What is the ISTQB Foundation Level certification?

It's the entry-level certificate of the ISTQB scheme, officially Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), currently based on syllabus 4.0. It covers the fundamentals: test levels, test techniques, static testing, test management, and tools. It's also the prerequisite for the Advanced Level and most Specialist certifications.

Do I need prior knowledge for the training?

No formal prerequisites. Anyone can take the Foundation Level exam, and the training starts with the basics. Some experience in software projects helps, because you'll recognize situations from your own work. If testing is completely new to you, plan a little more study time between sessions.

Is the ISTQB Foundation Level exam fee included in the training?

Yes, in every format: the four-day intensive, the eight-week program, and the upcoming e-learning. You don't pay a separate exam fee. On the last day of the intensive course there's a full exam simulation, so you know where you stand before the real exam.

What does the ISTQB Foundation Level exam look like?

40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. You pass with 26 correct answers, which is 65 percent. If you take the exam in a language that isn't your native language, you can request 25 percent more time, so 75 minutes. It's administered by an independent certification body, on-site or remotely.

Can I take the training online?

Yes. The eight-week program runs entirely online, and the four-day intensive runs online or on-site, both live in small groups. For teams, the training is also available in-house.

How long is an ISTQB Foundation certificate valid?

For life. Foundation, Advanced, and Specialist certificates don't expire, so you take the exam once. Only Expert Level certificates have to be renewed every seven years.

Do I really need ISTQB?

Most people ask this before they book. My answer: if you're serious about a career in testing, the ISTQB Foundation Level is the right first step. You learn the vocabulary testers share in more than 130 countries, and in my training you use it from day one on examples from real projects.

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Richard Seidl as ISTQB Foundation trainer with training group, classic classroom setting with screens

Why ISTQB?

Why ISTQB Foundation Level?

The Foundation Level is the globally recognized entry point to structured software testing.

The Language of Software Testing

ISTQB has set the standard for software testing for more than 20 years. It means everyone in your projects knows what a system test is, what equivalence partitioning means and how boundary value analysis works.

International Certification

Over 1 million certificates have been issued in more than 130 countries. Many job postings for quality and testing roles now list the certification as a requirement.

Hands-on & Practical

Think ISTQB is dry theory? Not in this course. You work through examples from my projects and exercises that help you apply what you've learned right away, with room for the challenges you bring from your own job.

What the Training Covers

You'll be using the methods in your own projects before the certificate even arrives.

Theoretical foundations: complete ISTQB syllabus with real-world examples
Practical exercises: realistic scenarios and case studies from actual projects
Intensive exam preparation with an exam simulation and proven strategies
Flexible formats: four intensive days online or on-site, or eight weeks online alongside your job
AI-assisted learning tool with personalized feedback on your progress

Hands-on

Training on the Job

Ernst Ferstl once said: "The difference between theory and practice is far greater in practice than in theory." That holds for ISTQB too. Applying what you've learned isn't always easy, so I bring plenty of examples from my own projects into the course, and we work on participants' everyday challenges with the ISTQB methods. The course runs in several formats, so it fits around your working week.

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ISTQB Certified Tester Practical Training

Current Industry Standard

What You Will Learn

Whether your project is traditional or agile, the content helps you put professional software testing into practice. The training follows the six chapters of syllabus 4.0: fundamentals of testing, testing throughout the software development lifecycle, static testing, test analysis and design, managing the test activities, and test tools. The largest part is test design: how to derive good test cases from requirements.

View syllabus

ISTQB Foundation Level: Formats at a Glance

Three learning paths to ISTQB Foundation Level certification. Choose the format that fits your schedule.

4-Day Intensive

Compact, focused, with exam

On Request

4 days live (online or on-site)
ISTQB exam fee included
Materials and script
Full access to e-learning (coming soon)
Exam simulation on the last day

Recommended

8-Week Program

Learn, deepen, and apply alongside your job

On Request

8 weeks, weekly live session (~2h)
ISTQB exam fee included
Materials and script
Full access to e-learning (coming soon)
Tasks and discussion between sessions

Coming soon

E-Learning

Coming soon

Self-paced at your own speed
ISTQB exam fee included
Interactive learning units
Exam simulation
Lifetime access

Success Stories

From the Training Room

Feedback from participants in my ISTQB courses.

"I have never experienced anyone who can bring so much fun and motivation to a subject. Theory is always a dry subject, but thanks to Richie, I had a lot of fun in the seminar and was also able to pass the exam successfully. In addition, the seminar and the way it was conducted motivated me to delve even deeper into software testing."

MK

Martin K. Training participant

"I've rarely met anyone who explains complex testing topics as clearly and thoroughly as Richard (Richie) Seidl. He doesn't just teach theory — Richie listens, asks the right questions, and tailors his content to make it immediately applicable to real-world challenges. His deep experience in the field shines through in every interaction, and his passion for software quality is contagious. If you're looking to improve your team's testing knowledge, skills, or culture, Richie is someone I wholeheartedly recommend."

WC

Wilson Campero Qytera Quality GmbH

"Very lively and genuinely funny. You can tell that Richie is passionate about the subject and brings a lot of real experience to the table."

SA

Stefan A. Training participant

"The sessions are lively and entertaining. Even dry topics come across as genuinely interesting. Every question gets a professional answer that actually makes sense."

TL

Thomas L. Training participant

"Always a pleasure working with Richie. Great input, great training."

MS

Mirko Skodzik IT Products Lead

"I've seen Richie at trainings and talks, and every time it was both informative and genuinely engaging. We keep working together, and it keeps being great. Looking forward to future projects. Thank you, Richie. Warmest recommendation."

PM

Pascal Moll Automation Expert

"During a test automation project from 2021 to 2022, I had the good fortune of working with Richie. His comprehensive expertise and experience in software testing, particularly in test automation, made a strong impression on me. With his guidance, I was able to sharpen my skills and develop a much deeper understanding of test processes. I'm genuinely grateful for the lessons I took away from our collaboration."

OÖ

Oytun Öner Senior IT Consultant, AI Adoption & Test Automation

"Recording the podcast was a lot of fun. The atmosphere was very relaxed, like chatting with a good colleague about the topic you love most. Richie asked exactly the right questions, so I always felt well guided and never had to worry about how the conversation would go."

SL

Stefanie Leitner Principal Software and System Testing

Frequently Asked Questions about ISTQB Foundation Level

What people usually want to know before signing up: prior knowledge, the exam fee, the exam itself, online formats, and how long the certificate lasts.

Richard Seidl answers questions during ISTQB Foundation Level training

Ready for the Foundation Level?

Tell me which format suits you: intensive, part-time, or in-house for your team. No prior knowledge needed, and the first call is free.

Podcast: Software Testing in Practice

In my podcast I talk about ISTQB content, test methods and everyday life in software testing, with guests from the field and without textbook language. 300+ episodes, 210,000+ downloads.

To the Podcast

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