Test lead

You could do a degree or postgraduate course in:

• computer science
• business information technology
• software development
• software engineering
• maths

Courses that include work placements, internships or a year in industry may give you an advantage when you look for work after completing your studies.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could start by doing a software tester higher apprenticeship or degree apprenticeship in digital technology solutions.

With experience and further training, you could go on to become a test lead.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could join a company as a software tester, for example through a graduate training scheme. Once you have built up enough experience, you could apply for jobs as a test lead.

You could apply directly for jobs if you have 3 to 5 years’ experience in software testing and quality assurance. Experience in software development, systems engineering and project management could be helpful.

You’ll also find it useful to have professional certification from an industry organisation like The Chartered Institute for IT.

Career tips

You'll find it useful to understand Agile IT project development methods.

Further information

You can find out more about careers in computing from The Chartered Institute for IT and Tech Future Careers.

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• analytical thinking skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• persistence and determination
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• maths knowledge
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Your day-to-day duties, with the product development team, may include:

• understanding what the products being developed are meant to do
• creating test plans for each stage of a product’s development cycle
• estimating time and resources needed to complete the testing process
• co-ordinating the tasks of the testing team
• carrying out manual and automated tests within deadlines
• identifying and recording faults or ‘bugs’ so they can be fixed
• reviewing completed tests and analysing the results
• checking that new systems and upgrades are working correctly after they have gone ‘live’
• writing test reports for the project management team

You could work in an office or at a client's business.