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
Daniel Taylor Jr|V&V Test Engineer|Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine –
Great content, and very interesting
Lihuan Li|IT Specialist|IBM –
It was difficult on both sides due to having to work from a ppt presentation all day. Both from a feedback to the trainer who couldn’t see out faces and for ourselves. BUT we were allocated breaks to avoid screen eyes and this was much appreciated. Generally well taught. We were just surprised that a large part of the course involved exam technique. Exam technique was extremely useful. I’m not very good at working and doing homework from PDFs so plan to print off the course work and review that way before the exam.
Ben Poore|Senior Test Analyst|Quilter –
John kept everyone engaged over the 3 day course and made sure that everyone understood the material before moving on. This is difficult to do via a video conference but was successfully achieved by John.
Kate Brewer-Lee|Test Lead|IBM –
It was good, but I’d prefer to have it in 4 to 5 days instead of 3. It is a lot of content to cover in only 3 days.
Madelaine Helleur O’Connor | Graduate Data and Technology Consultant | KPMG –
Paul was so lovely and helpful. He went through the course with good pace and detail and was always willing to help and explain things in more detail
Luke Shuttleworth | Graduate Trainee | KPMG –
Hard to say since I have not yet taken the exam but I thought the course was very well delivered, the trainer was excellent and friendly.
Emly 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.
Lucy Briggs | Graduate Trainee | KPMG –
I thought the course was well run and everything was explained thoroughly.
Sandra Obi | Data and Tech Consultant | KPMG –
The instructor was amazing, cheerful and very relatable. Literally one of the best online courses.
Thomas Gallagher | Data & Tech Analyst | KPMG –
Very good course still felt very crammed but that is the nature of the course. Some the presentation slides could be presented more formally and concisely to take the key messages away. Trainer was very knowledge not only on content but also test conditions. Trainer also had good knowledge in how to tailor the course to our needs.
Daniel Taylor Jr |V&V Test Engineer | Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine –
Great content, and very interesting
Keise Marcelino | Business Analyst | Arum Systems Limited –
It was good, but I’d prefer to have it in 4 to 5 days instead of 3. It is a lot of content to cover in only 3 days.
Debbie Finister | System Software Tester | British Library –
Great course and trainer. Because the course was online, it was split into manageable sessions. Plenty on interaction with trainer and participants. It is hard work, but it’s worth it.
Simon Ward|Senior Technical Tester/Manager|Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office –
The course was good and Angelina was kind and helpful. I do feel, and I think I speak for everyone on the course is that there is so much to cram in to 3 days, so I think it would be beneficial if it was a day longer, at least.
Rebecca MacPherson|Correspondence Analyst|Quilter –
Very Intensive but just about hung on!
Nicholas Hammond|Test Analyst|A2Dominion –
The course was well presented
Sophie Pearson | PTP Business Analyst | Old Mutual Wealth –
Very informative, John was super helpful
Ali Hussain | Software Test Analyst | HRA –
I found the course to be very good with great detail. I would definitely say it was worth attending.
Muhammed Rizwan Muhammed Ismail|Test Program Manager|IBM –
The course was concise and at a good pace for a new tester like myself. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was happy with the level of depth that Angelina was going into for each section.