Course overview
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) is the most widely recognised entry-level certification in software testing, trusted by employers and professionals around the world. This accredited course provides you with a comprehensive introduction to the principles, processes, and practices of testing, ensuring you gain the essential skills needed to begin or advance a career in quality assurance.
During the training, you will follow the official ISTQB Foundation Level syllabus, covering core testing concepts such as the purpose of testing, the role of testing within the software development lifecycle, and how testing adds value to both projects and organisations. You will also explore test design techniques, static testing, reviews, defect management, and the fundamentals of test management, providing you with a broad and practical understanding of the discipline.
The ISTQB Foundation course is suitable for anyone looking to formalise their knowledge of software testing or preparing to sit the Foundation Level exam. It is particularly valuable for new or junior testers, developers, business analysts, and IT professionals who need to understand how testing works and how it contributes to software quality. No prior testing experience is required, making this course an accessible first step into the testing profession. On completion of the course, you will be fully prepared to take the ISTQB Foundation certification exam (CTFL). Passing the exam will award you the internationally recognised ISTQB Foundation Level certification, opening the door to further qualifications such as the ISTQB Advanced and Specialist levels. With experienced trainers, accredited materials, and a focus on practical learning, this course equips you with both the knowledge and the confidence to succeed in your exam and apply your skills in real-world testing projects. By achieving the ISTQB Foundation Level certification, you demonstrate your commitment to quality and lay the foundations for a successful career in software testing. The CTFL 4.0 certification is designed for professionals who want to validate their practical understanding of the core principles of software testing. It is especially relevant for individuals in the following roles: The ISTQB® Certified Tester Scheme supports testing professionals at every stage of their careers, providing both breadth and depth of knowledge. It also offers clear progression opportunities through advanced qualifications, including the Core Advanced, Specialist, and Expert Levels. Earning this certification opens the pathway to the next stage of the Core stream, including Advanced Level options such as Test Analyst, Technical Test Analyst, or Test Manager. Alternatively, candidates can pursue the Agile or Specialist streams to build expertise in specific areas of software testing. The Certified Tester Foundation Level v4.0 Uncovered” webinar. Tailored for both aspiring ISTQB candidates and seasoned testers, the session dove into the updated CTFL v4.0 exam syllabus, highlighting key revisions and enhancements. Attendees gained insight into what’s new, what’s changed, and crucially why these updates matter in modern testing environments. Click here to view the webinar ISTQB® (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) established the globally-recognised certified tester scheme to: Course highlights
Why you should attend
Who should attend
Next steps in your testing career
Watch our latest webinar
About ISTQB and the certified tester scheme
Idris Khan|Senior QA|Camelot UK –
The course was virtual (because of the Covid-19). However I didn’t have any problem connecting to it. John Young is a brilliant trainer, he has examples for everything and his drawing really helps. Thank you John, much appreciated.
Emily Hughes|Analyst|KPMG –
Angelina was very engaging and friendly. Explained things well and very happy to go over things that were confusing us. I feel I have learned a lot.
Chris Pizey|Consultant|KPMG –
Engaging content but seems like there is a huge amount of it to process in very little time for the examination.
Charalampos Saltsidis|IT Consultant|European Dynamics –
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Good preparation with additional mock test._x000D_
Most of the exam questions had already been explained by Rosie during the course._x000D_
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Cons_x000D_
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I fully understand the difficulties of a remote course, however I think that the course should be more interactive. Otherwise, it ends up being boring._x000D_
For homework and classroom exercises, I would expect that we discussed all of them, regardless of whether we mentioned that we have questions or not.
Brian Morris|Automation Engineer|Mirada Medical Ltd –
Angelina represents both TSG and the ISTQB exceptionally well. I am traditionally a sceptic to courses, but in 3 days I have changed that bias – primarily from the depth of knowledge Angelina imparted during the course. Not only is the course material covered comprehensively, but she delivers it in an interactive way that relates back to our own working environments. Modern testing practise may mean different things to different companies / testers, and it is clear Angelina has experience across the whole testing realm, including the real-world team dynamics which make/break the process. Three days remote could be tough work for most trainees, but the continuous flow of new information, delivered in bitesize chunks kept the momentum / enthusiasm working in the team. I feel this is not an easy task to achieve – and this presents additional value that I have not experienced on other courses / other tutors. As a final note, I feel Angelina is genuinely passionate about testing, and is therefore open to healthy debate on the topic (from challenging students like myself). For those reasons : “Excellent” rating above.
Ali Hussain|Software Test Analyst Level 1|HRA –
I found the course to be very good with great detail. I would definitely say it was worth attending.
Alex Harman|Product Delivery Analyst|Liverpool Victoria –
Very good course. Was kept interested throughout the course.
Alex Snow|Assistant Test Team Manager|Old Mutual Wealth/Quilter –
John was engaging and patient. While I know this slightly frustrated one of my colleagues who had no problem keeping up, I could tell that others really appreciated it, as he would make any confusing rationale clear.
Matthew Workman | Tester | Living Map –
I found the course met my ojectives and was very satisfied with the course content. The trainer was excellent
Dhivya Thiruginanam | Testing Specialist | RBS –
I attended the course to gain certification, I was very happy with the pre-course organisation and administration. The course met all my objectives and I was very satisifed with the course overall.
Anonymous –
Really well structured course, competent and very very good trainer.
Anonymous –
Wonderfully structured and John was able to explain all our questions so easily. A great and approachable teacher.
Anonymous –
Very detailed, useful, and practical, comes with many examples to connect theory with the practical tasks.
Anonymous –
John was very approachable and friendly. Course was informative, I definitely appreciate the multiple example articles of the exams.
My only critique would be that this it is at a faster pace than I like, and would have much preferred to have 4 days of training.
Anonymous –
The self-paced course is very intuitive and the videos clear. However, the mock exam questions didn’t prepare me enough for the exam as they were very different
Anonymous –
The course was very informative and a great way to boost my knowledge of the foundations of testing. The trainer was helpful and supportive and happy to assist with any gaps in my understanding. I have finished the course feeling more confident that I can achieve good results in the exam.
Anonymous –
Really good trainer who was able to explain the course material really clearly and in detail.
Anonymous –
Course was well structures, Bill was very knowledgeable and was very engaging throughout, providing lots of interesting examples
Anonymous –
Long and boring subject made surprisingly not so boring with Bills fantastic examples, overall great humor and never ending knowledge of all things testing and beyond.
Anonymous –
Bill was excellent, very knowledgeable and provided great additional real-world examples to provide context to the topics.
There feels like a lot of topics to cover over just 3 days.
It is good to have virtual training, but it does miss the human interaction of face-to-face training.