Software testing micro-credentials give testers a flexible way to learn valuable skills in areas such as AI, APIs, automation, performance, and cybersecurity. AT*SQA credentials require no prerequisites, can stand alone, and many stack into full certifications that support career growth.
Software testing jobs continue to pick up new skills. A tester may suddenly need more knowledge of APIs, AI, automation, performance testing, cybersecurity or DevOps because the work has changed.
Micro-credentials offer a practical way to learn one of those subjects and earn a credential that shows what you have learned.
There is also good evidence that employers value them. Coursera’s 2026 Micro-Credentials Impact Report found that 87% of graduates with micro-credentials secured a role aligned with their field within 12 months, while 83% of employed graduates said their micro-credentials played a significant role in securing their position. Seventy-three percent of employers said candidates with micro-credentials move more quickly through the hiring process.
AT*SQA brings that model directly to software testing with focused credentials that can be earned individually or combined into larger certification paths.
Explore AT*SQA software testing micro-credentials
Why Employers Are Paying Attention to Micro-Credentials
Coursera’s research provides a strong reason to take micro-credentials seriously.
Ninety-five percent of employers surveyed said micro-credentials are a key differentiator between candidates, and 87% rated them as highly important in hiring decisions.
The report also found that 92% of employers said entry-level hires with micro-credentials perform better in their first year. Ninety-four percent indicated they were willing to offer higher starting salaries to graduates with micro-credentials.
For software testers, that makes a focused credential useful in two ways. You learn something that can make you more capable at work, and you have a credential that helps make that additional knowledge visible to an employer.
Start With the Skill You Need
AT*SQA micro-credentials have no prerequisites.
That means you can go directly to the subject that matters to you. If you need API testing, start with API testing. If AI has become part of your job, start with AI. The same applies to automation, performance testing, cybersecurity, Agile and other areas.
This can be especially useful for experienced testers who already know software testing but need to add a particular skill.
AT*SQA also allows credentials within an AT*SkillStack to be completed in any order.
What Can You Learn?
AT*SQA offers micro-credentials covering areas including:
- Agile testing
- AI for testers
- API testing
- Cybersecurity testing
- DevOps testing
- IoT and mobile testing
- Performance testing
- Test approaches and techniques
- Test automation
- Testing using the cloud
- Usability testing
Some larger subjects are divided into several credentials, allowing testers to build their knowledge in stages.
Five Certifications Can Be Built From Micro-Credentials
AT*SQA calls its stackable model AT*SkillStack.
An individual micro-credential can be earned on its own. Many also count toward one of five full AT*SQA certifications.
Testing Essentials
Eight micro-credentials make up the Testing Essentials path:
- Test Approaches
- Testing Techniques
- DevOps Testing
- Testing for IoT and Mobile
- Performance Testing
- Usability Testing
- Cybersecurity Testing
- Test Automation Overview
See the AT*SQA Testing Essentials certification path
Agile Testing
Four micro-credentials make up the Agile Testing path:
- Agile Software Testing Methodologies
- Agile Implementation
- Making Agile Work
- Test Approaches
See the AT*SQA Agile Testing certification path
API Testing
The API Testing path has three parts covering planning and design, REST API, gRPC and GraphQL testing, and environments and tools.
See the AT*SQA API Testing certification path
Test Automation
Four credentials cover Test Automation Overview, Implementation, Tools and Solutions, and Transitions.
See the AT*SQA Test Automation certification path
AI for Testers
The AI for Testers path includes:
- AI Introduction for Testers
- What to Test in AI-Based Systems
- How to Test AI-Based Systems
- Testing Using AI
See the AT*SQA AI for Testers certification path
Across the five paths, 21 distinct micro-credentials contribute to at least one full certification.
The stack totals add up to 23 because Test Approaches appears in both Testing Essentials and Agile Testing, while Test Automation Overview appears in both Testing Essentials and Test Automation.
AT*SQA also offers Testing Using the Cloud as a separate micro-credential.
Earn One Credential or Keep Going
You do not need to commit to a full certification when you start.
Suppose performance testing becomes important at work. You can earn the Performance Testing micro-credential and stop there if that meets your needs.
If you later decide to pursue Testing Essentials, the credential you already earned counts toward that certification.
The same model works with AI, APIs, automation and Agile. You can build your credentials as your career develops rather than deciding on the entire path at the beginning.
AT*Learn Provides Optional Training
AT*SQA provides study materials for people who prefer self-study. It also offers structured training through AT*Learn in:
- Testing Essentials
- Agile Testing
- API Testing
- Test Automation
- AI for Testers
Training is optional. Someone familiar with a subject may prefer to prepare independently, while a tester moving into a new area may find a course more useful.
How Do AT*SQA Micro-Credentials Fit With ISTQB?
They can be alternatives or complements.
ISTQB offers a well-known certification path covering broader areas of software testing. AT*SQA micro-credentials provide a more modular way to build and demonstrate specific skills, with no prerequisite exam before starting.
A tester may choose the AT*SQA approach because that flexibility fits the person’s career needs. Another tester may already hold ISTQB certification and add AT*SQA credentials in AI, APIs, automation or another specialty.
AT*SQA itself offers both ISTQB exams and its own micro-credentials and certifications, so there is no reason the two paths cannot be used together.
The important question is which knowledge will help you most in the work you do now or the job you want next.
Are AT*SQA Micro-Credentials Worth Considering?
If you want to learn a specific software testing skill and earn a credential for that knowledge, they are certainly worth a look.
There are no prerequisites, you can start with the subject most useful to you, and you do not have to commit to an entire certification path. If you decide to continue, 21 different micro-credentials currently contribute to five full AT*SQA certifications.
Combined with the strong employer findings in Coursera’s 2026 research, that makes micro-credentials an interesting option for testers who want to keep learning while building credentials that can support their careers.
Explore AT*SQA micro-credentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Do AT*SQA micro-credentials have prerequisites?
No. You can start with the software testing subject that is most useful to you without first earning another credential.
Can AT*SQA micro-credentials become full certifications?
Yes. AT*SQA has stackable certification paths for Testing Essentials, Agile Testing, API Testing, Test Automation and AI for Testers.
How many AT*SQA micro-credentials are part of certification stacks?
Twenty-one distinct micro-credentials currently contribute to at least one of the five AT*SkillStack certification paths.
Do I have to complete an entire AT*SkillStack?
No. Individual micro-credentials stand on their own. You can complete the rest of a stack later if you want the corresponding AT*SQA certification.
Is AT*Learn required?
No. You can self-study or choose optional AT*Learn training.
Can I have both ISTQB and AT*SQA credentials?
Yes. They can complement each other, particularly if you want broader certification along with focused credentials in areas such as AI, APIs or automation.