Software Certifications Overview
Software Certifications has become recognized worldwide as the standard for information technology quality assurance professionals. This website is designed to answer some of the most common questions concerning certification and to serve as an ongoing public procedure guide. Its intent is to assist in understanding the program, its certification designations, and the procedures involved.

Certification is a big step; a big decision. Certification identifies an individual as a quality assurance leader. Certification earns the candidate the respect of colleagues and managers. One or more of these certifications is frequently a prerequisite for promotion or acquiring a new position. We hope this site helps anyone considering this step in achieving higher career growth and goals. (see Privacy Policy)
 
What is software certification?
Certification is formal recognition of a level of proficiency in the information technology (IT) quality assurance industry. The recipient is acknowledged as having an overall comprehension of the disciplines and skills represented in a comprehensive body of knowledge for a respective software discipline.
 
Why become certified?
As the IT industry becomes more competitive, the ability for management to distinguish professional and skilled individuals in the field becomes mandatory. Certification demonstrates a level of understanding in carrying out quality assurance principles and practices. Acquiring the designation of CASQ, CSQA, CMSQ, CAST, CSTE, CMST, CSBA or CSPM indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. CASQs, CSQAs, CMSQs, CASTs, CSTEs CMSTs, CSBAs and CSPMs gain recognition as software quality profession, achieve potentially more rapid career advancement, and gain greater acceptance in the role as advisor to management.
 
Program History
Software Certifications had its beginning in 1980 as the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI) was established as a professional association formed to represent the quality assurance profession. The first certification began development in 1985 and the first formal examination process was launched in 1990. Today, the Certification Program is global; with approximately 10,000 active certificants in Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
 
Certifications Supported
Vision, Values, Mission, & Goals:

Vision Statement

  • To be the international standard of definition for professional status as an information services software quality practitioner.

Key Values

  • Lifelong Learning - Professional status is something to be achieved and maintained over an entire career, it is a commitment to on-going participation in a field.
  • Continuous Improvement - As a field matures, the knowledge needed to professionally participate in that field must also grow and mature; competency will be an ever rising standard.

Mission Statement

  • To support the needs of information services quality practitioners, providing certification of their professional development as they evolve over their careers from entry-level novices to recognized and mature masters of their respective disciplines.

Program Goals

  1. Facilitate and foster a comprehensive set of industry-accepted bodies of knowledge for current and emerging quality disciplines within the information services field.
  2. Define and execute the examination, tracking, and support processes necessary for the on-going certification of individuals to those bodies of knowledge.
  3. Promote those certifications across the industry and society so that they are increasingly seen as prerequisite to professional success in the field.
  4. Build on those perceptions to continually enhance and build the peer recognition and employment value of those certifications among those who have been certified.
  5. Provide a governance and operational structure for the Program that assures the on-going integrity and value of its certifications.
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