Our Mission and Purpose

The Association for Software Testing is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the science and practice of software testing according to Context-Driven principles.

The Association for Software Testing (AST) is an international non-profit professional association with members in over 50 countries. AST is dedicated and strives to build a testing community that views the role of testing as skilled, relevant, and essential to the production of faster, better, and less expensive software products. We value a scientific approach to developing and evaluating techniques, processes, and tools. We believe that a self-aware, self-critical attitude is essential to understanding and assessing the impact of new ideas on the practice of testing.

Our Objectives

• Host an annual AST Conference to bring together developers, testers, management, and researchers in an exchange of testing practices, theories, and techniques.
• Encourage, facilitate, and coordinate partnerships between testing experts at all levels: practitioners, management, and researchers.
• Publish content both online and in print containing leading-edge information on testing practice and theory.
• Support the teaching of software testing by encouraging projects to develop and publish resources that assist classroom presentation, grading, and self-study.

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Our Milestones

• February 20-21, 2017 – 1st CASTx Event (2nd Annual Conference)
• August 8-10, 2016 – 11th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• August 3-5, 2015 – 10th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• August 12-13, 2014 – 9th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• August 26-28, 2013 – 8th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• May 19, 2013 – AST Partners with Per Scholas a non-profit IT workforce training program
• April 10, 2013 – AST Partners with SummerQAmp a U.S. youth summer jobs program
• July 16-18, 2012 – 7th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• April 10, 2012 – AST Partners with SummerQAmp a U.S. youth summer jobs program
• March 11, 2012 – Added third Black Box Software Testing (BBST) class (Test Design)
• August 8-10, 2011 – 6th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• August 2-5, 2010 – 5th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• July 13-16, 2009 – 4th annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• July 14-16, 2008 – 3rd annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• May 25, 2008 – Added second Black Box Software Testing (BBST) class (Bug Advocacy)
• October 17, 2007 – First Black Box Software Testing (BBST) class (Foundations)
• July 9-11, 2007 – 2nd annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• June 5, 2006 – 1st annual CAST (Conference of the Association for Software Testing)
• October 27, 2004 – granted 501(c) (3) status
• April 14, 2004 – AST Incorporation

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