Quality Analyst

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. CSQAs become members of a recognized professional group and receive recognition of their competence by business and professional associates, potentially more rapid career advancement, and greater acceptance in the role as advisor to management.

Checking Prerequisites

To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet one of four prerequisites:

1. A 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 2 years experience in the information services field
2. A 3 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 3 years experience in the information services field
3. A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 4 years experience in the information services field
4. Six years experience in the information services field

AND

Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field within covered by the certification designation

Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide detailed education and/or employment documentation supporting the prerequisite option selected on the application. If selected for verification, the applicant must supply the documentation to the program. Applicants who fail to provide the requested documentation will not be allowed to sit for the exam or, if the exam has been taken and passed, may be subject to de-certification.

Certified Quantitative Software Process Engineer (CQSPE)

The Certified Quantitative Software Process Engineer (CQSPE) certification aims at developing professionals who have gained the requisite knowledge & skills to help define & implement an organization’s measurement program using Quantitative Software Process Management (QSPM) techniques.

An organization needs to consistently control and improve its processes to deliver products that meet customer requirements and remain competitive. QSPM is a framework that integrates the concept of measurement with software process management. QSPM provides an approach through which objective insight into an organization’s goals and the capability of its processes can be determined.

Certified Associate in Software Quality (CASQ)
As the IT industry becomes more competitive, the ability for management to distinguish professional and skilled individuals in the field becomes mandatory. CASQ Certification demonstrates a foundation-level understanding of quality assurance principles and practices.

Acquiring the designation of Certified Associate in Software Quality (CASQ) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. CASQs become members of an acclaimed professional group, receiving recognition of their competence by business and professional associates, and are afforded potentially more rapid career advancement.

Checking Prerequisites

To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet one of three prerequisites:

1. A 3 year degree or 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution
2. A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 1 years experience in the information services field
3. Three years experience in the information services field

Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide detailed education and/or employment documentation supporting the prerequisite option selected on the application. If selected for verification, the applicant must supply the documentation to the program. Applicants who fail to provide the requested documentation will not be allowed to sit for the exam or, if the exam has been taken and passed, may be subject to de-certification.

Testing

Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)
As the IT industry becomes more competitive, the ability for management to distinguish professional and skilled individuals in the field becomes mandatory. CAST Certification demonstrates a foundation-level understanding of quality testing principles and practices.

Acquiring the designation of Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of software testing in the IT profession. CASTs become members of an acclaimed professional group, receiving recognition of their competence by business and professional associates, and are afforded potentially more rapid career advancement.

Filing the Initial Application

A completed Certification Candidacy Application must be submitted through the Customer Portal for entrance to Software Certifications as a candidate for any particular certification. It should be submitted by individuals who:

1. Have reviewed the Associate in Software Testing Common Body of Knowledge
2. Are prepared to take the required examination and therefore desire to establish candidacy

The initial application fee is as follows:

• $100.00 (includes PDF version of (CBOK). All fee paid in USD (see Payment Policy)
  Fees in this program are non-refundable or non-transferable

Candidates for certification who rely only on limited experience/education or too few/specific study materials typically do not successfully obtain certification. Do not apply unless you feel confident that your work/education activities and past experience have prepared you for the examination. Applicants already holding a certification from Software Certifications must submit a new application when deciding to pursue an additional certification.

Once a new application is accepted and approved, the Candidacy begins the date the application fee was processed. The candidate then has 12 months from the date the application fee was processed to take their initial exam. If after the 12-month period the candidate has yet to take the initial exam their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

If the initial exam is taken inside that 12-month period, a second or third sitting, if required, must be completed within 24 months from the date the original application fee was processed. The fee to Retake the Examination** if within the guidelines mentioned above is $100 a sitting and can be done through the Customer Portal on the My Examination page by clicking on the Retake / Resit for this Examination link. After the 24-month period has elapsed their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

** Note: Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when the Retake / Resit payment is made, that does not guarantee you will be able to reschedule your exam for a future date as it may be after your application expiration date. If you are not sure contact certify@softwarecertifications.org before proceeding as once funds are processed they are not refundable or transferable (Payment Policy).

CSQA Common Body of Knowledge

The Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)

Skill Categories:

1. Quality Principles and Concepts
2. Quality Leadership
3. Quality Baselines (Assessments and Models)
4. Quality Assurance
5. Quality Planning
6. Define, Build, Implement and Improve Work Processes
7. Quality Control Practices
8. Metrics and Measurement
9. Internal Control and Security
10. Outsourcing, COTS and Contracting Quality

Recertification Journal

Active certificants may choose to recertify by submitting a Recertification Journal which contains at least 120 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. Report your CPE credits using the online Customer Service Portal Recertification Journal. The old paper based journals are no longer allowed.

Login to the portal and click on My Certifications to see a list of your current certifications and their expiration dates. Click on the Recertification Journal link to review and record your CPE credits. You can continue returning to the portal and recording CPE for the entire 3 year period that your current certification is active. However, once your current certification expires, you will no longer be able to enter CPE or submit the journal and your certification will be officially expired. So make sure you submit the journal BEFORE the expiration date listed in the portal.

You must submit the completed list of journal entries and pay the $100 processing fee BEFORE the expiration deadline in order to initiate the recertification process. You can submit the journal as early as you like to be certified for 3 more years. You don't get reset or lose time by submitting early (e.g. You submit a journal 8/1/2008 for the 1/1/2009 CSTE expiration. Your CSTE will be extended 3 more years to 1/1/2012).

Earning the required 120 CPE credits every three years, or an average of 40 CPE credits per year, is typically not difficult for professionals working in the field. Although CPE credits can be earned and reported in any combination, most Journal Items concentrate on traditional educational and professional activities.

Recertification

Software Certifications is recognized worldwide as the standard for Information Technology and Quality Assurance professionals.

It provides online certifications and recertification. Candidates can maintain, edit, submit their recertification journal online through our Customer Portal.

What is Recertification?

Knowledge within a profession doesn't stand still. Having passed the certification examination, a certificant has demonstrated knowledge of the designation's Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) at the point in time of the examination. In order to stay current in the field as knowledge and techniques mature, the certificant must be actively engaged in professional practice, and seek opportunities to stay aware of and learn emerging practices. Certified professionals are generally expected to:

• Attend professional conferences to stay aware of activities and trends in the profession,

• 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.

Examination for Recertification

Active certificants may choose to recertify by examination. Login to the portal and click on My Certifications to see a list of your current certifications and their expiration dates. Click on the Examination for Recertification* link and submit the $200 US recertification payment fee. You can then visit the My Examinations page to schedule your examination at either a Sponsored or Prometric site by first picking your scheduling option. All current deadlines apply when scheduling at a Sponsored site (see Sponsored Site Examination Schedule).

Those taking their exam at a Prometric site need to schedule their exam as far out as possible from the expiration date to ensure they get a seat. The closer you get to your expiration date the greater the chances are that a date / seat may not be available at a particular site as there is no guarantee one will be available and is all based on availability at each site. It is the certificant's responsibility to schedule their exam and should do it in a timely fashion to ensure completed before their expiration date.