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How to Become a QA Engineer: A Complete Roadmap

by Codemify Team

Breaking into tech might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re starting from zero — but it’s way more doable than you think. I’ve been there.
Years ago, I moved to the U.S., worked on a farm, and had no idea what QA even meant. But with the right guidance and a little persistence, I learned everything from scratch and landed my first job in tech.

At Codemify, we’ve helped thousands of people — immigrants, career switchers, and folks with zero technical background — build real QA skills and get hired. This roadmap is based on what actually works: a practical, no-fluff guide to becoming a QA Engineer (Manual and Automation).

We created it to show you exactly what you need to learn, step by step. Whether you’re just curious or already learning with us, save this post — it’s your personal roadmap to a high-paying QA career.
Let’s dive in.

🧩 Step 1: Understand the Basics of Manual Testing

Before diving into automation, it's crucial to grasp the fundamentals of manual testing.

Key Topics:

What is QA and how it fits into the software development process
SDLC & STLC: Learn the Software Development Life Cycle and Software Testing Life Cycle to understand the stages of software creation and testing.
Types of testing: Functional, Regression, Smoke, Exploratory, etc.
Test Case Design: Master the art of creating effective test cases that cover various scenarios.
Bug Reporting: Familiarize yourself with tools like Jira for tracking and reporting defects.
Hands-on Testing: Gain experience in web, mobile, and API testing using tools like Postman.

Watch:

🧰 Step 2: Learn Essential QA Tools

Proficiency in industry-standard tools is vital for a QA Engineer.

Tools to Explore:

Jira – for tracking bugs and managing sprints
TestRail or Google Sheets – for writing test cases
Postman – for testing APIs and understanding request/response
Chrome DevTools – to inspect elements and debug websites
Trello / Notion – for managing tasks during practice projects

Watch:

Bug Reporting with Jira
Postman API Testing Tutorial

Once the basics are covered, go deeper:

Learn black-box vs white-box testing
Practice test design techniques like boundary value analysis
Understand release pipelines and how QA supports deployment
Try exploratory testing on live websites
Learn how to test real-world apps (web, mobile, and API)

💻 Step 3: Explore Web Structure and Basic Technical

Skills You don’t need to become a developer, but you should understand how apps are built:

Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics
Use browser dev tools to locate elements
Understand how frontend connects to backend via APIs
Get familiar with JSON, status codes, and API architecture

💻 Step 4: Build Your Automation Foundation

Once you’re confident with manual testing, it’s time to level up with automation — the skill that gets you higher salaries and more job opportunities.

Roadmap for becoming an Automation QA Engineer:

Transitioning from manual testing to automation is a significant leap in a QA engineer's career. This roadmap provides a structured approach to mastering QA Automation, incorporating essential tools, frameworks, and best practices.

🔧 Step 1: Set Up Your Automation Environment

Terminal & Bash Basics: Navigate directories, manage files, and understand command-line operations.
Version Control with Git & GitHub: Learn to clone repositories, commit changes, and handle branches.
Development Tools:

VS Code: Set up and configure for efficient coding.
Node.js & NPM: Install and manage packages essential for automation frameworks.

🖥️ Step 2: Understand Web Technologies

HTML & CSS:

Grasp the structure and styling of web pages.
Identify elements for creating effective selectors in tests.

JavaScript Fundamentals:

Variables, data types, and operators.
Control structures: loops and conditionals.
Functions and error handling.

🧪 Step 3: Dive into Test Automation Frameworks

Cypress:

Set up and configure for UI testing.
Write and execute test scripts.
Understand the Page Object Model.

API Testing with Axios:

Send HTTP requests and validate responses.
Integrate API tests into your test suites.

🔄 Step 4: Implement Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

GitHub Actions:

Automate test execution on code commits.
Set up workflows for continuous testing.

Jenkins:

Configure pipelines for automated testing and deployment.

☁️ Step 5: Leverage Cloud Services for Scalable Testing

Cloud Platforms:

Integrate with AWS, GCP, or Azure for testing in diverse environments.
Utilize services like LambdaTest for cross-browser testing

📚 Step 6: Enhance Your Skills with Advanced Topics

Advanced JavaScript:

Asynchronous programming: Promises and async/await.
ES6+ features and modern JavaScript practices.

Data Structures & Algorithms:

Understand arrays, objects, and common algorithms to write efficient tests.

🎯 Step 7: Prepare for the Job Market

Portfolio Development:

Document your projects on GitHub.
Write blogs or create videos demonstrating your automation skills.

Interview Preparation:

Practice common QA automation interview questions.
Participate in mock interviews and coding challenges.

Watch: QA Automation Engineer Roadmap - How to Become a QA Tester

📝 Final Thoughts

Embarking on a QA career is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. By following this roadmap and leveraging resources like Codemify's comprehensive courses, you're well on your way to a rewarding career in QA.

Explore Codemify's Programs: Manual & Automation QA Courses

📺 Recommended Resources

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