Technology

How to become a QA Tester

From no experience: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there

3–9 months

Typical pay

$55k–$78k

Starting from

No experience

The steps

1. 1

   Learn testing fundamentals

   Test cases, regression suites, bug reports that developers can actually act on.

   2–3 months

   Course that covers thisWebsite Testing Masterclass: Real Test Cases for QA SuccessUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   Start manual, then automate

   Manual QA is a real way in, and it teaches you the product.

   6–12 months

3. 3

   Learn Selenium or Playwright

   Automation is where QA pay separates from QA drudgery.

   Course that covers thisA Gentle Introduction To JavaScript For Absolute BeginnersUdemy · around $19.99 →
4. 4

   Add API testing

   Postman and a bit of SQL to check what actually landed in the database.

   Course that covers thisMaster SQL - Core Database Skills Practice ExamUdemy · around $19.99 →

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.