While advances in servo‐hydraulic technology and computer simulation are making real‐time pseudo‐dynamic and shake table testing more feasible for research in earthquake engineering, quasi‐static testing will remain the most prevalent form of testing for the foreseeable future. This paper describes the evolution of quasi‐static testing, discusses by means of an example the main issues involved in developing a quasi‐static testing program, and describes some of the advantages and limitations of this mode of testing.