Short answer: Yes, many U.S. employers ask for ISTQB in job postings. Some people say it is not valued or not required, but the hiring evidence shows it is valued in many contexts.
Evidence it is valued
- Job postings and employer examples. On major job boards and company career sites across the United States, you can find postings that explicitly mention ISTQB. Recent examples include John Deere, Netflix, Deloitte, Ford Motor Company, and Amazon.
- Ongoing U.S. demand across industries. Employer spotlights and job roundups regularly show listings asking for ISTQB.
- Procurement and RFP alignment. Some companies look for testers they can verify via the Official U.S. List of Certified and Credentialed Software Testers, which ties hiring checks to ISTQB credentials delivered through ASTQB and AT*SQA.
Why some U.S. testers say “no, it’s not valued”
Sentiments on r/softwaretesting often include:
- Not required for most U.S. roles. Many hiring managers prioritize experience, portfolio, and interviews. A certification is seen as optional.
- Useful mainly for beginners as a knowledge baseline. Good for shared vocabulary and fundamentals, less decisive for senior candidates.
- Syllabus may lag real-world practice. Parts of ISTQB can feel academic or dated if not paired with hands-on work.
Takeaway: Community feedback questions whether ISTQB should be required for most roles, but it does not negate the real demand you can see in job listings and client requirements.
When ISTQB helps in the U.S.
- ATS and recruiter screening. “ISTQB” can be a keyword gate in large-company pipelines. Having CTFL can prevent being filtered out when it is listed as preferred or required.
- Client-facing or regulated environments. Teams bidding on work or operating under quality systems sometimes prefer verifiable certifications and searchable registries.
- Early-career and cross-discipline candidates. For new testers or those shifting from development, data, or operations, ISTQB provides a shared vocabulary that hiring managers recognize.
- Demonstrating specialized knowledge in areas such as test automation, AI testing or agile.
- Learning and demonstrating fundamental software testing knowledge.
Practical guidance
- Scan the market you want. Browse current postings for your target city or industry. If “ISTQB” shows up as required or preferred, it is a strong signal to get it.
- Choose the right path. Foundation Level (CTFL) is the common baseline. Add advanced or specialty modules if your roles or clients value them.
- Make it verifiable. Taking ISTQB through ASTQB and AT*SQA ties your result to the Official U.S. List, which some employers and clients check.
- Pair it with evidence. Certifications open doors. Portfolios, test strategies, automation repos, and production outcomes close the deal.
Bottom line
Despite online debate, ISTQB is valued in the U.S. You can verify this by searching job boards and employer career pages, where many listings ask for it. It is most helpful for early-career candidates, in organizations with formal procurement or quality expectations, and anywhere “ISTQB” appears in job filters. Experienced candidates should treat it as a complement to demonstrable results, not a substitute.