Continuous Testing Foundation
Continuous Testing Foundation (CTF)℠
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Continuous Testing Foundation (CTF)℠ certification is offered by DevOps Institute, now part of the PeopleCert Group. It is aimed at professionals who want to build or validate skills in integrating testing across the continuous delivery pipeline - the source describes continuous testing as enabling "faster, higher quality releases and reduced costs by seamlessly integrating into the Continuous Delivery process to identify and address risks at all stages of the development pipeline thereby minimizing business risk and impact on customers." The published target audience spans developers, DevOps engineers, quality assurance teams and managers, testers, release managers, project managers, IT managers, maintenance and support staff, and lab staff. The exam is a 40-question, multiple-choice, open-book, web-based test in English, lasting 60 minutes, with a 65% passing score; the credential is valid for three years, after which renewal is required. The blueprint lists eight learning areas: continuous testing concepts, terminology and benefits; culture; strategies; frameworks and tools; test planning; test automation; test management and analysis; and defining a DevOps test strategy. Preparation options listed are instructor-led training, online learning, and self-study. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by DevOps Institute or PeopleCert.
What you'll study
About Continuous Testing Foundation preparation
How long is the exam and how many questions does it have?
The source states 40 questions, a 60-minute duration, multiple choice format, web-based delivery, English language, and open book. That works out to roughly 90 seconds per question, so pace yourself and flag anything slow rather than letting one item consume several minutes.
What score do I need to pass?
The passing score is 65%, so with 40 questions you need at least 26 correct. Anything at or below 25 correct is a fail. Because the exam is open book, the main risk is time spent searching rather than knowledge gaps.
Is the exam open book, and does that make it easy?
Yes, open book is listed as "Yes." It does not make it trivial: 40 questions in 60 minutes leaves little time to look things up. Candidates who prepare indexes or notes in advance do better than those who rely on searching during the exam.
How long is the certification valid?
Three years from the original certification date. DevOps Institute states certifications need to be renewed every three years so skills stay relevant as roles, technologies and professional environments evolve. Check the current renewal and continuous professional development requirements before your expiry date.
What topics should I study, and in what order?
The blueprint lists eight areas: concepts, terminology and benefits; culture; strategies; frameworks and tools; test planning; test automation; test management and analysis; and defining a DevOps test strategy. A sensible order is concepts first, then culture and strategy, then planning, automation, and management, finishing with the strategy-definition area that ties everything together.
What background do I need before taking it?
The source does not state formal prerequisites, but the target audience includes testers, QA teams and managers, developers, DevOps engineers, release managers and project managers. Practical familiarity with a delivery pipeline and with test automation concepts makes the strategy, planning and automation areas much easier to absorb.
Does this certification help my career?
The source frames benefits for individuals as career growth toward DevOps and digital transformation opportunities, and says the skills gained position people as DevOps leaders because test engineering skills are key to success with DevOps. It also lists roles such as DevOps Tester and DevOps Engineer in its career pathways.
Where do I buy the exam and complete my application?
DevOps Institute is now part of the PeopleCert Group, and the site redirects candidates to the PeopleCert platform to purchase the exam and to complete and submit the application. Note the earlier notice that exams had to be completed in the WebAssessor platform before November 15, 2023, ahead of a platform transition.
What is the most common way candidates fail?
The source gives no failure statistics. Based on the exam design, the predictable risks are running out of time on 40 questions in 60 minutes, over-relying on open-book lookups, and skipping the less technical areas such as culture and test management and analysis in favour of automation topics.
What preparation options are available?
The source lists instructor-led training, online learning and self-study, and points candidates to authorized partners and an online learning course description. Because the exam is open book, self-study paired with your own organized notes is a practical route if you already have pipeline and testing experience.