Is software testing a good career for beginners?

Yes! Software testing is one of the most accessible entry points into the technology industry. It doesn't require a computer science degree, and many employers value practical skills and certifications. QA roles offer strong job stability, competitive salaries, and clear pathways into automation, DevOps, or software development.

What's the difference between a QA Tester, QA Analyst, and QA Engineer?

QA Testers perform functional testing and log defects. QA Analysts assess requirements, design test plans, map coverage, and manage quality processes. QA Engineers write code to automate tests and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines. This certificate prepares you to pursue all three of these career paths.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Microsoft Junior QA/Software Tester Professional Certificate

Launch Your Software Testing and QA Career.

Learn manual testing, automation, and AI-driven QA to become a job-ready Software Tester.

Instructor: Microsoft

Included with Learn more

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6 course series

Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 course series

Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Execute manual smoke, regression, and exploratory tests to ensure software quality and usability.
Design test cases, track defects, and manage the QA life cycle using Agile and Scrum methodologies.
Implement foundational automated testing, API validation, and basic SQL queries for data checks.
Utilize Generative AI tools to accelerate test creation and analyze defect coverage.

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

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Advance your career with in-demand skills

Receive professional-level training from Microsoft
Demonstrate your technical proficiency
Earn an employer-recognized certificate from Microsoft

Professional Certificate - 6 course series

The Junior QA / Software Tester Professional Certificate is an entry-level program designed to help you launch a career in software quality assurance. Software testing is a critical part of modern software development, creating opportunities for professionals who enjoy problem solving, attention to detail, and improving product quality. Targeted at career switchers and beginners, this program develops job-ready skills in software development life cycle (SDLC) methodologies, defect management, API validation, and troubleshooting. You will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools, including Jira and Zephyr, Azure DevOps, Visual Studio Code, and Playwright. The curriculum guides you from testing principles to technical execution. Participants map testing activities to Agile and Scrum frameworks, executing smoke and regression tests. They then move to backend testing, writing SQL queries for data validation, and conducting load testing using Apache JMeter. The program covers Generative AI for intelligent test design and defect analysis. You will complete a career development course on resume optimization, GitHub portfolio creation, and interview preparation to help you showcase QA skills during the job search. Graduates are prepared for roles such as Junior QA Tester, Software Tester, QA Analyst, Quality Assurance Engineer, and Manual Tester. Some exercises may require paid tool tiers.

Applied Learning Project

This program features hands-on, portfolio-ready projects mirroring a Junior QA Tester's responsibilities, providing evidence of job-readiness to employers.

QA Methodology & Scrum Planning: Set up an Agile workspace in Jira, map features to test coverage, and create a traceability matrix to align QA activities with sprint goals.
Manual Execution & Bug Reporting: Execute smoke and regression suites, conduct exploratory testing to find user friction, and log comprehensive, reproducible defect reports.
Test Design & Quality Dashboards: Write risk-based test cases, provision synthetic data using AI, and visualize quality metrics like pass-rate and defect density using Excel and Zephyr.
Automated Validation & AI Testing: Script UI tests with Playwright, write SQL for database validation, and use Generative AI to detect defect hot-spots.
Capstone Project: Build a showcase-ready portfolio artifact that covers an end-to-end testing cycle on a mock app, from test planning to reporting.

Software Testing Fundamentals and Methodologies

Course 1, 8 hours

What you'll learn

Distinguish QA, QC, and testing roles while applying organizational QA procedures.
Compare static vs. dynamic testing techniques across fundamental STLC phases.
Sequence Waterfall, V-Model, and Agile phases to map appropriate testing activities.
Integrate testing into Scrum sprints by defining acceptance criteria and demonstrating tests.

Manual Testing and Defect Management

Course 2, 9 hours

What you'll learn

Execute smoke suites and maintain regression checklists with clear evidence capture.
Conduct exploratory and usability testing to identify cross-browser issues and friction points.
Create informative bug reports with reproducible steps and appropriate severity levels.
Classify, prioritize, and track defects to monitor resolution times effectively.

Test Planning, Execution and Analytics

Course 3, 9 hours

What you'll learn

Analyze requirements to write high-quality, risk-based test cases and scenarios.
Provision test data, execute suites, and refactor redundant cases to optimize execution.
Calculate and visualize critical test metrics like pass-rate and defect density.
Perform Root Cause Analysis to identify and eliminate recurring defect patterns.

Automation, Advanced Testing, and AI

Course 4, 1 hour

What you'll learn

Write automated Playwright scripts and execute basic SQL queries for data validation.
Design basic performance load profiles.
Generate test cases and fake or synthetic test data using Generative AI prompts.
Utilize AI models to detect defect hot-spots and automate release note creation.

End-to-End QA Testing Cycle

Course 5, 1 hour

What you'll learn

Execute software testing lifecycle on an app: design tests from vague requirements, find UI/API bugs via BrowserStack and Postman, and track in Jira.
Automate a happy-path workflow using Playwright, run SQL backend checks, and manage code through GitHub-to-Jira version control workflow.
Compile end-to-end release evidence across all software testing phases and draft a sign-off report using Microsoft Copilot for stakeholders.

Launching Your QA Career

Course 6, 2 hours

What you'll learn

Translate course projects into professional resume bullet points highlighting technical and manual QA skills.
Prepare a public GitHub portfolio showcasing proficiency in automated testing.
Navigate common behavioral and technical QA interview questions using the STAR method.

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Microsoft

390 Courses2,717,396 learners

Offered by

Microsoft

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Frequently asked questions

No prior programming experience is required! The program starts with foundational manual testing concepts and gradually introduces beginner-friendly technical skills like basic SQL and automated script modifications using Playwright. You just need basic digital literacy skills to get started.

This program prepares you for entry-level roles such as Junior QA Tester, Software Tester, QA Analyst, and Manual Tester. The skills acquired cover both traditional manual testing workflows and modern agile/automation expectations.

Yes. The program includes dedicated modules on AI-Driven QA, where you will learn to use Generative AI to quickly design test cases, generate synthetic test data, and analyze historical code to predict defect hot-spots.

Software Testers and QA Analysts ensure that software applications work correctly before they are released to users. They design and execute test cases, identify bugs and usability issues, document defects, and collaborate with development teams to improve product quality. It's a detail-oriented role that combines technical skills with critical thinking.

Manual testing involves a human tester executing test cases step-by-step to identify bugs and usability issues. Automated testing uses scripts and tools like Playwright to run tests automatically, improving speed and consistency. This program teaches both approaches, preparing you for modern QA roles that require a blend of skills.