Course Overview
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 course is your gateway to advancing your software testing career. This fully accredited programme provides a solid foundation in software testing principles, preparing you for the globally recognised ISTQB CTFL certification.
Tailored for professionals in the UK and beyond, it covers best practices aligned with modern methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, DevOps, and Continuous Delivery.
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Course Highlights
- Duration: 3-day intensive training. (9am – 5pm)
- Format: Available in Virtual, Classroom and E-learning
- Online Pre-Course: Approximately four to five hours to complete
- Exam Simulator: Our simulator is designed to prepare you for success in the CTFL exam
- Content: Covers the latest ISTQB syllabus, exam preparation, and revision.
- Accreditation: Fully accredited by UKITB on behalf of ISTQB
- SFIAplus Level: Rated at level 3 by the BCS.
E-Learning Course
Our e-learning ISTQB Software Testing course includes:
- 12 months access to accredited online materials
- ISTQB® CTFL v4.0 exam (valid for 12 months)
- Exam simulator for practice
Why Choose ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0 Certification?
- Globally recognised qualification: Achieve the ISTQB CTFL certification, a benchmark in software testing excellence.
- Career Advancement: Enhance your prospects in the UK and international markets.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Gain in-depth knowledge of software testing concepts and terminology.
- Versatile Application: Apply learned skills across multiple software development approaches.
Who Should Attend This Course?
This ISTQB Certification course is ideal for:
- Software testers and test analysts
- Test engineers and consultants
- Test leads and managers
- User acceptance testers
- Software developers
- Project and quality managers
- IT directors and management consultants
About ISTQB and the Certified Tester Scheme
ISTQB® (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) established the globally recognized Certified Tester scheme to:
- Provide internationally acknowledged professional qualifications
- Enable software companies to hire and train certified testers
- Facilitate global understanding and comparison of testing skills
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Entry Requirements
Important note regarding pre-course
There is mandatory online pre-course work that must be undertaken prior to attending this course. It is expected that it will take approximately four to five hours to complete. You will be sent full instructions with a link to the online pre course three weeks prior to course commencement.
On arrival at the course candidates should have read the provided Syllabus in preparation for the course. The course is intensive and those delegates who have prepared achieve a higher exam success rate.
CTFL Exam
To qualify as an internationally recognised Certified Foundation Level Tester and be issued with an ISTQB® Foundation Level Certificate, delegates must successfully pass the exam:
- The examination consists of a one-hour exam with 40 multiple choice questions.
- It will be a ‘closed book’ examination i.e. no notes or books will be allowed into the examination room.
- Duration of 60 minutes (or 75 minutes for candidates taking examinations that are not in their native language)
- The pass mark is 65% (26 out of 40).
Learning Objectives
The Business Outcomes expected of a candidate who has achieved the new Foundation Level certification are as follows:
- Understand what testing is and why it is beneficial
- Understand fundamental concepts of software testing
- Identify the test approach and activities to be implemented depending on the context of testing
- Assess and improve the quality of documentation
- Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of testing
- Align the test process with the software development lifecycle
- Understand test management principles
- Write and communicate clear and understandable defect reports
- Understand the factors that influence the priorities and efforts related to testing
- Work as part of a cross-functional team
- Know risks and benefits related to test automation
- Identify essential skills required for testing
- Understand the impact of risk on testing
- Effectively report on test progress and quality
ISTQB Foundation Level Syllabus
- Fundamentals of Testing
- Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
- Static Testing
- Test Analysis and Design
- Managing the Test Activities
- Test Tools
E-Learning – Key Points
- Fundamentals of testing
- Test activites, testware and roles
- Essential skills and good practices
- Testing in context of software development lifecycles
- Test levels, test types and maintenance testing
- Static testing basics
- Feedback and review process
- Test techniques overview
- Black box testing
- White box testing
- Experienced based testing
- Collaboration-based test approaches
- Test planning
- Risk Management
- Test monitoring, control and completion
- Configuration and defect management
- Test tools
- Exam hints and tips
Next steps/Follow on courses
The Certified Tester Foundation Level certification is the prerequisite to the other modules within the Certified Tester Scheme.
The “Core” stream modules are valid for any technology/ methodology/ application domain and build on the Foundation Level:
- Advanced Test Manager
- Advanced Test Analyst
- Advanced Technical Test Analyst
The “Agile” stream focuses on testing practices specifically for the Agile methodology:
- Advanced Agile Technical Tester
The “Specialist” stream provides a deep dive into areas which may be based on quality characteristics, specific test approaches and test activities, or which cluster testing know-how for certain industry domains:
- Acceptance Testing
- AI Testing
- Mobile Application Testing
- Model-Based Tester
- Security Tester
- Test Automation Engineer
Molly Green | Senior Functional Test Analyst | Ocado –
Rosie was very approachable and patient with the large volumes of questions asked of her, and good at explaining things in a simple way.
Swapnil Kumar | Associate | PwC SDC Kolkata –
It was very nice throughout. And also how well explained by Richard. Much appreciated.
Harsh Manjhi | Test Analyst (Associate) | PwC –
It was very informative, i feel all ready for the certification exam and the trainer for this course couldn’t have been better.
Simran Rai | Associate | PwC SDC Kolkata –
It was very helpful and much needed course for me atleast.
Hyma P R | Senior Associate | PWC –
Richard explained everything in detail. Deals all the queries with lots of patience.
Arindam Pal | Senior Associate | PwC –
Training was very informative and provided lots of valuable information and clarifications on Functional Testing. Got the clear understanding on all the testing terminology.
Sarvottam Kumar | Associate | PWC –
The course was thorough and it covers almost everything.
Andrew Ring | QA Engineer | Virtalis –
Difficult over GoToMeeting – I would always choose classroom based if possible but time made this necessary. More, shorter breaks – I assume that everybody had to nip away for 5 minute breaks every now and then. I think attempting to get more involvement from the attendees would help?
Morgan O Donnell | System tester | PTSB –
Alot of content however much of the mock tests are ambiguous. I feel the questions are not very suited to the course material
Paula Jones | BDM | test –
excellent!
Samadul Islam|Software Test Engineer|IBM –
The course was to intense for the amount of material against the amount of days and could do with more help for the exam day.
Amanda Jupp | Product Analyst |Trace Solutions –
This course was very informative.
Jacob McKenzie | Senior Test Analyst |Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust –
John cleared the content at a good pace and was very engaging which kept my mind focused on the information.
James Anderson | QA Tester Apprentice |Invotra Limited –
The course was very interesting and informative, I have learnt many new things in relation to testing and the business usage and approach to it.
Ben Sykes | Test Analyst |NHS –
Fantastic course. Great level of knowledge from the trainer who explained things clearly and in great detail.
Rebecca Brandon | Automation Engineer |Simplyhealth –
The course taught me a lot more than expected. I am glad my company sent me on a course rather than me doing self study, because of the sheer amount of content to cover.
Majd Kassawat | Test Lead |OMRON –
Very clear and straightforward explanation.
The presentation is interactive enough.
Workload is well balanced between home and class.
Rebecca Sloane | Test Analyst |NHS –
Very helpful and clearly presented. Going through examples was really useful for heavy course material. Worked well despite being at home and online.
Stephen Bruce | QA Engineer |Fuel3D –
John was a very good teacher, explained everything well and set us up perfectly for the exam
Robert Macdonald | Software Test Engineer |IBM –
We completed a 2 day online introduction to test course, where we listen to a presentation and took part in multiple exercises.