Career Choices: CSQA versus CSQE

Difference between Certified Software Quality Analyst- CSQA and CSQE-Certified Software Quality Engineer I hope this will help Bangladeshi SQA Professionals, I already talked to QAI for opening a chapter like PMI Chapter in Bangladesh and will update you soon. Many companies are requiring certification for hiring or advancement. There have been over 30,000 IT professionals that have sought CSQA certifications from Australia,Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Hong Kong,India, Israel, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia,Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Prometric is available at the following address for CSQA and PMP exam.
Test Center Information
Site Code/Site Name: 8815 – DHAKA, BANGLADESH #8815

Site Address: AMERICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
HOUSE 145, STREET 13B, BANANI
DHAKA, 00 1213 BGD
Site Phone #: 88029881669

Thanks to Shahrier for your interest in this CSQA Exam, it may not have any value in Bangladesh but in outside world do some research, company like TCS, Infosys, Wipro all CMMI Level 5 in India, they all have CSQA. QAI worked for most Indian CMMI assessment also same QAI is working now to assess CMMI level 3 Bangladeshi Companies, because I worked with QAI for Bangladesh IT companies CMMI assessment initiative and I know the Facts. So far Bangladesh only have one CMMI Level 3 company. It’s a shame for us, when we are planning to get IT Outsourcing work, we need more companies with CMMI at least Level 3 and more skilled IT Professionals.

Reference Link http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bangla_ict/message/5436

Best Regrads

Sayeed Rahman

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CSQE has more prerequisites compared to CSQA.

You must have eight years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Software Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge. A minimum of three years of this experience must be in a decision-making position (may or may not include management or supervisory positions). If you have completed a degree from a college, university, or technical school with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part of the eight-year experience requirement will be waived. You must also pass 1 exam ($360). Exam is a 160-question, four-hour exam offered twice a year. Members save $150 off the test. Membership costs $80 annually. You must also agree to comply with the ASQ code of ethics

CSQA is more popular and recognized

If you want more info on CSQE check this link

Certified Software Quality Engineer

CSQE Exam Preparation http://www.asq.org/certification/software-quality-engineer/ http://www.asq.org/pdf/certification/inserts/csqe-insert-2006.pdf Software Quality Engineer Certification

Body of Knowledge (NEW – Effective for the exam December 6, 2008)

http://www.asq.org/certification/software-quality-engineer/bok-08.html

http://www.testingeducation .org/course_notes/hoffman_doug/certified_software_quality_engineer_examination/csqe2002c.pdf

http://www.qualitycouncil.com/CSQE.asp#sg

Salary Survey Report for Certification ASQ-CSQE

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=ASQ-CSQE/Salary

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)

http://www.softwarecertifications.org/csqabok/csqa_01.pdf

http://www.qaiworldwide.org/qaicampus/webinar/csqa_webinar.html

QAI Membership

http://www.qaiworldwide.org/membership/trial_member_app.pdf

The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the Body of Knowledge for Software Quality Engineering.

http://www.qualitycouncil.com/CSQE.asp#bok

CSQA Vs CSTE which is better?

According to QAI

"Acquiring the designation of Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices of quality assurance in the IT profession. CSQA certification is a highly respected attestation of skills in this critical area of information technology."

"The Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) Program is intended to establish standards for initial qualification and provide direction for the testing function through an aggressive educational program."

http://csqa.info/csqa_vs_cste_which_is_better

CSQE Certification Requirements

Education and/or Experience

You must have eight years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Software Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge. A minimum of three years of this experience must be in a decision-making position. "Decision-making" is defined as the authority to define, execute, or control projects/processes and to be responsible for the outcome. This may or may not include management or supervisory positions.

If you are now or were previously certified by ASQ as a Quality Engineer, Quality Auditor, Reliability Engineer, or Quality Manager, experience used to qualify for certification in these fields applies to certification as a Software Quality Engineer.

If you have completed a degree* from a college, university, or technical school with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part of the eight-year experience requirement will be waived, as follows (only one of these waivers may be claimed):

Diploma from a technical or trade school-one year will be waived
Associate degree-two years waived
Bachelor’s degree-four years waived
Master’s or doctorate-five years waived

*Degrees/diplomas from foreign educational institutions must be equivalent to degrees from U.S. educational institutions.

Proof of Professionalism

Proof of professionalism may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

Membership in ASQ, a foreign affiliate society of ASQ, or another society that is a member of the American Association of Engineering Societies or the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
Registration as a Professional Engineer
The signatures of two persons-ASQ members, members of a foreign affiliate society, or members of another recognized professional society-verifying that you are a qualified practitioner of the quality sciences

Examination

Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Software Quality Engineer examination is a one-part, 160-question, four-hour exam and is offered in the English language only.

Sample examination questions are included in the Study Guide .

Examinations are conducted twice a year, in early March and mid-October, by local ASQ sections and foreign international organizations. All examinations are open-book. Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials. Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the seating letter provided to applicants.

Please Note: The Body of Knowledge for certification is affected by new technologies, policies, and the changing dynamics of manufacturing and service industries. Changed versions of the examination based on the current Body of Knowledge are used at each offering.

Minimum Expectations for a Certified Software Quality Engineer

Must possess a fundamental understanding of quality philosophies, principles, methods, tools, standards, organizational and team dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and professional ethics.
Must possess an understanding of software quality management principles and demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of developing and implementing software quality programs, to include tracking, analyzing, reporting, problem resolution, and training.
Must understand and be able to implement software development and maintenance processes and methods, to quantify the fundamental problems and risks associated with implementing software development support processes, and to assess, support, and implement process and technology changes.
Must possess a basic understanding of project management principles and techniques as they relate to software project planning, implementation, and tracking.
Must know how to select, define, and apply software measurement, metrics, and analytical techniques. Possess a basic understanding of measurement theory, techniques, and how to communicate results.
Must have a thorough understanding of software inspection, testing, verification, and validation. This includes knowledge of software and software work product early defect detection and removal, testing (e.g., types, levels, strategies, tools, and documentation) and verification and validation methods and techniques.
Must have a basic understanding of how and when to perform software audits including audit planning, approaches, types, analyses, reporting results, and follow-up.
Must possess a basic understanding of the configuration management process to include planning, configuration identification, configuration control, change management, status accounting, and reporting.

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From "Shahrier"

Benefits of becoming a CSQA

(Source CSQA CBOK)

The CSQA program was developed to provide value to the profession, the individual, the employer, and co-workers. The following information is data collected from CSQAs in the IT industry – a real testimonial to the benefits and reasons to make the effort to become a CSQA.

Value Provided to the Profession

Software quality assurance is often viewed as a software project task, even though many individuals are full-time quality assurance professionals. The CSQA program was designed to recognize software quality assurance professionals by providing:

§ Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK)

The Certification Board defines the skills upon which the software quality assurance certification is based. The current CBOK has 10 skill categories.

§ Examination Process to Evaluate Competency

The successful candidate must pass a four-part examination that is based on the CBOK. You must receive a grade of 75%, or greater on each part. Only 31% of the pre-qualified applicants pass the examination the first time, making this a prestigious certification to obtain.

§ Code of Ethics

The successful candidate must agree to abide by a professional Code of Ethics as specified by the Certification Board.

Value Provided to the Individual

The individual obtaining the CSQA certification receives the following values:

§ Recognition by Peers of Personal Desire to Improve

Approximately, eighty percent (80%) of all CSQAs stated that a personal desire for self improvement and peer recognition was the main reason for obtaining the CSQA certification. Fifteen percent (15%) were required by their employer to sit for the examination, and 10% were preparing themselves for an improved quality-related position.

§ Increased Confidence in Personal Capabilities

Eighty-five percent (85%) of the CSQAs stated that passing the examination increased their confidence to perform their job more effectively

§ Recognition by IT Management for Professional Achievement

Most CSQAs stated that their management greatly respects those who put forth the personal effort needed for self-improvement. IT organizations recognize and reward individuals in the following ways:

Within the first 18 months after receipt of the CSQA certification, of the successful candidates:

Value Provided to the Employer

With the need for increased software quality and reliability, employing CSQAs provides value in these ways:

§ Increased Confidence by IT Users and Customers

IT users and customers expressed confidence in IT to effectively build or acquire software when certified quality assurance practitioners were involved.

§ Improved Processes to Build/Acquire/Maintain, Operate and Measure Software

CSQAs use their knowledge and skills to continuously improve the IT work processes.

CSQAs know what to measure, how to measure it, and then prepare an analysis to aid in the decision-making process.

§ Independent Assessment of Quality Assurance Competencies

The CSQA program is directed by a Certification Board of independent quality assurance experts. Through examination and recertification, they provide an independent assessment of the CSQA’s quality assurance competencies, based on a continuously strengthening Common Body of Knowledge for quality assurance practitioners.

§ Quality Assurance Competencies Maintained Through Recertification

Yesterday’s quality assurance competencies are inadequate for today’s challenges. CSQA recertification is a process that helps assure the CSQA’s skills remain current. The recertification process requires CSQAs to obtain 40 hours of quality assurance related training per year in topics specified by the Certification Board.

From an IT director’s perspective, this is employee-initiated quality assurance training. Most, if not all CSQAs, do this training during their personal time. IT organizations gain three benefits from CSQA recertification: 1) employees initiate improvement; 2) quality assurance practitioners obtain competencies in quality assurance methods and techniques; and 3) employees train during personal time.

Value Provided to Co-Workers

The drive for self-improvement is a special trait that manifests itself in providing these values to co-workers:

§ Mentoring the Testing Staff

Forty-five percent (45%) of the CSQAs mentor their testing colleagues by conducting training classes; encouraging staff to become certified; and acting as a resource to the staff on sources of IT quality related information.

§ Testing Resource to "IT" Staff

CSQAs are recognized as experts in quality assurance and are used heavily for advice, counseling, and for recommendations on software construction and testing.

§ Role Model for Quality Assurance Practitioners

CSQAs are the IT role models for individuals with quality responsibilities to become more effective in performing their job responsibilities.

QAI, as CSQA program administrators, will assist you in this effort.

See www.qaiworldwide.org for detailed information.

Thanks,

B. M. Shahrier Majumder

My Blog: http://shahrier-thought.blogspot.com

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Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)

Dear All,

CSQA (Certified Software Quality Analyst) Certification is recognized
worldwide as the standard for software quality assurance
professionals. Certification is a big step; a big decision.
Certification identifies an individual as a quality assurance leader
and earns the candidate the respect of colleagues and managers. It is
formal acknowledgement that the IT recipient has an overall
understanding of the disciplines and skills represented in a
comprehensive Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK) for a respective
software discipline.

CSQA designation is quickly becoming the standard for IT software
quality professionals around the world. Many companies are requiring
certification for hiring or advancement. There have been over 30,000
IT professionals that have sought CSQA certifications from Australia,
Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Hong Kong,
India, Israel, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia,
Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and
the United States.

The CSQA certification examination is based upon the skill categories
identified in the CSQA CBOK Outline. As such, this guide to the CBOK
was designed for you to use as material in preparation for the CSQA
exam. The examination presumes that you have had broad exposure to
quality practices. It is expected that you have reviewed and read
current literature available on software quality and testing.

The CSQA program demonstrates the following objectives to establish
standards for initial qualification and continuing improvement of
professional competence. This certification program helps to:

1. Define the tasks (skill categories) associated with software
quality assurance duties in order to evaluate skill mastery.
2. Demonstrate an individual’s willingness to improve professionally.
3. Acknowledge attainment of an acceptable standard of professional
competency.
4. Aid organizations in selecting and promoting qualified individuals.
5. Motivate personnel having software quality assurance
responsibilities to maintain their professional competency.
6. Assist individuals in improving and enhancing their organization’s
software quality programs (i.e., provide a mechanism to lead a
professional).

(Source: CSQA CBOK)

From this year this exam is Prometric based, so we can sit for the
exam in BD. The exam fee is $ 350. You will find the detail
information about CSQA from http://www.qaiworldwide.org.

I am interested to sit in this exam. If any body interested for CSQA
then let me know then we can take the preparation together. I have
done the plan for CSQA exam preparation; it will take around 3 months.

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