How to Become a Quality Assurance Manager in 2026?

Are you aspiring to be a quality assurance manager and looking for a step-by-step guide on how to become one?

In this comprehensive guide, we shall provide you with all the basic requirements on how to become a quality assurance manager, the skills required, and salary details.

A quality assurance manager is entrusted with ensuring that the final product(s) are consistent and of excellent quality. Quality assurance managers are employed in various industries, such as software development, manufacturing, healthcare, and others, where the quality of a product or service is of paramount importance.

Some of the importance of QA manager are,

Maintains customer satisfaction

Quality assurance managers are in charge of ensuring that the finished/delivered products are of the highest quality and meet customer expectations.

Reduces costs incurred

They implement various quality control measures that help in the early identification of faulty/inefficient products. This reduces the necessity for reworks, product recalls, and other related expenses, thereby minimizing incurred costs.

Proper compliance

QA managers help avoid any kind of penalties or fines by ensuring that the products comply with local and international laws and guidelines.

Efficient risk management

They reduce any type of risks associated with manufacturing or developing products or software by identifying potential hazards. This helps in minimizing any kind of quality issues and customer dissatisfaction.

So, if you are a fresher or an experienced professional trying to enter into another industry, this step-by-step guide will provide you with all the necessary details to succeed.

Keep reading to know more about the steps to be a quality assurance manager, the education and skills required, and some basic tips and tricks to ace the QA manager interview.

How to Become a Quality Assurance Manager in 5 Simple Steps

Here is a step-by-step procedure to become a quality assurance manager in any related sector or industry:

Step 1: Master Skills

Before you start your journey to become a quality assurance manager, you first assess your skills and get the relevant ones. Some of the top skills required to be a QA manager are:

• Strategic Thinking
• Proper Risk Management
• Quality Assurance Leadership
• Understand the Users’ Expectations
• Implement New and Innovative Quality Control Measures
• Implement Various Training Sessions for Employees

A good quality assurance manager must have a wide set of hard skills like:

Backend

• Database management languages like SQL
• Proficiency in APIs
• Comprehensive knowledge of server configurations, deployment processes, etc.

Frontend

• Efficient, practical knowledge of HTML and CSS
• JavaScript testing
• Testing browser compatibility

UI/UX

• Usability Testing
• Effective use of Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma
• Understanding of design guidelines like Material Design or Apple Human Interface Guidelines

Some of the additional hard skills which could be beneficial in the long run are:

• Understanding test automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or Appium
• Good knowledge of security testing principles
• Understanding of version control systems like Git for project collaboration
• CI/CD pipelines and tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, and GitLab CI

If you are looking for ways on how to become a certified quality manager, some of the certifications we recommend are:

1. Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
2. Green Belt Certification.
3. Project Management Professional (PMP)
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM):
5. ISTQB Advanced Level Certification
6. Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Step 2: Determine Your Ideal Timeline

When you are planning to become a quality assurance manager, the second step you should do is to create a wireframe/timetable for your daily tasks. We recommend you create small goals and objectives that you wish to complete gradually.

Start Learning in a Format That Suits You

Always curate your learning plan along with your overall preference and circumstances. You can opt for formal classes, online courses, or even self-study through various online resources at your convenience. Before selecting your preferred learning format, always consider various factors like the accessibility of the resources, the flexibility of the learning modules, and the amount of knowledge you can get.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Quality Assurance Manager?

The period required to be a professional quality assurance manager depends on various factors like educational level, experience, skills known, etc. Generally, depending on the sector, it takes several months to years to gain a comprehensive knowledge of various quality management principles, regulations, software testing methodologies, and various leadership skills. If you are looking for ways to become a quality assurance officer, we recommend you gain a wide knowledge of all the skills mentioned above, along with some certifications relevant to your sector and/or areas of interest.

Step 3: Begin Building Your Portfolio / Resume

After you have gained a clear understanding of various skills and strategies required for efficient quality assurance, the next step is to create a resume highlighting your skills. Create a strong portfolio of the various tasks you have completed in the field of quality assurance, along with the certifications completed.

Curate your resume according to the company you are applying for. Evaluate the job requirements and arrange your skills accordingly. We recommend getting help from professionals, instructors, mentors, and colleagues before finalizing your resume.

Step 4: Where and how to find a job?

There is a huge demand for quality assurance managers across the world. As per recent reports, the requirement for QA managers is estimated to grow by 3 percent in 2028.

Some of the top companies in the world hiring quality assurance managers are:

• Amazon
• Accenture
• JPMorgan Chase
• Wipro
• PayPal
• PepsiCo
• Oracle
• Meta
• IBM
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Wells Fargo Bank

Job Outlook for Cybersecurity Specialist

With the advent of digitization, companies across the world prioritize digital infrastructure and record-keeping, and robust cybersecurity measures are the need of the hour. Quality assurance managers ensure that the cyber security measures are implemented efficiently.

Some of the reasons why cybersecurity specialists in quality assurance are in growing demand are as follows:

• Regulatory compliance
• Cyber threats
• Need for various quality assurance principles like continuous monitoring, testing and upgradation, etc.
• Efficient risk management
• New and innovative technological advancements

Some job roles that require cybersecurity, as well as quality assurance management, are:

• Cybersecurity Quality Assurance Manager:
• Cybersecurity Testing and Assurance Specialist
• Cybersecurity Risk Assurance Manager
• Cybersecurity Compliance Analyst
• Cybersecurity Audit Manager
• Cybersecurity Incident Response Coordinator

Overall, we can say that having knowledge of cybersecurity and quality assurance, along with all the necessary skills, is a promising career field.

Step 5: Ace the Interview

Attending the interview is the last step in becoming a quality assurance manager. After being shortlisted, you need to showcase your skills and experience along with reasons why you are a suitable candidate for the role.

Although different companies follow different interview procedures, the basic process includes:

1. Initial screening via a phone call
2. A technical interview round where you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge about the various quality principles and methods
3. A behavioral round wherein you will be asked to communicate about any quality-related obstacles you have faced in your past and how you overcame them
4. Finally, a final round of interviews with various stakeholders and managers who examine your ability to align with the company's goals and objectives

Some interview tips to be a quality assurance manager are:

• Know about the role and responsibilities by researching the company
• Always highlight your skills and achievements in the resume
• Ask questions in the interview. Simply don’t answer
• Even if you do not get shortlisted after the interview, reach out to HR for a quick follow-up

Who can become a Quality Assurance Manager?

Before looking for ways to become a quality assurance manager, you must meet the basic minimum requirements to be eligible.

Educational Qualification

One of the basic quality assurance manager education requirements is a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or any other related field. Though some companies prefer QA managers to have a master's degree, it is not a mandatory requirement.

Skills and experience

Quality assurance managers must have at least 5 to 7 years of relevant experience in the software development and testing field. Additionally, you must have a varied set of skills like:

• Technical skills like Selenium, JUnit, or TestNG
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Problem identification and solving skills
• Knowledge about ISO 9001, IEEE standards

Certificates

In addition to the basic quality manager education requirements, you must have some certificates that will showcase your skills and knowledge. You can enroll in various online certification courses like:

• CSTE (Certified Software Tester) Certification
• Six Sigma Training Certification 
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
• CSQA (Certified Software Quality Analyst) Certification
• ISTQB Agile Tester Certification
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (CLSSBB)

Benefits of becoming a Quality Assurance Manager

As mentioned above, the demand for quality assurance managers is in high demand due to increased advanced digital transformation across industries. Some of the reasons for the increased demand for quality assurance managers are:

• Growing software industry
• Focus on quality management
• Shifting of expertise to Agile and DevOps Practices
• Increased regulatory compliance
• More emphasis on regulatory compliance

Salary details for the top 5 countries are:

Zippia

Country	Estimated Salary
India	₹18,00,000 per year
Australia	$92,883 per year
United Kingdom	£65,130 per year
USA	$131,012 per year
Singapore	SGD 9,710 per month
Canada	$77,147 per year

Conclusion

Becoming a quality assurance manager in the constantly evolving software industry offers many benefits and avenues for career growth. This blog provides a step-by-step guideline on how to become a quality assurance manager, including the necessary skills and certifications required.

If you are interested in enrolling in a fully remote certification, you can look for KnowledgeHut's Six Sigma course details that are eligible for all types of senior and mid-level management.

Throughout the blog, you can get some tips to complete the interview process and secure a position as a quality assurance manager in top companies. Whether you are applying for a position in the USA, Singapore, or India, you can get ample opportunities for career growth.