Important note:

CTAL-TM v3.0 is the latest released syllabus version of the ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Management (CTAL-TM v3.0) certification. This release is a major update. For more details of the changes, refer to page 82, Appendix C – Release Notes in the new syllabus.

If you wish to take the Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager Version 2012 (CTAL-TM 2012) exam, follow this link. Training courses and exams (including re-takes) may continue for the CTAL-TM 2012 syllabus in English only until 30 May 2025, and in other languages until 30 Nov 2025.

The ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Management v3.0 syllabus addresses the key aspects of test management across three chapters:

Chapter 1: Managing the Test Activities

• The participant learns to explain the test management activities (i.e., test planning, test monitoring, test control, and test completion)
• The participant learns to define a project test strategy including the test objectives and selecting the proper test approach consistent with the organizational test strategy and the project context
• The participant learns to manage projects in various contexts
• The participant learns to apply risk-based testing to focus testing on the identified risks
• The participant learns to lead the test process improvement activities by conducting a project or iteration retrospective
• The participant learns how to improve tool support for testing by taking into consideration the risks, costs, and benefits of tool support

Chapter 2: Managing the Product

• The participant learns how to monitor and control testing to meet test objectives using test metrics and to assess and report the test progress
• The participant learns to select proper test estimate techniques at different subsidiaries following different software development models
• The participant learns how to define a defect workflow within defect management to fit sequential, Agile, and hybrid software development model

Chapter 3: Managing the Team

• The participant learns how to analyze a given project context to identify the skills required by the test team
• The participant learns to manage a team according to the whole team approach
• The participant learns how to define a business case for the testing activities in the project

How do I obtain the ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Management v3.0 certification?

To be certified you must pass the ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Manager v3.0 certification exam.

You can prepare for the exam by:

• Attending an accredited training course for ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Test Manager v3.0.
• Self-study using the syllabus, sample exam and ISTQB® Glossary.

You can also test your knowledge without obligation and free of charge before taking the exam by our online sample exam.

What are the entry requirements?

Candidates for the CTAL-TM v3.0 exam certification, must hold the ISTQB® Foundation Level certificate. It is also strongly recommended that the candidate has at least a minimal background in either software development or software testing, such as six months experience as a tester or as a software developer.

How does the ISTQB® CTAL-TM v3.0 certification benefit me?

The CTAL-TM v3.0 will help to develop and attest to an individual’s ability to:

• Manage testing in various software development projects by applying test management processes established for the project team or test organization
• Identify test stakeholders and software development lifecycle models that are relevant in a given context
• Organize risk identification and risk assessment sessions within any software development lifecycle and use the results to guide testing to meet the test objectives
• Define a project test strategy consistent with the organizational test strategy and project context
• Continuously monitor and control testing to achieve project goals
• Assess and report test progress to project stakeholders
• Identify necessary skills and develop those skills within your team
• Prepare and present a business case for testing in different contexts that outlines the costs and expected benefits
• Lead test process improvement activities in projects or software development product streams and contribute to organizational test process improvement initiatives
• Plan the test activities including the required test infrastructure and estimate the effort required to test
• Create defect reports and a defect workflow suitable for a software development lifecycle

Who is this certification for?

This Advanced Level qualification is aimed at anyone involved in the management of software testing. This includes people in roles such as:

• Tester
• Test Analyst
• Test Manager
• Test Lead
• Test Consultants
• Test Coordinators
• User Acceptance Testers

It is also appropriate for anyone who wants an advanced understanding of software testing such as project managers, product owners, Scrum Masters, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors and management consultants.

Holders of the Advanced Level Test Management Certificate will be able to go on to the ISTQB® Expert Level software testing qualifications.

What other certifications can you recommend?

The ISTQB® scheme provides support for testing professionals at all stages of their careers. Individuals who achieve the ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Management Certification may also be interested in the other Core Advanced Level certifications:

• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Analyst
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level – Technical Test Analyst

The ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level -Test Manager certification is a prerequisite for:

• ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level - Assessing the Test Process (CTEL-ITP-ATP)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level - Implementing Test Process Improvements (CTEL-ITP-ITPI)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Strategic Test Management (CTEL-TM-SM)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Operational Test Management (CTEL-TM-OTM)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester Expert Level Test Management Managing the Test Team (CTEL-TM-MTT)

Anyone seeking to develop skills in testing within Agile software development can consider:

• ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Agile Technical Tester (CTAL-ATT)
• ISTQB® Agile Test Leadership at Scale

The Specialist stream offers a deep dive into areas that have specific test approaches and test activities:

• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Acceptance Testing (CT-AcT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - AI Testing (CT-AI)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Automotive Software Tester (CT-AuT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Game Testing (CT-GaMe)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Gambling Industry Tester (CT-GT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Mobile Application Testing (CT-MAT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Model-Based Testing (CT-MBT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Performance Testing (CT-PT)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Security Tester (CT-SEC)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Test Automation Engineer (CT-TAE)
• ISTQB® Certified Tester - Usability Tester (CT-UT)

You may achieve Full Certified Tester Advanced Level status by also certificating in both the ISTQB® Certified Tester - Advanced Level, Test Analyst and ISTQB® Certified Tester - Technical Test Analyst.

If you are involved in test process improvement and seeking to be able to assess the maturity of your testing processes consider TMMi-Professional certification.