What is the difference between test cases and UAT scripts?

UAT scripts translate business acceptance criteria into end-to-end scenarios executed by stakeholders. Test cases may be more granular or technical; UAT emphasizes real-world workflows and stakeholder validation before release.

How detailed should steps be?

Steps should be atomic and unambiguous: one action per step with explicit inputs and expected results. That level of precision minimizes subjective outcomes and speeds resolution of failed steps.

Can acceptance sign-offs be electronic?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.

Who approves final acceptance?

Typically product owners or designated business stakeholders sign off after reviewing evidence. Document the approver role and authority in governance policies to avoid disputes.

How do we correct a signed acceptance?

If errors are identified post-signing, create an amendment or revocation record, rerun affected scripts as necessary, and collect new signed acceptance to preserve an auditable history.

How do we handle PHI in UAT?

Avoid using real patient data unless absolutely necessary; if used, ensure a Business Associate Agreement and HIPAA-compliant controls are in place and retain records for six years per 45 CFR §164.530(j).

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
User Acceptance Testing Scripts

User Acceptance Testing Scripts

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

User Acceptance Testing Scripts Agreement

This User Acceptance Testing Scripts Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of between Client Name: , with address , and Provider Name: , with address .

WHEREAS

Whereas Provider is engaged in the development, preparation and delivery of user acceptance testing scripts, test execution, and documented test results for the software, systems, or deliverables specified herein (the Deliverables); and

Whereas Client requires Provider to create, maintain and, as applicable, execute User Acceptance Testing (UAT) scripts to validate functional, integration and acceptance criteria in accordance with the acceptance criteria and the scope described below; and

Whereas the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations with respect to the creation, delivery, execution and reporting of UAT scripts and related services.

Scope of Work

Provider shall develop, deliver and, if agreed, execute User Acceptance Testing scripts in accordance with the acceptance criteria, test procedures and schedule set forth in this Agreement. The Scope of Work includes creation of test cases, preconditions, step-by-step execution instructions, expected results, defect logging, and an execution report that documents actual results and disposition.

Detailed Scope of Work

UAT Test Script Template

Use the fields below to define individual UAT test scripts. Complete one set per test case. Provider shall ensure each test case contains objective criteria and reproducible steps to permit Client verification.

Test Case ID Title / Short Description Objective Preconditions Steps (step-by-step) Expected Result Actual Result

Tester Name

Execution Date

Severity (select one or more that apply) Low Medium High

Status Pass Fail (Check only the applicable status)

Comments / Defect Reference

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Provider for the services and deliverables described herein in accordance with the terms below. All amounts are in the agreed currency and are exclusive of taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Fee

Payment Schedule

Late Fee / Interest

Provider shall submit invoices in accordance with the payment schedule. Client shall pay undisputed invoices within the number of days specified in the Payment Schedule. Disputed amounts shall be promptly identified in writing and the undisputed portion shall be paid. Overdue amounts shall accrue interest at the rate specified above or, if no rate is specified, at a rate of 1.5% per month.

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on the Start Date and continues until the End Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Start Date

End Date

Notice Period for Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure such breach within the notice period. Provider may suspend performance if Client fails to pay amounts when due, subject to written notice and cure period. Termination shall not relieve Client of payment obligations for services performed and deliverables accepted prior to termination.

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as Confidential Information all non-public information disclosed in connection with this Agreement, including test data, test scripts, system configurations, defects and remediation plans. Confidential Information shall not be disclosed to third parties except to employees, contractors or affiliates with a need to know and subject to confidentiality obligations no less restrictive than those herein. Confidential obligations shall survive termination for a period of three (3) years, except for trade secrets which shall remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified below without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within that jurisdiction for any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

Governing Jurisdiction

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including its attachments and incorporated test scripts, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings and communications, whether written or oral. Any amendment or waiver must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Acceptance Criteria / Final Acceptance

Final acceptance of the Deliverables shall occur when Client, following execution of the agreed UAT scripts, provides written acceptance confirming that the actual results conform to the documented expected results or that any outstanding defects have been remediated in accordance with the agreed severity and remediation plan.

Acceptance Notes

Client (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Provider (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

What a User Acceptance Testing Script Is and When It's Used

A User Acceptance Testing (UAT) script is a structured, step-by-step document that guides testers through validating that software meets business requirements and is ready for production. UAT scripts describe conditions, inputs, actions, and expected results for real-world scenarios and actors, enabling repeatable verification across releases. They translate requirements into testable tasks, record outcomes, and provide an auditable trail for stakeholders. Well-written UAT scripts reduce ambiguity in acceptance criteria, speed stakeholder reviews, and create evidence for release approvals and regulatory or contractual audits.

Why clear UAT scripts matter for reliable releases

Clear UAT scripts align business expectations, reduce rework, and provide documented proof that acceptance criteria were met before production. They help nontechnical stakeholders validate outcomes consistently and support deployment decisions with objective pass/fail evidence.

Who typically creates and executes UAT scripts

Assign clear ownership for authoring, execution, and sign-off to avoid gaps and ensure accountability during release windows.

Business analysts and product owners: write acceptance criteria and review test coverage from business perspective.
QA engineers and testers: convert criteria into executable steps, run tests, and log results.
End users or subject-matter experts: perform final validation and confirm the software meets real-world needs.

Core elements of a professional UAT script

A complete UAT script pairs structured metadata with repeatable test steps and result recording. Include context, preconditions, data setup, expected outcomes, and sign-off fields so stakeholders can trace testing decisions and results.

Metadata

Include Test Case ID, Title, Module, Priority, related requirement IDs, and owner to keep tests discoverable and traceable across releases and reports.

Preconditions

Document environmental setup, required accounts, test data, and system state prerequisites so testers can reproduce the same starting point before executing steps.

Test Steps

List concise, numbered actions for the tester to perform. Each step should be a single action with any expected intermediate checkpoints for clarity.

Expected Result

Specify observable, measurable outcomes for each step. Use precise UI field values, API responses, or system state assertions to avoid interpretation differences.

Actual Result

Record what happened during execution, including screenshots, logs, or response payloads when results deviate from expectations.

Sign-off

Include tester name, date, pass/fail status, severity, remediation notes, and stakeholder acceptance fields to document final approval or rejection.

Step-by-step: create and run a UAT script

Follow a consistent sequence to author, validate, execute, and approve UAT scripts so acceptance evidence is reliable and auditable.

01

Plan: Define scope, stakeholders, and acceptance criteria before authoring scripts.
02

Author: Draft test cases with clear steps, preconditions, and expected results.
03

Execute: Run tests in the UAT environment, capture results, and attach evidence for failures.
04

Approve: Obtain stakeholder sign-off and record final acceptance status and date.

Configuring an online UAT workflow

Set up templates, roles, and routing rules in your test management or document platform to streamline execution and sign-off.

Field	Configuration
Template	Create reusable UAT templates with placeholder fields for environment and data references.
Roles & Permissions	Assign authors, testers, and approvers with appropriate read/write permissions for auditability.
Routing	Define sequential or parallel routing for tests and approvals to match organizational sign-off processes.
Notifications	Enable email or team alerts for assigned tasks, due dates, and final sign-off to ensure timely action.

Where to store and send completed UAT scripts

Use centralized repositories and controlled distribution to ensure accessibility, versioning, and audit trails for completed scripts and evidence.

Test Repository: Store canonical scripts in the test management system or document library for reuse.
Issue Tracker: Link failed test results to tickets in the issue tracker for triage and remediation.
Stakeholder Distribution: Share signed acceptance records with product owners and release managers for deployment decisions.
Archive: Move completed scripts and evidence to long-term storage per retention rules.

Technical considerations for eSigning and eSubmission

Verify platform compliance (ESIGN, UETA) and required certifications before accepting e-signed UAT records as official evidence.

File formats: Use PDF or DOCX to preserve formatting and embedded evidence.
Integrations: Connect to tools like Jira, NetSuite, or Google Workspace for streamlined workflows.
Authentication: Enable email or multi-factor authentication for signer attribution and compliance.

Typical timelines and deadlines for UAT cycles

Establish clear timeboxes and freeze dates for UAT cycles to coordinate testing, bug fixes, and release readiness decisions.

UAT Window Duration:

Commonly 1–3 weeks depending on scope and regression size.

Bug Triage Deadline:

Set a cut-off 48–72 hours before final sign-off for medium and low severity issues.

Release Freeze:

Define a code freeze 24–48 hours before scheduled deployment to stabilize release.

Final Acceptance:

Stakeholder sign-off should occur before the deployment approval meeting.

Post-Release Check:

Run smoke tests within 24 hours after deployment to validate production readiness.

Key milestones in a UAT lifecycle

Map discrete milestones from planning through sign-off so teams understand dependencies and delivery cadence.

01

Plan & Scope

Define acceptance criteria, testers, and success metrics for the release.

02

Script Authoring

Author and review test cases, preconditions, and data requirements.

03

Execution & Logging

Execute tests, log pass/fail outcomes, and attach evidence for failures.

04

Stakeholder Sign-off

Collect approvals and finalize acceptance records before release approval.

Common pitfalls when preparing UAT scripts

Ambiguous expected results: vague outcomes force subjective pass/fail calls and delay approvals when stakeholders disagree on interpretation.
Missing preconditions: incomplete environment or data setup causes false negatives and wastes tester time during execution.
Insufficient evidence capture: failure to attach screenshots, logs, or request/response payloads makes troubleshooting and audits difficult.
Lack of stakeholder involvement: late review by business owners leads to rework and missed acceptance criteria prior to release.

Consequences of incomplete or incorrect UAT documentation

Release Failures: Unresolved defects may reach production.

Contractual Exposure: Missed acceptance may breach SLAs or contracts.

Regulatory Risk: Insufficient evidence can hinder compliance audits.

Rework Costs: Additional development and testing cycles required.

Stakeholder Distrust: Repeated issues reduce confidence in release processes.

Data Loss Risk: Improper data handling may violate policies.

eSignature vendor comparison for signing UAT acceptance records

This table compares common plan and compliance attributes across vendors. signNow is listed first per platform comparison conventions; verify vendor-specific features and plan terms before procurement.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Examples: UAT script use in real organizations

These examples show how teams structure acceptance testing to meet business and compliance needs.

Optica Ventures

The QA team created modular scripts aligned to product features to accelerate acceptance cycles by release

Focused on business scenarios and data reproducibility
This structure allowed quicker stakeholder review and consistent acceptance evidence across multiple deployments.

Fertility Centers

Healthcare UAT included PHI sanitization steps to protect patient data

Added audit logs and consent capture
The added controls helped satisfy internal compliance reviews and supported HIPAA-aligned retention practices.

Practical tips for precise, efficient UAT scripts

Adopt these habits to improve repeatability, reduce friction, and make acceptance records defensible.

Keep steps atomic

Write single-action steps so failures map to specific causes and reduce diagnostic time during triage.

Standardize data

Use named fixtures or seed scripts to ensure consistent preconditions across runs and environments.

Capture evidence

Attach screenshots, logs, or API traces for every failure to speed debugging and provide auditability.

Version and archive

Version control UAT scripts and archive signed acceptance records to preserve an audit trail for future review.

Frequently asked questions about UAT scripts and signed acceptance

Answers to common questions about authoring, executing, and signing UAT scripts to ensure consistent acceptance outcomes.

Need help? Contact support

What is the difference between test cases and UAT scripts?
UAT scripts translate business acceptance criteria into end-to-end scenarios executed by stakeholders. Test cases may be more granular or technical; UAT emphasizes real-world workflows and stakeholder validation before release.
How detailed should steps be?
Steps should be atomic and unambiguous: one action per step with explicit inputs and expected results. That level of precision minimizes subjective outcomes and speeds resolution of failed steps.
Can acceptance sign-offs be electronic?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.
Who approves final acceptance?
Typically product owners or designated business stakeholders sign off after reviewing evidence. Document the approver role and authority in governance policies to avoid disputes.
How do we correct a signed acceptance?
If errors are identified post-signing, create an amendment or revocation record, rerun affected scripts as necessary, and collect new signed acceptance to preserve an auditable history.
How do we handle PHI in UAT?
Avoid using real patient data unless absolutely necessary; if used, ensure a Business Associate Agreement and HIPAA-compliant controls are in place and retain records for six years per 45 CFR §164.530(j).

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now