I'm a seasoned software test engineer with 20 years experience testing websites and web services. I've completely setup QA departments at 3 different companies. I do mostly manual testing but also created UI automation using cucumber and endpoint automaton with soapUI and ReadyAPI. I've been a lead at my current company, which is the largest company I have ever worked at, for the last 2 years. My teammates (developers, other QEs, product owners, etc) all like and respect me. I work extremely well across teams and mentor many junior QEs. But things have gone absolutely nutty here in the last 8 months and I think it might be time to move on. Under the guise of UPSKILLING (what the hell is that?) They are requiring all of us to pass a timed, proctored Java programming test. The head of the automation team informed all of us that the results would be a part of our performance review and factor into bonuses and pay increases. They provided us internal training that was pretty bad and in the first round of testing I'd say 80% of us failed. A second round of training has been done by other QEs not in the automation department who are much better and I can do all the homework but I am slow to find the methods to use. I also have horrible test anxiety. I've discussed this with my bosses and they have informed me that this is a "box we have to check". That it is coming from higher up in the company and the only thing they can do is get us good training. The crazy thing is none of us need to know how to program java, let alone with a timed test. I already read code and review it with my developers. I participate in group code reviews and actually point out issues. None of the developers in the company care if we code... I'm not paid to code. So many of the QEs are at their wits end about this. Some are even trying to convince themselves that an "open book" test means that'd asking devs would be "utilizing available resources". That's not my thing... I'd rather fail. Monday I'm talking with my manager's manager to find out what the future of QE is at the company. Because right now I feel like I am not the type of QE they are looking for. No matter how much I bring to the team I am on, they want a java programmer. And I don't want to be that. I'm so frustrated and am feeling like it is time to move on.

EDIT: Wow a gold. I totally didn't expect that. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. But it sucks that we're both frustrated.