Test Leads: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of test leads about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for test leads to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of test leads expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for test leads.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Test Leads?
Do test leads need a degree? What kind of experience do test leads typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for test leads to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Test Leads
Jobs Postings for Test Leads By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 34,323 (48%)
- No Education Listed: 22,384 (32%)
- Master's degree: 8,362 (12%)
- High School or GED: 4,177 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,671 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of test leads. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 48% of positions. In 32% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Test Leads
Jobs Postings for Test Leads By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,845 (9%)
- 2-3 Years: 10,274 (25%)
- 4-6 Years: 15,814 (39%)
- 7-9 Years: 6,664 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 3,989 (10%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for test leads. In 39% of job postings for Test Leads, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 25% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for test leads.
What Kind of Degree Do Test Leads Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for test leads, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective test leads, and in 2023 a total of 203,381 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective test leads.
Top Degree Programs for Test Leads
Top 5 Degree Programs for Test Leads (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Science/Studies. | 20,146 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | 13,383 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 9,615 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Computer Science. | 72,432 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 62,365 |
| Information Science/Studies. | 20,146 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | 13,383 |
| Computer Programming/Programmer, General. | 9,615 |
| Computer Software Engineering. | 5,017 |
| Data Science, General. | 4,387 |
| Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other. | 3,190 |
| Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. | 2,835 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Applications. | 2,399 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other. | 2,301 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 2,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other. | 1,762 |
| E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce. | 415 |
| Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification. | 352 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 347 |
| Computer Software Technology/Technician. | 249 |
| Computer Programming, Other. | 161 |
| Computer Programming, Specific Platforms. | 25 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Test Leads
Develop the advanced technical skills needed to turn complex programming specifications into well-designed computer programs.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Test Leads Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by test leads to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for test leads, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Test Leads
Based on 61,142 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Test Leads
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | 28,989 | 47% |
| Test Automation | 26,592 | 43% |
| Test Planning | 22,964 | 38% |
| Agile Methodology | 19,692 | 32% |
| Computer Science | 17,951 | 29% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Test Leads
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Assurance | 23,101 | 38% |
| Communication | 23,045 | 38% |
| Quality Assurance | 16,598 | 27% |
| Management | 14,900 | 24% |
| Problem Solving | 13,438 | 22% |
Based on 61,142 job postings related to test leads, automation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 47% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for test automation, test planning, agile methodology, computer science and software testing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, safety assurance was the most desired skill found in job postings for test leads, followed by communication, quality assurance, management, problem solving and troubleshooting (problem solving).
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Automation | 28,989 | 47% |
| Test Automation | 26,592 | 43% |
| Test Planning | 22,964 | 38% |
| Agile Methodology | 19,692 | 32% |
| Computer Science | 17,951 | 29% |
| Software Testing | 14,189 | 23% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 13,150 | 22% |
| Selenium (Software) | 13,097 | 21% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 13,000 | 21% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 12,411 | 20% |
| Software Quality (SQA/SQC) | 12,194 | 20% |
| JIRA | 10,889 | 18% |
| Software Development | 10,482 | 17% |
| Test Engineering | 9,606 | 16% |
| Scripting | 8,926 | 15% |
| Scrum (Software Development) | 8,830 | 14% |
| Application Programming Interface (API) | 8,751 | 14% |
| Regression Testing | 8,644 | 14% |
| Debugging | 7,543 | 12% |
| Project Management | 7,460 | 12% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Assurance | 23,101 | 38% |
| Communication | 23,045 | 38% |
| Quality Assurance | 16,598 | 27% |
| Management | 14,900 | 24% |
| Problem Solving | 13,438 | 22% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 11,525 | 19% |
| Planning | 9,111 | 15% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,076 | 15% |
| Writing | 8,681 | 14% |
| Leadership | 8,127 | 13% |
| Operations | 7,384 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 5,835 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 5,488 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 5,413 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 5,342 | 9% |
| Research | 4,890 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 4,858 | 8% |
| Information Technology | 4,681 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,525 | 7% |
| Innovation | 4,241 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about test leads? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for test leads.
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.