QA Course
Manual Testing from Scratch +
AI-applications Testing
+ | Internship in 🇺🇸 tech company
AI-applications Testing
+ | Internship in 🇺🇸 tech company
Why do only up to 30% of all students who complete some courses get jobs in tech,
while 69% get jobs after completing others?
Let's talk about them in depth, as QA engineers should (some students joke that they learned more from this landing page than from the entire previous course they took).
1. Is QA easy?
(spoiler alert: no)
However, as technological complexity scales, the barrier to entry for prospective talent is rising. Consequently, securing a role in the tech industry has become significantly more challenging than it was a decade ago.
This talent gap is particularly acute within the quality assurance (QA) sector. Their role is mission-critical, as the stability and reliability of the final product depend entirely on their oversight. Notably, a traditional technical degree is not a prerequisite; a comprehensive, high-quality QA training program is often sufficient for entry.
Read about 20 pros of working in tech.
Conversely, developing expertise in Linux, debugging three-tier architectures, or testing AI-driven applications requires a significantly higher level of technical proficiency. However, the long-term career trajectory for professionals with these advanced competencies is significantly more promising.
Therefore, if you hear “Yes, QA is a good git for you” as a result, it really is.
Students with tech skills who have received high-quality education have no problem finding a job in tech after graduation.
2. Postman, Java, Python, Git, Docker, Charles, Linux, Selenium, Cypress, Playwright?
And, most importantly, what is the outlook for the emerging field of AI applications testing?
Undoubtedly, there is a certain expected level of knowledge and technology that employers want to see. But it's more important to them what you already know how to work with rather than a superficial familiarity with dozens of different tools.
If you know a little bit about everything, it won't show your employer that you can master at least one tool to a sufficient level.
Testing theory, processes, and documentation:
Applied testing and bug tracking systems:
Technologies and tools:
- Test planningThis is what leads do, not juniors.
- JMeterLoad testing is a separate field. It makes sense to study it after gaining some initial experience.
- Prometheus, Kubernetes, Grafana, Kafka, RabbitMQ, KibanaRequired in rare companies and for rare juniors.
- AWS, Power BI, CAD, ERP (1C), CRM (Bitrix, SalesForce), BI, cryptocurrencies, Firebase, Appsflyer, Applovin, AppmetricaRequired for specific companies, less than 10% of cases.
- Java Script, Java, Python, Selenium, Cypress, PlaywrightA novice QA does not need to try to master everything related to automation at the same time as manual testing. They already have dozens of technologies and tools to learn (see the list above).
Experience proves that this approach leaves graduates unable to perform manual, automated, or mobile testing at a professional level.
It is akin to a musician trying to learn every instrument simultaneously, or a doctor training in both dentistry and neurosurgery. No clinic would hire such a generalist for specialized care.
We recommend starting to learn automation or mobile apps testing after 6-12 months of working as a manual tester. Ultimately, this will be both more effective and cheaper.
To streamline your job search and increase competitiveness, you must also prioritize the most relevant, emerging technologies—above all, AI application testing.
It is, therefore, essential to acquire foundational knowledge in this domain, specifically regarding the fundamental differences between AI-driven systems and deterministic software, as well as the various categories of AI applications. Furthermore, gaining exposure to "vibe coding" is increasingly advantageous. Since 2024, Mentorpiece students have been completing internships at AI-focused companies, allowing us to build extensive, battle-tested expertise in the practical realities of AI application testing.
Please note that the program covers topics in depth that are not covered in other courses for beginners. For example, defect localization in three-tier applications or AI application testing practices.
The course also includes:
Real business project: yes
Hours spent working on the project: 200+
Amount of standups: 40
Lead mentor: yes
Lead intern: yes
Opportunity to become the lead intern: yes
The opportunity to add experience to your resume: yes
The internship is not included in the course and its cost.
Internship is provided separately and free of charge.
Feedback: instantly
Assistance in preparing a resume: yes
Assistance in preparing cover letters: yes
Individual mentorship on employment: yes
Duration: until an offer is received
Course in numbers
months
internship
students
students in the group
years
3. How to become a QA engineer in
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇳🇱🇵🇱🇦🇹🇭🇺🇭🇷🇷🇸🇨🇾🇮🇱🇦🇪🇬🇪🇦🇲🇰🇿🇰🇬🇦🇺?
🇺🇸 USA, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇨🇾 Cyprus, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇦🇪 UAE, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇦🇲 Armenia, 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇦🇺 Australia—tech companies in these countries now have our graduates working for them. And with each of them, during our employment mentorship, we had to dive into the nuances of how to find a QA job in the US, Europe and other regions.
Conversely, in many other regions, the most viable strategy is to target high-compensation remote opportunities. Take, for example, a recent graduate from Japan who secured a role at an Australian tech firm; the position required only English proficiency, leveraged favorable time-zone alignment, and offered compensation double that of the local Japanese market.
Due to cultural differences in some countries it is better to adapt your first and last names in your resume to sound more local.
Technical requirements for applicants may also vary from region to region.
If you have a question about a specific country, you can contact us using the form at the bottom of this page. If we have alumni (employed graduates) in that country, we will share their stories with you.
4. Why do employers dislike tech courses?
Most QA training programs, whether free or paid, rely heavily on passive formats like webinars and pre-recorded lectures. While these are the most cost-effective formats for providers, they typically result in theoretical knowledge rather than actionable, practical skills. This is the number 1️⃣ out of three main reasons why most students of an average course fail to find tech jobs.
When you watch a lecture, everything seems to be clear and easy. When you try to do it yourself later, it turns out that you do not understand anything.
Consequently, lecture-based courses typically assign overly simplistic homework, prioritizing rote memorization over the development of robust, practical skills.
Employers recognize that such candidates require extensive on-the-job training, which often makes them less attractive as entry-level hires.
- LectureThe mentor demonstrates how to do the task and the students are watching.
The result for the student: “I thought I understood everything during the lecture, but when it came to doing the homework, I had to consult ChatGPT.”
❌ practical skills - WebinarThe mentor demonstrates how to do the task and the students ask questions.
The result for the student: “I was able to question the mentor, but I did not complete any tasks myself.”
❌ practical skills - WorkshopThe mentor gives the assignment, the students do it while mentor is watching and giving hints.
The result for the student: “We talked about different ways of solving the task, I tried to do it myself, we figured out the problems, the mentor checked how well I did it, then I answered the mentor's questions and now I'm ready to do a difficult homework assignment to reinforce what I've learned.”
✅ practical skills
Other educational formats will not build real practical skills and will not make you more valuable for employers.
It is unlikely that you would be willing to undergo surgery performed by a doctor who studied through online lectures and has never performed a single operation.
Another analogy can be made:
QA courses do:
They need someone who can drive.
An online lecture can be attended by up to 100 students at the same time.
But in order for a mentor to be able to devote time to each student during a two-hour practical workshop, there should be no more than 15-20 people in the study group.
This means that online lectures can attract several times more students (and money) than workshops. That's why online lectures are such a popular format of education.
But what about knowledge? If the mentor immediately gives us a practical assignment to do in the workshop, where do I learn the theory—what to do and how to do it? So, lectures are necessary after all?
The reality is that the information density of spoken communication is remarkably low. Lecturers articulating complex technical concepts typically speak slower than in casual conversation, often at a rate of 100 words per minute or less. A two-hour lecture typically yields only 90 minutes of actual instruction—roughly 9,000 words—after accounting for breaks and tangents.
9,000 words equate to approximately 20 pages, which a student can process in roughly 30 minutes. Furthermore, variable speaker diction, frequent repetition, and off-topic questions often lead to significant inefficiencies. Is this time well spent?
Would it not be more effective to deliver theoretical foundations in written modules, while reallocating all classroom hours to mentored practical application?
How do they usually do it on real tech projects? How do experienced middles and seniors pass on their knowledge to newbies?
When you first join a project, you will be asked to read the technical documentation for it—that is, to study the theory.
After that, the lead or one of the middles will ask you to complete a real task. They will give you guidance on how to proceed and then provide feedback on what you did well and what could have been done differently.
For example, this is how it is organized at Mentorpiece:
-
- Interactive textbook with online tests and simulators
Includes all the necessary theory about testing.
The students prepare for a practical workshop by reading the theory in the following chapter of the interactive textbook.
❓ If they have a question while reading the chapter, they can ask it in the study group chat or send a direct message to the mentor. In both cases, the workshop mentor will respond, not a curator/assistant/tutor/reviewer.
Then, 24 hours before the workshop, each student must take an online test in the textbook.
❓ If the test is not passed, the mentor receives a notification about this in LCS (learning care system) and the mentor writes to the student to find out if they have any questions or need any help. - 2. Practical team workshopIn Mentorpiece, absolutely all lessons of the course are exclusively practical workshops.
A maximum of 15 students, one mentor and real QA tasks.
At each workshop students work in teams, just like on a regular tech project—they look for ways to solve the problems with their classmates, while the mentor, acting as the project lead, guides and helps them. This gives students the practical skills that employers need so much.
❓ If a student still has questions at the start of the workshop, they can ask the mentor via Zoom at the beginning of the session.
❓ If they have a question while performing one of the practical tasks, they can also ask it aloud and the mentor will answer.
❓ If, at the end of the workshop, a student has questions about the homework assignment, they can also ask them.
❓ Asking questions is encouraged by the mentor, who makes sure that every student asks or answers a question during the workshop. - 3. HomeworkAfter the team workshop, students have 7 days until the soft deadline (or 14 days until the hard deadline) to complete their homework assignment.
Since by this point the student not only knows how to do the assignment but also has practical skills, the homework is not just educational but as close as possible to real tech tasks.
❓ If a student has a question while doing their homework, they can ask it in the study group chat (where the mentor who led the workshop will respond) or directly to the mentor in a private chat.
❓ If a student has not submitted their homework after soft deadline, the mentor will contact the student to ask if they need any help.
❓ If a student suddenly has a lot of questions and doesn't know what to do, the mentor can answer their questions in a one-on-one Zoom call (unlimited and free).
❓ If several students suddenly have a lot of questions, they will receive answers in an additional session for the whole group—via Zoom voice chat.
❓ If the mentor's help is not enough, the student can contact the educational director any time for assistance via anonymous feedback, which can be filled out at the end of each study block (analyzed by the educational director on a weekly basis).
- If you count the ❓, you can quantify how often a student receives direct guidance from a mentor with over a decade of industry experience throughout the program.
This figure excludes the internship phase, where engaging in active inquiry is essential for bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.Do students enrolled in lecture-based online courses have equivalent opportunities to ask questions?
In free courses, students are often limited to guidance from AI tools like ChatGPT, which are prone to occasional hallucinations.
Conversely, paid programs often feature large cohorts, sometimes spanning hundreds of students. Consequently, live interaction is minimized; during homework, inquiries are typically fielded by junior teaching assistants rather than the senior mentor delivering the core content.
- All of the above is done under the guidance of QA mentors with at least 10 years of tech experience.The minimal tech experience required for a Mentorpiece mentor is 10 years. There are no curators/assistants/tutors/reviewers (some of whom typically have no tech experience whatsoever).
An experienced mentor works with a group of up to 15 students:
✓ The mentor makes sure you understand the theory
✓ The mentor answers all your questions
✓ The mentor conducts workshops with you
✓ The mentor helps you acquire skills
✓ The mentor checks your homework
✓ The mentor gives you feedback
- Lilia UrmazovaFounder of Mentorpiece, Chief QA Expert Mentor (AM)
QA engineer since 2001,
QA mentor since 2004.
Worked in Star Software, Exigen Services, Grid Dynamics; worked as a mentor in Luxoft, Grid Dynamics educational centers. See more.
I like QA because this profession allows me to participate in the entire software development process from A to Z and work with a lot of people at once.
I am a good QA mentor because I am good at explaining complex things using simple examples, pictures, diagrams and tables.
- Alexander AlexeevQA Expert Mentor in Test Design, DB, API, and WebUI / QA Lead at Dataloft
Works in QA since 2011.
Worked in Ontarget, Bank PSB PJSC.
I like QA because it offers well-rounded professional development and requires me to constantly learn new things.
I’m a good QA mentor because I love seeing people achieve what they set out to learn.
- Nikolai GladnevQA Expert Mentor in Linux, API Testing, and WebUI / QA Engineer at Exness (CY)
Works in tech since 2011.
Worked in Arrival, Aplana, Nexign, Humans Engineering.
I like QA because it involves dealing with complex technical issues.
I am a good QA mentor because I really love tricky questions from students.
- Fedor KulishovNetwork Expert Mentor / Lead Security Expert at Acronis (CH)
Works in tech since 2005.
Worked in several startups, NIIVOSKHOD, Positive Technologies.
I like tech, especially security, because you always have to stay on top of things and there's always something interesting to explore. Plus, I'm surrounded by talented professionals who are passionate about their work.
I am a good QA mentor because I enjoy seeing the excitement in my students' eyes, noticing their progress and receiving gratitude and kind wishes.
- Maxim UsmanovExpert mentor in Git, Docker and AT / Lead QA Automation Engineer at Semrush (US)
Works in tech since 2012.
Worked in Deutsche Bank, Motorola Solutions, Digital Design.
I like tech because it allows me to satisfy my inner perfectionist and contribute to improvement, since we are discussing QA.
I am a good QA mentor because I like to explain complicated things in simple terms. This is the only way I know.
COMPARISON TABLE
- To sum up, students will only acquire the maximum amount of practical skills when performing tasks that are as close as possible to real tech tasks in conditions that are as close as possible to tech conditions.Not as a result of watching lectures or completing homework assignments.
But by working in a small team under the direct supervision of an experienced lead mentor.
As one student said:
5. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience?
Many QA programs advise candidates to list their training as professional work experience. Others suggest misrepresenting brief internships as comprehensive commercial engagements, or even fabricating a false employment history. All of this is deceiving the employer, which often gets discovered.
This is reason number 2️⃣ for low employment rates after most courses.
Candidates who rely solely on online coursework often lack the operational readiness required, forcing the company to invest significant time and resources into remedial training. Conversely, experience working on active technical projects significantly alters the hiring calculus.
Some courses give students full commercial experience.
However, most courses are physically unable to provide it.
- ✅ 1. COMMERCIAL PROJECTNot a pet project, not a non-profit organization, not an open source project.
Why: unpaid ventures rarely enforce rigorous performance standards. Consequently, low-skilled contributors or those with limited availability are frequently tolerated, which fails to simulate a professional environment.
In contrast, commercial projects operate under vastly different expectations, primarily because stakeholders are financially accountable for the final outcome. - ✅ 2. WORKING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF A TECH COMPANYNot testing separate functionality “on the side”.
Why: understanding complex technical requirements is nearly impossible without direct access to stakeholders. Similarly, grasping implementation nuances requires active, ongoing communication with developers. Lacking this collaborative loop, a QA engineer misses critical opportunities for professional development and project insight.
In practice, at least half of a QA role involves navigating cross-functional collaboration with product owners, stakeholders, and the development team. - ✅ 3. FULL TECHNICAL STACKAnd not just testing some single part of the application.
Why: testing solely the user interface (UI) results in insufficient exposure to back-end processes, leaving candidates unprepared to discuss API or database testing during interviews.
In professional tech projects, QA engineers are typically responsible for testing the entire stack, spanning the UI, business logic, API endpoints, and database layers. - ✅ 4. MINIMAL DURATION IS 4 MONTHSNot a few weeks or a month or two.
Why: the standard probationary period for new hires is three months. Experience totaling less than this often signals to recruiters that a candidate failed to clear their probation. This serves as a significant red flag for hiring managers and recruiters.
Furthermore, firms are unwilling to invest time integrating an intern into the development team or training them on a full technical stack if their tenure is only a few weeks. The cost of onboarding often outweighs the potential productivity gains for short-term hires.
Most online training programs enroll cohorts spanning tens or hundreds of students. Conversely, commercial technical project teams typically consist of 5 to 15 specialists, including project managers, developers, QA engineers, analysts, and designers. A single project might accommodate five to ten interns, but certainly not fifty; most teams lack the capacity to effectively "onboard" and support a large influx of novices.
Consequently, a mass-market course would require dozens of concurrent technical projects to provide every student with authentic, full-cycle commercial experience. Sourcing these projects, negotiating partnerships, and managing months of intensive mentorship for each student represents a massive logistical burden.
No mass-market provider is likely to undertake this; it is far more cost-effective to simulate the work environment internally—essentially, creating an emulation of a real project.
Here's how it looks like in Mentorpiece's case:
✅ Only commercial projects—in 🇺🇸 American tech companies.
2. WORKING WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF A TECH COMPANY
✅ Interns work as full-fledged QA engineers within the team.
3. FULL TECHNICAL STACK
✅ Testing of the UI, API, business logic layer, database and, as usual, AI functionality.
4. MINIMAL DURATION IS 4 MONTHS
✅ All Mentorpiece students must complete an internship. It lasts for a minimum of 4 months in either a “2 months during studies + 2 months after studies” format or a “4 months after studies” format, depending on the student's preference.
Outcome: students gain 4 months of legitimate, high-value commercial experience, which enhances their resumes and significantly improves their ability to clear initial HR screening processes. During interviews, candidates shift the narrative from theoretical academic knowledge to demonstrating how they personally implemented solutions within an active technical project. This significantly increases their success rate, often enabling them to secure their first technical role within two months of an active job search.
OVERALL COMPARISON
✓ Video recordings of final retrospectives during internships
✓ Video reviews from managers of companies hosting internships
✓ Detailed reports from students and leads on the progress of internships
✓ Students' personal impressions of the challenges they faced
See reviews of Mentorpiece internships on the page.
6. When do students need help the most?
The true challenge emerges post-graduation: navigating a cycle of sending countless applications with minimal response rates, followed by high-pressure interviews that often fail to yield job offers. At this juncture, pre-recorded lectures offer little value, and even AI tools like ChatGPT provide insufficient support. Consequently, many graduates conclude that they have miscalculated their career pivot and ultimately revert to their previous field of work.
In reality, most training providers lack the actual capacity to guarantee employment. Without rigorous entrance screening or standardized quality control during training, how can a provider credibly ensure that an underperforming or unmotivated student will emerge as a competitive job candidate?
Given that the job search process often spans several months, candidates require consistent support to navigate the path to the finish line.
- At the beginning of individual employment mentorship, the mentor:✓ Ensures that the mentee is ready to look for a job.
✓ Checks that the resume meets the required standard. - Furthermore, in each weekly sprint, mentor provides feedback on:✓ Response strategies, profiles of companies to which the mentee responds.
✓ Тexts of individual cover letters.
✓ Networking, text of individual messages to interesting companies.
✓ Displayed artifacts.
✓ Completed test assignments (: Mentorpiece maintains a firm stance against completing test assignments on behalf of students—a practice unfortunately common in other programs. Instead, we treat the analysis of completed assignments as a vital concluding step in the learning process. Should a student have reservations regarding their work, they may review it with their mentor prior to submission. The mentor will then validate the underlying logic or indicate if the approach requires revision, without providing specific solutions).
✓ Analysis of interviews conducted (if the mentee recorded them), areas for improvement.
✓ Tactics for action after submitting a test assignment, passing an interview and so on. - Participants of the employment mentorship program receive:✓ The mentor's accumulated experience with offers that have already been received (“this leads to an offer, this does not”).
✓ Protection in the company from the chief mentor through LinkedIn.
✓ Direct protection in the company from the chief mentor.
✓ Access to the job vacancy alert system.
✓ Answers to any questions from mentors and alumni.
✓ Sharing interview experiences with other mentees.
✓ Moral support from a mentor and other mentees (this is the simplest thing, but sometimes the most important when another rejection comes along). - Important: the coach-mentor is an experienced tech specialist (not HR).Mentorpiece does not rely on former HR professionals or inexperienced mentors for employment mentorship. any competing programs opt for HR personnel primarily due to cost efficiency, as their time is significantly less expensive than that of a senior QA mentor.
While HR professionals are adept at guiding candidates through initial screening processes, their expertise is often limited to the administrative side of hiring. They frequently lack the depth of knowledge required for rigorous technical interview preparation and often fail to grasp the nuances of modern digital networking and technical job-search strategies.
But she and her mentor did not give up, and in the end everything turned out successfully—she received an offer for a remote position 6 months after joining employment mentorship.
7. How to waste money on a useless QA course?
7. How to waste money on a useless QA course?
❌ Bad news—about 30-40% of them are left by marketers.
Since the online education market is competitive, the percentage of fake reviews about tech courses may be even higher.
- 2016-2022—text reviews on our own websiteWe previously published student success stories directly on the Mentorpiece website.
Limitations of this approach:
❌ If a student leaves positive feedback saying “I got a job after completing the course,” this does not mean that other students got one too.
❌ Neutral or negative feedback is rarely volunteered by students, creating an inherent selection bias that undermines the credibility of the data, regardless of the company's willingness to publish it.
❌ Many QA courses began posting clearly fake reviews on their websites. As a result, applicants' trust in the reviews on the courses' own websites has dropped dramatically. - 2022—video reviews on YouTubeTo enhance the authenticity of our testimonials, we began requesting that students record video reviews.
While this provided a temporary solution to the trust deficit, the subsequent rise of AI-generated content has made even video testimonials susceptible to fabrication. Furthermore, fundamental challenges persist: students remain hesitant to share critical feedback, and individual success stories still fail to address the broader performance metrics of the entire cohort.
- 2023—feedback on review websitesBecause of these shortcomings, we started asking students to leave their feedback on review sites, since the course doesn't have access to it. It seems like they check if the reviews are real and everything is fair.
We were, however, mistaken in our assessment of these platforms. Our findings revealed:
❌ Review platforms frequently monetize the ingestion of unverified positive reviews and the manipulation of aggregate ratings.
❌ Many providers engage in targeted negative campaigns against competitors, often bypassing the platform's verification mechanisms.
❌ Review sites themselves have been known to publish fabricated negative feedback to create a pretext for selling "reputation management" services to the affected courses.
We were eventually compelled to ask: how can we demonstrate the true efficacy of our curriculum with complete transparency? To address this, we transitioned to publishing full, transparent lists of our cohort, detailing the professional outcomes achieved by every graduate:
The named lists of all students enrolled in Mentorpiece and all graduates who have obtained tech jobs, along with the names of the companies, contain the following information:
- NA named list of all students enrolled in a specific academic groupOur lists include every student who has attended at least one workshop.
In many programs, attrition is high, with as few as 10% of the original cohort reaching completion. When evaluating a program, it is essential to investigate the attrition rate and, if possible, reach out to former students to understand the barriers to completion.
Mentorpiece provides transparent, named lists, allowing you to contact any student from any cohort—whether they have successfully transitioned into a tech career or are still in the job-seeking phase. - Program OutcomesWe provide a detailed record of every student’s outcome. For those who have secured employment in the industry, we include the name of their current employer.
- Contacting Alumni via TelegramEach list includes Telegram contact information for every student. You are encouraged to reach out to any member of our cohorts directly to ask questions about their experience.
- Contacting Alumni via LinkedInLinkedIn is the premier global professional network. It is unique in its ability to verify employment by displaying all registered employees on a company’s profile, which effectively prevents individuals from making unauthorized claims of employment. Furthermore, LinkedIn’s identity verification processes during registration significantly reduce the prevalence of fraudulent accounts.
You can view the LinkedIn profile of any graduate to verify their employment status or send them a direct message to confirm their experience. - Placement RatesIndustry-standard placement rates for tech bootcamps rarely exceed 30%. By reviewing our detailed student rosters, you can verify for yourself that Mentorpiece graduates achieve significantly higher employment outcomes.
You can also easily see how many students from each study group have landed jobs in tech.
Mentorpiece is the only tech school that publishes such named lists.
8. How much does it cost to take the QA course that shows results (literally)?
8. How much does it cost to take the QA course that shows results (literally)?
While lecture-based programs are lower in cost, they often necessitate subsequent investments in supplemental training to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical skills required to secure employment. Conversely, a practitioner-led model featuring an intensive, long-term internship represents a higher initial investment. However, it more than doubles your probability of job placement, ensuring the program pays for itself within 2 or 3 months of your professional career.
+ 4 months long internship in 🇺🇸 tech company
+ employment mentorship prior to an offer
• no obligations: Mentorpiece offers installment plans without any paperwork
• if necessary, simply do not make the next payment to interrupt your studies
• if you need to interrupt your studies, you will receive a refund for the classes you have not attended
And if you book early, you can economize:
Even cheaper: these discounts can be combined with the discount for 100% prepayment.
- 10%
for the first 5 places in the study group10% discount for places
#1,2,3,4,5 in the group. - 5%
for the second 5 places in the study group5% discount for places
#6,7,8,9,10 in the group. - 5%
cashback5% cashback for you and 5% discount for a friend.
We know this because we keep in touch with all our former students and conduct annual surveys among them about their salary levels.
9. 50+ frequently asked questions
— I am 35 years old. Isn't it too late to learn QA?
— How does an internship differ from a traineeship?
— When should I start looking for a job?
The profession of a QA engineer is not suitable for everyone; it requires a special mindset. However, if we ask you whether the profession of a doctor, accountant or interior designer is suitable for everyone, what would you say?
That is why, before enrolling in the course, all applicants must complete a preliminary vocational guidance course “Should You Become a QA-engineer?”
Only 1 in 10 applicants successfully complete this course.
Is it possible to be trained for a profession in six months?
Yes, it is. You can learn everything you need to know to get a job as a QA, as long as you attend the practical workshops regularly and do all your homework. We will be there to help and guide you.
How much can I earn after graduation?
In the US, the salary for a junior QA starts at $60,000 per year, in the UK—from £35,000 per year, in the EU—from €2,000 per month.
I'm 35 years old. Isn't it too late to learn QA?
35 is the average age of our students.
You can also receive an offer at a more mature age.
I am a teacher (accountant). Won't QA be hard for me to study?
Representatives of the two professions listed above find it easiest to find themselves in QA.
How many students actually find jobs?
Our students find a job more than twice more often than students from most major educational platforms.
This program is built for individuals ready to pivot into a new career. No prior testing experience or technical coding skills are required to enroll. While a foundational understanding of operating systems, networking, and software architecture is beneficial, it is not a prerequisite; our curriculum provides comprehensive coverage of all essential technical concepts.
Our past cohorts have included professionals from diverse backgrounds—such as accounting, medicine, and education—all of whom have successfully transitioned into QA engineering roles.
The main thing is to demonstrate your tech skills in the introductory vocational guidance course and to be interested and motivated to learn.
I have never coded before. Is it OK?
Programming skills are not required for our course; we teach manual QAs and provide related knowledge. You can learn programming later in the automation course (if you wish to do so).
Is a technical degree a prerequisite?
Absolutely not. We have mentored many highly successful QA professionals who transitioned from the humanities, medicine, or the arts—and some who hold no formal degree at all. If you are at a crossroads in your career, join us. We provide a clear path to professional success without the time or financial burden of pursuing an additional degree.
Why does the course last four months plus an internship? I saw a two-month course, and it's much cheaper.
You can only learn the profession of a QA in two months if you study 40-50 hours a week. This means that classes must be held every day.
Otherwise, the knowledge you gain will not be sufficient to get a job.
I’ve seen year-long programs covering automation and mobile testing; why isn't yours longer?
Learning an applied specialty like QA for over six months is counterproductive; theoretical knowledge must be immediately converted into practical, professional experience to be retained. Furthermore, attempting to jump directly into automation immediately after manual testing often leads to skill atrophy in core manual concepts.
We recommend a phased approach: gain 6–12 months of hands-on experience as a manual QA before advancing to mobile and automation training. This strategy is not only more efficient but also significantly more cost-effective for your long-term career.
What technical equipment is required to participate?
A standard computer or laptop with a reliable internet connection is sufficient. While a webcam is encouraged to foster better engagement during practical sessions, it is entirely optional, and we respect your comfort level regarding its use.
What are the minimum hardware requirements?
Most modern devices will suffice. You can stream lectures and complete quizzes via our dedicated LMS mobile application. Furthermore, practical training is conducted within a secure, cloud-based sandbox environment, removing the need for high-end local hardware.
Will I need to purchase additional software?
No. All tools and software utilized throughout the curriculum are provided at no additional cost to our students.
I see that the course covers Linux, but I have a Windows laptop.
That's not a problem. Linux classes are held in a cloud sandbox on a special server. You can also use a Linux emulator in your browser.
How difficult is this?
If you have an inquisitive mind, love digging into details, used to take apart toys as a child to see what was inside them and are willing to study and do your homework on time, it won't be too difficult, it will be interesting and exciting 🙂
Your mentors are active industry practitioners—specifically Team Leads, Department Heads, and QA Managers. They are not only seasoned experts but also passionate and skilled educators. We maintain a strict threshold: every mentor must possess at least 10 years of professional QA experience. We believe our students deserve mentorship from the industry’s elite.
What is the typical course schedule?
All live online workshops are conducted on weekday evenings to accommodate working professionals.
Can I balance this program with a full-time job?
Absolutely. The majority of our students balance their studies with full-time employment. We have successfully trained doctors, teachers, and accountants who managed to excel while working demanding shifts.
However, we recommend an honest assessment of your capacity from the start. If your results from the Stage 2 vocational aptitude screening indicate an average proficiency, please be prepared for a more rigorous and potentially longer learning curve.
How does the educational process work?
Interactice textbook: Studying theory
A few days before the practical online workshop, students must read the relevant chapter in the textbook. The chapter contains all the necessary theoretical material on a specific topic, and by studying it students gain new knowledge.
In the practical workshop, this knowledge is reinforced through practical exercises. Without this reinforcement, the knowledge will be quickly forgotten.
The workshop also focuses on developing practical skills.
Each textbook chapter is structured around three foundational subtopics. Mastery of all three is essential for active participation in class; therefore, comprehensive reading is required.
Completing an interactive test (quiz)
No later than 24 hours before the workshop begins, students must complete the test at the end of the textbook chapter.
This is necessary so that the mentor can be sure that every student is ready for the workshop.
Practical online workshop
Practical workshops are conducted via Zoom. These live, interactive sessions allow students to apply theoretical knowledge through hands-on exercises guided by a mentor. This approach reinforces the concepts covered in the textbook and builds the practical competencies highly sought after by employers.
Workshops alternate between full-group sessions and small-group collaborative work of 5–7 students, facilitated by Zoom breakout rooms. During small-group sessions, students collaborate on specific tasks while the mentor rotates through the rooms to provide targeted guidance and support.
We encourage active participation; students should feel empowered to ask questions and seek clarification whenever necessary. Our small-group structure ensures that discussions remain focused and productive. Our mentors are adept at balancing real-time Q&A with the core learning objectives of the session.
Connection links are provided within the corresponding LMS activity, with the session opening 30 minutes prior to the start time.
While we strongly recommend live attendance for optimal engagement, we understand that conflicts arise. Every session is automatically recorded, and the link will be available in the LMS activity immediately following the conclusion of the workshop.
Homework
After the practical workshop, you proceed to complete your homework assignment (HW) to reinforce the material. The task can be found in advance in the LMS. At the end of the workshop, the mentor will answer questions about the HW and, if necessary, provide feedback on its completion.
Your HW will be checked by the same mentor who led the practical workshop.
How difficult is it?
You may have noticed that this question has been asked before. Well done—you're paying attention to the details. To reiterate: if you're curious, it won't be too difficult and it will be interesting 🙂
How much time do I need to study?
Our live workshops are scheduled twice weekly for 2.5-hour sessions, including a scheduled break.
Before each session, students are expected to complete the assigned textbook chapter, which typically requires approximately 3 hours of preparation.
Following each class, plan for roughly 4 hours to complete practical assignments. Active participation during live sessions significantly optimizes this process.
In total, you should anticipate a commitment of approximately 20 hours per week.
Maintaining this pace will provide the foundation for a successful transition into your new career. 🙂
Will I have direct access to my mentors?
Absolutely! First, you are encouraged to ask questions directly during live sessions using your microphone, rather than relying solely on text chat. We highly value interactive dialogue and welcome all inquiries.
Additionally, you will be invited to a dedicated Telegram cohort channel for ongoing discussions regarding coursework and assignments. Furthermore, you always have the option to message your mentor directly via private chat for personalized, one-on-one support.
What if I find the workload overwhelming?
If you find yourself struggling to keep pace, we encourage you to contact your mentors immediately. We will work with you to identify any bottlenecks and provide the necessary support to get you back on track. In most cases, a brief, targeted intervention from a mentor is sufficient to resolve misunderstandings and restore your momentum.
Should an unavoidable life event or force majeure prevent you from completing the program, we offer a prorated refund for any remaining, unattended sessions.
This is an immersive, real-world work experience. While you are officially an intern, you will be performing substantive, professional tasks from day one. You will be fully integrated into an Agile development environment, where you will analyze requirements, collaborate with the team, execute test cases, and document defects—in short, you will do the work of a professional.
During your first month, you will receive dedicated guidance from a mentor. Subsequently, you will be encouraged to take on leadership tasks—mentoring peers and performing peer reviews. While your mentor will remain a resource for support, you will have the autonomy to take ownership of complex tasks—key achievements that will add significant value to your professional resume.
What is the difference between an internship and a traineeship?
The primary differences lie in the duration and the depth of responsibilities. A traineeship typically involves low-level, administrative tasks that do not provide substantial professional growth. An internship, by contrast, is a hands-on, professional role where you function as a fully integrated QA engineer.
Is relocation required for the internship?
No; all internship programs are conducted entirely remotely.
How is the 4-month internship going?
We offer two tracks for completing your four-month internship:
• "2 months during the study period + 2 months after completion"
• "4 months after completion"
Students choose one of two options. The primary distinction is the level of supervision: the post-educational track includes structured mentorship, whereas the parallel track requires a higher degree of professional independence and initiative.
How does the "2 months during the study period + 2 months after completion" scheme work?
This track is best suited for students who are not currently employed full-time and have the capacity for deep immersion in a project immediately following their daily coursework.
The core advantage of this track is the immediate application of theoretical knowledge to live business projects, which significantly accelerates skill retention and professional growth.
If I choose "2 months during the study period + 2 months after completion" option, when does the “parallel education” part begin?
From the third month of training. By this point, you will have the minimum knowledge and practical skills necessary to be useful on the project.
"2 months during the study period + 2 months after completion"—are these parts held in the same company or in different ones?
Different ones usually.
How does the "4 months after completion" internship work?
This track mirrors a standard QA role. Each day begins with a stand-up meeting where the team coordinates daily objectives, addresses blockers, and shares updates. The remainder of the day is dedicated to core responsibilities: cross-functional communication, requirement analysis, documentation review, and the development of test cases.
What is the workload for an internship with the "4 months after completion" option?
While you have autonomy over your schedule, we recommend a commitment of 25 hours per week to maximize the pace of your professional development and the efficacy of your internship.
But I'm still working at my old job and can't devote that much time to my internship.
Yes, we understand that you may be working, as many of our students do.
To earn a passing grade (60+ points), we calculate a weighted average based on your work quality and your level of engagement. A minimum commitment of 12 hours per week is required to meet the engagement threshold. With efficient time management—such as dedicating one hour on weekdays and three hours on weekends—you can successfully meet these requirements and progress toward your goal.
Is the internship a mandatory component of the program?
While every student is extended an invitation to participate in an internship, it is technically optional. If you choose to decline, please consider these two factors:
• Declining the internship means we cannot issue a certificate of completion.
• We will not be able to provide individualized employment mentorship, as demonstrating hands-on experience is critical to a competitive job search.
We strongly encourage students to begin the job hunt before the internship begins. Refining your resume, drafting cover letters, and mastering technical assessments are time-intensive processes that benefit from early initiation.
While employers often prioritize experience over certificates, the internship serves as a vital safety net, ensuring you gain the professional experience required to succeed if your initial job search is challenging. Data from our past cohorts confirms that high-performing students frequently secure employment prior to the internship phase.
If I don't complete the internship and don't receive a certificate, will I still be considered a Mentorpiece alumnus?
If, during the estimated period of employment for the study group, you do not enroll in any other courses and you find a job, you will be considered a Mentorpiece alumnus with all the associated privileges.
Why is the internship provided at no additional cost?
Our primary objective is to deliver a high-impact, efficient educational experience rather than extending the duration of the program unnecessarily. As a testament to the effectiveness of our curriculum, many of our students secure professional roles even before the internship phase commences.
For those who continue, the internship offers a complimentary opportunity to refine their professional skills under the supervision of industry-leading mentors. We invest heavily in these leadership roles, covering all costs either internally or through our client partnerships to ensure our students receive top-tier, practical guidance.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a "Pre-Middle" QA Engineering role. Please note that industry seniority titles vary significantly; a "Middle" role at one firm may be categorized as a "Junior" at another, despite the actual work scope being identical.
What documentation will I receive upon graduating?
We issue a formal Certificate of Completion for our “Manual Testing from Scratch + AI Application Testing + 4-Months long Internship” program, personally signed by our School Director.
What is the typical employment timeline for graduates?
Most of our graduates find a job within 2-4 months after completing their studies.
We had a funny case when one of our students failed our final individual exam-interview the first time (and went to retake it a week later), but found a real job during that week. But he still came to retake the exam 🙂
Should I begin my job search immediately?
We highly recommend starting immediately. Experience demonstrates that delaying your search leads to skill attrition and decreased confidence. Staying active in the market ensures your technical knowledge remains sharp and your professional momentum remains strong.
When should I start looking for a job?
From the very first day of learning. That is why the first two classes are focused on how to study properly and how to prepare for employment and how to find your first QA job, and technical training begins after those.
Do you help with preparing resumes and cover letters?
Yes.
What does individual employment mentorship entail?
The modern job market is highly competitive. Success requires more than just technical qualifications; it demands consistent proactivity. While we provide comprehensive technical training and practical experience, the drive to succeed—proactivity—must come from you.
As part of our mentorship, graduates are required to meet weekly job application quotas. During your sessions, you will collaborate with your mentor to analyze job postings, refine your strategy, and review technical test assignments.
How long does individual employment mentorship last?
Support continues until you secure a position, contingent upon your adherence to the agreed-upon weekly job application requirements.
Yes. e prioritize transparency and simplicity in our refund process; no formal application is required. Refunds are processed promptly, with a maximum turnaround time of 30 calendar days, though most requests are finalized much sooner.
Please note that refunds are issued on a pro-rata basis for all unattended sessions. Since the internship is an optional, complimentary service provided at no additional cost, it is not subject to financial reimbursement.
More details about the return policy are specified in the Public Offer.
What are the payment options?
In dollars or euros to an international bank
✓ By bank transfer
✓ By debit or credit card online
✓ Other payment methods
If you have any questions, please let us know.
What is the "No-Obligation" payment plan?
This is an interest-free payment plan offered directly by Mentorpiece. No formal documentation or credit checks are required.
We offer this internal financing because we are confident in the quality of our curriculum and our students' success, eliminating the need for third-party bank financing.
The primary advantage of this plan is total flexibility: should you decide to discontinue your studies, you have no further financial obligation to us or any financial institution. You simply discontinue payments for subsequent months. If your previous payments exceed the pro-rated cost for the days completed, we will refund the difference.
What are the payment protocols for credit/debit cards?
To process a payment, you will be prompted to enter your card information. This transaction is secured using TLS encryption. All data is transmitted directly to our bank’s secure authorization server. Mentorpiece does not access, store, or process your full card details. All transactions are handled exclusively by the payment system's secure server. Upon clicking the payment link, you will be redirected to the secure authorization page to complete your transaction. If a payment is declined, you may retry the transaction using the same link.
The return policy is specified in the Offer.
When do I need to pay?
Within 7 days after successfully completing the vocational guidance course "Should You Become a QA-engineer?".
10. Entrance testing = your
confidence!
International universities have entrance exams. Mentorpiece has a mandatory tech abilities entrance test in the form of a free vocational guidance course called “Should You Become a QA-engineer?” Only 10% of applicants pass it successfully and get the opportunity to enroll in the program.

2. Take the vocational guidance course “Should You Become a QA-engineer?” completely free of charge.
3. Pay for QA education only if, after an individual interview with the chief mentor, you hear: «Yes, QA is right for you».
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