What is the ISTQB Quality in DevOps certification?

The ISTQB CT-QDO certification is a specialist qualification that focuses on quality assurance, testing and quality engineering within DevOps environments. It covers the DevOps value stream, automation, manual testing, tools, collaboration and continuous quality improvement.

Who should take the CT-QDO certification?

CT-QDO is suitable for testers, test analysts, test engineers, automation engineers, developers, DevOps engineers, operations engineers, site reliability engineers, quality leads, Scrum Masters and product owners.

What are the prerequisites for CT-QDO?

Candidates must hold a valid ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level certificate, either CTFL v4.0 or an earlier version.

Is CT-QDO only for software testers?

No. CT-QDO is designed for the wider DevOps team. It is useful for testers, developers, operations professionals, DevOps engineers, product owners and anyone responsible for delivering and maintaining software quality.

Does CT-QDO cover test automation?

Yes. The syllabus covers how automation supports quality assurance in DevOps, as well as the implementation of automated testing within DevOps teams.

Does CT-QDO also cover manual testing?

Yes. CT-QDO explains the role of manual testing in DevOps and how manual and automated activities can be combined to support effective and timely quality feedback.

Does CT-QDO cover CI/CD pipelines?

The certification covers DevOps practices that include continuous integration, continuous testing, delivery and deployment. It explains how testing and quality activities contribute across these delivery workflows.

Does CT-QDO teach a specific DevOps tool?

No. The certification is vendor-neutral. It focuses on principles, practices and categories of tools rather than teaching a specific DevOps platform or product.

What does quality is everyone's responsibility mean in DevOps?

It means quality is not owned only by testers or a separate quality assurance department. Developers, testers, operations teams, product owners and other stakeholders all contribute to preventing defects, evaluating quality and improving the product.

What is the DevOps value stream?

The DevOps value stream represents the flow of work from an initial business need through development, testing, delivery, operation and feedback. CT-QDO covers how quality engineering contributes throughout this flow.

How is CT-QDO different from CTAL-TAE?

CT-QDO focuses broadly on quality assurance, testing and collaboration across a DevOps environment. CTAL-TAE focuses more deeply on the technical design, development, deployment and maintenance of test automation solutions. The two certifications complement each other.

Does CT-QDO cover Site Reliability Engineering?

Site Reliability Engineers are included in the target audience because CT-QDO covers quality across development and operations. However, it is not a dedicated Site Reliability Engineering qualification.

Is CT-QDO internationally recognised?

Yes. CT-QDO is an internationally recognised ISTQB Specialist certification focused on quality assurance and testing in DevOps environments.

Can I prepare through self-study?

Yes. Candidates may prepare through self-study using the official syllabus and recommended references. However, SASTQB recommends attending training through an ISTQB Accredited Training Provider for comprehensive, syllabus-aligned preparation.

What certification should I take after CT-QDO?

After CT-QDO, candidates may consider the ISTQB Test Automation Strategy, Advanced Test Automation Engineering, Agile testing or other Specialist and Advanced Level certifications aligned with their career goals.

ISTQB Certified Tester
Quality in DevOps (CT-QDO)

DevOps has transformed the way modern software is developed, tested, released and maintained. Instead of treating quality as a final checkpoint, DevOps integrates quality assurance and testing throughout the entire Software Development Lifecycle.

The ISTQB® Certified Tester – Quality in DevOps (CT-QDO) certification equips software testing, development and operations professionals with the knowledge needed to support quality engineering in a DevOps environment.

CT-QDO focuses on how quality assurance, testing, automation, collaboration and continuous feedback contribute to delivering reliable software at speed. It explores the role of quality across the DevOps value stream, including planning, development, integration, deployment, operations and continuous improvement.

The certification also establishes a shared language for testers, developers, DevOps engineers, operations teams and product stakeholders. This supports the DevOps principle that quality is a shared responsibility across the whole team.

ISTQB® Certified Tester – Quality in DevOps (CT-QDO)

Fundamentals of DevOps

Quality Assurance (QA) within DevOps

Implementing DevOps in an Organization

Quality Assurance (QA) and Testing in DevOps

Contribution in the Value Stream to Assist in Quality Engineering (QE)

DevOps Loop Implementation

Automated and Manual Tasks in DevOps

Automation’s Support for Quality Assurance (QA) in DevOps

Automated Testing in DevOps Teams

Manual Testing in DevOps Teams

Tools and Practices in DevOps

Tools Supporting DevOps within the Organization

Technologies and Practices to Support Quality in DevOps

Exam Structure

Candidates qualify for extra time if they are not writing the exam in their native language. Extra time needs to be applied for upon completing the exam registration form.

✔ No. of Questions: 40

✔ Duration: 60 Min

✔ Pass Mark: 65%

✔ Extra Time (Non-Native Language): 15 Min

✔ Lifetime Validity

✔ Prerequisite: ISTQB CTFL-Foundation Certificate

Exam Price

R 2 550

Why Get ISTQB CT-QDO Certified?

DevOps enables organisations to release software more frequently, but speed without effective quality practices can introduce defects, instability and operational risk.

By earning the ISTQB Certified Tester – Quality in DevOps certification, you will be able to:

Understand the fundamentals of DevOps and quality engineering
Explain how quality assurance supports DevOps principles
Contribute to quality across the complete DevOps value stream
Support the implementation of DevOps within an organisation
Understand how testing fits into the DevOps loop
Balance automated and manual testing activities
Implement suitable automated testing practices
Apply manual testing effectively within DevOps teams
Understand how automation supports quality assurance
Select tools that support DevOps and quality engineering
Apply technologies and practices that strengthen software quality
Improve collaboration between testing, development and operations teams
Demonstrate internationally recognised knowledge of quality in DevOps

The certification is vendor-neutral and can be applied across different DevOps platforms, tools, cloud environments and software delivery models.

Who Is the ISTQB CT-QDO Certification For?

The ISTQB CT-QDO certification is designed for professionals who work at the intersection of software quality, development, delivery and operations.

This certification is ideal for:

Software Testers
Test Analysts
Test Engineers
Test Automation Engineers
QA Engineers
Quality Engineers
Test Managers
Quality Leads
Software Developers
DevOps Engineers
DevSecOps Professionals
Site Reliability Engineers
Operations Engineers
Release Engineers
Platform Engineers
Scrum Masters
Product Owners
Agile Team Members
Technical Project Managers

It is particularly valuable for teams that want to establish a shared understanding of quality engineering and testing across the entire DevOps lifecycle.

Download Documents

Download the documents below for more information about the syllabus, exam structure, and sample exam questions for the ISTQB Certified Tester Quality in DevOps (CT-QDO) certification.

Please note that these documents are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered official study material. For effective exam preparation, SASTQB recommends using accredited training course material and attending an accredited training course.

Find a training provider

Book your exam