What is the MoT Software Quality Engineering Certificate (SQEC)?

“I’ve seen more quality engineering roles available than tester roles! What does that mean for my career?”

“How is my role as a test analyst/engineer evolving? How do I keep up?”

“My boss tells me that we should all become quality engineers? Isn’t that just a title change? How does it fit in with how I do testing?”

At the Ministry of Testing (MoT), these are the sort of comments we hear all the time. And rightly so. The testing industry is changing, and we all need to keep up. This is where the MoT Software Quality Engineering Certificate (SQEC) can help.

The Software Quality Engineering Certificate, or SQEC, focuses on the evolution of the software testing role. The craft has developed from those early days of Waterfall environments to modern Agile development teams, fostering a culture of continuous quality and involvement throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). This software quality engineer evolution has put testers at the heart of software development, along with the techniques and technologies used. 

The modern software tester, or software quality engineer, is as much a quality coach and mentor to the team as a technical advisor. They develop test plans and strategies, find bugs and risks in designs, and support the creation of testable software architecture. They utilise systems thinking and lead with a continuous quality mindset. They seek to identify product, people and business risks while advocating for both the customer and the business.

From the Ministry of Testing’s industry-leading research into Quality Engineering through testing trends and community discussions, we have discovered that software quality engineering requires a broad set of skills, understanding and approach. That means a modern, experienced and well-rounded quality engineer needs a wide range of tools in their toolbox so they are equipped and ready to contribute value to their team and the wider business. In your software testing career, you are already a continuous learner, so you are ideally placed to build your skills and knowledge in QE. 

SQEC gives you that toolbox with current leading industry experts ready to teach you their craft and ensure you are ready for your first or next role as a Quality Engineer. Whether it is understanding and adopting a continuous quality mindset. Understanding and applying big data in context. Or seamlessly moving from an exploratory testing session to an automation or code review. Today’s software quality engineer uses skills, communication, advocacy and influence across the SDLC to drive quality. 

You’ll learn: 

• How testing and software development have evolved into quality engineering 
• What development models and systems are used in quality engineering 
• How quality engineering teams are structured, and the associated roles and responsibilities 
• Understand common quality engineering misconceptions, challenges and better practices 
• How to use influence and testing advocacy in a quality engineering culture 
• Where testing fundamentals fit in a quality engineering model 
• What the future of quality engineering looks like 

Prerequisites

While there are no required prerequisites for this certificate, it would be useful to have a solid foundation in software testing, either through experience or from completing the Software Testing Essentials Certificate (STEC). Experience of automation and an understanding of code would be advantageous, but can be learned alongside or after this certificate is complete. See the MoT Certifications page for automation options. 

Release

This certification is being developed alongside practising quality engineering experts in the Ministry of Testing community. It will be released in modules over time (modularly) at a discounted early access price. Early access purchasers will gain access to all modules but cannot take the exam or earn the certificate until the whole course is released. It’s a great way to invest in your career growth and the continued evolution of the software testing craft.

We aim to release all modules by December 2025. As with any estimate, this date can move. Early access pricing is available until October 31st 2025.

Course Contents 

• Module 1: Quality Engineering 101: An introduction to Quality Engineering Fundamentals 
  • The evolution of software testing to quality engineering
  • What is quality engineering? 
  • The value of quality engineering 
• Module 2: Quality engineering development models and systems 
  • Quality engineering’s place alongside development models
  • How does quality engineering theory work in practice?
  • Quality engineering, whole system approaches
• Module 3: Quality Engineering roles and responsibilities 
  • What roles exist in quality engineering? 
  • Who are Quality Engineers? 
  • What do Quality Engineers do? 
  • How do teams approach quality engineering? 
  • Tester to Quality Engineer gap analysis 
• Module 4: Quality engineering team dynamics
  • Quality engineering team structures 
  • Managing quality engineering teams 
  • Recruiting quality engineers 
  • How to create a high-performing culture 
  • Quality engineering metrics 
• Module 5: The pros and cons of quality engineering 
  • Common Quality Engineering misconceptions 
  • Better practices in Quality Engineering 
• Module 6: Quality engineering techniques and tools 
  • The role of testing fundamentals in a quality engineering world 
  • Key automation tools and frameworks 
  • Performance testing principles 
  • Security testing principles 
  • Usability and accessibility testing principles 
  • Monitorability, observability and testability principles 
• Module 7: Driving a quality culture through influence and advocacy 
  • Influencing stakeholders 
  • Influencing teams 
  • Influencing reporting 
• Module 8: Continuous Quality
  • The limitations of shift-left and existing practices 
  • A holistic view of continuous quality and strategies for implementing 
  • Real-world examples and challenges 
• Module 9: What does the future of quality engineering look like? 
  • How does traditional testing fit into a quality engineering world? 
  • How does quality engineering impact the team? 
  • Where next for quality engineering?  

Why choose MoT Certifications?

• Proven Legacy: Ministry of Testing has been a trusted partner in the software testing industry since 2007.
• Community-Powered: Our course curriculum is driven by the testing community, ensuring their relevance, modernity and quality.
• Industry Expertise: The Software Quality Engineering Curriculum is co-created with input from industry leaders.
• Engaging Learning: Experience engaging and interactive courses.
• Flexible Learning: Learn at your own pace with our online, self-paced courses.
• Community Support: Join a supportive community for all your questions and concerns.
• Transparent Pricing: Enjoy an all-inclusive price with no hidden fees.
• Career Boost: Our credible certification can elevate your career in software testing.
• Digitally Certified: Receive a personalised, unique and digitally signed MoT Software Quality Engineering Certificate. While we value practising skills and building a portfolio of work over exam results, the certificate confirms your understanding of the key concepts covered.

MoT Certification Principles

We’ve developed a set of principles to guide those who take on a MoT certification. We acknowledge the items on the right, yet value the items on the left more.

Creating a portfolio showcasing a body of work over holding an exam certificate.

Practising and applying skills and knowledge over just learning theory.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills over accepting things at face value.

Engaging with the wider testing community over siloed learning and study.

Adapting and learning over following the same processes and methods.

Understanding the context and value of testing over simply executing test cases.

Collaborating effectively with the wider team over working in isolation.

Focusing on delivering valuable insights over just finding and reporting bugs.