What is Quality Assurance & Testing?
Every company prefers a well-tested and actuated software before submissions. Thus, it becomes the prime responsibility of all the developers to remove all the errors, bugs and minimise the chances of cyberattacks from the particular programme/software before submitting it finally. The below write-up describes the Quality Assurance Testing and its scope in detail.
Quality Assurance (QA) can be defined as an activity performed by an organisation to ensure that its product or service is of the best possible quality. QA focuses on improving the processes to deliver Quality Products to the customer. An organization has to ensure, that processes are efficient and effective as per the quality standards defined for software products. Quality Assurance is popularly known as QA Testing
In line with the rapidly evolving software industry quality assurance is a necessary activity that covers the entire software development process to ensure that it is being improved continuously to produce the end products that meet customer requirements or specifications.
Software is at great risk if its quality is not assured after thorough testing. Considering this, the software industry is now giving more importance to Quality Assurance Testing or QA testing than earlier. Quality assurance testers and developers are an integral part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). In the rapidly changing field of software development, as more enterprises adopt agile development methodologies and DevOps approaches, QA professionals are now required at almost every stage of SDLC. Most software development companies do not consider Quality Assurance as the last thing before the launch of software like before. In the current scenario, QA testing has been weaved through the entire life cycle of software. Moreover, business goals are also attached to it.
Quality Assurance Testing: Certifications
QA testing is a part of the curriculum of Undergraduate engineering courses (BE/BTech) in Computer Science or Information Technology. But, engineering and other graduates can opt for different certifications to get professional knowledge of software testing. Certifications help the testers to be more efficient and effective in their respective works. One can progress in their career by taking the next levels of software testing and gradually become an expert in this area. Following is the list of such certifications:
- ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board)
- CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing)
- CETPA
- CMC
- CSTE (Certified Software Testing Engineer)
- Seed Infotech
- QA Campus
- Qspiders Software Testing
- STC
- V Skills
After completing their graduation in the streams related to computers and Information Technology, candidates can pursue any of the above certifications. The duration and fee vary from course to course.
Quality Assurance Testers: Skills Required
Following technical and non-technical skills are essential to become a good QA tester. Compare your skillset against the following checklist:
| Non-Technical Skills |
Technical Skills |
|---|---|
| Analytical skills |
Basic knowledge of Database/ SQL |
| Communication skill |
Basic knowledge of Linux commands |
| Time Management |
Knowledge and hands-on experience of a Test Management Tool |
| Positive attitude |
Knowledge and hands-on experience of any Defect Tracking tool |
| Passion |
Knowledge and hands-on experience of Automation tool |
Quality Assurance Testing: Course Curriculum
Candidates willing to pursue the course on Quality Assurance Testing must have an idea about what they will study once they get enrolled in the course. Following is detailed information on the course curriculum of Project Management:
| Chapters |
Topic |
|---|---|
| A brief introduction to software systems and SDLC |
Quality Assurance versus Quality Control The Cost of Quality Software Quality Factors How Quality is Defined Why Do We Test Software? What is a Defect? The Multiple Roles of the Software Tester(People Relationships) Scope of Testing When Should Testing Occur? Testing Constraints Life Cycle Testing Independent Testing What is the QA Process? Levels of Testing |
| Testing Techniques |
Structural versus Functional Technique Categories Verification versus Validation Static versus Dynamic Testing Examples of Specific Testing Techniques |
| Test Administration |
Test Planning Customization of the Test Process Budgeting Scheduling |
| Create the Test Plan |
Prerequisites to test planning Understand the Characteristics of the Software Being Developed Build the Test Plan Write the Test Plan |
| Test reporting |
Guidelines for writing test reports |
| Managing Change |
Software Configuration Management Change Management |
| Automation Testing Basics |
Basics of automation testing – why, when and how to perform automation testing Factors for choosing a particular tool An overview of the major functional testing tools Overview of Test management and bug tracking tools |
Quality Assurance Testing: Job Profiles and Top Companies
QA testing job usually takes place in an office setting during regular business hours. QA testers generally work full time but sometimes they will be required to overtime to meet the deadlines and the needs of the business. These positions typically exist in companies that produce software. Some of the responsibilities of QA Tester are:
- Evaluate software applications for errors and stability
- Debug scripts and identify system flaws
- Perform both manual and automated testing strategies
- Develop testing strategies and analysis for software programs
| Job Profiles |
Annual Salary Range (In Rupees) |
|---|---|
| Test/Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer (Computer Software) |
2 lakh – 8 lakh |
| Software Tester |
2 lakh – 8 lakh |
| Senior Test Engineer |
4 lakh – 10 lakh |
| Software Test Lead |
6 lakh – 20 lakh |
| Test Engineer |
2 lakh – 7 lakh |
| Senior Test/Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer, (Computer Software) |
4 lakh – 10 lakh |
| Test Analyst |
3 lakh – 9 lakh |
| Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer |
2 lakh – 8 lakh |
| Test/Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst, (Computer Software) |
2 lakh – 10 lakh |
| Senior Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst (Computer Software) |
4 lakh – 10 lakh |
Top Companies
- ScienceSoft
- QASource
- Itransition
- Oxagile
- SENLA
- Infosys
- TCS
- Hexaware
Popular Quality Assurance & Testing Colleges in India
Government Polytechnic, Mumbai
Bandra East, MumbaiSebiz Finishing School
ChandigarhISM- University of Skills
RajajiNagar, BangalorePopular Private Quality Assurance & Testing Colleges in India
Government Polytechnic, Mumbai
Bandra East, MumbaiSebiz Finishing School
ChandigarhISM- University of Skills
RajajiNagar, BangaloreTop Rated Courses
Courses
- Masters in Computer Application (MCA)K J Somaiya Institute of Management
- Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
- Master of Computer Applications (MCA)CMR Institute of Technology, Bangalore
- M.Tech. in Software EngineeringManipal Institute of Technology
- Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)IIMT Group of Colleges, Greater Noida
- MCA (Lateral Entry)Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana
- BBA in Computer ApplicationsHindusthan College of Arts and Science - HICAS Coimbatore
- MCA in Storage and Cloud Technology Integrated with Certification in CompTIA Cloud+Jain Deemed-to-be-University, Bangalore
- M.Sc. in Information Security and Digital ForensicsKarunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
- Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)Integral University - IUL
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