The described technology is generally directed towards automated acceptance testing of network functions so that only certified network functions are deployed in a wireless network. When a network function attempts to register in a network, e.g., with a network function repository, the registration attempt triggers a workflow that obtains a result of automated testing of the network function. The automated testing operation can be based on a test suite selected according to the network function type and the network slice in which the network function is to be deployed. Only upon determining that the network function passed the automated testing operation is the network function registered (by the network function repository) for operation in the wireless network.