Mediaboss Marketing

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

SmartBear Software, provider of software quality tools used by more than one million developers and testers worldwide, is donating software licenses of its industry leading testing tools to the Software Testing Education Program (STEP), created by Per Scholasand Barclays, to prepare the next generation of IT professionals to compete for entry-level software testing jobs. Per Scholas is a non-profit which breaks the cycle of poverty by providing technology education, access, training and job placement for people in low-income communities. Barclays is a major global financial services provider. Throughout the STEP course, test tool strategies and techniques are taught to qualified professionals using SmartBears industry leading testing software.

The global software testing market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 21.15 percent over the period 2012 2016, said Angie Kamath, Executive Director, New York at Per Scholas. The new STEP program, two weeks of intensive lab-based instructor-led training supported by exercises, field studies, industry experts and exposure to leading edge software testing tools like SmartBear, will help to meet the increasing demand for testing professionals.

Software testing is new to Per Scholas curriculum. Students are selected for the STEP program after successful completion of the core Per Scholas 15-week curriculum and successful achievement of Comp TIA A+ certification. STEP teaches select Per Scholas graduates industry leading testing skills and techniques, provides access to real life projects and field studies for participants to learn alongside working professionals. Key skills developed include test strategies, coverage, defect analysis and reporting.

The Per Scholas program is one that SmartBear believes in and supports wholeheartedly, said Lorinda Brandon, Director, Strategy at SmartBear. We are thrilled that Per Scholas added software testing to their curriculum and that our tools will be utilized to help build tomorrows critically needed testing professionals.

SmartBear has some of the most recognized and used testing tools in the world. As part of its Freeware Initiative, the company offers free versions of its industry leading tools. Visit: http://smartbear.com/products/free

Per Scholas

Per Scholas offers free, high quality technology education, job training, placement and career development opportunities to people in underserved communities. Since 1998, more than 4,000 un- and underemployed adults (18+ years old) have enrolled in our flagship IT-Ready job training and placement programs in New York City and Columbus, OH. The graduates work today in hundreds of corporations, small businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. The Social Impact Exchange recently named us one of the top 100 nonprofits creating proven social impact in the U.S. For more information, visit http://perscholas.org/.

About SmartBear Software

More than one million developers, testers and operations professionals use SmartBear software tools to ensure the quality and performance of their APIs, mobile, cloud-based and Web applications. With five million downloads and counting, SmartBear products are affordable, easy-to-use and ready for deployment. Free tools and plug-ins for automation and performance testing, code review and website monitoring are available for download on the website. Learn more about SmartBear, the company's award-winning tools or join the active user community at http://www.smartbear.com, on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @smartbear or Google+.

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Per Scholas Utilizes Industry Leading Testing Tools by SmartBear for Software Testing Education Program (STEP)