Skip to content
Contact us
Landing page pics CTFL 4.0 (2)

ISTQB® Certified Tester
Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) Certification

The ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) Certification is now available at iSQI.org!

The ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) Certification provides essential testing knowledge that can be put to practical use as well as the terminology and concepts used worldwide in the testing domain. The CTFL 4.0 certification is relevant across software delivery approaches and practices whether Agile, Waterfall or DevOps with continuous integration, continuous delivery and continuous testing.

ISTQB® CTFL 4.0 Content

ctfl_4_0

Who is this certification for?

  • The Foundation Level qualification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing; it provides support for testing professionals at all stages of their careers.
  • This Foundation Level qualification is also suitable for those who want an understanding of software testing, including:
    • Project managers,
    • Quality managers,
    • Product owners,
    • Software development managers,
    • Business analysts,
    • IT directors, and
    • Management consultants.
  • Holders of the Foundation Certificate will have the necessary pre-requisite needed to be eligible for other industry-recognized ISTQB® software testing qualifications including the Advanced and Specialist modules.
People--(1440-×-2000px)

Prepare Yourself for the Certification Exam

You can prepare for the exam by attending an accredited training course for CTFL 4.0. Course participants will have relevant content and topics clearly explained and taught to them which can be very helpful in understanding the syllabus content both in respect to taking the exam and in supporting knowledge transfer back to the workplace. 

The syllabus covers important topics in the field of software testing, starting with the fundamentals of software testing, testing throughout the software development lifecycle, static testing, test design procedures, management, and tools.

The exam is available via remote proctor or via Pearson Vue for anyone wishing to self-study.

CTFL-4.0--strengthen-your-career-(1440-×-1800px)-1

Holders of the CTFL 4.0 certification should be able to:

  • 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 the 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
More About 

ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0

You can find more ...

Landing page pics CTFL 4.0 (2)

Elevate your Career

The ISTQB® syllabus is the go-to resource for testers worldwide, whether you live in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia, or Europe. It provides a focus on collaboration, communication, and effective testing techniques to help you increase efficiency, optimize effectiveness, and reduce the total cost of ownership of your applications. 

Sample Questions & Answers
Team members are working

The ISTQB® CTFL 4.0 syllabus is the ideal toolbox:

  • To increase the efficiency of your test activities
  • To optimize the effectiveness of your test activities.
  • To reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your applications
Download Syllabus
ctfl webinar-1

Video- CTFL 4.0 Webinar (recorded)

Insights into the latest changes and updates!

The ISTQB Syllabus is a recognized hallmark for everyone in the software industry. By becoming certified, you join the community of over 845,000 certified testers worldwide and gain access to a wealth of resources to help you elevate your testing. Discover how the Syllabus can transform your testing approach and enable you to drive value and quality in your organization.

Watch the Video

Frequently Asked Questions.

How can I prepare to take the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level certification exam?

There are two options:

1. Attend the 3-day accredited training course (unchanged length from CTFL v3.1). Also, it is recommended that anyone wanting to attend training attends an accredited training course.
2. Self-study using the syllabus and the sample exams available here. Also, refer to the ISTQB Official Glossary.

What is the duration of an ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) accredited training course for the new 4.0 version?

ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 is a 3-day training course (unchanged from the number of days for the previous version). 

Is the new ISTQB® Foundation Level Syllabus version 4.0 more focused on iterative or sequential software development models?

ISTQB® has composed the syllabus in such a way that all practices, approaches, and techniques are as much as possible SDLC agnostic. They can be applied everywhere, regardless of the context. However, some new elements are rather iterative-oriented in that they are further elaborated and detailed.

When will the new ISTQB® Foundation Level Syllabus version 4.0 be localized to other languages than English?

The previous localized version of the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level syllabus, related documents (such as exam questions and glossary terms), and the official exams must be retired within 18 months of the release of the new version 4.0 syllabus (this will include any exam re-takes and also accredited training courses). The local ISTQB® Member Board is responsible for the localization of the new syllabus and related documents. Stay in touch for further information.

Is the new 4.0 ISTQB® Foundation Level just a concatenation of the former ISTQB® Agile Tester and Foundation Level Syllabus?

No, ISTQB® has updated and extended the existing learning objectives (LOs) and business outcomes (BOs) to create a more relevant and contemporary syllabus for testing today.

Are the Agile testing-specific terms addressed in the new Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 syllabus?

Yes. For anyone involved in testing, the CTFL4.0 should provide the necessary knowledge, independent of the software development lifecycle. Any testing terms, techniques, and methodologies specific to an SDLC, such as agile, are further elaborated.

Do I need software development skills to take the new ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL 4.0) exam?

There’s no prior knowledge required to be eligible to take the ISTQB® CTFL 4.0 certification exam. However, before taking the exam, we strongly recommend participating in an ISTQB® accredited training course. Another option is to study for the exam with the help of the syllabus, the glossary, and the online mock exam.

Is my existing ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level certificate still valid after the release of the new 4.0 version?
Of course! Like all ISTQB® certificates, it has lifelong validity. However, if you desire a certificate that shows that you’re up-to-date with the latest testing processes and techniques, we suggest you consider studying the syllabus for the new CTFL 4.0 certification and taking the exam.
Does it make sense for an ISTQB® Certified Tester to retake the exam with the latest 4.0 version?

This depends on your specific situation. It may be beneficial to take the CTFL 4.0 certification as it is more contemporary with an additional agile context and this may be more supportive of your goals. If you wish to gain the CTFL 4.0 certification you will need to take the CTFL 4.0 certification exam (there is no other way to receive the CTFL 4.0 certificate). You can prepare for the exam by attending an accredited training course or by self-studying using the syllabus, sample exam, and ISTQB® Glossary. 

 

 

Do I need to have my ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) training course material reaccredited for the new 4.0 version?

Yes, this is very important and necessary if you wish to deliver the new CTFL 4.0 course and also if you wish to retain your accredited training provider status after the sunset dates for the current version. The CTFL 4.0 syllabus has been re-written from scratch, it has a significant amount of fresh learning objectives and thus requires a full re-accreditation. 

What are the prerequisites for a trainer to be allowed to deliver the new ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL 4.0) training course?

To deliver ISTQB® CTFL 4.0  accredited training, the trainer should have at least the CTFL 4.0 certificate OR hold an ISTQB® CTFL certificate prior to 4.0, combined with the ISTQB® CTFL-AT (“Agile Tester”) certificate. The local Member Board may also have additional requirements (e.g. x years of experience in testing, x years of experience as a trainer).

What are the main benefits of the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL 4.0) training/certification for a software developer working in an agile team?

Whether you work in an agile team or not, the new CTFL 4.0 has switched testing from a dedicated function to a role or even a set of quality related activities, that can (or even should) be undertaken by any member of the team (developer, analyst, product owner, product manager, etc.). For developers, the new syllabus will highlight the importance of close collaboration with other stakeholders, to increase the quality of requirement documentation (and thus reducing the development lead-time due to incomplete, incorrect. or inconsistent requirements). It will introduce concepts like shift left, code reviews, and white box testing to increase the quality of code and it will demonstrate the need for rethinking the development process by embracing practices such as DevOps, CI/CD, ATDD, TDD, and BDD.

Will the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level - Agile Tester (CTFL-AT) be retired with the release of CTFL 4.0?

CTFL-AT has not been retired as a result of the launch of the new CTFL 4.0.

I am considering the ISTQB® Advanced Level Agile Technical Tester (CTAL-ATT)/ATLaS certification or Advance Level Agile Test Leadership at Scale – will CTFL 4.0 satisfy the pre-requite requirement to hold CTFL and CTFL-Agile Tester?

Yes indeed, if you hold CTFL 4.0 this will be sufficient as a prerequisite certification for CTAL-ATT/ATLaS. If you hold a previous version of CTFL, e.g. 3.1 (2018), then you will also need to hold the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level - Agile Tester (CTFL-AT) certification.

Stay-updated-(1440-×-1800px)-1

Stay up-to-date on the latest updates regarding the ISTQB® CTFL 4.0 by subscribing today.
#successisyours