Short answer: ISTQB replaced both of its older agile certifications with one advanced-level exam, the Certified Tester Advanced Level Agile Tester v2.0 (CTAL-AT), released on 6 May 2026. The Foundation Level Agile Tester (CTFL-AT) and the Agile Technical Tester (CT-ATT) are now in their sunset phase: English exams end on 6 May 2027 and exams in other languages on 6 November 2027. CTAL-AT v2.0 is worth taking if you already hold CTFL and work in an agile team where you shape test strategy, not just run tests. If you are new to testing, start with CTFL v4.0, which now covers the agile basics. Every date and exam fact below was checked on istqb.org on 15 October 2026.
What changed, in one timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6 May 2026 | CTAL-AT v2.0 syllabus released; CTFL-AT and CT-ATT enter their sunset phase |
| 6 May 2027 | Last day for English CTFL-AT and CT-ATT exams, retakes and training |
| 6 November 2027 | Last day for CTFL-AT and CT-ATT exams, retakes and training in other languages |
Sources: ISTQB launch announcement, ISTQB CTAL-AT v2.0 help page, CTFL-AT page, CT-ATT page.
The important detail is the word "including retakes". If you plan to sit CTFL-AT or CT-ATT in English before the cut-off, your retake also has to happen before 6 May 2027.
Where each old certification goes
ISTQB did not simply rename the old exam. It split the agile content into two places:
| If you were looking at... | ISTQB now points you to... | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CTFL-AT (Foundation Level Agile Tester) | CTFL v4.0 | Agile concepts are included in the broader v4.0 foundation |
| CTFL-AT, for deeper agile skills | CTAL-AT v2.0 | Advanced agile testing expertise |
| CT-ATT (Agile Technical Tester) | CTAL-AT v2.0 | ISTQB names it as the place for advanced agile testing content |
Source: the "what replaces it" notes on the CTFL-AT and CT-ATT pages.
This matters because the entry point has moved up. The old CTFL-AT was a Foundation Level extension. CTAL-AT v2.0 is an Advanced Level exam, and ISTQB describes the change as "shifting the focus from understanding Agile to applying it effectively in real-world contexts" (Michaël Pilaeten in the launch announcement).
Does your old certificate still count?
Yes. ISTQB says on its help page that "all existing CTFL-AT and CT-ATT certificates remain valid." Nothing expires and you do not need to do anything to keep them.
What you do not get is an upgrade. In ISTQB's words, "CTFL-AT and CT-ATT will not be grandfathered into CTAL-AT v2.0. Candidates must take the CTAL-AT v2.0 exam to gain the new qualification." So a CTFL-AT holder who wants the new credential sits the full CTAL-AT exam like everyone else. The only shortcut is that you already meet the CTFL entry requirement, as long as you also hold CTFL itself.
The CTAL-AT v2.0 exam at a glance
| CTAL-AT v2.0 | |
|---|---|
| Level | Advanced |
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice |
| Points | 52 in total; harder K3 and K4 questions are worth more |
| Pass mark | 34 of 52 points (about 65%) |
| Time | 90 minutes, +25% if not in your native language |
| Prerequisite | CTFL certificate, v4.0 or earlier versions |
| Experience | Strongly recommended, not a formal requirement |
| Training | Recommended, not mandatory |
Sources: the ISTQB CTAL-AT page for format, prerequisite and audience; the ISTQB help page for experience; the iSQI exam page for the training note. Our CTAL-AT exam format page has the same facts in short form.
ISTQB publishes no pass rate for CTAL-AT, so we do not give one. The official point split per chapter is in the ISTQB Exam Structure Tables, which ISTQB publishes only as a PDF. We could not read it during this check, so this article does not quote chapter weights.
What is actually new
The syllabus is not a refresh of CTFL-AT. ISTQB lists these changes:
- Higher cognitive level. The syllabus includes K4 (Analyze) learning objectives. ISTQB gives two examples: "Analyze user stories to create test charters" and "Select process improvements based on metrics." On the exam, K4 means scenario questions where you must choose the best option for a given team, not recall a definition.
- New techniques. Heuristics, mnemonics, test tours and example mapping, plus storyboarding.
- More collaborative testing. Mob testing, vibe testing and tissue testing.
- Wider view of quality. A "stronger focus on cognitive bias and holistic quality thinking."
- Reporting and improvement. Coverage metrics used for reporting and for deciding what to improve.
Sources: launch announcement and help page.
The CTAL-AT page lists six content areas: Test Strategy, People and Teams, Test Management, Shift Left, Agile Approaches and Techniques, and Test Automation and Tools. Note what is light: automation is one area of six. If you want a deeply technical automation credential, CTAL-AT v2.0 is not it.
What it costs
ISTQB does not sell exams itself. Prices are set by member boards and exam providers, so they vary by country and by provider.
One provider we could check is iSQI. On 15 October 2026 its CTAL-AT v2.0 exam page listed a voucher at US$153.57 (plus 0% taxes), for a remote or test-centre exam in English, German or Spanish. A second iSQI listing for the same exam showed US$159.26 the same day, so expect small differences between storefronts and over time. iSQI also offers a paid retake option (2TRY), but did not show its price on that page.
Accredited training, if you take it, is a separate cost set by the training provider. Our CTAL-AT cost page keeps the fee summary in one place.
Who should take CTAL-AT v2.0
| Your situation | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| New to testing, no CTFL yet | Start with CTFL v4.0. It is required for CTAL-AT and now covers the agile basics |
| CTFL holder, tester in a Scrum or Kanban team | Good fit. CTAL-AT matches the work of planning and shaping testing inside the team |
| Test lead or QA coach in agile teams | Strong fit. Strategy, test management, improvement and metrics are core to the syllabus |
| Business analyst, product owner or Scrum Master who works closely with testers | Worth considering. ISTQB names these roles in its target audience, and the shift-left and example-mapping content overlaps with requirements work |
| Automation engineer who wants a technical credential | Probably not this one. Automation and tools is only one of six content areas |
| Holds CTFL-AT already | Optional. Your certificate stays valid; take CTAL-AT only if you want the advanced-level credential |
Audience source: the ISTQB CTAL-AT page, which names test analysts, engineers, developers, business analysts, product owners, Scrum Masters and quality managers.
Should you rush to take CTFL-AT before it closes?
Usually not. CTFL-AT stays valid forever, so it is not a bad certificate to hold. But a new holder in 2027 is earning a certification that ISTQB has already replaced. Employers who check will see a sunset credential.
There are two cases where it still makes sense. First, if your employer or a tender requires CTFL-AT by name. Second, if you are already well into CTFL-AT preparation and can sit the exam with time for a retake before 6 May 2027 (English) or 6 November 2027 (other languages). Otherwise, put your time into CTFL v4.0 now and CTAL-AT later.
How to prepare
ISTQB publishes no official study hours for candidates. Our estimate is 30-60 hours for a CTFL holder with agile team experience, more if your team does not use practices like exploratory testing charters or example mapping. A five-week plan that works for most people:
- Week 1. Read the official syllabus once, end to end, and refresh CTFL-level agile testing. Take a free diagnostic.
- Week 2. Agile Approaches and Test Techniques, the most practical area: heuristics, test tours, charters, example mapping. Work through examples, not definitions.
- Week 3. Shift Left and Test Automation and Test Tools.
- Week 4. Test Management and Test Process Improvement, Test Strategy and Test Approach Challenges and People and Teams.
- Week 5. The official ISTQB sample exam plus timed mocks, an error log, then book.
For K4 questions, practise explaining why the wrong options are wrong for this particular team. That is what the exam tests. All our questions are original scenarios written against the public syllabus, not exam dumps; you can start with the CTAL-AT practice questions. Check the eligibility page before you book.
Verdict
CTAL-AT v2.0 is now ISTQB's agile testing certification. The old CTFL-AT and CT-ATT certificates keep their value, but you can only earn them until 2027, and they do not convert. If you hold CTFL and test in an agile team, CTAL-AT is the credential that matches your work in 2026. If you do not yet hold CTFL, that is your first step. Still choosing between certification families? See the which certification hub.
Release date, sunset dates, certificate validity, the no-grandfathering rule, prerequisites, experience recommendation, exam format, pass mark, audience, content areas and new topics verified on istqb.org (CTAL-AT, CTFL-AT and CT-ATT pages, help page and launch announcement) on 15 October 2026. Voucher price, languages and training note from iSQI's exam pages, checked the same day. ISTQB publishes no pass rate and no official study hours, and its chapter weights are only in a PDF we could not read, so we give none of them.