Soft testing, also known as software competency testing, is a national test led by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Its purpose is to scientifically and fairly test the professional qualifications, professional technical qualifications and professional technical level of computer and software professionals in China.

According to the Notice of the former Ministry of Personnel and the former Ministry of Information Industry on Printing and Distributing the Interim Provisions on Computer Technology and Software Professional and Technical Qualification (Level) Examination and the Implementation Measures for Computer Technology and Software Professional and Technical Qualification (Level) Examination (No.39 [2003] issued by the Ministry of Personnel), the computer qualification examination has been incorporated into the unified planning of the national professional and technical personnel professional qualification certificate system.

The personnel who have obtained the certificate through examination show that they have the level and ability to engage in the corresponding professional posts. The employer may select the corresponding professional and technical posts (technicians, assistant engineers, engineers and senior engineers) from the personnel who have obtained the certificate according to the needs of the work.

After the implementation of the national unified examination for computer qualification, the professional and technical post qualification evaluation of computer technology and software corresponding majors and grades will no longer be carried out. Therefore, this kind of examination is both a professional qualification examination and a professional title qualification examination.