This is a presentation that highlights the available software certifications offered by QAI.

1. Quality Assurance Institute (QAI):
The Four W’s of Software Certification
By Harmony Brenner

2. Agenda
• The Four W’s:
– Who?
– What?
– Where?
– Why?
• Additional Questions

3. History
• Who is QAI?
– The Quality Assurance Institute (QAI) was
founded in the USA in 1980.
– They now offer membership in a worldwide
organization and have affiliated chapters
all over the world.
– Corporate website location:
http://www.qaiglobalinstitute.com/

4. Purpose
• What is their purpose?
– Objective: provide leadership in improving
quality, productivity, and effective solutions
for process management.
– Offerings consist of training, seminars,
conferences, and assessments.
– QA certifications are also available.

5. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
• Professional Certifications
– Divided into subgroups:
• Software Quality
• Software Testing
• Project Management
• Process Engineering
• Business Analyst

6. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
Software Quality Certifications
– Certified Associate in Software Quality (CASQ)
– Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)
– Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ)
• This is an Advanced certification level.

7. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
Software Testing Certifications
– Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)
– Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
– Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST)
• This is an Advanced certification level.

8. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
Project Management Certification
– Certified Software Project Manager (CSPM)

9. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
Process Engineering Certifications
– Certified Software Process Engineer
(CSPE)
– Certified Quantitative Software Process
Engineer (CQSPE)

10. QAI Certifications
• See http://www.softwarecertifications.org/
Business Analyst Certification
– Certified Software Business Analyst
(CSBA)

11. Quick Certification Path
• Satisfy all applicant Prerequisites.
• Subscribe to the Code of Ethics.
• Pass a comprehensive written examination.
• Complete prerequisite certifications
(if applicable, for Advanced certifications).

12. CASQ Prerequisites
• Certified Associate in Software Quality (CASQ)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet
one of these three prerequisites:
• A 3-year degree or 4-year degree from an accredited
college-level institution;
• A 2-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 1 year experience in the information services field; or
• Three years experience in the information services field.
• Key difference – work requirement optional

13. CSQA Prerequisites
• Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must be
currently working in the field,
or
have worked at any time within the prior 18
months, in the field within covered by the
certification designation.

14. CSQA Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Software Quality Analyst
(CSQA) Prerequisites:
– In addition, one of these four prerequisites must
be met:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 2 years experience in the information services field;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 3 years experience in the information services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 4 years experience in the information services field; or
• Six years experience in the information services field.

15. CMSQ Prerequisites
• Certified Manager in Software Quality (CMSQ)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet
these prerequisites:
• Currently hold an active CSQA Certification.
• Be working in the field covered by the certification designation.
• Have the experience to demonstrate mastery of the skills
identified in the current Software Testing Common Body of
Knowledge (CBOK).
• Be prepared to submit documentation that supports described
real-world experience in the software quality field.
• Be prepared to take the required manager’s level examination.

16. CMSQ Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Manager in Software Quality (CMSQ)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must also
meet one of these additional prerequisites:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college-level
institution plus a minimum of four years experience in
the software quality assurance field;
• An associate degree plus a minimum of six years of
experience in the software quality assurance field; or
• Eight years of experience in the software quality
assurance field.

17. CAST Prerequisites
• Certified Associate in Software Testing
(CAST) Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet
one of three prerequisites:
• 3-year degree or 4-year degree from an accredited
college-level institution;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 1 year experience in the information
services field; or
• Three years experience in the information services
field.
• Key difference – work requirement optional

18. CSTE Prerequisites
• Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must be
currently working in the field,
or
have worked at any time within the prior 18 months,
in the field within covered by the certification
designation.

19. CSTE Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Software Tester (CSTE) Prerequisites:
– In addition, one of these four prerequisites
must be met:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 2 years experience in the information
services field;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 3 years experience in the information
services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 4 years experience in the information
services field; or
• Six years experience in the information services field.

20. CMST Prerequisites
• Certified Manager in Software Testing (CMST)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must
meet these prerequisites:
• Currently hold an active CSTE Certification.
• Be working in the field covered by the certification designation.
• Have the experience to demonstrate mastery of the skills
identified in the current Software Testing Common Body of
Knowledge (CBOK).
• Be prepared to submit documentation that supports described
real-world experience in the software testing field.
• Be prepared to take the required manager’s level examination.

21. CMST Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Manager in Software Testing (CMST)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must
also meet one of these additional prerequisites:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college-level
institution plus a minimum of four years experience in
the software testing field;
• An associate degree plus a minimum of six years of
experience in the software testing field; or
• Eight years of experience in the software testing field.

22. CSPM Prerequisites
• Certified Software Project Manager
(CSPM) Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must be
currently working in the field,
or
have worked at any time within the prior 18
months, in the field within covered by the
certification designation.

23. CSPM Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Software Project Manager (CSPM)
Prerequisites:
– In addition, one of these four prerequisites must be
met:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 2 years experience in the information
services field;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 3 years experience in the information
services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level
institution and 4 years experience in the information
services field; or
• Six years experience in the information services field.

24. CSPE Prerequisites
• Certified Software Process Engineer (CSPE)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet
one of four prerequisites:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level institution;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 1 year experience in the information services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 2 years experience in the information services field; or
• Three years experience in the information services field.
• Key difference – work requirement optional

25. CQSPE Prerequisites
• Certified Quantitative Software Process Engineer
(CQSPE) Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet
one of five prerequisites:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level institution;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 1 years experience in the information services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 2 years experience in the information services field;
• Three years experience in the information services field; or
• Has a current CSPE certification.
• Key difference – work requirement optional

26. CSBA Prerequisites
• Certified Business Analyst (CSBA)
Prerequisites:
– To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must be
currently working in the field,
or
have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in
the field within covered by the certification
designation.

27. CSBA Prerequisites (cont.)
• Certified Business Analyst (CSBA) Prerequisites:
– In addition, one of these four prerequisites must
be met:
• 4-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 2 years experience in the information services field;
• 3-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 3 years experience in the information services field;
• 2-year degree from an accredited college-level institution
and 4 years experience in the information services field; or
• Six years experience in the information services field.

28. Track Comparisons
Comparisons of certification prerequisites:
Software Quality Track

29. Track Comparisons
Comparisons of certification prerequisites:
Software Testing Track

30. Track Comparisons
Comparisons of certification prerequisites:
Process Engineering Track

31. How to Prepare
• Where can I obtain certification?
– Software QA certification preparation can
be done in a variety of ways:
• Home study / Work (OJT)
• Online tutorials
• Classroom study
• Combination of many efforts
– Examinations are scheduled worldwide.

32. Staying Active
Certification requires ongoing involvement.
• Certified professionals are generally expected to:
– Attend professional conferences to stay aware of
activities and professional trends;
– Take education and training courses to continually
update skills and competencies;
– Develop and offer training to share knowledge and
skills with other professionals and the public;
– Publish information in order to disseminate personal,
project, and research experiences; and
– Participate in the profession through active committee
memberships and formal special interest groups.

33. Certification Benefits
• Why should I consider certification?
– Value Provided to the Profession
– Value Provided to the Individual
– Value Provided to the Employer
– Value Provided to Co-Workers

34. Value to Profession
• Certified professionals bring value to
their profession by providing:
– Increased recognition for the standards in
their chosen field;
– Standardized measurements of
demonstrated abilities; and
– Opportunities to solidify skills by
publishing, teaching or leading others as
required to maintain certification eligibility.

35. Value to Individual
• Certified professionals bring value to
themselves by providing:
– Self-direction in their chosen career path;
– Motivation for further study; and
– An environment that encourages pursuit of
continuous improvement in their field.

36. Value to Employer
• Certified professionals bring value to
their employer by providing:
– Verifiable and quantitative credentials to
use when recruiting new staff;
– Demonstrated dedication in pursuing
additional professional development,
usually on personal time; and
– A basis for leadership opportunities.

37. Value to Co-Workers
• Certified professionals bring value to
other employees by providing:
– Mentoring opportunities;
– Sharing the training and professional
development they pursue; and,
– Bringing standardized processes and tools
learned through certification into the
workplace.

38. Questions?
• Contact the author, Harmony Brenner
through LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/harmonybrenner