Comments on: Software Testing Certifications http://www.testingmentor.com/imtesty/2009/11/12/software-testing-certifications/ Treatises on the practice of software testing Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:15:11 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: testingmentor http://www.testingmentor.com/imtesty/2009/11/12/software-testing-certifications/comment-page-1/#comment-58 testingmentor Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:29:28 +0000 http://testingmentor.com/imtesty/2009/11/12/software-testing-certifications/#comment-58 I agree. 'Certifications' in general may not be an indication of a person's ability beyond the ability to memorize specific things at a moment in time. For example, when I got my Ham radio operator's license I had to learn Morse code, but I have never had to use it and thus 'ditty-bop' has long dropped from my repertoire of skills. Some companies do view 'certifications' as a good thing. Perhaps they think certifications provide a baseline of common knowledge for their employees, or perhaps they have a false expectation that certifications give individuals super-human knowledge. Unfortunately, especially in the later case these companies or the managers who desire certifications really don't understand (nor want to understand) the role of testing in the organization, and thus "farm-out" the responsibility of training of their employees to a 'certification' organization. The bottom line (regardless of what I think) is that until individuals in the testing profession are regarded as credible, highly trained technical professionals, and until we (testing professionals) can clearly articulate the value (in quantifiable business terms) we provide to the organization, then some companies will continue to promote 'certifications.' Saturday, December 02, 2006 12:10 AM by I.M.Testy I agree. ‘Certifications’ in general may not be an indication of a person’s ability beyond the ability to memorize specific things at a moment in time. For example, when I got my Ham radio operator’s license I had to learn Morse code, but I have never had to use it and thus ‘ditty-bop’ has long dropped from my repertoire of skills.

Some companies do view ‘certifications’ as a good thing. Perhaps they think certifications provide a baseline of common knowledge for their employees, or perhaps they have a false expectation that certifications give individuals super-human knowledge.

Unfortunately, especially in the later case these companies or the managers who desire certifications really don’t understand (nor want to understand) the role of testing in the organization, and thus “farm-out” the responsibility of training of their employees to a ‘certification’ organization.

The bottom line (regardless of what I think) is that until individuals in the testing profession are regarded as credible, highly trained technical professionals, and until we (testing professionals) can clearly articulate the value (in quantifiable business terms) we provide to the organization, then some companies will continue to promote ‘certifications.’

Saturday, December 02, 2006 12:10 AM by I.M.Testy

]]> By: rosiesherry http://www.testingmentor.com/imtesty/2009/11/12/software-testing-certifications/comment-page-1/#comment-57 rosiesherry Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:29:05 +0000 http://testingmentor.com/imtesty/2009/11/12/software-testing-certifications/#comment-57 In the UK the standard certification is ISEB Foundation from the British Computer Society (BCS). Many employers now state this as 'preferred'. However, from my perspective the fact that is is a multiple choice exam of basic concepts, it does not really prove to myself (as an employer) of a testers skill, knowledge or commitment. I'm more interested in how a tester can prove themselves as dedicated to the profession. It's not hard to tell between those doing it as a 'day job' and those that truly enjoy it as a career. For me, for example, a great example would be a portfolio. Take someone who can show you they have been committed to a blog on software testing - to me this is a type of portfolio, showing what they know, what they have been thinking about and gives a sense of character. A great way to truly get an understanding of an individual. This to me is better than any software testing certification. Friday, December 01, 2006 5:14 PM by rosiesherry In the UK the standard certification is ISEB Foundation from the British Computer Society (BCS). Many employers now state this as ‘preferred’. However, from my perspective the fact that is is a multiple choice exam of basic concepts, it does not really prove to myself (as an employer) of a testers skill, knowledge or commitment.

I’m more interested in how a tester can prove themselves as dedicated to the profession. It’s not hard to tell between those doing it as a ‘day job’ and those that truly enjoy it as a career.

For me, for example, a great example would be a portfolio. Take someone who can show you they have been committed to a blog on software testing – to me this is a type of portfolio, showing what they know, what they have been thinking about and gives a sense of character. A great way to truly get an understanding of an individual. This to me is better than any software testing certification.

Friday, December 01, 2006 5:14 PM by rosiesherry

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