Find the perfect expert with a ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) certificate in Dusseldorf, matched in minutes from over 15,000 CVs with the power of AI.
CTFL holders bring a solid grasp of test fundamentals, defect reporting, test design techniques, and the tester’s role across the software lifecycle. That makes them useful for new releases, regression work, and day-to-day quality checks. Find vetted freelancers with this certification fast and precisely.
About the certification
What CTFL proves
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level, often called CTFL or ISTQB CTFL, shows that a person understands the core language of software testing. It is the entry point many companies look for when they need structured testing support, clear defect reporting, and a shared way of working with developers and business teams.
Core skills
A CTFL holder is expected to work with the basics of test analysis and execution, and to understand why testing is planned, tracked, and reported carefully.
- Test objectives and the purpose of quality assurance
- Test design techniques and logical test cases
- Defect reporting and follow-up
- Test levels, test types, and the software development lifecycle
- Risk-based thinking and test prioritization
- Communication with developers, analysts, and product owners
Typical profile
This certification is common for junior testers, career changers, business analysts who support testing, and professionals who want a formal base before moving into specialist areas. In Dusseldorf, it is often relevant in mixed teams where English is used for project work and German is used for local coordination.
What companies get
Hiring a freelancer with CTFL means bringing in someone who knows how to test in a structured way instead of guessing. You can expect clearer bug reports, more consistent test cases, and better cooperation with internal teams during releases, user acceptance testing, and regression cycles.
- A common testing vocabulary across the team
- Better coverage of normal and edge cases
- More disciplined defect documentation
- A stronger fit for agile and traditional project setups
Preparation and exam path
The CTFL exam is based on the ISTQB syllabus and focuses on concepts rather than tool-specific knowledge. Candidates usually prepare with study guides, sample questions, and hands-on practice in a test team. There are no special technical prerequisites for the foundation level, which is why it is often the first step into formal testing.
Related names and next steps
Searchers often use ISTQB CTFL, Foundation Level Tester, or simply ISTQB Foundation Level when they mean this certification. It is also the base for later ISTQB specializations, so it helps when a company wants a freelancer who can grow into broader quality roles. For Dusseldorf projects, it is a practical signal when the team needs reliable testing support without a long onboarding phase.
Meet FRATCH ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)
Cherif Sahraoui
DevOps Specialist
Last position:
DevOps Specialist – SCM & CI Platform at Freelancer
- Designed and developed the architecture of an enterprise SCM/CI platform for Kubernetes-native delivery and GitOps workflows.
- Implemented infrastructure automation and Vault & IAM integration for secure, compliant pipelines.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to improve DevOps, security, and architecture in release processes.
- Increased platform adoption and developer experience by automating onboarding and artifact pipelines.
Arndt Maas
Project Manager for ServiceNow Vulnerability Response
Last position:
Project Manager for ServiceNow Vulnerability Response at Union Investment Services & IT GmbH
- Led the subproject for implementing Vulnerability Response as part of DORA
- Documented the current processes in compliance, risk & security
- Created the functional design for introducing application, infrastructure, and cloud vulnerabilities
- Agile management of the integration service provider, the technical department, and the company's cross-functional teams
- Integrated the V scanners Tenable, Qualys and Defender, as well as NVD and CISA/KEV
- Integrated GitLab Ultimate for importing and processing SBOMs
- Developed automation rules to match scan results with CIs in the CMDB, assign vulnerabilities and remediation tasks, handle approvals (false positives, exceptions) and closures
- Calculated multiple risk scores and priorities
- Defined dashboards and reports (Workspaces, Performance Analytics)
- Aligned the new processes, especially to improve the CMDB data quality (according to CSDM)
Hassan Amjad
IT Consultant
Last position:
IT Consultant at ALDI South (Albrecht's Discount)
- Supporting the DevOps team in Terraform-managed, multi-region AWS infrastructure to achieve environment parity.
- Developed end-to-end CI/CD pipelines using AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy, automating the build and deployment.
- Maintained pre- and post-deployment scripts to automate critical tasks such as database schema migrations and environment sanity checks.
- Implemented CI/CD flow specifically for hotfixes via separate Git branches, managing back-merge activities from feature branches to release branches to ensure code integrity through automated conflict resolution.
- Deployed a dedicated, lightweight sanity check application hosted cost-effectively on Azure Container Apps to run automated health and basic functional checks as a post-deployment activity triggered via pipeline.
- Investigated production incidents through code changes and AWS CloudWatch logs.
- Coordinated integration of Dynatrace APM and its APIs for monitoring purposes.
- Full stack QA strategist for a high-traffic e-commerce platform built on a layered architecture for the back-end testing of core platform services, especially the order management system in Zed and Glue layers.
- Managed automation activities, testing process, and refactoring practices.
- Responsible for framework migrations, setup, and training for new automation frameworks.
- Promoted a shift-left approach within the QA team and created the test concept.
- Participated in meetings with IT managers, business owners, product owners, and team members.
Jürgen Schoemaker
IT Consultant / Analyst / Developer / Tester / Support
Last position:
IT Consultant / Analyst / Developer / Tester / Support at Automotive Manufacturer
- Analysis, software development/customization, and testing of various transaction and batch objects
- Conducting functional integration and regression tests on TEST and QA platforms under z/OS for later production implementation
- Hardware / Software / Tools: IBM MVS, z/OS, JES2/3, TSO-ISPF, JCL, DB2, SQL, SQL/PL, QMF, QMF for Workstations, SPUFI, FileAid, IMS-DB/DC, MFS, XPEDITER, COBOL, REXX, Windows 10, MS Office 365, MS Teams, batch job management via OPC, BETA92, RVS, BVB, ABL, DIALOGplus, PROBA, PRODPR (VW internal systems), JIRA, CONFLUENCE
Philipp Freiberg
Project Manager & Marketing Manager
Last position:
Project Manager & Marketing Manager at umagine GmbH
- Agile project management
- Support for marketing projects
- Building the marketing agency Brainverse UG
- Corporate communication
- Content creation
- Copywriting
- CI/CD development
- Technical consulting for digital transformation
Sebastian Chece
Load & Performance Testing - Test Automation
Last position:
Public institution responsible for educational institutions in NRW
- Consulting on processes and execution of load tests, performance tests and technical tests of various applications: web portal, file cloud, email, video conferencing, learning/course platform
- Creating the load test framework
- Programming test scripts (JMeter, Selenium)
- Developing batches to support the evaluation
- Executing load tests and evaluating results, including clear reporting, recommendations for action, and bottleneck analysis
- Managing tasks and collaboration to achieve meaningful load test results
Khattab Mennat
Software Tester
Last position:
Software Tester at Atlas Elektronik GmbH
- Derive test cases in IBM DOORS for various devices according to ISTQB
- Automate and execute test cases in Python on Linux
- MobaXtrem, Windchill are used
Peter Weiß
Business Analyst
Last position:
Business Analyst at Finanz Informatik GmbH & Co. KG
- Maintenance and further development of the OSPlus software in the cashier area
- Use of IBM Notes and HP Quality Center
Humayun Shaukat
Test Manager
Last position:
Test Manager at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE
- Quality assurance for 7 apps and websites as well as Galileo
- Designing, planning and executing tests
- Designing the test strategy in an agile team
- Planning, monitoring and coordinating test activities
- Reviewing and matching test cases
- Documenting test results
- Reviewing found defects
- Collaborating with developers
- Conducting regression tests
- Creating test summary reports
- Participating in various meetings with all stakeholders
- Approach, tools & systems: Jira, Android Studio, iOS, Android, Agile-Scrum
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
19 years
Position duration
1.9 years
Positions per freelancer
12
Top business areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Product Development
Top industries
Information Technology, Professional Services, Banking and Finance
Certification focus areas
Quality Assurance, Information Technology, Project Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
100%
Master's degree or higher
57%
Certifications per freelancer
6
Most common languages
German, English, Arabic
Speak two or more languages
100%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers holding this certification are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) validates that a person understands the basics of software testing and can apply them in a structured way. It covers test design, defect reporting, test levels, and the logic behind a good test process. For companies, that means the freelancer can work with a shared testing method instead of relying on ad hoc checks.
Yes. CTFL is the common abbreviation for the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level, and ISTQB Foundation Level is another widely used way to refer to it. In profiles and job briefs, all three forms usually point to the same certification.
CTFL is a good fit for junior testers, manual testers, business analysts who support quality work, and professionals moving into testing from another role. It is also useful for freelancers who need a recognized baseline before they add tool, domain, or automation skills. Companies often look for it when they want someone who can join a project and follow a clear test process from the start.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) gives the core concepts that every tester should know. Advanced ISTQB certifications go deeper into topics such as test management, test analysis, or technical testing. In practice, CTFL is the foundation; the later levels are for more specialized work.
Preparation for ISTQB CTFL usually includes studying the ISTQB syllabus, working through example questions, and learning the standard testing terms and techniques. Practical experience helps, but the exam is mainly about understanding concepts and applying them correctly. Many candidates prepare after spending time in real project testing, while others study first and then build experience on the job.
For the Foundation Level there are usually no formal prerequisites. That is one reason it is popular with people starting in testing or moving into the field from analysis, support, or development. A solid grasp of software basics and careful reading of the syllabus are usually enough to begin.
CTFL is maintained through ISTQB’s certification framework, and renewal rules can depend on the version and the local ISTQB member board. Before relying on a certificate for a hiring decision, it is wise to check that the holder’s certification status is current. For freelancers, keeping records of exam results and any follow-up ISTQB steps helps avoid confusion in future project discussions.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) matters most in projects where the team needs disciplined manual testing, clear communication, and reliable regression checks. In Dusseldorf, that often includes software rollouts with local coordination, international teams, and mixed English-German project settings. It is a strong signal for business software, web platforms, and release-heavy environments where test structure matters.
The average hourly rate for freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf is 82 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 657 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 57% hold at least a Master's degree.
On average, freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf have 19 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 1.9 years.
The most common languages among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf are German (100%), English (100%), and Arabic (22%).
The most common industries among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf are Information Technology (100%), Professional Services (67%), and Banking and Finance (56%).
The most common business areas among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) in Dusseldorf are Information Technology (100%), Quality Assurance (89%), and Product Development (56%).
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
