• CaSTB
• Training
• Accreditation
• Accreditation Guidelines

Accreditation Guidelines

1.Seeking accreditation

All applicants. either:

1. training material owners wishing to obtain CaSTB/ISTQB accreditation for their training materials in Czech or Slovak language, or
2. training providers wishing to offer accredited CaSTB/ISTQB trainings in Czech or Slovak language leading to a CaSTB/ISTQB certificate,

must submit an Application for accreditation to the Czech and Slovak Testing Board, o.s. (CaSTB).

CaSTB can also provide accreditations in English language.

The CaSTB expects prospective training material owners or providers to have studied the ISTQB and CaSTB Constitutions, glossary and the appropriate syllabus, so that they have a full understanding of all requirements before preparing and submitting their applications. The CaSTB accreditation committee will reject incomplete applications.

In reviewing the application, the CaSTB accreditation committee will verify that the training provider has the ability to teach the appropriate syllabus material using competent staff and appropriate materials.

2. The application for accreditation

The CaSTB requires evidence of detailed planning and thought in the preparation to run an accredited training. Training material owners or providers may include published documents and other existing material in their application. The CaSTB expects that all trainers should have demonstrable knowledge and practical experience in software testing. Furthermore, all trainers must hold the certificate for the level that they teach.

2.1 Training material owner

The training material owner should submit an application by filling-in the Application for accreditation form. This will include the following data:

1. Organization/Company profile.
2. CV(s) of author(s) of the training materials, showing at least five years of practical experience in SW testing.
3. Detailed cross-reference coverage matrix: ISTQB syllabus vs. provided training materials, showing 100% syllabus coverage. (Please provide the following details: chapters, topics, hands-on / practice, the exact location in the provider’s materials and the duration for the above).
4. Detailed durations for each training topic showing adequate time devoted to each section of the syllabus. (Include: topics, chapters, hands-on sessions and their duration).
5. All training material and supporting material for trainers to be provided in both hard and soft copy (on a CD); including trainers’ presentation slides with notes (in order to ensure that the right messages are going to be given when the training is running).
6. Additional materials (books, references etc.)
7. Evidence of a suitable configuration management system. (Mainly documentation management and version control).
8. A signed CaSTB Mutual Non Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement.

2.2 Training provider

The training providers should submit an application using the Application for accreditation form including the following data:

1. Organization/Company profile.
2. Detailed durations for each training topic showing adequate time devoted to each section of the syllabus. (Include: topics, chapters, hands-on sessions and their duration).
3. Proof of relations with an accredited training material owner or accredited training provider. (Show that the training materials are accredited). Formal letters required:
   1. Approval of accreditation given to the training material owner and/or the training provider by official and acting ISTQB national board.
   2. Relationships declaration between the applicant and the training material owner, both from the applicant and the training material owner.
   3. Relationships declaration between the applicant and the training provider, both from the applicant and the training provider.

   Note: This is needed when the applicant receives training services of an already accredited training provider.

4. Trainer CV(s) showing at least 5 years of practical experience in software testing and 3 years practical experience in trainings of software knowledge (each).
5. Video of the trainer’s performance (Optional).
6. Evidence of a suitable configuration management system. (Mainly documentation management and version control).
7. A signed CaSTB Mutual Non Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement.

Note: Training providers wishing to offer trainings in Czech or Slovak language based on already accredited training materials in other language than they are applying for, have to apply for the accreditation of their translated training materials (i.e. Czech or Slovak) first.

3. Accreditation types

3.1 First application

For first-time applicants. The main flow of the process is made for this type.

3.2 Re-evaluation

1. The re-evaluation is required in any of the following cases:
   1. Changes in the accredited materials upon new/updated deployed ISTQB syllabus.
   2. When the training material owner decides to modify its materials and these modifications might cause a mismatch between the training materials and the ISTQB syllabus.
   3. When the training provider decides to replace its training material owner or its accredited training provider (that gives accredited training services).
2. Re-evaluation process duration will be no longer than 3 months.
3. Application for re-evaluation is the responsibility of the training material owner or provider.
4. Re-evaluation fee – See ‘Fees and Payments’ chapter 11.

3.3 Re-accreditation:

1. Re-accreditation is required in any of the following cases:
   1. After Rejection or Disqualification of the application.
   2. The accreditation period ended and application for renewal is needed.
2. The duration of the re-accreditation process: as defined in these guidelines.
3. Application for re-accreditation is the responsibility of the training material owner or provider.
4. Re-accreditation fee – See ‘Fees and Payments’ chapter 11.
5. The process of accreditation auto-renewal will be handled by the CaSTB.

4. The accreditation procedure

4.1 Pre-application

Following are the steps defined for the pre-application stage (mainly for applicant preparations):

1. The applicant chooses the accreditation option(s) that he/she would like to apply for, as described above.
2. The applicant prepares the required materials, fills in the “Application for accreditation” form, and sends them to the CaSTB accreditation committee manager using the relevant/agreed delivery mechanism. (See ‘Delivery mechanisms’, chapter 14).

Note: Application for accreditation can be done only after filling-in all relevant fields in the application form and attaching all relevant materials, as described above and in the following process stages.

4.2 Response to the application

After getting the application form and material, the CaSTB accreditation committee manager acts as follows:

1. Registers the date and time of arrival of the materials.
2. Performs an initial check of the delivered form, materials and deposit fee. (See ‘Fees and Payments’, chapter 11).
3. Sends a reply to the applicant that the application and the material have been received.
4. Informs the CaSTB that the application is ready to be promoted to the accreditation committee.

4.3 Accreditation committee phase

1. Two assessors (at least) from the CaSTB will form an accreditation committee. Each assessor produces an accreditation report.
2. The accredication committee should have the option of observing actual training sessions.
3. The accreditation committee manager gathers the assessors’ comments, which are forwarded to the applicant. The assessors will make an initial recommendation within 6 weeks after the training material owner has submitted the application and within 3 weeks in case of training provider.
4. After the assessors have evaluated the application, the training materials, and all other supporting materials, the accreditation committee will discuss the recommendations of the assessors and make one of the following decisions:
   1. Approve the request for accreditation.
   2. Request additional information from the training material owner.
   3. Request changes to the training materials, with re-submittal of the changed materials (with changes highlighted) required for review and final approval.
      Note: The maximum number of allowed correction cycles is 2 and the duration of each correction cycle is up to 3 weeks. Each exceptional cycle will enforce an additional charge as described in ‘Fees and Payments’, chapter 11.
5. The accreditation committee manager will send the conclusions and recommendations for approval or rejection to the CaSTB executive board.

Note: There is no option to appeal against the accreditation committee recommendations. The applicant can choose to apply for a re-accreditation path again.

4.4 Approval announcement

1. Accreditation is granted for the normal period of 3 years.
2. The approval will be sent in a formal letter to the applicant by the CaSTB accreditation committee manager.
3. A formal diploma shall be sent from the CaSTB executive board to the applicant that describes the relevant accreditation(s) it has received.
4. The application and all of its material shall be placed in the CaSTB archive.
5. The announcement shall be published within 1 week from the decision.

4.5 Rejection announcement

1. The rejection will be sent in a formal letter to the applicant by the CaSTB accreditation committee manager, with reasons stated.
   1. There is no way to appeal.
   2. The applicant can apply for re-accreditation only after a latency period of at least 6 months from the rejection declaration.
2. The announcement shall be published within 1 week from the decision.

Note: CaSTB members and/or accreditation committee members shall ensure that there is no conflict of interests related to a specific application.

5. General

CaSTB will endeavor to process the application in the shortest possible time. The application will take no more than three months.

During the accreditation-processing period, training material owners or providers may mention that the training has been submitted for accreditation, but may not advertise the training as accredited or use the CaSTB or ISTQB logos.

Once accreditation is granted, the training material owner or provider will receive notification of the CaSTB accreditation committee’s decision. Upon receiving accreditation, the training material owner or provider has permission to advertise the training as accredited. Once accredited, training material owners or providers may use the CaSTB logo and the ISTQB logo for the accredited training. A formal certification of the accreditation will be issued by CaSTB for that training material owner or provider as described above.

6. Protecting the accreditation

As a condition of accreditation, training material owners and providers must comply with any changes in regulations or the syllabus. The CaSTB will usually give training material owners and providers at least 6 months notice of significant changes. Failure to comply with changes may lead to withdrawal of accreditation with no accreditation fee return.

All training material owners and providers should plan on receiving at least one audit of a training during the 3 year accreditation period. In addition, CaSTB reserves the right to monitor the performance of accredited training providers in a variety of ways, e.g. by short notice audit visits to trainings in progress and by assessment of examination results. Training providers are therefore required to notify CaSTB of all training dates together with venue information. The training provider and the accreditation committee will receive a report from the auditor(s). The report is confidential, subject to the CaSTB Mutual Non Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement, and disclosed only to members of the CaSTB executive board and/or accreditation committee members, on a “need to know” basis.

7. Withdrawal of accreditation

The CaSTB may withdraw accreditation at any time in the case of behavior that undermines the integrity of the certification. Examples include substitution of unapproved trainers, deletion of required topics from the training materials, inadequate time devoted to required topics, providing confidential CaSTB or ISTQB materials to training attendees as study guides, or making misleading claims regarding the trainings. If CaSTB detects such behavior, the CaSTB alternatively may request immediate remedial action by the training provider as a condition of retaining accreditation.

8. Renewal of accreditation

At the end of each accreditation period, the accreditation committee will conduct a review and may wish to audit the training provider. If the review proves satisfactory, the CaSTB will renew the training providers accreditation for a further 3 year period, providing the training provider paid the renewal fee in full.

9. Trainers

The CaSTB must approve all trainers prior to their teaching of an accredited training. The training provider should submit the candidate trainer’s CV. The candidate trainer must have at least 5 years practical experience in software testing and at least 3 years practical experience in trainings of software knowledge. The accreditation committee may interview the applicant by phone or in person. The CaSTB will approve or reject a candidate trainer within 3 weeks. Rejected trainers, along with the training provider who nominated the trainer, will receive notification of the reason.

10. Languages

Training material owners or providers must submit all applications and information to the CaSTB in English, Czech or Slovak. Training materials submitted for accreditation must be in the selected language chosen for the accreditation.

11. Fees and payments

The CaSTB charges fees as follows:

Note: The CaSTB as a non-profit organization keeps fees to the minimum amount required to cover expenses of CaSTB administration and promotion of the ISTQB qualification scheme.

12. Breach of copyright

CaSTB will check to see that training materials submitted for accreditation belong to the applicant. However, CaSTB cannot guarantee that training material owners or providers commit to not breaching copyrights. If a training material owner can prove that an organization applying for accreditation or already accredited by CaSTB has infringed copyright laws, CaSTB will reject the application or withdraw accreditation and ask the organization to re-submit new materials. The applicant will also be expected to pay a second accreditation fee. Please note that CaSTB will not become further involved in any dispute between the two Training material owners or providers.

13. Need more information?

For more information, contact us.

14. Delivery mechanisms

The delivery mechanisms are: email, post, and by hand.

The delivery mechanisms will be used as defined in the accreditation procedure.

15. Final notes

The CaSTB reserves the right to change these accreditation guidelines when appropriate and without prior notice.