Quality Test Automator

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Quality Test Automator. A Quality Test Automator is responsible for the quality of software development and deployment. Qualifying learners are involved in performing automated and manual tests to ensure the software created by developers is fit for purpose and any bugs or issues are identified within a product and reported to the relevant person before it gets deployed to everyday users. Some of the duties include analysis of software, mitigation of risk, prevention of software issues and testing of any changes. A qualified learner will be able to: • Review and analyse software requirements, prepare test scenarios, and write test cases. • Set up and configure test data and a test environment. • Execute manual or automated test scripts and on software usability and review results in terms of database impact, defects, errors or bugs and usability.

In South Africa the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC4IR) reported in March 2020 that if we consider the future of work, human capital is the most important commodity to absorb the changes which the 4IR is bringing about. "Human capital is therefore an important feature of the economy; a key consideration in establishing an environment for private sector growth and investment." The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a fusion of advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), the Internet of Things (IoT), genetic engineering, quantum computing, cyber security, cloud computing, quality testing automation and data science. The development of the Occupational Certificate: Quality Test Automator is in response to this vision and dire need. Quality software engineering is to check whether the software product matches expected requirements and to ensure that the software product is defect free. It involves execution of software/system components using manual or automated tools to evaluate one or more properties of interest. The purpose of software testing is to identify errors, gaps or missing requirements in contrast to actual requirements. While much focus is placed on software development, the testing is equally important. Testing is important because software bugs could prove to be expensive, risky or even dangerous. Software bugs can potentially cause monetary and human loss and history is full of such examples. • In April 2015, Bloomberg terminal in London crashed due to a software glitch affecting more than 300,000 traders on financial markets. It forced the government to postpone a 3bn pound debt sale. • China Airlines Airbus A300 crashed due to a software bug on April 26, 1994, killing 264 innocent people. • In April of 1999, a software bug caused the failure of a $1.2 billion military satellite launch, the costliest accident in history. The above examples illustrate how society, and the economy can benefit from competent Quality Test Automators. As we are moving to a more digitally embedded society, software development is becoming increasingly important and software failure may potentially be even more disastrous and can cause irrecoverable damages and losses to businesses and individuals. Similarly, software testing is growing in importance and plays a decisive role to verify and validate each development. The industry will benefit from competent Quality Test Automators as software passes through the diversified levels of testing, the final products could perform beyond the expected outcomes and could guarantee the quality of the software, ensuring reliable and high-performance software operation. Typical learners include school leavers, qualified learners from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, new entrants into the sector and existing employees who have experience in this field, but without formal recognition of skills and competencies. Typical occupations of an this qualification would be Software Tester, Software Test Engineer, Quality Assurance (QA) Tester and Quality Assurance Engineer which is the first level towards growing as a Digital Transformation Leader. No professional registration or licencing is expected for Quality Test Automators to seek employment in the sector.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): • Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification. • Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part-qualification will be credited for modules through RPL. RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: • NQF Level 4 qualification.

• Extract information from test basis documentation and execute a systematic analysis of the requirements to determine what must be tested and how and when it must be tested.
• Set up and configure a test environment that provides accurate feedback about the quality and behaviour of the application under test.
• Execute manual or automated test scripts as well as on software usability and review results in terms of database impact, errors or bugs and usability against expected results.
• Document and report on the effectiveness, defects, and any technical issues.