The new ISTQB CTFL 4.0

The ISTQB certification “Certified Tester Foundation Level” (CTFL) teaches the basics that a tester needs. Over the years, however, the world of work has changed and working environments and requirements have become more complex. The CTFL was criticized for not taking these new circumstances into account. A lot of voluntary hard work, time and passion went into the new development. This resulted in the new CTFL 4.0, which has been available in English since April 2023 and is now also available in German, including a sample test and glossary.

“We have set ourselves the goal of bringing two worlds together: the world of the classic, traditional waterfall and V-model and the world of agile” - Stephanie Ulrich

Stephanie Ulrich has been involved in software testing for over 25 years. She started her career as a programmer, but quickly switched to quality management with a focus on testing. She worked for a long time as a project and test manager at a major German bank, where she took on the role of Scrum Master after switching to the agile world. She has been a member of the German Testing Board (GTB) since 2004, where she heads the Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) working group, and took over as deputy head of the CTFL working group at the ISTQB® in 2020.

Highlights of this episode:

• Today is the release of the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level syllabus 4.0
• Stephanie was significantly involved in the translation and reviews
• The new version brings together classic and agile testing methods
• The syllabus has been completely revised and contains many agile topics
• The roles in test management have been redefined to reflect the agile approach
• The German version was created in collaboration between Austria, Switzerland and Germany
• There were translation challenges with DeepL
• The new version should not require more than three days for seminars
• Feedback and improvements are continuously collected
• ISTQB certificates have no expiration date, but re-certification shows up-to-date knowledge

From traditional to agile: The innovations in ISTQB CTFL 4.0

This episode is all about the release of the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0, a major update that combines the modern agile world with the traditional testing world. With key insights from Stephanie Ulrich from the German Testing Board, you will learn all about the innovations, challenges and future prospects of this certification.

The long-awaited update

In our latest podcast episode, I had the opportunity to welcome Stephanie Ulrich from the German Testing Board to talk about the release of the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0. This update marks a crucial step towards approaching modern requirements in the field of agility and test management. Stephanie shares her personal experiences and challenges in translating and adapting the syllabus, giving us an exclusive insight into the painstaking work behind the scenes.

Why an update was necessary

The need for an update became clear when feedback showed that the previous curriculum no longer reflected the current state of the art, particularly in terms of agility. The goal was to unite two worlds: the traditional world of software testing with its detailed documentation and planning, and the agile world with its focus on collaboration and continuous development. Stephanie explains how this challenge was tackled and what positive feedback has been received so far.

The role of language and accessibility

One interesting aspect of the publication is the decision to have a German-language version. Stephanie emphasizes how important it is to reach more people through local language versions and thus promote the understanding and adoption of agile methods. This also shows the extra care that the German Testing Board takes to ensure that everyone has access to this important resource.

What’s new in ISTQB CTFL 4.0?

The new curriculum has been revised from the ground up to reflect the current state of the industry. Particular emphasis has been placed on agile topics, including a redefinition of the role of the test manager as part of a team rather than as an individual. These changes are a reflection of how work in software testing has evolved - moving away from isolated tasks to a collaborative effort.

The future of the ISTQB CTFL

Despite the excitement of the new update, there are already plans for future improvements based on feedback from the community. This evolution demonstrates the ISTQB’s commitment to quality and relevance in a rapidly changing technology environment. Stephanie gives us an insight into this continuous improvement process and emphasizes the importance of community feedback.

Ongoing development process

While the conversation with Stephanie highlighted many exciting innovations around the ISTQB CTFL 4.0, it is clear that this is just the beginning of an ongoing process. The efforts to continually update and adapt reflect a commitment to excellence in software testing. With this new version, testing professionals now have a tool that enables them to be successful in both traditional and agile working environments.