MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate

What is the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate?

Software is moving at a rapid pace of change and now more than ever we need software testing professionals to help test and deliver those changes. 

The Essentials Certification from Ministry of Testing is a modern introduction to the world of testing software. It’s created with a forward thinking lens and with current experts from within the software testing industry. Our goal is to equip the next generation of software testers to move forward with confidence in their careers. 

To be able to contribute with value and understanding and to develop the thinking and skills that are all too easily dismissed.

Prequisites

There are no prerequisites for the Essentials Certificate in Software Testing. This beginner-level certification provides all the essential skills and knowledge required to successfully carry out testing activities in software development teams.

Release

This certification is currently being developed alongside experts in the community. It will be released in modules over time (modularly) at a discounted early access price. Early access purchasers will gain access to all modules but cannot take the exam or earn the certificate until the full course is released. It’s a great way to get a head start in your career.

We will start releasing modules in mid October 2024 and for it to be completed by Feburary 28th 2025.

Course Contents

1. What is software testing?

• A very brief history of software testing
• The value of software testing is…
• The many ways people talk about testing
• The role of testing across different team structures
• How do teams approach testing?
• How do testers grow?

2. What do software testers do?

• What do junior testers do?
• Understanding the boundaries of a software tester’s role 
• Use thought techniques to identify assumptions and overcome biases
• The key skills and traits of a software tester 
• Working with others

3. The secret skill set of software testers

• What makes a good tester?
• How to think like a software tester 
• Testing personas and how to use them
• Heuristics, mnemonics and oracles 
• Receiving and giving feedback 

4. Testing fundamentals and techniques

• What are testing fundamentals?
• The testing techniques and approaches
• Testing in different places
• How data and environments influence testing
• Testing personas and their uses
• Test traceability and why it matters
• How to test an input field 

5. The struggles of software testing

• The misconceptions of software testing
• The relationship between testing and quality
• Where does testing fit in? 
• Measuring testing
• The impact of standards and regulations

6. Risky business: The relationship between testing and risk

• What is risk analysis?
• How to ask questions to uncover risks
• 10 techniques for risk analysis
• How to contribute to risk analysis sessions 
• A guide to risk and documentation
• The relationship between risk and communication

7. The complexity of software testing

• What is systems thinking?
• Creating models to support your testing
• How to use questions to build a model of systems
• Explore tools and techniques for system analysis

8. Gather better information: understanding requirements

• What are requirements, and why should we care?
• The different types of requirements
• Clarification and ambiguity
• How to find testing opportunities in requirements
• When requirements don’t look like requirements
• Applying heuristics to requirements
• Building in testability of requirements

9. Exploring test design

• What is test design?
• The Testing Catalogue
• Adaptable test design
• A toolkit of test design techniques and fundamentals
• Heuristics to influence your test design strategy

10. Doing the testing work

• Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
• Follow the test case
• Let's explore it! 
• Testing using heuristics, mnemonics and oracles
• Notes taking: why does it matter?

11. The outputs of software testing

• What do we do again?
• Observations and how to capture your testing efforts
• Collaboration & communication
• Test artefacts
• The many ways to create test cases
• Bugs, problems and challenges
• The relationship between confidence and testing

12. The art of communicating testing

• Why do testers tell stories?
• What testing evidence to collect
• Essentials guide to test documentation
• Create bug reports with your team
• The challenge of what your stakeholders care about
• Essential ways to communicate your test findings to your team
• No one reads the docs

13. Navigating software problems with confidence

• What are bugs?
• What value do bugs bring?
• So many bugs, so little time: prioritising bug fixes 
• What happens after a fix? 
• What is retesting, and does it matter? 
• When do you stop testing? 
• The dark side of bugs

14. Fail to plan, plan to fail

• The many approaches of test planning
• What to expect from modern test planning
• Planning for adaptability
• Planning for collaboration
• Working with test planning documentation
• Reporting your testing
• What to do when testing blocks progress
• What do you do when something else blocks your testing?

15. Testing debt and maintaining a lean machine

• What is technical debt?
• What is testing debt?
• What does testing debt look like?
• Strategies for managing testing debt
• Debt busters!

16. Technical Testing

• What is technical testing?
• Types of tools used in testing
• The testing tools landscape
• The dangers of over relying on tools
• Tools to help you with accessibility testing
• Tools to help you with security testing
• Tools to help you with test automation
• Tools to help with functional testing
• Tools to help with API testing
• Tools to help you with exploratory testing 
• Test with a tool

17. Get started with test automation

• What is test automation?
• Test automation principles
• Where does test automation fit in and who should own it?
• The reality and myths of test automation
• Pick the right tools for test automation
• The test automation landscape

18. Testing specialisms

• What are testing specialisms?
• The testing specialisms list
• The value of understanding specialisms
• Specialist testing all testers can do

19. Keeping up to date

• What is a continuous learning mindset?
• Understanding product changes
• So many industry changes, where to look? 
• Reviewing and updating risks and tests
• Testing communities and groups (include conferences, blogs and all things MoT) 

20. Glossary

Why choose MoT Certifications?

• Proven Legacy: Ministry of Testing has been a trusted partner in the software testing industry since 2007.
• Community-Powered: Our course curriculums are driven by the testing community, ensuring their relevance, modernity and quality.
• Industry Expertise: The Essentials curriculum is co-created with input from over 300 experienced Junior Testers, Test Managers and many more specialist testing roles.
• Engaging Learning: Experience engaging and interactive courses.
• Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace with our online, self-paced courses.
• Community Support: Join a supportive community for all your questions and concerns.
• Transparent Pricing: Enjoy an all-inclusive price with no hidden fees.
• Career Boost: Our credible certification can elevate your career in software testing.
• Digitally Certified: Receive a personalised, unique and digitally signed MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate.