 80 minutes
- Static Testing Basics
- Work Products Examinable by Static Testing
- Value of Static Testing
- Differences between Static Testing and Dynamic Testing
- Feedback and Review Process
- Benefits of Early and Frequent Stakeholder Feedback
- Review Process Activities
- Roles and Responsibilities in Reviews
- Review Types
- Success Factors for Reviews
Module FNDD – Test Analysis and Design – 390 minutes
- Test Case Overview
- Test Techniques Overview
- Black-Box Test Techniques
- Equivalence Partitioning
- Boundary Value Analysis
- Decision Table Testing
- State Transition Testing
- White-Box Test Techniques
- Statement Testing and Statement Coverage
- Branch Testing and Branch Coverage
- The Value of White-box Testing
- Experience-based Test Techniques
- Error Guessing
- Exploratory Testing
- Checklist-Based Testing
- Collaboration-based Test Approaches
- Collaborative User Story Writing
- Acceptance Criteria
- Acceptance Test-driven Development (ATDD)
Module FNDE – Managing the Test Activities – 335 minutes
- Test Planning
- Purpose and Content of a Test Plan
- Tester’s Contribution to Iteration and Release Planning
- Entry Criteria and Exit Criteria
- Estimation Techniques
- Test Case Prioritization
- Test Pyramid
- Testing Quadrants
- Risk Management
- Risk Definition and Risk Attributes
- Project Risks and Product Risks
- Product Risk Analysis
- Product Risk Control
- Test Monitoring, Test Control and Test Completion
- Metrics used in Testing
- Purpose, Content and Audience for Test Reports
- Communicating the Status of Testing
- Configuration Management
- Defect Management
Module FNDF – Test Tools – 20 minutes
- Tool Support for Testing
- Benefits and Risks of Test Automation