MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate
Rediscover exploratory testing for the age of AI
Isn’t it great? The MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate (MoT-ETC) is coming. Get in early.
A new certificate from the MoTaverse, built for the challenges modern software brings. Software is getting more complex, with more services, more integrations and AI in the mix. Exploratory testing is being rediscovered in the age of AI. It’s not a nice to have, it’s a necessity for uncovering and mitigating risks and the new world of problems modern software development brings.
🏆 Save 41% when you sign up before the 1st of January 2027.
Exploratory testing challenges
“What exploratory testing strategies can our team adopt?”
“How do you know when you've done enough exploratory testing?”
“How can AI assist with my exploratory testing strategy?”
“How do I focus my exploratory testing sessions?”
“Can agentic testing be exploratory testing?”
“How do I test something beyond the acceptance criteria?”
Testing has always been about mitigating risks and more than ever, we need to apply our critical and systems thinking to identify where problems may exist.
What is the MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate (MoT-ETC)?
Exploratory testing is how a whole team learns about a product's risks and opportunities, through short feedback loops that spark real conversations and clear actions.
The MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate takes a modern view on exploratory testing. In a world of AI, it is only more apparent that exploratory testing is more crucial than ever. Human-in-the-loop is not a good enough strategy. We need quality-in-the-loop, and exploratory testing is a perfect human approach to modern quality engineering challenges.
We will cover the fundamentals of exploratory testing, whilst also designing in new ideas and approaches to exploratory testing.
Who it's for
Exploratory testing is a skill the whole team can benefit from. MoT-ETC is for quality engineers, engineering managers, software developers, and the teams around them:
- Software testers, quality engineers and quality coaches who want their exploration to be seen, valued and acted on.
- Engineering managers and CTOs who want to understand the value, impact and implementation strategies of exploratory testing.
- Developers, designers and product folk who want to understand how to improve their own product practices.
- If you believe quality is everywhere and you need understanding, systems and techniques to back up the how.
You'll learn
- How to explain exploratory testing as a whole-team way of learning, and where it fits alongside automation and acceptance tests
- How to turn risks into focused, timeboxed charters that anyone on the team can pick up
- How to facilitate pair and ensemble exploration with testers and non-testers
- How to capture discoveries quickly with lightweight notes, tools and AI as an exploration partner
- How to run debriefs that turn findings into conversations, priorities and clear actions
- How to make exploration a lasting team habit and show its value over time
- How to implement AI-assisted exploratory testing
- How to build a portfolio of real exploration work to share with your team and the MoTaverse
Get in early
The MoT-ETC is in development and will launch early 2027. We'll release each module as soon as they are ready. How to get access:
- 41% off when you sign up before the 1st of January 2027.
- Become an Unlimited Member, where every MoT certificate is unlocked.
Funding your own growth? You're not alone. More and more quality people are choosing to invest in themselves, whether that's down to budget cuts or approval processes.
MoT-ETC is an investment in your tech career.
Planned course contents
Module 1: Why do exploratory testing?
A shared, team-friendly understanding of exploratory testing and why it matters now.
- Exploratory testing is how teams learn
- The quality engineers’ quandary: The importance of identifying high value activities
- It's not ad hoc: busting the common myths
- Isn’t exploratory testing dead in an AI world?
- Why not just automate everything?
- Building an exploratory testing strategy
- Activity: Define exploratory testing in multiple contexts
Module 2: Creating exploratory testing charters
Build the confidence to turn risks into focused, timeboxed sessions.
- From risks to charters
- Making use of observability and customer experience
- The scope of charter types
- Test charter planning strategies
- AI as your charter creator and prioritisation tool
- Activity: Build your team's charter backlog
Module 3: Planning a solo exploration session
Plans to guide your exploration.
- Give me some space: How is exploration different on your own
- Constraints of time
- Knowledge is your friend
- AI as your planning buddy
- Activity: Plan to run an exploratory testing session
Module 4: Learn fast: the art of capturing your findings
Lighter, faster ways to capture discoveries.
- Notes that spark conversations and tagging your discoveries
- AI as your exploration partner
- Tools that keep you exploring, not admin-ing
- Activity: Run an exploratory testing session
Module 5: Act clearly: debriefs that drive decisions
The skills to turn what the team learned into action.
- Make it brief: why timely debriefs matter
- Learn to share: tailoring your discoveries by audience
- From findings to actions: prioritising fixes, risks and opportunities
- Overcoming common debriefing blockers
- AI as your debrief checker
- Activity: Run a debrief that ends in decisions
Module 6: AI and exploratory testing
How to think about exploratory testing with AI
- Everything is now interconnected
- AI assisted exploratory testing
- AI as research
- The risks of over relying on AI
- Activity: Explore with AI, then compare notes with yourself
Module 7: Exploratory testing with your team
Practical ways to bring developers, designers and product folk into exploration.
- Pairing and exploratory testing
- How to run an ensemble session
- Inviting non-testers in
- AI as your team knowledge management service
- Activity: Facilitate a team session
Prerequisites
There are no required prerequisites. A feel for the basics of testing and good software development practices helps, whether that comes from experience, from working alongside testers, or from completing the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate (STEC).
Earning the certificate
Along the way, you'll build a portfolio of real exploratory testing output. This provides strong evidence of the exploratory testing skills you’ve developed over the course of the certificate. As well as the portfolio, you take a multiple choice exam. A pass rate of 75% is required to earn the certificate. You can take the test as many times as you like and there’s no additional fee to repeat the exam should you not pass. On passing, you'll receive a personalised, digitally signed MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate on your MoT profile which you can share with your team, employers and the testing, quality and tech community.
Built by the community
Like every MoT certificate, MoT-ETC is shaped by people who do the work. Professional members of the MoTaverse are helping to build it, with a team of curators who run quality checks throughout. MoT-ETC stands on years of exploratory testing wisdom shared across the MoTaverse: Insights, talks, Moments, Ask Me Anythings, the Exploratory Testing Chapter, plus more. It's no small feat to pull all of that into one focused certificate. We think it's worth it.
Why choose MoT Certifications?
- Proven Legacy: The MoTaverse has been a trusted partner in the software testing industry since 2007.
- Community-Powered: Our course curriculums are driven by our testing, quality and tech community, ensuring their relevance, modernity and quality.
- Industry Expertise: The MoT-ETC curriculum is co-created with a group of diverse and experienced practitioners from across the MoTaverse.
- Engaging Learning: Experience engaging and interactive courses. We offer a variety of learning mediums from short articles, audio bites, two-way conversational videos and video demos.
- Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace with our online, self-paced lessons.
- Community Support: Join a supportive community for all your questions and concerns. Access to the MoTaverse Slack is included.
- Transparent Pricing: Enjoy an all-inclusive price with no hidden fees. What you pay for is what you get. There are no extra costs to take or re-take the MoT-ETC exam.
- Career Boost: Our credible certification can elevate your career in tech.
- Digitally Certified: Receive a personalised, unique and digitally signed MoT Exploratory Testing Certificate.
I've been working in the software testing and quality engineering space since the year 2000 whilst also combining it with my love for education and community. It turns out quality, community and education go nicely hand in hand.
I'm here for community as a service and building the best possible tech community out there.
🎓 MoT-STEC qualified
Hello, I'm Simon. Since 2003 I've had various roles in testing, tech leadership and coaching. I believe in the power of collaboration, creativity and community. 🎓 MoT-STEC qualified. I get real joy working with and supporting our wonderful MoTaverse community.
“Thanks for making me feel so confident about myself.” | “I'm so grateful for all you do in the MoTaverse community, I learn so much as a result!” | “A simple chat with Simon in person absolutely changed everything.” | “Simon is one of the best people that I've ever met to have conversations with. He's so grounded in his way of thinking and articulates his thoughts so well and his feelings and his knowledge about community and everything.”
Frequently Asked Questions
MoT Course Certificates are created by Ministry of Testing following deep research alongside the software testing community. Our goal is to create education that is accessible, integral, and impactful, where each individual has the knowledge and skills to succeed in their career.
All our courses aim to cover relevant topics in depth and are delivered in various digital media options. MoT Course Certificates are delivered self-paced and on-demand. Completion of courses and associated tests leads to MoT accreditation with a Certificate.
Yes. All the content and activities are to be completed online. Everything is available on-demand and can be completed at your own pace.
Each individual MoT Certification describes the level of knowledge, experience or pre-requisites required.
There are early access discounts available for pre-released or modularly-released certifications. Professional members are entitled to MoT Certification course discounts. The discount will vary depending on the certification course chosen. Notably, all certifications are included as part of Unlimited membership.
Refunds are not available on MoT Certifications.
Yes, you can purchase an MoT Certification as many times as you like. You'll then be able to assign all your purchases to individual team members.
Once the content is live, we'll email all purchasers explaining how to get access to the content. The MoT Certifications courses are also available on learner dashboards.
Yes, each MoT Certification will be updated on a regular basis. Updates will be included in all purchases; you won't have to pay for them.
