Your certification guide · Advanced Level
Learn to design, implement, deploy, and maintain test automation solutions. Explore architecture, testability, CI/CD integration, reporting, verification, and continuous improvement to build sustainable automation that supports testing goals.
Questions carry different point values; the passing score is measured in points, not correct answers. Candidates taking the exam in a non-native language may receive 25% additional time. Confirm eligibility and the exact duration with your exam provider.
Test automation engineers, technical testers, developers, and test architects responsible for automation solutions and frameworks.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) certificate and sufficient practical experience are required. Confirm experience criteria with your Member Board or exam provider. Prepare through self-study or accredited training.
The syllabus at a glance
A concise guide to the certification content in syllabus v2.0.
Introduces automation benefits and limitations and its role in different software lifecycles. Explains how the architecture of the system under test affects the suitability of automation tools.
Key topicsAutomation objectives · Benefits and limitations · SUT architecture
Covers testability through observability and controllability, automation across environments, and assessing potential solutions. Explains technical considerations for recommending an appropriate automation approach.
Key topicsTestability · Environments · Tool assessment · Technical recommendations
Explores automation architecture, framework layers, and components of an automation solution. Covers approaches to using tools and applying design principles and patterns to create maintainable frameworks.
Key topicsArchitecture · Framework layers · Design patterns · Tool approaches
Explains planning and deploying an automation pilot, identifying implementation risks, and selecting mitigation measures. Covers factors that improve the maintainability of automation code.
Key topicsPilot projects · Deployment risks · Code maintainability
Covers executing automated tests across test levels within CI/CD pipelines. Explains configuration management for automation components and dependencies relevant to API and contract testing.
Key topicsCI/CD · Test execution · Configuration management · API and contract testing
Explains collecting and analyzing data from the system under test and automation runs. Covers investigating failures and presenting reports and dashboards that help stakeholders understand results.
Key topicsMetrics · Failure analysis · Reports · Dashboards
Covers verifying automation components, environments, scripts, and suites. Explains checking correct execution, applying root cause analysis, and evaluating automation code quality.
Key topicsSolution verification · Environment checks · Root cause analysis · Code quality
Explores using data to improve automated tests and upgrading automation solutions and components. Covers consolidation, streamlining, and using automation tools to support test setup and other testing needs.
Key topicsData-driven improvement · Upgrades · Consolidation · Test support
Training times are syllabus allocations for accredited courses, not exam section durations or personal study recommendations. Total: 19 hours 30 minutes. Reference material and appendices follow the core chapters in the syllabus.
Study from the source
Check the certification page for exam information, study the syllabus, and use official sample questions and answers to practise.
Official sample answers ↗ · All official downloads ↗
Independent study guide based on the ISTQB CTAL-TAE syllabus v2.0. Syllabus source and copyright: International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) and its authors. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by ISTQB. Links checked on 7 October 2026.
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