With the increasing importance of software testing as a profession across the globe, the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) has introduced a new certification programme aimed at validating skilled professionals in the testing of ever more complex IT systems.

The Certified Software Testing Professional (CSTP) scheme, which was launched in collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic on 28 March 2013, is managed by SCS and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The programme is mapped onto the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) and supported under IDA’s Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme (CITREP), which provides funding support to accelerate the development of emerging, critical and specialised infocomm skills to meet Singapore's infocomm manpower needs.

CSTP provides a holistic approach to software testing based on existing methodologies and tools. The programme caters to the industry’s need for practical knowledge and a sound understanding of methods, processes, tools and technologies in software testing, with a focus on the software quality control and security assurance.

“SCS, as the premier body for ICT professionals in Singapore, saw a critical need to raise the level of software testing professionals by ensuring that they are competent not only in theory but also in the practical aspect of their work,” said Mr Chak Kong Soon, President of SCS.

CSTP is the first in the industry to have a certification examination based 80 per cent on practical knowledge and 20 per cent on theory. The certification is aimed at software testers, quality engineers, developers and ICT project managers. Candidates who are successfully certified in CSTP will be able to:

• understand the importance of software quality and security,
• understand and apply V model software testing method for software development life cycle (SDLC),
• understand and apply effective software testing processes,
• set up and configure essential build and test environment,
• perform test planning and test case design,
• generate and analyse software metrics for quality measurement, and
• understand and apply white box testing techniques including static code analysis, dynamic code analysis, code coverage and unit testing.

SCS is the largest local infocomm professional body with more than 27,000 members. With the addition of CSTP, the Society now has six certifications covering IT Project Management, IT Outsourcing Management, Business Continuity Management and Software Quality (Software Quality Analyst and Manager of Software Quality) and Software Testing.