Information systems testing technicians
Career Overview
Information systems testing technicians put test plans in place to make sure that software applications and information and telecommunications systems work.
Job Titles
Duties
Information systems testing technicians perform some or all of these duties:
- Develop and record software testing plans including a range of testing types, such as functional, non-functional, system integration and user acceptance testing (UAT)
- Put software and hardware in place
- Put together the operating system software so that it can be tested
- Create test settings, test cases, and review and report on test data
- Review and record the results of software application tests and information and telecommunication systems tests
- Bring up any problems or problems found when testing, fix them and re-test
- Assist with creating and using software and information system testing processes
- Work with a team made up of people with different skill sets, professional backgrounds and experience
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,045% Employed Full Time
68%Information systems testing technicians typically work a 40-hour work week. Sometimes overtime or additional work hours may be needed to take care of unexpected technical problems or to meet deadlines to launch new products or services.
Information systems testing technicians work in an office or computer lab. They spend a great deal of time on their computer and this may cause eyestrain, back pain, and hand and wrist problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic workstations and processes are often put in place by the employer to help people avoid these health issues.
People in this career can work in both the private and public sectors. They are typically part of information technology departments or divisions, or they may be employed by a company that develops software or designs computer and telecommunication systems.
Career Pathways
Moving into computer programming, interactive media development, web development or systems analysis is possible with experience. Information systems testing technicians that have worked for several years may be able to find more senior jobs in areas such as project management and in supervisory or quality assurance management positions.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Information systems testing technicians usually need to complete a college or university program in computer science, computer programming or network administration. Entry-level training programs in computer science, computer programming and network administration are eight months to two years long.
In addition, one to two years’ experience in the information technology industry and specific job experience in this area are often needed to get a job in this field. It’s also important for people with this job to take courses throughout their careers to keep their skills up to date.
Completion of a post-secondary program and at least two years of industry work experience can lead to certification as a technologist or technician with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC). Certification is not necessary, but it may increase job opportunities.
For more information, visit the ASTTBC website at www.asttbc.org
People with this career should have good computer skills. They must be able to find what works and what needs to be improved. Attention to detail is important for this job. Information systems testing technicians should have a clear understanding of what the end user needs so they can make sure their expectations are met.
Patience is a good skill to have for this job. Information systems testing technicians should be able to solve problems, make decisions under pressure and keep working towards a solution, no matter how difficult. It’s also helpful if they can communicate well with people who have technical skills and to explain the process to those who do not.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Computer Information Systems/Science
- Networking and Security
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,045Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 860 | 82.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 6.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 115 | 11.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
770Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 650 | 3.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 3.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 2.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 630 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 40 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 30 |
| Retail Trade | 20 |
| Wholesale Trade | 10 |
Insights from Industry
It is expected that most opportunities in this career will come from the creation of new jobs. Unfortunately, because of the ability to work remotely, some of these jobs may be given to people who do not live in B.C. or in Canada. Some companies hire people from other countries where it costs less to provide these services.
An increase in the use of computer and telecommunications systems, such as wireless email and broadband internet, along with more complicated software applications, means that there will be a growing need for information systems testing technicians. Computer security, gaming and electronic commerce are three areas that are seeing strong growth. In addition, automation technology and computer ordering systems in the manufacturing industry are areas that need information systems testing technicians. An increase in elements such as Agile or Lean methods in software development are being put into place. This means this position may also include activity in Test Driven Development (TDD) and Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) testing.
People in this job may need to test for accessibility. This includes making sure that people with visual disabilities, such as those who cannot see or have limited vision, are considered when testing how the system or software works.
Information systems testing changes often as computers and software programs are improved. Information systems testing technicians must keep up with these changes and develop new programs and policies to manage this.
Resources
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Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)www.asttbc.org
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FIT Program for High School Studentswww.focusit.ca
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Information and Communications Technology Councilwww.ictc-ctic.ca
