A Quality Engineer is a highly sought-after profession in today's world, which can take several years to achieve. However, you can become a certified engineer much faster if you understand the basic requirements for QA engineers in the field you are interested in. Most quality control engineers are engaged in the fields of computer technology, electronic manufacturing, as well as finance and medicine.
In any case, you will need to oversee the entire product development process, predict consumer behavior, and ensure that the results meet user expectations, as well as legal, industry, and organizational requirements. Training as a quality engineer in software development includes mastering the basics of web programming, learning programming languages, and tools for software development.
According to Glassdoor data for 2023, quality engineers earn an average annual salary of $82,500. The profession is not only lucrative but also interesting and promising. You will need to master many soft and technical skills, develop data analysis abilities, and learn programming languages. In this article, we will look at specific steps to achieving this popular profession.
What Education is Needed to Become a Quality Engineer?
A large number of companies are looking for specialists with a university degree. For QA engineers, a bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, science, or another related field is often sufficient.
To become a certified quality engineer, you will need eight years of relevant experience, and internships, coursework, or part-time work are not counted. The degree qualification allows you to get an exemption depending on the level you have achieved, so in total, it does not take as long as it might seem at first glance to complete in-depth training.
The ways to receive specialized education can be as follows.
- Completion of a one-year study program that allows you to acquire introductory knowledge in a particular field. This can be a diploma from an accredited institution, which will relieve you of the internship year when applying for the status of a certified quality engineer.
- An associate's degree in technology or other. During a two-year program, you can learn about the quality engineer role and responsibilities and your future work environment. This can help you compensate for two years of study when applying for the Certified Quality Engineer status.
- The most popular way to become a certified quality engineer is to earn a bachelor's degree from an approved university in engineering, science, or other field. This degree replaces four years of relevant experience when applying for a certified quality engineer.
- Advanced Degrees: A master's or doctoral degree provides in-depth knowledge and quality engineering skills in a specific field. A master's program typically takes an additional two years of study, while a doctoral program can take four to five additional years.
Regardless of the degree you choose, always remember the importance of practical experience and valuable skills. It is excellent if you can work on projects and learn from your mistakes, communicate with experienced colleagues, and find your first clients during your studies.
How to Become a QA Engineer?
A higher education in IT will greatly simplify the search for a high-paying job for a novice QA engineer. However, you can certainly try your hand at software quality control even without a relevant degree. Especially if you have previously worked in a related field and are already familiar with a certain programming language. Even if the quality engineer work description is new to you, with a strong desire, you can pursue this promising profession from scratch. You will need to go through several stages, some of which may repeat or combine:
- Self-Preparation
- Attending a Programming Bootcamp
- Internship or Contract Work
- Professional Certification
- Creating a Resume and Job Search
Self-Preparation
For general and free acquaintance with the profession, you can monitor popular job search sites, such as LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, and Glassdoor. Analyze job postings from companies looking for a quality engineer. Choose the 10 or 15 best postings and create a list of responsibilities and skills of an ideal specialist based on them. This list will be your plan for watching educational videos on YouTube.
Subscribe to authoritative expert blogs about IT and specifically about a career in quality engineering. It is also advisable to read several books that will help you understand the main theoretical issues.
Attending a Programming Bootcamp
A bootcamp is a new training format, a course where students gain up-to-date knowledge and skills in a short period. Intensive learning of programming and quality control will allow you to start working on your first projects during your studies.
A bootcamp is an excellent alternative to traditional higher education. Before starting, you need to decide which programming language you want to learn, such as Java or Python. Usually, specialized individual programs last from three to nine months. Quality engineering courses can be shorter but no less useful.
Internship or Contract Work
You can start looking for internship or contract work opportunities while still in school. Continue doing so while in bootcamp or engaging in self-education. Information about successful internships or contract work experience will make your resume more convincing. Moreover, a temporary contract position will help you confidently enter the job market and find colleagues and partners.
Remember that the technology field is rapidly changing, so it is important to stay abreast of trends and constantly develop your skills through quality engineering training courses. They may offer you the opportunity to tackle real-world tasks.
Professional Certification
Certification is advisable when you already have some experience. Some employers require quality engineers to have a certificate from the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Certification is valid for three years, after which it needs to be renewed. Obtaining a professional certificate opens up opportunities for higher-paying jobs.
Creating a Resume and Job Search
Before applying for suitable vacancies, you should create a quality technical resume and portfolio. The first includes a list of your experience and personal quality engineer skills, and the second contains samples of completed projects. Add a cover letter tailored to the specific company and position.
A technical resume used in fields such as information technology, engineering, and computer science lists your technical experience and skills relevant to the job.
It is advisable to prepare for a technical interview in advance. During such an interview, you will likely need to not only answer standard questions but also demonstrate everything you describe in your resume and portfolio, showcasing your skills and qualities of an engineer.
Conclusions
To become a quality engineer, you need to obtain higher education in your field, gain experience during internships or contract work, and undergo relevant certification. Many companies seek candidates with a bachelor's degree in a technical or related field. However, not all QA engineers have higher education. An alternative way to acquire the quality engineer skill set can be a programming bootcamp, allowing you to obtain a certificate within a few months.
Many believe that becoming a QA engineer is difficult due to the need to learn various coding languages and work with programming tools. However, it is not necessary to start your career knowing all the nuances of the profession. Finding a high-paying job as a QA engineer without education is not that hard if you devote a long period to self-education. An ideal career start is studying an online course where you will understand the quality engineer job requirements, familiarize yourself with the basics of the profession, and begin practicing.
How do I start QA engineering?
To start a career in QA engineering, you need to take specialized courses. It is advisable to obtain a relevant certification and gain some experience through an internship with a company.
What qualification is needed for a QA engineer?
Many companies seek QA engineers with a bachelor's degree in computer technology. You can pursue a master's or doctoral degree in this field, but it will take a significant amount of time. Sometimes, it is sufficient to obtain certification and create a quality portfolio of completed projects to work as a QA engineer.
How to become QA?
To become a QA engineer, start by familiarizing yourself with an interesting programming language and the basics of the profession. Decide on your area of focus. After that, choose your path to mastering the profession. This could be higher education or online courses, after which you will be able to undertake your first paid projects.
