VHL
CTAP
Certified Test
Automation Professional
The standard for test automation

Certify Your
Test Automation
Expertise

The CTAP Consortium defines the open standard for test automation certification. Vendor-neutral, used by government and leading firms, and designed for the modern software testing professional.

100%
Vendor-Neutral
5+
Accredited Partners
2yr
Certificate Validity

CTAP Foundation

The foundation-level certification — your first credential in the CTAP framework, available now.

Used by Government & Leading Firms
Multiple-Choice Proctored Exam
Available Through Accredited Partners
⭐Used by Government & Leading Firms
✓Vendor & Tool Independent
📘Published by Van Haren Group
🛡Non-Profit Consortium
Why CTAP

The Professional Standard
Test Automation Deserves

In today's Agile and DevOps world, test automation is no longer optional. CTAP provides the universal framework that transcends tools, industries, and programming backgrounds.

Universal Best Practice Framework

CTAP is built on common approaches to test automation that apply regardless of your toolchain, programming language, or industry vertical. One standard, universal applicability.

Verifiable Foundation Knowledge

The CTAP Foundation exam objectively assesses what every test automation professional should master — providing organizations with confidence in baseline competence.

CI/CD & Agile Ready

CTAP's curriculum directly addresses Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and the continuous testing demands of modern DevOps environments — not legacy testing theory.

Guaranteed Quality Assurance

Accredited trainers and a rigorous examination process ensure every CTAP-certified professional has demonstrated verifiable, standardized competence in test automation.

CTAP vs. Alternatives

Criteria CTAP Tool Certs No Cert
Vendor-neutral✓✗—
Industry standard✓✗—
Used by government✓Partial✗
Best practices focus✓✗—
Accredited trainers✓Vendor only✗
CI/CD focused curriculum✓Limited✗
CTAP Products

What You Get With CTAP

A complete ecosystem of publications, learning materials, courseware, and certification exams — all available through Van Haren Group, the official CTAP publisher.

Foundation Level

CTAP Foundation Syllabus

The official CTAP Foundation Syllabus outlines all knowledge and skills required for the certification exam. The definitive reference for candidates and trainers alike.

What you get
  • Complete CTAP Foundation curriculum
  • Learning objectives per module
  • Terminology glossary & key concepts
  • Exam preparation guidance
  • Free downloadable PDF

Outcome: Full clarity on what the exam covers — so you can prepare with confidence.

Download Syllabus
Official Courseware

CTAP 2.0 Courseware

The complete official training material for CTAP Foundation, used by all accredited education partners worldwide. Updated to the latest CTAP 2.0 curriculum.

What you get
  • Full instructor-led course material
  • Slides, exercises & case studies
  • Test automation concepts & frameworks
  • CI/CD integration & Agile testing
  • Print & digital (E-book) format

Outcome: Structured knowledge transfer that prepares candidates to apply test automation in their daily work.

Order Courseware
Certification Exam

CTAP Foundation Exam

The official CTAP Foundation certification exam — a multiple-choice assessment that validates your test automation knowledge against the CTAP standard.

What you get
  • Proctored multiple-choice exam
  • Available via accredited trainers
  • CTAP Foundation certificate on pass
  • Certificate valid for 2 years
  • Used by Government & Leading Firms

Outcome: Proof of competence recognized by employers — a credential demonstrating excellence in test automation.

Get Exam Voucher
Specialist Courseware

Software Testing & Tooling Courseware

By Rob Flier (2025). A practical course based on CTAP that gives an overview of the most important developments in test automation, tooling categories, and hands-on tool selection.

What you get
  • Overview of test automation developments
  • Tool categories & selection criteria
  • Pros & cons of test automation
  • Hands-on demos & exercises
  • Look Inside preview available

Outcome: Confidently categorize and select test automation tools, and start using one of them in practice.

View Courseware
Publication

CTAP Foundation Publication

The official Van Haren Publishing book on CTAP Foundation — a complete reference covering the CTAP body of knowledge, ideal for self-study and as a long-term reference.

What you get
  • Complete CTAP body of knowledge
  • Available in English & Dutch
  • Paperback & E-book editions
  • Self-study or training reference
  • Reviewer copies for trainers

Outcome: A trusted, in-depth reference you can return to throughout your test automation career.

View Publication
Bundle

CTAP Syllabus & Starter Package

The complete starter bundle for new candidates — combines the official syllabus, study guidance, and starter material to launch your CTAP journey in one package.

What you get
  • Official CTAP Foundation Syllabus
  • Practical study guide
  • Sample exam questions
  • Recommended reading list
  • Self-study planning template

Outcome: Everything you need to begin your CTAP journey as a self-study candidate, in one convenient bundle.

Get Starter Pack
User Journey

How to Become Certified

Four straightforward steps from decision to credential.

1

Download Syllabus

Review the free CTAP Foundation Syllabus to understand exam scope, learning objectives, and topics covered.

2

Choose Your Path

Study independently using the official courseware, or register with an Accredited Education Partner for guided training.

3

Take the Exam

Obtain an exam voucher via your training provider or directly through Van Haren. Sit the proctored multiple-choice exam.

4

Get Certified

Pass the exam and receive your CTAP Foundation certificate, valid for two years and recognized worldwide.

Certification Program

The CTAP Foundation Certification

The CTAP Foundation is the first level of the CTAP certification program — your entry point into a globally recognized standard for test automation expertise.

F
CTAP Foundation
Available Now

The entry-level CTAP certification covers the fundamentals of test automation: strategy, design, implementation, tooling, and integration in Agile/DevOps environments.

Format
Multiple-choice
Validity
2 years
Audience
Testers, QA, Devs
Body
CertN / VHL

Ready to Start?

Download the free syllabus, find a training, or go straight to your exam voucher.

Resources

Everything You Need to Succeed

Free and premium resources to support candidates, trainers, and organizations at every stage of the CTAP journey.

📄
Free

Foundation Syllabus

The official outline of all knowledge, skills, and learning objectives for the CTAP Foundation exam.

📖
Preview

Look Inside

Preview sample chapters from the official CTAP courseware before committing to purchase.

🎯
Exam Prep

Learning Objectives

Detailed breakdown of all learning objectives per module, mapped to exam question types and knowledge levels.

📚
Curriculum

Modules & Skills

Full curriculum overview: six core modules covering strategy, design, implementation, execution, maintenance, and organization.

Content Hub

Insights & Deep Dives

Articles, case studies, and frameworks from the CTAP community and consortium members.

Case Study
📊

What is Data Analyse?

A practical look at how data analysis underpins effective test automation — using statistical and computational techniques to uncover patterns and trends in test data.

Case Study•2025
Case Study
🔄

What is a Growth Cycle?

A series of phases organizations go through as they scale and mature their test automation capability — from pilot projects to enterprise-wide adoption.

Case Study•2025
Case Study
⭐

What is the Northern Star Metric?

A key performance indicator that helps test automation teams align day-to-day work with long-term quality and value goals — the guiding compass for automation strategy.

Case Study•2025
Article
⚡

Why Manual Testing Alone Can't Keep Up With Modern DevOps

In CI/CD pipelines, the speed of releases has outpaced manual testing capacity. We explore the business case for test automation at scale.

Article•2025
Framework
🗂️

The CTAP Test Automation Maturity Framework

A practical guide for organizations to assess their current test automation maturity and chart a path to the next level of capability.

Framework•2025
Article
🛠️

Tool Selection: Choosing the Right Automation Stack

Why CTAP's vendor-neutral approach helps you make better tooling decisions — and how to apply CTAP principles when evaluating any test automation tool.

Article•2025
Events & Meetups

Connect With the CTAP Community

Join leading test automation events across Europe where the CTAP community gathers to share knowledge, network, and shape the future of testing.

10
JUN
Conference
2026

Noorder Test

Northern Netherlands

The leading test conference in the north of the Netherlands. A focused community event covering the latest developments in software testing and automation.

Learn More →
22
SEP
Conference
2026

Automation Star

The Netherlands

Premier conference dedicated to test automation excellence. Hands-on workshops, expert speakers, and a strong focus on real-world automation challenges.

Learn More →
14
NOV
Conference
2026

QX Days

Multi-day Event

A multi-day deep dive into Quality Engineering and the Quality Experience. Where strategists, practitioners, and tool vendors come together for the QX community.

Learn More →
Testimonials

What Professionals Are Saying

Real experiences from test automation professionals who have earned their CTAP certification.

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Accredited Partners

Accredited Education Partners

CTAP training is delivered by a vetted network of Accredited Education Partners (AEPs) — organizations committed to the highest training standards.

Become a Training Partner

Join the CTAP Accredited Education Partner network. Gain access to official courseware, trainer accreditation, marketing support, and the globally recognized CTAP brand to grow your training business.

About the Consortium

A Non-Profit Built
by the Industry,
for the Industry

The CTAP Consortium is a non-profit collaboration of industry experts, consultancy organizations, end users, trainers, and academics — all aligned around a single mission: to standardize test automation excellence worldwide.

We believe that how professionals approach test automation should follow common principles, regardless of their background, tooling choices, or industry. CTAP is the independent standard that makes that possible.

Independence

Vendor-neutral and tool-agnostic. We serve professionals, not products.

Quality

Rigorous accreditation ensures every certified professional meets a consistent standard.

Collaboration

Built by practitioners from across industries, sharing real-world expertise.

Accessibility

Open to all professionals who want to grow their test automation competence.

Certification Council
MM

Marcel Mersie

Co-Initiator & Council Member

“Create a common understanding of the level of expertise required for managing test automation.”

JV

Jos van Rooyen

Co-Initiator & Council Member

“Ensure that professionals in the testing domain benefit from a shared understanding of test automation best practice.”

FK

Frank van der Kuur

Council Member

Independent test automation expert representing industry experience and contributing to the audit and content direction of the CTAP standard.

Ready to Set the Standard?

Join the test automation professionals who have proven their expertise with the CTAP certification — the independent, vendor-neutral credential.