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

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 49% of positions. In 32% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Test Leads

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 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 14% 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 20 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective test leads, and in 2021 a total of 175,803 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 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

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 150,346 job postings

Based on 150,346 job postings related to test leads, automation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 44% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for test automation, test planning, agile methodology, computer science and selenium (software) were also highly sought.

As for common skills, safety assurance was the most desired skill found in job postings for test leads, followed by communications, quality assurance, management, problem solving and troubleshooting (problem solving).

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about test leads? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for test leads.

What do test leads do?
How much do test leads make?

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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.

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