International Software Quality Institute

What International Software Quality Institute does

iSQI (International Software Quality Institute GmbH) is a privately held German certification exam provider founded in 2004 and headquartered in Potsdam, with a North American subsidiary (iSQI Inc.) in Boston. The company sells internationally recognized professional certifications in software testing, requirements engineering, software architecture, usability/UX, agile, AI, digital accessibility, and product management. iSQI does not own the underlying qualification schemes; rather, it operates as the dominant or exclusive exam-delivery partner for ten international qualification boards, including ISTQB, IREB, iSAQB, UXQB, A4Q, ASQF, ISPMA, TMMi, and TMap. Its product catalog spans entry-level Foundation exams (US$85–$300) through Advanced and Specialist certifications (up to US$2,900), with product launches in 2025 covering AI testing, digital accessibility aligned with the European Accessibility Act, and an updated CPRE Elicitation version incorporating AI content.

iSQI's technology is a cloud-based certification exam delivery platform, with three delivery modes: Pearson VUE test centers (~6,000 centers in 180 countries), its proprietary FLEX remote-proctored exam via a ProctorExam integration (24/7 availability, live chat-supervised, same-day digital certificates), and periodic on-site public exam sessions. Supporting services include free online mock exams, the ISTQB Prep platform, the 2TRY exam-retake program (additional 25% for a guaranteed free re-sit within 90 days), and 25% time-extension accommodations for non-native speakers. Back-office integrations include HubSpot CRM, Mailchimp for newsletters, Google Analytics with e-commerce tracking, PayPal for payments, and SkillsClub AG for forgery-proof digital badges.

iSQI's business model is predominantly transactional, generating revenue through one-time exam fees priced in USD/EUR/GBP/CHF/CAD/AUD/NZD, with revenue also derived from training-provider partnerships, the 2TRY retake program, and accreditation licensing. Go-to-market is a hybrid of inside sales, self-service e-commerce on isqi.org, and channel sales through a global network of accredited training providers. Customer segments are horizontal and individual-professional oriented — software testers/QA, business analysts/requirements engineers, software architects, UX professionals, agile practitioners, and IT managers — with stated volume of 30,000+ certifications issued annually across more than 100 countries in 10 languages. Marketing relies on SEO, organic social (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube), and free mock-exam content as top-of-funnel lead generation.

Name

International Software Quality Institute

Legal name

iSQI - International Software Quality Institute GmbH

Website

https://isqi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

iSQI is a German-headquartered certification exam provider selling internationally recognized IT professional certifications in software testing, requirements engineering, software architecture, UX, AI, and agile via Pearson VUE test centers, proprietary FLEX remote proctoring, and a global accredited training-provider network, issuing 30,000+ certifications annually across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional IT Certification Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Exam Delivery & Test Administration Platforms (EDAFADAA), Certification & Exam Prep Course Marketplaces (EDAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Professional certification exams
• Software testing certifications
• Remote proctored exams
• IT credentialing services
• Exam voucher platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Exam Fees: One-time exam fees for individual certification exams. Prices range from approximately $85 to over $2,900 depending on certification level and type. Includes Foundation, Advanced, and Specialist level certifications.
2. 2TRY Retake Program: Additional 25% of initial order price for guaranteed free first re-sit exam within 90 days. Available on selected products only.
3. Training Provider Partnerships: Revenue generated through accreditation and partnership with training providers who prepare candidates for iSQI certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

iSQI is a for-profit certification exam provider that delivers internationally recognized IT professional credentials on behalf of boards such as ISTQB, IREB, iSAQB, UXQB, A4Q, ASQF, ISPMA and TMMi. Candidates purchase one-time exam vouchers (Foundation, Advanced, Specialist levels) and sit them either at Pearson VUE test centers in 180 countries or remotely via the proprietary FLEX/ProctorExam platform available 24/7. The company supplements exam delivery with prep aids (free online mock exams, ISTQB Prep platform), accessibility accommodations (time extensions for non-native speakers), and risk-reduction add-ons such as the 2TRY free re-sit guarantee.

Product overview

International Software Quality Institute (iSQI) operates as a certification exam provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional certification programs across software testing, quality assurance, requirements engineering, software architecture, usability, and Agile methodologies. The company provides exam delivery through multiple methods including remote proctored (FLEX), Pearson VUE test centers, and public exam sessions. The product portfolio includes internationally recognized certifications from certification bodies including ISTQB, IREB, iSAQB, UXQB, A4Q, ASQF, ISPMA, and TMMI. Key offerings include ISTQB Certified Tester certifications (Foundation Level 4.0, Agile Tester, AI Testing, Testing with Generative AI), IREB Requirements Engineering certifications, iSAQB Software Architecture certifications, UXQB Usability and User Experience certifications, and A4Q certifications covering Selenium testing, AI, digital accessibility, and service design. The company also offers supplementary services including online mock exams, the ISTQB Prep preparation platform, 2TRY exam retake guarantees, and time extension accommodations for non-native speakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 2TRY: Exam retake program allowing candidates who fail their first attempt to take a free re-sit exam within 90 days for a 25% additional fee.
• FLEX

Products and services

• ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level 4.0 (CTFL 4.0) Foundation-level ISTQB certification covering essential software testing knowledge, terminology and concepts applicable across Agile, Waterfall and DevOps delivery models; for individual testers and QA professionals globally. US$273.30 per exam attempt.
• ISTQB Certified Tester — Testing with Generative AI (CT-GenAI) ISTQB certification for testers and QA professionals testing generative-AI-driven systems. Starting from US$85.41.
• ISTQB Certified Tester — Agile Tester (CTFL-AT) ISTQB Foundation-level extension validating testers' knowledge of software testing within Agile software development environments.
• A4Q Certified Selenium 4 Tester Foundation v3.0 A4Q certification connecting Selenium 4 test-automation theory with practical application in Python and Java, covering Selenium IDE, Selenium Grid and WebDriver. Available remote-only since February 3, 2025 (v3.0).
• ISTQB Add-On Practical Tester by A4Q AI-based ISTQB add-on certification exam validating practical software-testing skills — applying testing techniques, creating test cases, defect reports and estimation — through AI-driven learning tools.
• IREB Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering Foundation Level (CPRE-FL) IREB certification validating comprehensive knowledge in requirements engineering — systems vs. system context, requirements elicitation/documentation/testing/management. US$113.88–US$313.16 regionally; 50% student discount available.
• iSAQB Certified Professional for Software Architecture Foundation Level (CPSA-F) iSAQB certification attesting to comprehensive knowledge in software architecture, including the architect's role, architecture and non-functional requirements, and technical concepts. US$301.77; 50% student discount.
• iSAQB Certified Professional for Software Architecture Advanced Level (CPSA-A) iSAQB Advanced Level certification demonstrating technical, methodological and communicative competence in software architecture; written-assignment based. US$2,903.86.
• UXQB CPUX Foundation (CPUX-F) UXQB certification validating knowledge in usability and user experience — human-centred design, context of use, user requirements, design solutions and usability testing. US$159.43; 20% association-member discount (German UPA, UX Pro Austria, UX Switzerland).
• A4Q AI Foundation A4Q certification providing foundation-level understanding of AI concepts and applications for testing and software-development professionals. US$148.04.
• ASQF Certified Professional for IoT (CPIoT) Foundation ASQF certification covering Internet of Things software testing and quality assurance for IoT systems.
• ISPMA Certified Software Product Manager — Foundation ISPMA certification validating foundational knowledge in software product management.
• iSQI Scrum Master Pro iSQI-branded certification validating knowledge and skills in Scrum Master practices and Agile project management.
• A4Q Business Service Design Foundation Level A4Q certification covering business service design principles and methodologies for designing customer-centric services.
• A4Q Certified Professional Digital Accessibility A4Q certification covering digital accessibility aligned with WCAG, EN 301 549 and the European Accessibility Act for building accessible digital products. US$112.74–US$153.73.
• Digital Design Professional (DDP FL) Certification covering digital design thinking and methods for developing digital solutions beyond traditional software approaches.
• IREB RE@Agile Primer (CPRE-AP) IREB certification combining traditional requirements engineering with Agile methods; teaches how RE methods integrate into Agile development processes.
• IREB CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Management — Practitioner IREB Advanced Level certification covering requirements management challenges, stakeholder expectations and consistent management of requirements in projects.
• IREB CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Modeling — Practitioner IREB Advanced Level certification teaching efficient use of models in requirements-engineering work.
• IREB CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation — Practitioner (Version 3.1.0) IREB Advanced Level certification covering gathering and evaluating requirements and collaborating with stakeholders; specialist-version update in August 2025 adds AI-reflection content.
• UXQB CPUX-M Essentials in UX and HCD Management UXQB certification covering human-centred design management — UX vision, HCD culture, maturity assessment, and business value measurement.
• UXQB CPUX-DS Designing Solutions (Theory) UXQB Advanced Level certification focusing on design solutions and UI prototypes, bridging User Requirements Engineering and Usability Testing.
• UXQB CPUX-UR User Requirements Engineering (Theory) UXQB Advanced Level certification covering usability requirements engineering based on ISO 9241-210, including context analysis, information collection and requirements documentation.
• UXQB CPUX-UT Usability Testing (Theory) UXQB Advanced Level certification covering usability testing methodologies for conducting tests with actual users and documenting usability issues.
• A4Q Customer Experience (CX) Analysis Foundation Level A4Q certification covering customer experience principles, approaches and techniques including voice-of-customer analysis and customer journey enhancement.
• 2TRY Exam Retake Option Risk-reduction add-on where candidates pay an additional 25% of the exam price and receive a free first re-sit within 90 days if they fail the initial exam.
• Time Extension Service Exam accommodation offering 25% additional time to non-native speakers and candidates with special needs, applied automatically to remote and test-center exams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ professionals certified annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTQB is the primary certification scheme provider for software testing qualifications. iSQI serves as an exam provider offering ISTQB certifications globally including CTFL 4.0, CTFL-AT, CT-AI, CT-GenAI, and Advanced/Expert level certifications. Partnership provides the foundation of iSQI's software testing certification portfolio.
• IREB (International Requirements Engineering Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriSQI provides CPRE (Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering) certifications including Foundation Level, Advanced Level modules (Elicitation, Requirements Management, Requirements Modeling), and Specialist certifications. One of iSQI's major certification pillars.
• A4Q (Agile for Quality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA4Q certifications offered include Selenium Tester, AI Foundation, Business Service Design, IQBBA Business Analysis, Digital Accessibility, Customer Experience Analysis, and Security Essentials. Partnership supports iSQI's Agile and DevOps certification offerings.
• UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriSQI provides CPUX (Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience) certifications including Foundation (CPUX-F), CPUX-M Essentials, CPUX-UT Usability Testing, CPUX-UR User Requirements Engineering, and CPUX-DS Designing Solutions Advanced Level exams.
• iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriSQI provides iSAQB CPSA (Certified Professional for Software Architecture) certifications at Foundation Level (CPSA-F) and Advanced Level (CPSA-A). CPSA-A requires 70 credit points across three competence areas.
• Pearson VuecoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson Vue provides the test center examination infrastructure for iSQI certifications. ~6,000 test centers in 180 countries. iSQI voucher holders schedule exams through Pearson Vue platform. Also supports OnVue remote proctoring option.
• TMapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMap certification offered through iSQI platform for test professionals. TMap provides methodology for structured test approach.
• ASQF (Arbeitskreis Software-Qualitaet und Framework)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASQF certifications offered include Certified Professional for IoT (CPIoT) Foundation Level. Partnership extends iSQI's quality engineering portfolio.
• TMMi (Test Maturity Model Integration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMMi Professional (TMMI-P) certification offered through iSQI for test process improvement and maturity assessment.
• ISPMA (International Software Product Management Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPMA CSPM (Certified Software Product Manager) Foundation Level certification offered through iSQI platform.
• ProctorExamcoreTechnology or IntegrationProctorExam provides the live remote proctoring platform for iSQI's FLEX exams. Enables 24/7 exam scheduling with real-time human supervision via chat interface.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GASQ (Global Association for Software Quality): Global not-for-profit ISTQB member board that also delivers software testing certifications, directly overlapping iSQI's core ISTQB exam delivery portfolio across multiple regions.
• AT*SQA (American Software Quality Association): US-based ISTQB member board that administers the same software testing certification exams as iSQI, including CTFL and Agile Tester extensions, competing for the same candidate pool.
• EXIN: Global certification provider for IT and digital skills including Agile, DevOps, and software testing — directly competes with iSQI for the same professional certification buyer across multiple disciplines.
• Brightest (Tech Certification Delivery): Specialized certification and assessment delivery provider for IT and tech credentials — closely comparable business model to iSQI's exam-delivery-as-a-service approach.

Broad incumbents

• BCS (British Computer Society / BCS Certifications): UK chartered professional body offering a wide range of IT certifications including software testing, business analysis, and requirements — broader portfolio but overlapping target candidates and certifications with iSQI.
• PeopleCert / AXELOS: Owns ITIL, PRINCE2, and other global IT certifications with broad exam delivery infrastructure — a broader incumbent whose professional certification portfolio intersects with iSQI's agile and IT management offerings.

Regional players

• Cert-IT: ISTQB exam provider operating primarily in additional European markets, directly competing with iSQI for ISTQB Foundation, Advanced, and Specialist certifications in their respective geographies.

Emerging players

• Scrum Alliance: Provides Scrum and Agile certifications (CSM, CSPO) that partially overlap with iSQI's Agile and Scrum Master offerings — overlapping customer segment with different certification framework.
• Scaled Agile (SAFe): Provider of SAFe Agile certifications that target a similar IT/agile practitioner audience as iSQI's iSQI Scrum Master Pro and ISTQB Agile Tester certifications.

Others

• ISTQB Foundation (Central Body): International umbrella body governing the ISTQB certification scheme — not a competitor but a critical ecosystem participant; iSQI is one of many accredited providers operating under ISTQB's framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/isqicert
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/isqigmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/isqi.gmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isqi-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Software Quality Institute