ISTQB® Partner Program
The ISTQB® Partner Program recognizes organizations with a demonstrated commitment to software testing certifications.
The Program comprises four levels of partnerships (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Global) and the partnership level of an organisation is determined through the number of certification points it has accumulated, as described below.
For more details, conditions and benefits, please contact your local Member Board.
No Member Board in your area? Our Partner Program Manager will be happy to help! Please write to: [email protected].
Partnerships Levels
The ISTQB® Partner Program recognizes organizations that actively support certification and invest in software testing excellence.
Becoming a partner strengthens your credibility, highlights your commitment to quality, and gives your company visibility across the ISTQB® community.
Silver Partner
Requirements
At least 5 certification points, earned through certificates held by employees or external consultants who provide services for more than 70% of their time.
Costs
The cost of two (2) Foundation exams, according to the current rates set by the Member Board or Exam Provider with whom the Partnership Program is managed.
Gold Partner
Requirements
At least 14 certification points, earned through certificates held by employees or external consultants who provide services for more than 70% of their time.
At least one (1) Advanced Level Certificate.
Costs
The cost of four (4) Foundation exams, according to the current rates set by the Member Board or Exam Provider with whom the Partnership Program is managed.
Platinum Partner
Requirements
At least 30 certification points, earned through certificates held by employees or external consultants who provide services for more than 70% of their time.
At least three (3) Advanced Level Certificates.
Costs
The cost of eight (8) Foundation exams, according to the current rates set by the Member Board or Exam Provider with whom the Partnership Program is managed.
Global Partner
Requirements
A minimum of one (1) Platinum Partnership and two (2) Gold Partnerships in at least two (2) different countries.
Costs
Additional flat fee of 2,000 Euro per year.
Our Global Partners
What are the benefits of the ISTQB® Partner Program?
The major benefits of the ISTQB® Partner Program include:
- Permission to use the ISTQB® Partnership Program logo (and other permitted marketing material) on the organization’s website.
- Public recognition of investments in the certification of tester personnel.
- Specific recognition documentation, indicating business unit, validity and level.
- Listing of the organization on the ISTQB® website.
- Listing of the organization on the National ISTQB® Member Board’s or Exam Provider’s websites.
- Special privileges with regard to ISTQB® related events and conferences.
- Eligibility to receive the beta version of new ISTQB® Syllabi with the opportunity to contribute to their review.
- Mutual recognition of ISEB and ISTQB®.
- Further benefits that National ISTQB® Member Boards and/or Exam Providers may offer on a local level.
Become a Partner
This section is about how to become Partner of ISTQB®:
Partner Program Rules
In this section you can find the information about how the program works, including:
Renew your Partnership
In this section, you can learn:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Partnership?
The Partnership has an annual validity: two months before the end of the period, companies can apply for renewing their partnership for an additional year, and will receive a Loyalty Discount of 30% on the Partner fees.
What is the ISTQB® Partner Program?
The ISTQB® Partner Program recognizes organizations around the world that have supported the professional development of their software testing staff through ISTQB® certification. The Program includes four levels of partnership (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Global) and the partnership level of an organisation is determined through the number of certification points it has accumulated, which relate to the ISTQB® Certificates held by staff.
How many levels does the ISTQB® Partner Program include?
Yes, your ISEB certificate is grandfathered into the ISTQB® Certified Tester scheme and it is considered an equivalent to the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) as a prerequisite unless otherwise stated in an ISTQB® syllabus.
How can my company become Partner of ISTQB®?
The process to follow is described in How to become a Partner.
Who can become a Partner?
Organisations may be eligible to become ISTQB® Partners if they have employees or external consultants working for them who provided services for more than 70% of their time and have passed ISTQB® certification exams. This applies equally to training providers.
Note that the Program is applicable only to legal entities within an organisation and that the partnership registration is managed by the National ISTQB® Member Board or by an Exam Provider involved in the delivery of ISTQB® Exams.
An organisation will apply for partnership in a country where it has a legal entity and, if successful, its partnership will be publicised on the ISTQB® website, and include details such as company name, and country. The Partner may also choose to publicise its Partnership status elsewhere, with a link back to the official ISTQB® website.
How many points must be achieved for every level?
In order to join the Partner Program, the company must achieved as thresholds 5 points for the Silver Level, 14 points for the Gold Level and 30 points for the Platinum Leve. Furthermore, it is required to have a minimum of 1 Advanced Level Certificate for the Gold level and 3 Advanced Level Certificates for the Platinum level.
For more information, see Eligibility Points and Thresholds.
How can my company renew the partnership?
The process to follow for the renewal is described in How to renew your partnership.
Who manages the Partnerships on the ISTQB®-side?
The partnership registration is managed by a Member Board, that is the Board approved by ISTQB®, or by an Exam Provider, which is a company involved in the delivery of ISTQB® Exams. The Partnership will be managed for the location where the company applies the request.
The Partnership can also be managed through the ISTQB directly, e.g. to cover areas, that are not covered by a Member Board or an Exam Provider.
How can a company accumulate points?
For each level, the points are accumulated for every test professionals who have passed an ISTQB® certification exam: the amount of points are 1 for Foundation Level certification, 3 for Advanced Level certification and 5 for Expert Level certification.
The points defined a number that is compared to the thresholds required and defined the reached level.
Can my company change the Partnership level?
Yes. The process to follow is described in How to change your Partnership Level.
Which are the fees expected from ISTQB® Partner Program?
Fees connected to the partner program cover a validity period of the Partner level, that you have applied for and will be invoiced at the beginning of a validity by your Selling Body on the ISTQB-side, after eligibility for your desired level has been confirmed.
Registration is free and includes processing your application form and performing the eligibility check and all communication up to the invoicing of your partnership.
To discover the amount of the fees, see Partner Fees.
How can a company reach the Global Level?
To achieve the Global level, a company must have a minimum of 2 locations with Gold Partner level and 1 location with Platinum Partner level, at least in two different countries.
Can my company terminate the Partnership before the end of the validity period?
In case a company wants to terminate a Partnership prematurely, it can follow the process described in the Rules section.
In case of premature termination of the partnership, no fees will be refunded.
Which are the main benefits offered by the ISTQB® Partner Program?
You can find the list of benefits here.
What is the Eligibility Grid?
The Eligibility Grid is a form through which a company can calculate the Partner Program Level: inserting the number of employees/consultants who hold certificates, it discover for which level is eligible and the number of points reached.
For discover your Partnership level, see Eligibility Grid.
Who should I turn to if I have some questions for Partner Program of ISTQB®?
At any point in time, when having questions on the Partner Program, approach your local Board or the nearest Exam Provider.
Should you not know who that would be, you can also contact the ISTQB® Partner Program Manager.