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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.
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.
Course Highlights
Duration: 3-day intensive training.
Format: Available in Virtual, Classroom and E-learning
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.
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.
Provide internationally acknowledged professional qualifications
Enable software companies to hire and train certified testers
Facilitate global understanding and comparison of testing skills
Learn more about the NEW ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level
This video will give you an insight in to the new ISTQB Foundation Syllabus, the reasoning behind the syllabus change and the merging of 2 syllabi into one.
Invest in Your Future with ISTQB Certification
Enhance your software testing skills and career prospects with our ISTQB Software Testing Foundation course. Join over a million certified testers worldwide and open doors to exciting opportunities in the field of software quality assurance.
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
FAQ’s
What is the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) course?
The Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) course is a foundational certification program designed for individuals seeking to advance their knowledge and skills in software testing. It covers the fundamentals of software testing, including test design, management, and understanding the software lifecycle.
Who should consider enrolling in the Certified Tester Foundation Level course?
The course is ideal for professionals who are new to the software testing field, including test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers, and software developers. It is also beneficial for individuals seeking a career change into software testing.
What are the prerequisites for the Certified Tester Foundation Level course?
There are no formal prerequisites for the CTFL course. However, a basic understanding of IT and software development concepts is recommended to grasp the course content effectively.
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.
How long does the course take to complete?
The duration of the Certified Tester Level Foundation course can vary depending on the training provider. Typically, it involves approximately 3 days of instructor-led training, which can be conducted in-person or online.
What topics are covered in the Certified Tester Level Foundation (CTFL) course?
The course covers a wide range of topics, including:
Fundamentals of testing
Testing throughout the software development lifecycle
Static testing
Test design techniques
Test management
Tool support for testing
How is the Certified Tester Level Foundation certification exam structured?
The Certified Tester Level Foundation certification exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 60 minutes to complete the exam (or 75 minutes for non-native English speakers in some countries), and a score of 65% or higher is required to pass.
What are the benefits of obtaining the Certified Tester Level Foundation certification?
Obtaining the Certified Tester Level Foundation certification demonstrates a foundational understanding of software testing principles and practices. It can enhance an individual's credibility and marketability in the software testing job market, leading to potential career advancement opportunities.
Can I take the Certified Tester Level Foundation course without taking the exam?
Yes, individuals can attend the Certified Tester Level Foundation course for personal or professional development without taking the certification exam. However, taking and passing the exam will result in obtaining the CTFL certification, which can be beneficial for career progression.
How can I register for the Certified Tester Level Foundation course and exam?
Decide on the Delivery Method: Begin by selecting your preferred mode of learning. You have the option to choose between virtual (online) courses or traditional, in-person classroom courses. Consider your learning preferences, schedule, and location to make the best decision for your needs.
Select the Exam Format: After deciding on your course delivery method, choose the format of the exam you wish to take. The CTFL exam is typically available in both online and paper-based formats. Your choice might depend on the availability, convenience, or your comfort with test-taking environments.
Complete the Payment: Once you have made your selections, proceed to payment. You can pay for the course and the examination fee using various methods, including credit card, bank transfer, or a purchase order. Ensure that you have all the necessary information and authorisation if using a purchase order or bank transfer.
What is the cost of the Certified Tester Level Foundation (CTFL) course and the certification exam?
The cost of the ISTQB Foundation Level Certification (ISTQB CTFL) is from £1195 +VAT
What are the follow-on courses after passing my CTFL exam?
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
587 reviews for ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0
Rated 5 out of 5
James McKeon| Software Developer| Revenue (Irish Government body) –
Bill was highly knowledgeable, thorough, and informative. I highly rate this course and will recommend it to future team members as part of the on-boarding process.
Great course. Very dense but Bill’s knowledge is outstanding. Would highly recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5
Brad Ellis| QA Engineer| ENSEK –
The course and especially John was a joy to take, I felt immersed in every section we went through. It was very information and heavy and a lot to take on board over the three days but i expected that. The way the course was broken down made it a lot more digestible. John was brilliant from the first moment until last, he has such a wealth of experience that allows him to draw on a lot of different experiences. The way he applies these to the work makes the learning a lot easier and more enjoyable.
Rated 4 out of 5
Rahavi Gopi| Technology Consultant| KPMG –
Rosie was very nice and it was easy to ask her questions.
Rated 5 out of 5
Laura Fan| Graduate Technical Consultant| KPMG –
Very informative and structured training. Very helpful trainer, thanks 🙂
Understand loads to cover in a 3-day course but I hope next time we can have 1 hour lunch break so I can refresh my brain:)
Rated 5 out of 5
Quan Tran| Technology Consultant| KPMG –
Rosie was great at providing examples to help illustrate the content. She was clear in delivery and gave opportunities to ask questions. Whilst the content has been difficult she has been reassuring and carefully explained solutions where we did not understand.
Rated 5 out of 5
Brian Weston| QA Analyst| Akixi –
The course was hard, but Angelina provided the information in a detailed way and tried hard to highlight important information.
Rated 4 out of 5
Elizabeth Jillett| Quality Assurance Engineer| Great State –
The trainer was great – she explained really clearly. I found the course tricky based on the sheer amount of terminology and what to learn, not necessarily based on the delivery.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gary Mathis| Principal Systems Engineer| Leonardo UK Ltd –
A great course. Rosie is very experienced and delivered the training very well.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jenny King| Systems Engineer| Leonardo UK –
The course was well delivered and engaging. Lots of really usefuly content.
Rated 4 out of 5
Sajeed Ali| QA Engineer| Bipsync –
Overall the deliverables, course instructor and activities where great. However I think the syllabus is a bit to grand with a lot of information to remember, understand and use, especially for a foundation course which feels more harder than more advanced courses. Maybe consider that advanced courses deep dive into these issues more, but overall has less to cover and can generally be seen as easier.
Rated 5 out of 5
Julie Warwick| Test Analyst| RS Group –
This is a hard going course due to the about of learning required, however, Bill our trainer was excellent at not only explaining everything so well, but also keeping the course interesting.
Rated 5 out of 5
Thomas Martin| Test Analyst| RS Group (Components) –
Very knowledgeable and could add real life examples to many scenarios to give great context
Rated 5 out of 5
Laura Thorpe (Mason)| Finance Test Analyst| Diligenta –
Bill really made an extremely tough course more bearable. His approach to teaching is excellent. The content of the course is huge and 3 full days is too much in one go.
Rated 5 out of 5
Daniel Doran| Software Tester| Nikon –
Very well instructed, clear and concise.
Bill went above and beyond.
Rated 5 out of 5
Matthew Benton| software engineer| Waters Corporation –
Bill has excellent knowledge and experience. Its a real education to listen to this. Presentations are articulated really well and clearly. The information pack provided (example questions, syllabus etc) is excellent.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sharafat Ali| IT Support Analyst| Energy Industry –
Trainer was amazing, gave great examples and went into extra detail in subjects. Trainer also gave his personal details where we can reach out and ask extra questions leading up to the exam date was an amazing experience
Rated 5 out of 5
Harry Ashwin| Test Manager| Diligenta –
Very well delivered, Bill gave very in depth detail and was very clear and concise. Course itself has a lot of information but varied and interesting
Rated 5 out of 5
Emma Dunne| Associate software QA| Emilio Cortegoso –
I’m very glad to have had Bill as an instructor. For a course as dense and theoretical as this one, he kept me engaged throughout and provided some very interesting anecdotal examples from his vast range of professional experiences as well as his general knowledge and wisdom. Despite a medical issue he had on the second day he still managed to deliver the entire course without any issues or delays. An intriguing and dedicated teacher, it’s been a pleasure learning from Bill.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jaco Karsten| QA Engineer| Xceptor –
I enjoyed the way in which the content was presented. Bill made it engaging by noting lots of real world scenarios which made the content practical and is a great way to see how the content is applied.
Online Exams The remote web proctor solution allows you to take your exams online, using a webcam, microphone and a stable internet connection. You can schedule your exam in advance, at a date and time of your choice. At the agreed time you will connect with a proctor who will invigilate your exam live. View More info here https://tinyurl.com/mr22kry9
A Pearson VUE exam voucher A pearson VUE exam voucher enables you to book and sit your exam at your local Pearson VUE testing centre at a time and date convenient to you. Pearson VUE centres are worldwide, and you will be able to choose the closest testing centre to you. View More info here https://tinyurl.com/2mhn5ust
E-learning is s training, learning, or education delivered online through a computer or any other digital device, where you can work through the course at your own pace.
If you are attending a classroom course, then this will be taken at our many training centres within the UK. Our London location is Minories London EC3N 1BJ
Virtual classroom is like being in a classroom where students gather, except you will be in your home, office, or other place of your choice.
Pass Protect, offered by TSG Training, is a valuable option for those concerned about the possibility of not passing their exam on the first attempt. It acts like an insurance policy, allowing you to resit your exam at a significantly reduced rate. Pass Protect covers one resit per exam purchased, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of an additional attempt if you don’t pass initially.
James McKeon| Software Developer| Revenue (Irish Government body) –
Bill was highly knowledgeable, thorough, and informative. I highly rate this course and will recommend it to future team members as part of the on-boarding process.
Gareth Parry| Redundant Engineer| Formerly Hewlett Packard –
Great course. Very dense but Bill’s knowledge is outstanding. Would highly recommend.
Brad Ellis| QA Engineer| ENSEK –
The course and especially John was a joy to take, I felt immersed in every section we went through. It was very information and heavy and a lot to take on board over the three days but i expected that. The way the course was broken down made it a lot more digestible. John was brilliant from the first moment until last, he has such a wealth of experience that allows him to draw on a lot of different experiences. The way he applies these to the work makes the learning a lot easier and more enjoyable.
Rahavi Gopi| Technology Consultant| KPMG –
Rosie was very nice and it was easy to ask her questions.
Laura Fan| Graduate Technical Consultant| KPMG –
Very informative and structured training. Very helpful trainer, thanks 🙂
Understand loads to cover in a 3-day course but I hope next time we can have 1 hour lunch break so I can refresh my brain:)
Quan Tran| Technology Consultant| KPMG –
Rosie was great at providing examples to help illustrate the content. She was clear in delivery and gave opportunities to ask questions. Whilst the content has been difficult she has been reassuring and carefully explained solutions where we did not understand.
Brian Weston| QA Analyst| Akixi –
The course was hard, but Angelina provided the information in a detailed way and tried hard to highlight important information.
Elizabeth Jillett| Quality Assurance Engineer| Great State –
The trainer was great – she explained really clearly. I found the course tricky based on the sheer amount of terminology and what to learn, not necessarily based on the delivery.
Gary Mathis| Principal Systems Engineer| Leonardo UK Ltd –
A great course. Rosie is very experienced and delivered the training very well.
Jenny King| Systems Engineer| Leonardo UK –
The course was well delivered and engaging. Lots of really usefuly content.
Sajeed Ali| QA Engineer| Bipsync –
Overall the deliverables, course instructor and activities where great. However I think the syllabus is a bit to grand with a lot of information to remember, understand and use, especially for a foundation course which feels more harder than more advanced courses. Maybe consider that advanced courses deep dive into these issues more, but overall has less to cover and can generally be seen as easier.
Julie Warwick| Test Analyst| RS Group –
This is a hard going course due to the about of learning required, however, Bill our trainer was excellent at not only explaining everything so well, but also keeping the course interesting.
Thomas Martin| Test Analyst| RS Group (Components) –
Very knowledgeable and could add real life examples to many scenarios to give great context
Laura Thorpe (Mason)| Finance Test Analyst| Diligenta –
Bill really made an extremely tough course more bearable. His approach to teaching is excellent. The content of the course is huge and 3 full days is too much in one go.
Daniel Doran| Software Tester| Nikon –
Very well instructed, clear and concise.
Bill went above and beyond.
Matthew Benton| software engineer| Waters Corporation –
Bill has excellent knowledge and experience. Its a real education to listen to this. Presentations are articulated really well and clearly. The information pack provided (example questions, syllabus etc) is excellent.
Sharafat Ali| IT Support Analyst| Energy Industry –
Trainer was amazing, gave great examples and went into extra detail in subjects. Trainer also gave his personal details where we can reach out and ask extra questions leading up to the exam date was an amazing experience
Harry Ashwin| Test Manager| Diligenta –
Very well delivered, Bill gave very in depth detail and was very clear and concise. Course itself has a lot of information but varied and interesting
Emma Dunne| Associate software QA| Emilio Cortegoso –
I’m very glad to have had Bill as an instructor. For a course as dense and theoretical as this one, he kept me engaged throughout and provided some very interesting anecdotal examples from his vast range of professional experiences as well as his general knowledge and wisdom. Despite a medical issue he had on the second day he still managed to deliver the entire course without any issues or delays. An intriguing and dedicated teacher, it’s been a pleasure learning from Bill.
Jaco Karsten| QA Engineer| Xceptor –
I enjoyed the way in which the content was presented. Bill made it engaging by noting lots of real world scenarios which made the content practical and is a great way to see how the content is applied.