PCAT Python Testing

PCAT Python Testing

Duration: 4 Days

Description

This four-day course is the advanced, hands-on counterpart to formal testing theory, aligned to the PCAT certification. It moves quickly into practice: test automation and code refactoring using the AAA pattern, DRY, and KISS principles, then into assertions, context managers, and decorators as testing tools rather than general-purpose language features. The core of the course is a deep, structured treatment of unit testing — the F.I.R.S.T. principles, xUnit architecture, fixtures, parameterized tests, mocking with patch, and selective test execution — before closing with Test-Driven and Behavior-Driven Development, teaching participants to write tests before code as a working discipline, not just a concept from a book.

Audience

This course is for Python developers ready to move from writing tests to engineering a test suite — the mocking, fixtures, and TDD/BDD modules here are what production teams actually rely on, well beyond basic assertion writing. For a developer, the direct payoff is a measurable jump in code reliability and review speed: developers who practice TDD consistently catch design problems before code is written, not after, and mocking skills unblock testing code that depends on databases, APIs, or other services that are impractical to run in every test. It’s especially valuable for developers moving into a senior or lead role where they’re expected to set testing standards for a team, not just meet them individually.

Objectives

  • Explain key software testing concepts, terminology, and principles
  • Differentiate between levels of testing and apply the Test Pyramid effectively
  • Measure and analyze code coverage to ensure comprehensive test suites
  • Implement test automation and apply refactoring best practices such as AAA, DRY, and KISS
  • Use assertions, context managers, and decorators to support effective testing
  • Apply the F.I.R.S.T principles and xUnit architecture for structured unit testing
  • Write and organize unit tests using the unittest module and specialized assertions
  • Employ advanced techniques such as fixtures, parameterization, mocks, and selective execution
  • Apply Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) practices in Python projects

Prerequisites

Participants should have a working knowledge of Python, including variables, functions, classes, and basic object-oriented programming. No prior testing experience is required, though familiarity with software development practices will help maximize learning.

Related Python Courses

See the full Python training roadmap and course directory for how this fits into a broader learning path.

This course builds on the theory in PCET Introduction to Python Testing or the practical foundation in Software Testing with Python. Developers who also want production-level Python skills alongside advanced testing should pair this with PCPP1 Python Professional or Advanced Python. Building and testing AI-powered applications? See Python OpenAI API for Developers.

Course Outline

Module 1: Software Testing Essentials

  • Software Testing Concepts and Traits
  • Levels of Testing
  • Errors, Defects, Bugs, and Failures
  • Principles of Software Testing
  • Starting and Stopping Test Activities
  • The Test Pyramid
  • Code Coverage and Dead Code

Module 2: Test Automation and Code Refactoring

  • Purpose and Benefits of Test Automation
  • The Code Refactoring Loop
  • AAA Pattern in Automated Tests
  • Applying DRY and KISS Principles

Module 3: Assertions, Context Managers, Decorators, and Methods

  • The Assertion Statement
  • Context Managers and the Code Sandwich Pattern
  • Function Decorators
  • Class Decorators
  • Instance, Static, and Class Methods

Module 4: Foundations of Unit Testing

  • F.I.R.S.T Principles of Unit Testing
  • xUnit Architecture
  • Running Tests
  • Good Practices for Test Structure
  • Specialized Assertions
  • Unit Tests as Documentation
  • AAA Pattern in Practice
  • Using the unittest Module

Module 5: Advanced Unit Testing Techniques

  • Unit Test Fixtures
  • Parameterized Unit Tests
  • Marking Tests with Special Conditions
  • Selective Test Execution
  • Using Test Doubles
  • Mocking with Patch
  • Handling Exceptions in Unit Tests

Module 6: Test-Driven and Behavior-Driven Development

  • Test-Driven Development Fundamentals
  • Red, Green, Refactor Cycle
  • Behavior-Driven Development Fundamentals