According to Zippia, over 60% of QA testers have a bachelor's degree, 16% are master's degree holders, and 10% are associate degree holders. Future professionals study computer science, programming, information technology, or business. However, to start a career as a QA tester, it is not necessary to have higher education. Sometimes completing specialized courses and acquiring the necessary skills for work is sufficient.

Practical experience and certifications are the most significant advantages of candidates, which should be emphasized in the resume. For example, beginners in testing may find courses like Google's IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate, or DevOps from the University of Virginia suitable.

The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) offers related certifications such as Test Analyst, Test Manager, Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), Agile Tester, AI Testing, Game Testing, and others.

Advancing in the QA testing market without specialized higher education can be done through freelance platforms like Upwork or LinkedIn. It's important that the online course program you choose includes practical assignments or participation in real projects. While this may involve working for free, it's the best way to demonstrate your knowledge and solidify important skills.

Deep understanding of testing automation tools, its models, and programming languages can be obtained through courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy.

An interesting and accessible way to gain experience is by participating in open-source projects, such as GitHub. Many beginners practice on personal projects, including creating their own testing tools or frameworks. It's great if you can work with experienced mentors and ask them questions while completing practical tasks.

What Skills Does a QA Tester Need?

QA testers must possess certain soft skills.

• Attention to Detail. Testing a digital product requires focus and ignoring distractions. Only disciplined and attentive specialists can effectively identify even the smallest flaws in the development process.
• Listening and Communication Skills. Testers often receive detailed but not always simple instructions from project managers. They must understand and remember all the guidelines.
• Teamwork. This skill is related to the previous one but refers to productive interaction with colleagues, the ability to calmly and clearly point out mistakes, and active participation in discussions.
• Problem-Solving Skills. Testers should not only identify flaws in the product but also determine the root causes of these errors and develop ways to resolve them — both independently and in collaboration with engineers, etc.
• Deductive Reasoning. Deduction involves finding answers to questions in facts and evidence. This type of thinking is predominant for testers and in the technology field in general.
• Time Management. The schedule of any IT professional is flexible and unpredictable. Urgent tasks may arise, and you must be prepared for them. The product's release dates depend on how responsibly the tester meets deadlines, making the ability to plan your time and break down big tasks into smaller stages very valuable.

Certain technical skills are also essential for a tester, primarily testing automation and database testing. The former involves creating and using automated test scripts, while the latter involves checking database systems for integrity and performance.