Checked 29 September 2026. Sunset dates from ISTQB's CT-AI v2.0 FAQ and certification page. The Indian Testing Board's Townscript tickets (listed until 31 March 2027) showed "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued." on the evening of 29 September 2026; ITB had published no replacement payment route when we checked. Re-check ITB before paying.
If you have been preparing for CT-AI on the 2021 syllabus, you do not have to throw that work away. ISTQB's own FAQ, asked "Should I switch to Version 2.0?", answers "Not necessarily": if you are well advanced and will sit within the transition period, "it may be more efficient to continue". English v1.0 exams, including retakes, run until 21 April 2027; other languages until 21 October 2027. For candidates in India there is a practical catch: the Indian Testing Board's v1.0 fee ticket was listed until 31 March 2027, but on the evening of 29 September 2026 its Townscript page, like every ITB ticket link there, said "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued." Until ITB publishes a new way to pay, ask ITB before planning a v1.0 sitting through it. This guide lays out both versions side by side, the dates that matter, and a checker that tells you which version is still open on the day you plan to sit.
ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ; ITB Townscript ticket data (read early 29 Sep 2026) and the Townscript page that evening; ISTQB Exam Structures & Rules Tables v1.19.
Where other pages get this wrong
You do not have to abandon v1.0 "immediately" — ISTQB says not necessarily.
Commonly published instead: "If you were preparing with Version 1.0 material, stop and switch to the new syllabus immediately" — our own CT-AI notice-board page, which we are correcting here.
ISTQB's FAQ: if you are "already well advanced" and "plan to take the exam within the transition period, it may be more efficient to continue". Switch if you are starting now, if your date is near the sunset, or if a retake might fall after it.
The dates, in order
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2021 | CT-AI v1.0 syllabus released | Syllabus v1.0 |
| 15 Aug 2025 | v2.0 alpha review | Syllabus v2.0 revision history |
| 7 Jan 2026 | v2.0 beta review | Syllabus v2.0 revision history |
| 17 Apr 2026 | v2.0 syllabus formally released by ISTQB's General Assembly; Sample Exam v2.0 released | Syllabus v2.0; Sample Exam A answers |
| 21 Apr 2026 | ISTQB news release announcing v2.0 | ISTQB news |
| 20 May 2026 | Sample exam v2.1 (question 10 updated) | Sample Exam A answers v2.2 |
| 20 Jul 2026 | Sample exam v2.2 (question 19 replaced) | Sample Exam A answers v2.2 |
| 11 Aug 2026 | ITB's "ISTQB AI 2.0 Testing Exam Fees" ticket goes on sale | ITB Townscript ticket |
| 29 Sep 2026 | ITB's Townscript ticket pages show "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued." (the tickets had been listed until 31 Mar 2027, 18:00 UTC) | Townscript ticket pages, evening of 29 Sep 2026 |
| 21 Apr 2027 | Last day for English v1.0 training and exams, including retakes | ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ |
| 21 Oct 2027 | Last day for v1.0 in other languages; after this, v2.0 only | ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ |
Two notes on the table. The v2.0 release has two dates because the formal release (17 April 2026, on the syllabus itself) and ISTQB's public announcement (21 April 2026) are four days apart; both are correct for what they describe. And ITB's 31 March 2027 ticket end date was never an ISTQB rule, and it has stopped mattering: on the evening of 29 September 2026 the Townscript pages for all of ITB's AI tickets said bookings were closed and Townscript's services discontinued, while ITB's own pages still linked to them. If you plan to sit v1.0 through ITB, ask ITB how to pay now and leave room before the 21 April 2027 sunset.
What changed between v1.0 and v2.0
| Item | v1.0 (2021) | v2.0 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | 11 | 7 |
| Minimum training time | 25.1 hours (1,505 min) | 19.5 hours (1,170 min); ISTQB: "four days to three" |
| Learning objectives (our count) | 67 (6 K1, 54 K2, 3 K3, 4 K4) | 43 (39 K2, 4 K3) |
| Hands-on objectives (our count) | 10 | 8 |
| Exam points / pass mark | 47 / 31 | 44 / 29 |
| Questions / time | 40 / 60 min | 40 / 60 min |
| Using AI for testing | Chapter 11, 195 min, 4 points | Removed (now CT-GenAI territory) |
| Generative AI and LLM testing | Not a dedicated topic | Dedicated section 4.2, incl. red teaming (K3) |
| Structure | Topic chapters (ML overview, data, metrics, neural networks, techniques, environments) | ML lifecycle: input data testing, model testing, ML development testing |
| Quality model for AI-specific characteristics | ISO/IEC 25010 | ISO/IEC 25059 (extends ISO/IEC 25010) |
| Other notable references | ISO/IEC TR 29119-11 | ISO/IEC TR 29119-11; the EU AI Act (legislation, not a standard) |
| Prerequisite | CTFL | CTFL |
| Certificate validity | For life | For life |
ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ and news release, Syllabus v1.0 and v2.0, Exam Structures & Rules Tables v1.19, ISTQB certificates FAQ. Learning-objective and hands-on counts are ours, counted from each syllabus's objective list.
ISTQB Exam Structures & Rules Tables v1.19. v2.0 has no recall-only or analysis questions; everything is understand or apply.
ISTQB's own summary is that v2.0 "concentrates entirely on testing AI-based systems. Content related to using AI for testing has been removed." Note the word entirely: all of it went, not some of it. If what you actually want is to use AI tools in your testing work, ISTQB points you to its separate CT-GenAI certification (see the comparison guide in this series).
Where v1.0 topics went
| Term (our search of each syllabus text) | v1.0 mentions | v2.0 mentions | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| pairwise | 17 | 0 | Pairwise testing (v1.0 9.2) is gone |
| virtual test environment | 14 | 0 | Chapter 10 test environments are gone |
| data poisoning | 16 | 0 | Adversarial testing stays (6.1.4); the phrase does not |
| back-to-back | 12 | 21 | Kept and expanded (6.1.10) |
| neuron coverage | 5 | 7 | Kept (3.4.3) |
| autonomous | 29 | 7 | Much less weight |
| explainab(ility) | 39 | 10 | Much less weight |
| exploratory | 21 | 15 | Now applied to LLMs (hands-on 4.2.3) |
Our case-insensitive text search of the two syllabus PDFs, including tables of contents and glossaries, so counts are rough. Metamorphic testing, A/B testing, back-to-back testing and test oracles appear in both versions.
Which one should you sit? Check your date
v1.0 or v2.0? Check your date against the deadlines
Enter the date you expect to sit the exam and answer three questions. The checker compares your exam date with ISTQB's v1.0 sunset for your language, says which versions are still open to you, and notes what we know about paying the Indian Testing Board.
Dates: ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ (English v1.0 exams including retakes until 21 April 2027; other languages until 21 October 2027) ITB's Townscript tickets listed the v1.0, v2.0 and reappearing AI tickets until 31 March 2027, but on the evening of 29 September 2026 every one of them showed "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued.", so that date no longer tells you when you can pay; ask ITB. The 14-day retake margin is our assumption. Our reading of the rules, not an ISTQB decision.
| Your situation | Our reading | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Not started yet | v2.0 | Shorter syllabus; the only version after the sunset; any retake stays available |
| Well into v1.0, sitting before the sunset | v1.0 is fine | ISTQB: "Not necessarily" switch; v1.0 certificates stay valid for life |
| Halfway, date near April 2027 | Lean to v2.0 | A failed v1.0 attempt cannot be retaken on v1.0 after 21 Apr 2027 (English) |
| Want to learn AI tools for testing | v1.0 or CT-GenAI | ISTQB: v1.0 covered using AI for testing; v2.0 does not |
| Booking v1.0 through ITB | Ask ITB how to pay, and do it early | ITB's Townscript tickets showed bookings closed on 29 Sep 2026; ITB named no new payment route when we checked |
| Sitting in a language other than English | v1.0 open to 21 Oct 2027 | The later sunset applies; check your provider offers your language |
Our reading of ISTQB's FAQ and of ITB's ticket pages as they stood on 29 September 2026. ISTQB also notes that v2.0 is "more focused and up-to-date" for anyone whose goal is testing AI-based systems.
Things that did not change
Same on both versions
- CTFL is still the entry requirement. ISTQB's FAQ: Foundation Level "remains the entry requirement for taking the CT-AI exam".
- Your v1.0 certificate stays valid. "There is no mandatory requirement to retake the exam or upgrade your certification", and ISTQB Specialist certificates are valid for life.
- No bridging exam. A v1.0 holder who wants v2.0 sits the full v2.0 exam as a separate certification.
- Same exam shape: 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, +25% for a non-native language, at least 65% to pass.
- No prior AI expertise needed. The syllabus introduces AI and ML concepts before testing them; "some familiarity with software testing or development practices is recommended".
ISTQB CT-AI v2.0 FAQ and ISTQB certificates FAQ.
Out-of-date pages are the real trap in the transition. On 29 September 2026 the Indian Testing Board's own "AI Testing" page still described v1.0 (including the outcome "Understand how AI can be used to support software testing") and linked v1.0 files, and one European exam provider's CT-AI page still listed v1.0 chapters such as "ML - Neural Networks and Testing". Even ISTQB's v2.0 page links an accreditation-guidelines file dated 2021. Always check the version number on the cover of any syllabus or mock paper you study from: v2.0 is "v2.0 GA", dated 2026/04/17.
Practise it, don't just read it
Sitting v2.0? The ProSyllabus quizzes are written on the v2.0 syllabus, chapter by chapter.
The ProSyllabus CT-AI library has 10 quizzes of 10 questions written on the v2.0 syllabus and covering all seven chapters: Introduction to AI (two quizzes), quality characteristics, machine learning (two: forms and workflow; metrics, neural networks and coverage), testing AI-based systems (two: test oracles and test levels; generative AI and red teaming), input data testing, and model testing plus ML development testing (two). They are our own questions, not ISTQB exam items, and they are single-answer only, while ISTQB's official Sample Exam A v2.2 also includes two select-two questions, so practise that format there.
When does CT-AI v1.0 expire?
English-language v1.0 training and exams, including retakes, end on 21 April 2027. Other languages end on 21 October 2027. After that, only v2.0 is examined.
Should I switch from CT-AI v1.0 to v2.0?
ISTQB says not necessarily: if you are well advanced and will sit within the transition period, it may be more efficient to continue. Switch if you are just starting or a retake could fall after the sunset.
When does the Indian Testing Board stop selling the v1.0 exam?
Its v1.0 fee ticket on Townscript was listed until 31 March 2027, but on the evening of 29 September 2026 the page said "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued." ITB had not published another way to pay when we checked, so email ITB (rpexams@indiantestingboard.com) before planning a v1.0 sitting. ISTQB's own English v1.0 sunset is 21 April 2027.
Is my CT-AI v1.0 certificate still valid?
Yes. ISTQB says v1.0 certifications remain valid and there is no requirement to retake or upgrade. Specialist certificates are valid for life.
Is there a bridging exam from v1.0 to v2.0?
No. v2.0 has to be taken as a separate certification exam.
What was removed in CT-AI v2.0?
All content on using AI for testing, which was v1.0 chapter 11. Our text search also finds no mention of pairwise testing, virtual test environments or data poisoning in v2.0.
What was added in CT-AI v2.0?
Dedicated coverage of testing generative AI and LLMs, including exploratory testing and red teaming, and a structure built around input data testing, model testing and ML development testing.
When was CT-AI v2.0 released?
ISTQB's General Assembly formally released the syllabus on 17 April 2026, and ISTQB announced it in a news post on 21 April 2026.
Is the v1.0 pass mark the same as v2.0?
No. v1.0 is 31 of 47 points; v2.0 is 29 of 44. Both are at least 65%.
Is CTFL still required for CT-AI v2.0?
Yes. ISTQB says Foundation Level remains the entry requirement.
Sources
- official — ISTQB — Help: CT-AI Version 2.0 (FAQ)
- official — ISTQB — Certified Tester AI Testing (CT-AI) certification page (v2.0)
- official — ISTQB — News: ISTQB Releases Certified Tester AI Testing (CT-AI) Syllabus Version 2.0 (21 Apr 2026)
- official — ISTQB — CT-AI Syllabus v2.0 (GA 17 Apr 2026, PDF)
- official — ISTQB CT-AI Syllabus v1.0 (GA 1 Oct 2021) — Indian Testing Board copy (PDF)
- official — ISTQB — Exam Structures & Rules Tables v1.19 (19 Aug 2026, PDF)
- official — ISTQB — CT-AI Sample Exam set A, Answers v2.2 (PDF, released 20 Jul 2026)
- official — Townscript — ITB ticket pages, evening of 29 Sep 2026: "Bookings are closed. Townscript services have been discontinued."
- official — Indian Testing Board fee ticket on Townscript — "ISTQB AI Testing Exam Fees" (v1.0) (read early 29 Sep 2026; bookings closed by that evening)
- official — Indian Testing Board fee ticket on Townscript — "ISTQB AI 2.0 Testing Exam Fees" (read early 29 Sep 2026; bookings closed by that evening)
- official — Indian Testing Board fee ticket on Townscript — "ISTQB AI Testing Reappearing Exam Fees" (read early 29 Sep 2026; bookings closed by that evening)
- official — Indian Testing Board — Specialist: Remote proctored exam (take exam from home), procedure and fee table
- official — ISTQB — Help: ISTQB Certificates (validity, Successful Candidate Register)
- official — Indian Testing Board — Specialist: AI Testing page
- official — Brightest — ISTQB CT-AI certification page (described v1.0 when read on 29 Sep 2026)
- official — ISTQB — CT-AI Accreditation Guidelines v1.0 (2021, PDF linked from the v2.0 page)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
