Cookie Policy
Last updated: 09 June 2026
1. Introduction
1.1 ISTQB® is a not-for-profit association registered under Belgian law with registration number 0889.625.305, and with its registered office at Avenue des Arts 47, 1000 Brussels.
1.2 As further set out below, we use cookies on the ISTQB® websites at www.istqb.org, awards.istqb.org, partner.istqb.org, scr.istqb.org and glossary.istqb.org (the “Website”). In this Cookie Policy, we explain which cookies are used and why.
1.3 If you have any questions about how we collect, store, transfer and use your personal information, please read our Privacy Notice, or contact the ISTQB® Secretariat by either of the following means:
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Post: Avenue des Arts 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
2. About cookies
2.1 What are cookies?
Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your device through your web browser, and that enable the website or service provider’s systems to recognize your browser and to capture and remember certain information.
2.2 Types of cookies
2.2.1 By storage duration
Cookies can be temporary or permanent. Temporary cookies are only stored in your browser or application for a limited time; as soon as you close and leave your browser or application, those cookies are deleted. Permanent cookies remain on your computer or mobile device even after you close the browser or application. They make it possible to recognize you during subsequent visits and remain on your device until their end date is reached, until a new cookie is installed, or until you delete them in the settings of your browser, application or mobile device.
2.2.2 By the party that manages the cookies
First-party cookies are cookies that ISTQB® manages and that are specific to the online service you are visiting or using. Third-party cookies are cookies that are managed and placed by a third party during your visit to, or use of, the Website. Third-party cookies result in certain information being sent to third parties as a result of your visit to the Website.
2.2.3 By the use of cookies
Necessary cookies are indispensable to securely verify your identity, give you access to a restricted area or application, and remember your session.
Functional cookies ensure that the website functions properly and enable faster, more efficient use. Examples include cookies for:
- remembering your login details;
- ensuring the security of your login credentials;
- ensuring the consistency of the website’s layout.
Website performance cookies are load-balancing cookies (e.g. time-zone registration). Frequently visited websites use these cookies to distribute the burden of requests across multiple separate networks and servers.
Performance and analytics cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, in order to improve its content and ease of use. A common example is the cookies used by Google Analytics, which measure the number of visitors and similar metrics.
Social media cookies are used when a website embeds elements from third parties such as YouTube and Facebook to integrate social media via plugins. Your permission is always requested before these cookies are used.
3. Our cookies
We do not ask for your permission to use strictly necessary cookies, which are needed for the operation of the Website and to ensure that it functions properly. The use of all other cookies requires your consent, which we collect via the cookie banner on our Website.
| Cookie | Domain | Description | First / third party | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_ga_* | .istqb.org | Google Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views. | Third party | 1 year 1 month 4 days | Analytics |
_ga | .istqb.org | Installed by Google Analytics, this cookie calculates visitor, session and campaign data and keeps track of site usage for the site’s analytics report. It stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. | Third party | 1 year 1 month 4 days | Analytics |
_gid | .istqb.org | Installed by Google Analytics, this cookie stores information on how visitors use a website and helps create an analytics report of the website’s performance. The data collected includes the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit, anonymously. | Third party | 1 day | Analytics |
flatsome_cookie_notice | .istqb.org | Our website uses WordPress. This cookie is essential for maintaining your session and allowing you to navigate the website seamlessly (it maintains user sessions, enhances the user experience and secures your account). | First party | Session | Necessary |
__cf_bm | elementor.com | Used to distinguish trusted web traffic and override security restrictions based on the visitor’s IP address. It does not correspond to any user ID in the web application, nor does it store any personally identifiable information. This cookie is strictly necessary for site security operations and cannot be turned off. | Third party | 1 hour | Necessary |
ea11y-global-state | .istqb.org | Elementor sets this cookie to store the persistent accessibility preferences selected by the user (such as panel visibility or interface adjustments), so these settings remain the same when the user revisits the site. | Third party | Persistent | Functional |
ea11y-session-state | .istqb.org | Elementor sets this cookie to temporarily store accessibility preferences for the duration of the current browsing session, keeping the selected settings consistent while the user navigates the site. | Third party | Session | Functional |
4. Disabling / enabling cookies
You can accept or decline cookies by modifying your choices on the cookie banner. You can also change the settings in your browser or manually remove cookies from your system. Select your browser below to find out more about how it handles cookies:
Please note that disabling cookies may cause certain graphic elements or applications on the Website to work less well. ISTQB® does everything necessary to guarantee the proper functioning of the Website; however, certain elements of the Website require the use of cookies.
5. Updates to our Cookie Policy
We may amend or update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices regarding the processing of your personal data, or changes in applicable law. Whenever we publish changes, we will update the date of the “last update” shown at the top of this Cookie Policy.