All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: |
National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
83026 | National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
SGB Information Systems and Technology | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
MICTS - Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National Certificate | Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences | Information Technology and Computer Sciences | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 138 | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | Regular-Unit Stds Based |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered" |
SAQA 9999/99 | 2018-07-01 | 2023-06-30 | |
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT | LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT | |||
2026-06-30 | 2029-06-30 |
In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise. |
This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of this Qualification is to produce well trained people who can conduct a practical investigation to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the software product or service under test. It will provide learners with both theoretical and practical learning to develop their ability as software testers in the workplace. In essence, it will equip the learner with the ability to apply the software testing process of validating and verifying that a software programme/application/product: On achieving this Qualification, the learner will be able to: The Qualification not only consists of knowledge and skills required to equip the learner to perform the function of Software Testing professionally with insight, but contains building blocks of skills and knowledge that can be developed further in Qualifications in Information Technology and Communications (ITC) at higher levels on the NQF. The intention is: Rationale: In an international study conducted recently it was found that software bugs/problems cost a country's economy billions of rands annually. It was also established that more than a third of this cost could be avoided if better software testing was performed. There is therefore a need for a qualification to produce highly trained and competent Software Testers. This Qualification will produce persons who will be able to perform software testing to verify that the completed software package functions according to the expectations defined by the requirements/specifications. The Qualification will assist the learners to see that the overall objective of software testing to not to find every software bug that exists, but to uncover situations that could negatively impact on the customer and on the usability and/or maintainability of the software package, that could produce unexpected results, and to improve the long term maintenance of the application. As computers and software are used in critical applications, the outcome of a bug can be severe. Bugs can cause huge losses. Bugs in critical systems have caused airplane crashes, allowed space shuttle missions to go awry and halted trading on the stock market. This situation has given birth to Information Technology industry consultants and programming tools dedicated to making sure the operations in our modern world are not compromised. In a computerized embedded world, the quality and reliability of software can be a matter of life and death. The Information Technology and Computer Science sub-field is therefore concerned with the development of 'Software Testers' so that software testing becomes an integrated part of software development. It is directly related to software quality. It has many subtle connections with software quality, software reliability and Information Technology system reliability. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of Prior Learning: Credit will be given to learners for competencies in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this Qualification and its constituent Unit Standards. Assessment for the Recognition of Prior Learning will be done by means of an Integrated Assessment as mentioned in Assessment Criteria. Recognition of Prior Learning may allow for: All Recognition of Prior Learning is subject to quality assurance by the relevant accredited Education, Training and Quality Assurance Body and will be conducted by a registered assessor. Access to the Qualification: Access to the qualification is open to all learners in possession of a National Senior Certificate, or equivalent qualification that grants access to certificate study at a higher education institution. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
Fundamental Component:
There are Unit Standards to the value of 25 credits in the Fundamental Component. All the Fundamental Unit Standards are compulsory. Core Component: Unit Standards to the value of 91 credits have been included in this Component. All the Unit standards in the Core Component are compulsory. Elective Component: The learner must choose Elective Unit Standards totalling 22 credits from this Component related to the business/computer/information technology field in which they operate. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Demonstrate and apply an understanding of the principles of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
2. Evaluate requirements and requirement-based test design. 3. Execute the testing process. 4. Manage the testing process, execution and defect tracking. 5. Conduct static testing. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: The qualification addresses the following Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Outcome Level 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Outcome Level 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Outcome Level 3: > Range: Testing Models may include but are not limited to V-Model, S Curve, and Iterative-Incremental. > Range: Test Planning may include but is not limited to System Test Planning/Test Planning for Iterative and incremental projects. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Outcome Level 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Outcome Level 5: Integrated Assessment: Assessment should take place within the context of: Assessment principles: Assessment should be in accordance with the following general and specific principles: > Use appropriate, fair and manageable methods that are integrated into real work-related or learning situations. > Judge evidence on the basis of its validity, currency, authenticity and sufficiency. > Ensure assessment processes are systematic, open and consistent. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The purpose of this International Comparability study is to facilitate the development of a qualification, incorporating both theoretical and practical vocational skills, which will ensure compatibility, comparability and compliance with existing international Qualification specifications and regulations.
The following programmes were used for the comparability exercise as they are regarded as representing best practice: Institution: The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) The South African Software Testing Qualifications Board (SASTQB) became the 40th National Board of the ISTQB. The qualifications offered by the ISTQB are used for accrediting software testers in South Africa. The following programmes are used: Course Title: Certified Tester: Foundation Level It includes the following: The Foundation Level qualification is aimed at anyone involved in software testing. This includes people in roles such as testers, test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers and software developers. This Foundation Level qualification is also appropriate for anyone who wants a basic understanding of software testing, such as project managers, quality managers, software development managers, business analysts, IT directors and management consultants. The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares favourably with this Qualification, as all of its content is included in it. Course Title: Certified Tester: Advanced Level It includes the following: The Advanced Level qualification is aimed at people who have achieved an advanced point in their careers in software testing. To receive Advanced Level certification, candidates must hold the Foundation Certificate and satisfy the Exam Board which examines them that they have sufficient practical experience to be considered Advanced Level qualified. Only part of the Advanced Level course is included in the South African Qualification. Some of the more advanced competencies will be included in a Level 6 Qualification. Course Title: Certified Tester: Expert Level It includes the following: The Expert Level provides in-depth, practically-oriented certification courses in a range of different testing subjects. Courses provided at Expert Level build on the knowledge and experience obtained at the Advanced Level. The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 does not compare well with the Expert level qualification as it contains competencies which are at a higher level and will be included in a Level 6 or higher Qualification. USA, Canada, India, China, Malaysia, Singapore Institution: QAI Global Institute Course Title: Software Test Automation It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 does not compare very well with this Qualification as its focus is more on test automation and this is only a small component of the competencies required. Course Title: Agile Methodology It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 course does not compare at all with this qualification as it concentrates on a specific strategy and technique, whereas the South African qualification is generic in nature and allows the use of a wide range of approaches and techniques.. Course Title: Software Engineering and Testing It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 is comparable with this course as the majority of the content and competencies are the same. The latter, however, covers specific testing methods and issues related to specific software testing, whereas the South African Qualification is more generic. United Kingdom: Institution: GB Direct Training Course Title: Software Testing Training It includes: The above course is based on the ISTQB Certification and therefore it is very comparable to the Level 5 South African Qualification. Institution: UK Software Testing Consultancy Course Title: ISEB Software Testing Foundation Certification It includes: The above course only covers a minimal subject matter is therefore not very comparable with the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5. However all the above subject matter is included in the South African qualification, as either Unit Standards or Specific Outcomes within Unit Standards. Institution: BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT This institute offers the following courses based on the ISTQB syllabus The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 Foundation Certification is fully comparable with the Foundation and the Intermediate Certification. It is only partially comparable with the Advanced Level Certification and not comparable at all with the Practitioner Level Certification as it is pitched at a higher level. Singapore: Institution: Angee Ann CET Academy Course Title: NICF - TESCOM - Certified Software Tester It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares favourably with this Qualification. The latter does however also include some higher level competencies which may be included in a Level 6 Qualification. Course Title: NICF - TESCOM - Certified Test Analyst It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares very well with the course offered by the Angee Ann CET Academy. Institution: National University of Singapore Course Title: Software Testing It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares very well with the above-mentioned as all content items are included. India: Institution: Software Testing Expert (STE) Course Title: Software Test Expert - Foundation Level It includes: Course Title: Software Testing Expert - Advanced Level It includes: The above courses are based on the ISQTB Certification syllabus, and therefore the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares favourably with both. Course Title: Software Testing Expert - Mobile Testing It includes: The above course is also based on the ISQTB syllabus and therefore is very comparable with the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5. It does however also have an additional subject specifically for Mobile testing (Cell Phones). United States of America (USA): Institution: International Institute for Software Testing Course Title: Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP) - Certification It includes: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares very well with the Certified Software Test Professional course. Course Title: Certified Test Manager (CTM) - Certification It includes: The above course is only fairly comparable with the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 as it focuses more on the management of software testing rather than on the testing process itself. Association for Software Testing Course Title: Foundations of Black Box Software Testing It includes: The above course is fully contained in The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5. Course Title: Bug Advocacy It includes: The above course is not very comparable with the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 as it deals with a specific method only. Conclusion: The National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5 compares favourably with the training and development that is offered internationally by all countries included in this comparison. It provides the learner with a solid understanding of, and practical experience in Software Testing. Differences between international practice and this Qualification, relate mainly to specific testing procedures and managerial competencies. This Qualification meets the needs of the software testing requirements in South Africa and it is evident that it would be portable to other countries in terms of subject matter content and alignment with the ISQTB and other internationally recognised institutions. The only real major difference is in the range of the Elective Unit Standards contained in the National Certificate: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Software Testing, Level 5. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
Horizontal articulation is possible with:
Vertical articulation is possible with: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs to:
|
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
N/A |
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 115431 | Analyse feedback contexts and apply constructive feedback techniques | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 3 |
Core | 114051 | Conduct a technical practitioners meeting | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 4 |
Core | 386055 | Conduct software inspections and reviews | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | 5 |
Core | 114049 | Demonstrate an understanding of Computer Database Management Systems | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 7 |
Core | 386053 | Evaluate requirements and requirement-based test design | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | 7 |
Core | 386054 | Manage the software testing process | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | 7 |
Core | 386056 | Plan and design software testing activities | Level 5 | NQF Level 05 | 8 |
Core | 115384 | Test a computer program against a given specification | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 13099 | Contribute to the implementation, post-implementation review and maintenance of information systems | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 16 |
Core | 114044 | Demonstrate an understanding of change management for computer systems | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 3 |
Core | 259277 | Perform requirements analysis | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 25 |
Fundamental | 258836 | Analyse and apply different Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC) models for a given scenario | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Fundamental | 115392 | Apply principles of creating computer software by developing a complete programme to meet given business specifications | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 12 |
Fundamental | 115790 | Write and present for a wide range of purposes, audiences and contexts | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Elective | 252026 | Apply a systems approach to decision making | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Elective | 115358 | Apply information gathering techniques for computer system development | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 7 |
Elective | 115402 | Assist in researching the problem and the solution within a consulting context | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Elective | 115411 | Assist in the configuration of an ERP module | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 12 |
Elective | 114059 | Demonstrate an understanding of estimating a unit of work and the implications of late delivery | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Elective | 115385 | Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of implementing and managing an e-Commerce web site | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 12 |
Elective | 115380 | Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of e-commerce applications | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Elective | 115400 | Demonstrate and apply a basic knowledge of ERP solutions and modules | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Elective | 243816 | Develop a project quality management plan for a simple to moderately complex project | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Elective | 243824 | Develop an integrated Project Management plan for a simple to moderately complex project | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Elective | 119086 | Develop an understanding of systems security methods (authorisations) in an Enterprise Resource Planning system | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 8 |
Elective | 117926 | Identify and explain ICT risks and recommend security solutions | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Elective | 258838 | Investigate implementation options for Information Technology (IT) solutions | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Elective | 243812 | Monitor and control the execution of the project management plan for a simple to moderately complex project | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 12 |
Elective | 115397 | Understand and apply the concept of the consulting service as a product | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Elective | 115378 | Demonstrate an understanding of advanced object-oriented programming | Level 6 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6 | 14 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here. |
1. | Shree Institute for Professional Studies Pty Ltd |
2. | SISEKO TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD |
3. | The Finishing College |
All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source. |