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
Grace Marsey | QA Engineer | Moneybox –
I thought the days have been well paced and I liked how we did real exam questions at each stage and then went through them methodically.
Hope Busby-Saywood | Test Analyst | Glasswall Solutions –
Very helpful, with lots of information, and a thorough explanation of exam questions that helped me understand why each option is or isn’t correct. Great experience for my first training course and first online training course. Thank you!
Max McRae Gibson | Test Analyst | LV= –
Great course run by John! It has been very detailed, and a lot of time and effort has been put in by John. It has been intense, and my only critique would be that it would possibly be better spread over a slightly longer time to take in information.
Pawandeep Singh | Test Engineer | Capgemini –
Overall very satisfied, the tutor made it easier to acquire the knowledge by going through a mixture of lectures, explanations, questions and answers. All of these were very well explained.
Matthew Colin Cockerell | Senior Software Tester | Lloyds Register –
Really enjoyed the course especially Rosemary presenting and course management style. There is a lot of content which is understandle, so there isn’t much time for wider debate we fellow course members which is what I was expecting. Perhaps using breakout rooms (MS teams) would improve course member interactions.
Patryk Zmijewski | It Systems Support Adminstrator | Decora –
Very beneficial and helpful
Dario Guzzetta | Senior Software QA | Lloyd Register –
Good and dense.
Emma Amess | QA Test Analyst | CaseWare –
I felt John explained each section in great user friendly details. The explanations helped my understanding. I feel very positive
Prince Agyei Frimpong | Test Analyst | Capgemini –
Although it was an Intensive course John made it very engaging with his examples and also explained every details properly . Having classroom and homework examples also helped a lot
Vicky Li | Graduate trainee | KPMG LLP UK –
The course trainer has explained the concept well and has good interactions in the classes.
Dayne Lucas | system support administrator | Decora –
quite intense and for me feel like i need to revise over again so i can lock in the information. but overall i believe this will help me in my role even if i do not pass the test. trainer was very good.
Callum Nightingale | Software Engineer | Capgemini –
Very good course
Nikki Dodsworth | Process Expert | Siemens Plc –
The first time I have completed a remote course and was anxious about how it would work, but the sessions were well structured and organised. John allowed plenty of time for discussion which worked well and made the session interactive with knowledgeable clear explanations
Alexander Hendrick | Apprentice Software Test Engineer | IBM –
The course content was good and contained a lot of useful information. The trainer spoke clearly and was very helpful. My only issues are that I think the course would be better suited to a 4-5 day course rather than 3 as it did feel like we were rushing through a lot of it. Also, I feel that the way the exam is written is intentionaly misleading as it feels most questions catch you out not on the content but in the language it is written.
krishna kriti | senior test analyst | PWC –
very helpful.great experience
Jamie MacDonald | Graduate Trainee FS Tech Enablement | KPMG –
So much to learn in so little time! The inclusion of a concise, very well thought out study guide would go a long way to help.
Anna Funnell | Software Engineer | Capgemini –
The course was very intense with lots of information over a short time, but the way it was delivered meant I was able to keep up and retain most of the details. The regular breaks helped with processing what we had learnt and made it easier to concentrate on the rest. Questions were explained really well and they weren’t rushed over either.
Tony Fairall | Test Analyst | Central England Co-operative –
Very intense, some concepts hard to understand, but simply because it was so far from any practical realworld experience I have encountered so far.
Thomas Massey | Apprentice Tester | Northern Ireland Civil Service –
Very detailed course and learned many valuable skills that I will be able to use on my working day and gives me a good foundation to build on for other courses
Huw Ward | Test Principal | Rare Ltd –
John was very good at taking the course and teaching us, only issue was it was difficult to read his handwriting at times (which he did upfront apologise for). I think the Exam questions are very tricky for a Foundation course and set out to catch you out more than I would expect for this level. I know you are teaching the course though and not setting the exam.