Certified Software Test Professional Master Level (CSTP-M)

Objectives of CSTP - Master Level Certification

In addition to achieving al all objectives listed under CSTP - Associate Level and CSTP - Practitioner Level, CSTP - Master Level aims at achieving the following objectives:

1. Help test professionals develop their software testing skills through formal education
2. Establish a common skill set for software testing professionals according to a well-defined Body of Knowledge
3. Create a pool of qualified software test professionals
4. Prepare candidates for a wider range of software testing assignments
5. Complement company in-house and on-the-job training programs
6. Provide professional recognition and career enhancement

Benefits of CSTP - Master Level Certification?

1. Demonstrate a level of competence in software testing methodologies and techniques
2. Helps individuals develop their software testing skills through formal education
3. Individuals develop common methodologies, practical approaches and skill sets based on a well-defined Body of Knowledge
4. Establishes disciplined and repeatable processes for a company with a team of CSTP – Master Level holders
5. Prepares candidates for a wider range of software testing assignments
6. Provides professional recognition and helps gain greater acceptance of software testing as a profession
7. CSTP - Master Level  holders are better prepared to advance toward increased responsibility or management
8. CSTP - Master Level  holders are proven to be more marketable and respected in the field

Who should pursue Certification?

1. Anyone new to the testing area
2. Experienced testers using ad hoc methods
3. Individuals whose test experience is narrowly focused (do not have a lifecycle view)
4. Anyone who wishes to become a better test professional or advance his/her professional standing in testing

Certified Software Testing Professional - Master Level Requirements

Two requirements must be satisfied before the CSTP-M certification can be granted. These are the Formal Education Requirement and Job Experience Requirement.

Formal Education Requirements:

Option #1: Achieving CSTP - Master Level as a progression from CSTP - Practitioner Level

1. Satisfying educational requirements of both CSTP - Associate Level & CSTP Practitioner Level.
2. Three days of training as follows:
   1. Two days to cover areas #6 (Test Automation) and #7 (Static Testing) of the Test Professionals Body of Knowledge.
   2. One day elective, which may cover any of the above areas or other test-related areas

Option #2: Achieving CSTP Master Level without achieving CSTP - Practitioner Level. If you have already worked toward CSTP, this is the option you would use.

Ten days of training, of which at least seven days that cover all seven areas of the Test Professional Body of Knowledge. The remaining of the ten days can be selected by the candidate the cover any topic on software testing.

CSTP-M Training Options Written Exam:

Candidates are required to complete a written exam for each course and pass with a level of performance no less than 80%. For courses conducted by IIST, a candidate is allowed to retake the exam for a second time without having to attend the course again. There is a $100 fee for retakes. If 80% performance is not achieved on a second attempt, the candidate must retake the course or take another course covering the same BOK area. If the course failed was taken online you will get access to the online course and a retake exam for $100. If the course was taken on-site or at public training and is available online you can get access to both the online course and retake exam for half the original price of the online course. If the course is failed for a 3rd time and was taken online you will get access to the online course and a retake exam for half the original price of the online course.

Job Experience Requirements:

Job Experience Requirements: At least one year in a software testing-related job. This one year is more and beyond the one year required for the CSTP - Practitioner Level if Option #1 is pursued. This requirement shall be met by means of a letter of support signed by the candidate's supervisor describing the candidate's specific role and responsibilities over a period of one year or more.

Transfer of Credit (Available only for Option #2 above)

Non-IIST delivered courses may be considered for a maximum of two days towards the certification upon approval of IIST's Chairperson. Candidates must submit evidence of successful completion from a recognized training institution along with detailed course material for evaluation and a certificate of completion. Materials must be accompanied by a fee of $25.00 for each course to be evaluated.

Graduation:

Upon satisfying both formal education and job experience requirements, a candidate shall submit an application to the IIST Chairperson for the certification to be granted. An application for graduation must be submitted within five years from the date the earliest course was completed. The application must be accompanied by payment of the $180 non- refundable graduation fee. This fee covers the cost associated with record-keeping, grading exams, and certification plaque. Please note there will be an additional $100 for shipping plaques outside the U.S.

CSTP Master Level Re- Certification Requirements

The CSTP - Master Level Certification will expire 3 years after it is granted. As a result, all CSTP - Master Level Certified participants must complete the recertification requirements before that time.

Rationale:

Based on the objectives of the CSTP Certification and in response to the demands imposed on test professionals to handle a wide range of responsibilities using different development environments and technologies, re-certification through continuous education has become necessary. This necessity has also been confirmed by CSTP graduates, who continuously inquired about a mechanism by which they can further develop skills in more advanced and specialized areas of software testing. In response to this need, the IIST Advisory Board has approved the requirements for re-certification as outlined below.

Formal Education Requirements:

An applicant for the re-certification shall complete a total of 10 educational units as described in the table below.

An applicant must complete at least 4 units from Category A. The remaining units can be completed from Categories B or C. However, the 10 units must not include more than 6 units from Category B or more than 4 units from Category C.

The following table shows some examples of number of units from each category to complete the re-certification requirements. Activities that qualify for each of the categories are described above. In order to count toward re-certification units, activities must be performed during the re-certification period. Evaluation of all activities will be at the discretion of the IIST Chairman. An applicant for re-certification may submit Non-IIST courses to be evaluated for credits. An applicant must submit evidence of successful course material for evaluation. The fee for this evaluation is $25 per course.

Job Experience Requirements:

An applicant shall provide evidence that he or she has continued performing job responsibilities in software testing or related areas. This requirement may be satisfied through a letter from the applicant's manager describing the specific activities performed over the specified period of time.

Application:

An applicant for re-certification shall submit the CSTP Re-Certification Application to the Chairman of IIST accompanied by evidence of completing both the educational and experience requirements and $180 processing fee no later than 60 days before the date the certification expires. The CSTP Re-Certification Application form can be downloaded from our web site at http://www.iist.org/certification.php.

The CSTP - Master Level Body of Knowledge: