Module 18 is now live in the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate!

During filming for Module 18 of the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate, Marie Cruz put a demo e-commerce site through its paces with a k6 Studio load test and managed to reveal a hidden weakness. The result? A perfectly timed crash that proved the value of performance testing in real life 💥

And that’s exactly what this new module can help you with: exploring testing specialisms to see how even simple techniques in areas like accessibility, performance, and security can uncover critical risks you might otherwise miss.

In this module, you’ll explore testing specialisms and the value they bring. You’ll define what a specialism is, see how it sits alongside generalist skills, and learn how even basic specialist knowledge improves coverage and quality. You’ll try simple techniques in accessibility, performance, and security, then add evidence to your portfolio of work.

What’s in Module 18?

Lesson 1: What are testing specialisms?
by Manish Saini
Manish defines testing specialisms and shares examples like automation, security, accessibility, performance, and APIs. He links them to T-, Pi-, Comb- and Tree-shaped growth so you can place your skills in context, then reflect on what specialisms that could support your role.

Lesson 2: The value of understanding specialisms
by Hanisha Arora
Hanisha explains how even basic specialist knowledge enhances your value, career prospects, and reputation. You’ll turn that knowledge into clear benefits for you, your team, and your organisation, and shape a concise interview pitch that explains this value for future interviews and career conversations.

Lesson 3: Everyday specialist testing any tester can do
by Mirza Sisic
Mirza shares quick, practical techniques you can use today across accessibility, localisation, security, usability, and performance. You’ll create an “Everyday Specialist” cheat sheet that links a technique to the risk it finds and when to use it.
Lesson 4: How to apply everyday specialist testing techniques

with Marie Cruz
Marie demos simple techniques on a live test site including keyboard navigation, alt text and colour contrast checks, Lighthouse and Chrome DevTools for Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS), a basic k6 Studio load, and safe URL manipulation to probe common security risks. You’ll capture evidence and write a short findings summary you can share to demonstrate your new found skills!

Think you can spot the next hidden weakness? Enrol in the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate today and start to build specialist skills that help you uncover risks others might miss: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/certifications/mot-software-testing-essentials-certificate