Comparison of ISTQB Exam Providers
See how ISTQB exam providers compare when it comes to features and extra, free benefits.
Below is a summary of ISTQB exam provider features and benefits across several categories, including software testing career support. As a non-profit organization, AT*SQA makes an extra effort to invest your exam fees into extra benefits that help your career. There are many excellent ISTQB exam providers, so this is meant to indicate some of the key differences between them and AT*SQA.
| BENEFIT | AT*SQA | Many Other ISTQB Exam Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Profit Organization | ✔ Yes - invests the exam fees into extra career benefits for you | ☐ Varies - most are for-profit organizations |
| ISTQB Successful Candidate Register | ✔ Included | ✔ Included |
| Official U.S. List of Certified & Credentialed Testers™ | ✔ Included - helpful for future career flexibility even if you're not currently in the U.S. | ✘ No |
| AT*Work™ Testers for Hire List | ✔ Included - employers globally search AT*Work to find testers | ✘ Not available |
| Free AT*SQA Micro-Credential Exam | ✔ Yes, included with your exam purchase (this alone is worth up to $49) | ✘ No |
| Free Retake Option (with approved training) | ✔ Yes (if qualified via AT*SQA conditions & ASTQB-accredited training) | ✘ No. Some offer extra "insurance" you must pay before you take your first exam (so it's not "free" and you can't get your money back) |
| Testing Tiers® Ranking System | ✔ Included - helps your career visibility globally | ✘ No |
| AT*Consult™ Listing | ✔ Yes - for companies that offer consulting and testing services | ✘ No |
| Extra Foundation Sample Exams | ✔ Yes, 2 extra mock tests specially created for ASTQB/AT*SQA exams in addition to 4 standard | ✘ Standard only |
| Customer Service Reputation | ✔ Frequently praised as excellent by global users | ☐ Some excellent, some unknown |
| Integration with AT*SQA Career Tools | ✔ Seamless through your account | ✘ Not available |
| Certification Valid Globally | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Exam Scores Reported by Syllabus Chapter | ✔ Yes | ☐ Varies by provider |
| ISTQB Exam Pricing | ✔ Competitive - and the fees are reinvested in extra, free career benefits for you | ☐ Varies |
| 25% Time Extension for Non-Native Speakers | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Exam Scheduling Flexibility | ✔ Up to 365 days to take your exam | ☐ Varies by provider |
| Quick Results and Certificate Download | ✔ Instant results - you can download your certificate & letter the next morning | ☐ Varies by provider |
| Extra Recognition of Your Achievement | ✔ AT*SQA's exclusive lists are advertised millions of times per year | ✘ Not available |
| Free Badge and Easy LinkedIn Connection | ✔ Yes, through your Official List™ permalink and account connection to LinkedIn | ✘ Not available |
| Proficiency Distinction™ with ISTQB Foundation Level | ✔ Yes, when you take an ASTQB-accredited training course | ✘ Not available |
| Total Value Due to Free Extras Listed Above | ✔ Top total value globally due to the free extras | ✘ Don't offer those extras |
Register for your ISTQB exam now through AT*SQA. Only AT*SQA offers all of these extra, free benefits with your exam purchase, giving you the best overall value for your ISTQB exam.