Top 16 Quality Assurance Certifications to Pursue in 2026

Top Quality Assurance Certifications in 2026

Explore the top QA certifications in 2026 that boost your skills, credibility, and career opportunities, from beginner-friendly to advanced automation roles.

1. Certified Software Testing Engineer (CSTE)

Certified Software Testing Engineer certification also known as CSTE, is offered by the Global Association of Quality Management (GAQM) to validate your proficiency in software quality control techniques and principles.

Once you grab this certification at the basic level, it opens up opportunities for you to step into roles like a software tester, quality control engineer, quality control advisor, or manager. This QA certification plays a crucial role in preparing you for the responsibilities and tasks that come with being a QA software tester.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: The Certified Software Testing Engineer certification requires completing an eCourse from the GAQMBok portal, as most of the questions in the test are pulled from the eCourse.
• E-Course Duration: 30 to 35 Hours
• Exam Duration: 90 minutes
• Passing Marks: 80% (64 out of 80 correct)
• Cost: Ranges from USD 150 to 270 and includes a preparation book for the exam.
• Validity: Lifetime

2. Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Automation Engineering (CTAL-TAE)

The Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Automation Engineering (CTAL-TAE) certification from ISTQB validates your skills and knowledge in designing, developing, and maintaining automated test solutions. So, anyone working in the QA field can demonstrate their ability to automate testing processes effectively and efficiently.

The CTAL-TAE v2.0 certification is based on the ISTQB syllabus, covering a wide range of topics, including:

• Test automation concepts and methodologies.
• Test automation architecture, design, and development.
• Test automation design and development.
• Test automation execution and maintenance.
• Integration of test automation with testing processes.
• Test automation reporting, metrics, and continuous improvement.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: You can’t register directly with ISTQB. Instead, you need to register with an accredited exam provider.
• Exam Duration: The standard exam duration is 90 minutes. Some providers may offer additional time for non-native speakers.
• Passing Marks: You need to score at least 65% on the exam to pass. Some providers can have slightly different scoring systems, so again, confirm with your provider.
• Cost: The exam fees vary depending on the provider and your location. Generally, costs start from USD 249, but they can differ by region, and discounted retakes are sometimes available.
• Validity: The ISTQB CTAL-TAE certification is valid for life.

3. TestMu AI Certifications

TestMu AI is an AI-native test orchestration and execution platform that lets developers and testers perform manual and automated testing across 10,000+ real desktop and mobile environments. Besides, it also offers some of the best quality assurance certification related to automation and manual testing. For desktop browser automation, TestMu AI offers framework-based QA certifications on Selenium, Playwright, and Cypress.

With TestMu AI Certifications, you can validate and polish your test automation skills and stay ahead of your web and mobile testing game.

Let’s look at some of the QA certifications offered by TestMu AI for Selenium, Playwright, and Cypress.

Selenium certifications:

• Selenium 101
• Selenium Advanced
• Selenium Java 101
• TestNG
• JUnit
• Selenium Python 101
• Selenium JavaScript 101
• Selenium C# 101
• Selenium Ruby 101

Playwright certifications:

• Playwright 101
• Playwright 102

Cypress certifications:

• Cypress 101

Next, for mobile automation testing, TestMu AI provides Appium 101 certification that lets you brush up on your app automation skills on a real device cloud.

You can even go ahead and take TestMu AI product-based certification (also known as Bootcamp certifications). These Quality Assurance Certifications will help you elevate your manual and automation skills on cloud testing platforms like TestMu AI.

Here are the three QA certifications offered by TestMu AI Bootcamp.

• Manual Testing certification
• Automation Testing certification
• HyperExecute certification

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Visit the official TestMu AI Certifications page to register.
• Exam Duration: Objective – 45 minutes, Subjective – 36 hours (except Selenium Advanced certification, which is 48 hours.)
• Passing Marks: 70% (Cumulative)
• Cost: Free
• Validity: 2 years

For TestMu AI product-based certifications, passing criteria and duration may differ. We recommend you check the dedicated page of the respective certification for more details.

Bonus: TestMu AI LinkedIn Certifications

Here are some Quality Assurance Certifications on LinkedIn offered by TestMu AI:

• TestMu AI Test Automation Professional Certificate
• TestMu AI Software Testing Professional Certificate

4. Certified Cloud Tester (Foundational Level)

The Certified Cloud Tester (Foundational Level) certification assesses your fundamental knowledge and skills in testing cloud-based software applications (or services).

This QA certification aims to cover the following aspects:

• Cloud characteristics and deployment models.
• Cloud testing principles and methodologies.
• Security testing in the cloud environment.
• Performance testing for cloud applications.
• Tools and frameworks for cloud testing.
• Integration of cloud testing with DevOps practices.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: You cannot register directly on the Certified Cloud Tester certification portal. Different accredited organizations offer this certification, each has its registration portal and process. You can visit their website for specific instructions.
• E-Course Duration: 10 to 15 Hours
• Exam Duration: 90 minutes.
• Passing Marks: 80% (32 out of 40 correct).
• Cost: Varies between organizations and locations.
• Validity: Lifetime

5. Test Automation University

Test Automation University, also known as TAU, is an online learning platform that focuses on test automation education and training. It provides resources for individuals at all levels of expertise, from those new to test automation to seasoned professionals seeking to advance their skills.

• Users can create free accounts to access basic content and learning paths.
• There are also paid subscriptions to unlock additional features and courses.
• TAU offers courses on various topics, including tools and frameworks (Selenium, Appium, Cypress), methodologies (BDD, TDD), design principles, integration with CI/CD pipelines, and more.

Test Automation University offers various courses and learning paths, each having different prerequisites and assessments. To get the specific information, you need to identify the particular TAU course or learning path you’re interested in.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: You can register for the particular course from the official TAU website.
• Exam Duration: This duration will depend on the specific learning path or courses you are interested in.
• Passing Marks: TAU exams can vary in format and scoring methods. Some may have a minimum percentage score requirement.
• Cost: Free, but some require a premium subscription.
• Validity: Lifetime

6. Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) certification helps demonstrate your professional competence in the principles and practices of software quality assurance (SQA), Several organizations offer this software quality assurance certification, each with its own nuances and specific details

This QA certification builds upon the CSTE foundation, covering both quality control and quality assurance concepts in depth. So, it ideal for experienced professionals seeking to polish their QA skills.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: You cannot register directly on the Certified Software Quality Analyst certification portal. Different organizations offer this certification, each has its registration portal and process. You can visit their website for specific instructions.
• E-Course Duration: 20 to 25 Hours.
• Exam Duration: 90 minutes.
• Passing Marks: 80% (80 out of 100 correct).
• Cost: USD 107-250 but Varies between organizations and locations.
• Validity: Lifetime

7. Certified Tester Mobile Application Testing (CT-MAT)

Certified Tester Mobile Application Testing (CT-MAT) is for professionals involved in mobile device testing and mobile application testing. This certification demonstrates your proficiency in mobile device and mobile app testing methodologies, techniques, and tools.

Every stakeholder in mobile app and device testing should take this QA certification. This includes testers of all levels, test engineers, test analysts, test managers, and software developers.

To take this exam, you need to get ISTQB Foundation Level certification.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Different organizations provide this certification. You can visit their website for specific instructions and register yourself for the ISTQB Mobile Application Testing certification.
• Exam Duration: 60 minutes (extended time is available for non-English speakers).
• Passing Marks: 65% (26 out of 40 correct)
• Cost: Varies between organizations and locations.
• Validity: Lifetime

Note: Get certified with Appium 101. Take TestMu AI Certification Today!

8. Certified Software Test Automation Specialist (CSTAS)

Certified Software Test Automation Specialist (CSTAS) certification, offered by International Institute for Software Testing (IIST), is there to help folks in test automation develop the skills they need for handling all sorts of activities related to test automation.

This QA certification goes beyond just functional testing and includes other important areas like performance testing, load testing, test management, and even code-level test automation.

Candidates must have two years of experience in software testing or a certification covering areas 1 and 2 of the Software Test Professionals Body of Knowledge(STABOK) described by the International Institute for Software Testing.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official International Institute for Software Testing website.
• Exam Duration: Each module exam typically lasts 60–120 minutes; four modules must be completed.
• Passing Marks: 70% per module
• Cost: $325 per module (total ~$1,300) + $50 graduation fee
• Validity: Lifetime

9. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional certification validates an individual’s expertise in provisioning, working, and managing distributed application systems on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. It validates their ability to bridge the gap between development and operations teams, ensuring efficient and secure software delivery.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional website.
• Exam Duration: 180 minutes
• Passing Marks: 750 (on a scale of 100–1000)
• Cost: $300 (may differ based on foreign exchange rates)
• Languages Offered: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese
• Validity: 3 years

10. Manual Software Testing: Complete Course with Practical Labs

Manual Software Testing is a QA software quality assurance certification by Udemy provides a practical learning experience, covering the basics of software testing, test planning, test case design, execution, and defect management. This helps candidates acquire a comprehensive understanding of various testing methods, such as functional, regression, and exploratory testing, through real-world examples and hands-on labs.

Manual Software Testing also addresses essential aspects of test documentation and reporting, enabling participants to become skilled testers capable of ensuring the delivery of high-quality software.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official Udemy website for this course.
• Course Duration: 13 hours
• Passing Marks: 75%
• Cost: $16.99 USD (Varies depending on discount and exchange rates)
• Validity: Lifetime

In manual testing, QA professionals must understand their role and the broader impact of human judgment on quality assurance. Watch the video below to gain valuable insights.

11. UI Automation and Selectors

UI Automation and Selectors certification is offered by UiPath Academy on Coursera. This QA certification provides an introduction to UI automation techniques and methods for interacting with different applications, the course covers recording user actions, generating workflows, and using selectors for accurate automation.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official Coursera page.
• Course Duration: 8 hours
• Passing Marks: 75%
• Cost: Free
• Validity: Lifetime

12. Automation Test Engineer

Automation Test Engineer Master Program from Simplilearn offers a comprehensive program in test automation, providing in-depth knowledge of Git, Selenium, Jenkins, and JMeter. This QA certification also covers key frameworks such as Maven, TestNG, Selenium Grid and WebDriver, Docker, and Appium.

The program covers over 15 automation testing tools and technologies, including:

• Phase 1: Agile & Scrum methodologies, test case creation
• Phase 2: Functional testing with TestNG, JUnit 5, Gherkin
• Phase 3: Non-functional testing using JMeter and Postman
• Phase 4: Cloud automation with Jenkins, AWS, Docker
• Capstone Project: End-to-end application testing and deployment

Electives include IBM’s courses on Docker Essentials and Introduction to Containers, Kubernetes, and OpenShift V2 .

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official Simplilearn page for this course.
• Course Duration: 8 months
• Passing Marks: Successful completion of all projects and assessments
• Cost: $651 (may differ based on foreign exchange rates)
• Validity: Lifetime

13. Certified Jenkins Engineer (CJE)

Certified Jenkins Engineer is a QA certification equips you to grasp the core ideas behind continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment. You’ll also have a clear understanding of how Jenkins interacts with Source Code Management (SCM) systems.

Furthermore, you’ll gain insights into the advantages of contributing to the open-source Jenkins project and learn how to participate in its development actively. This skill set not only prepares you to navigate the landscape of continuous integration but also sets the stage for further expertise in Jenkins and related fields.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official CloudBees page for this course.
• Exam Duration: 90 minutes
• Passing Marks: 66% (40 correct out of 60)
• Cost: Each exam attempt is $99 (USD)
• Validity: 3 years

14. Responsive Web Design

Responsive Web Design is offered by freeCodeCamp. It helps you build websites and webpages that adapt to different screen sizes using web technologies like HTML and CSS.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official freeCodeCamp page for this QA certification.
• Exam Duration: 300 hours
• Cost: Free
• Validity: Lifetime

15. Performance Testing Using JMeter

Performance Testing Using JMeter offered by Edureka. is a QA certification that offers a course that provides valuable insights into understanding software behaviour under various workloads.

Throughout the course, you will gain the skills to assess response time and latency in software, determining its efficiency for scaling. The training will enable you to evaluate the robustness and analyze the overall performance of an application across different load scenarios.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official Edureka page for this course.
• Course Duration: 2 -4 weeks
• Cost: $92

16. Rest API Testing (Automation) from Scratch

If you are aiming to become proficient in Rest API automation testing, Udemy Rest API automation testing course is the ideal choice for you. Upon completing this QA certification course, you’ll be able to develop an API automation framework using Rest Assured API and acquire in-depth knowledge of tools such as Postman.

Exam Overview:

• Registration: Register on the official Udemy page for this course.
• Exam Duration: 28 hours
• Cost: $38

These are some of the best QA certifications you can get certified into and take your career to the next level. Before you begin to take certification, it’s important to refresh your existing automation skills. The TestMu AI YouTube Channel provides manual and automation testing tutorials that can help polish your test automation skills.