Six Sigma certification attests to one’s mastery of well-known methods for professional skills development. Six Sigma training certifications are awarded in levels based on a belt categorization system similar to karate.
Six Sigma training focuses on creating management processes that consistently produce near-defect-free results in manufacturing or other company activities. To achieve this goal, it uses various statistical and analytical technologies.
Six Sigma Certification by ASQ
There are 18 certifications offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Candidates pursuing ASQ certification can save money by becoming a member, which costs $29 to $159 per year and includes Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Major Black Belt credentials.
- ASQ Yellow Belt Certification costs $244 for members, $394 for non-members, and $184 for repeats.
- ASQ Green Belt Certification costs $438 for members, $299 for non-members, and $239 for redemption.
- ASQ Black Belt Certification costs $538 for members, $388 for non-members, and $338 for redemption.
- ASQ Master Black Belt Certification costs $2,229 for members, $2,074 for non-members, and $2,229 / $2,074 for re-drawing
For more details let’s take a look at explanation below
1. White Belt Certification
The Six Sigma White Belt certification is the entry-level certification that covers the basic principles of Six Sigma. White Belts can assist in projects and problem-solving tasks related to quality and change management.
It is important to note that obtaining a White Belt certification is free of charge through CSSC, as neither ASQ nor IASSC offer a formal White Belt credential.
2. Yellow Belt Certification
The Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is designed for professionals who have a basic understanding of Six Sigma concepts and know how to implement them.
Yellow Belt certification is recommended for entry-level employees with an interest in data collection and analysis or process efficiency.
The cost of obtaining a Yellow Belt certification through ASQ is $394 for non-members and $294 for members. If necessary, the exam can be retaken for $184. The cost of obtaining a Yellow Belt certification through IASSC is $195, and through CSSC is $99.
3. Green Belt Certification
The Six Sigma Green Belt certification allows individuals to develop rational solutions to improve overall quality management.
Green Belt professionals can assist Black Belt holders in data compilation and analysis, identifying areas of concern and developing approaches to solve problems within a company.
Holding this certification can give professionals a competitive advantage as they will have a solid understanding of the process improvement methodology.
Before obtaining the Green Belt certification, ASQ requires professionals to have three years of industry experience in one or more areas of Six Sigma Green Belt.
The cost of obtaining the certification through ASQ is $438 for non-members and $338 for members, with a retake fee of $238. The certification cost through the IASSC is $295.
Unlike ASQ and IASSC, CSSC offers two types of certification: a basic Six Sigma Green Belt credential and an advanced Level 2 Green Belt credential for specialists looking to further enhance their skills.
The cost of obtaining the basic certification via CSSC is $159, while the advanced certification can be attained by presenting a final concluded assignment or task for review and evaluation, at a cost of $300.
4 Black Belt Certification
Black Belts are experts and advocates of innovation who can lead project teams and manage individuals with Yellow and Green Belt certifications.
They are responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of the process with high accountability. Once professionals or an individual attain this level, they can act as a principal consultant to the project team members and can become a crucial shareholder of the organization.
The ASQ has specific requirements for Black Belt certification. Professionals must have completed two projects with an attached signed affirmation or completed one project with three years of industry experience with an attached signed affirmation.
According to ASQ’s website, the cost of Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is $438 for members and $538 for non-members, with a retake fee of $338.
ASQ has the most rigorous credential requirements compared to other associations for attaining the Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
CSSC does not have any prior requirement for obtaining Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Rather, CSSC offers three different levels of Black Belt certification. The basic level costs $229, while Black Belt Level 2 and Black Belt Level 3 cost an additional $300 each.
The IASSC offers the Six Sigma Black Belt certification for $395, with no prerequisites required to take the exam.
5. Master Belt Certification
Once professionals have earned their Black Belt, they are eligible to sit for the Master Black Belt certification.
Both ASQ and CSSC have specific prerequisites that applicants must complete before they can take the Master Black Belt certification. However, the IASSC does not offer the Master Black Belt certification.
ASQ members will pay $545 for the portfolio review and $2,124 for the exam to attain their Master Black Belt certification. Non-members will pay $650 for the portfolio review and $2,229 for the exam. Retakes with ASQ will cost an additional $2,074.
Professionals looking to take their Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification through CSSC will pay $665 for the exam.
How Importance is Six Sigma Certification?
Six Sigma strives to provide quantitative data to support your performance or production efforts. Hence, you are better prepared to deal with them.
No one likes change, but if you choose Six Sigma, you’ll find that it impacts every aspect of your company––in the best possible way.
1. Make the right decision
The Six Sigma approach is based on statistics. You need reliable measurements and data of what’s going on in your process to rely on guesswork and intuition.
You can use data to make objective conclusions and develop the best answer or concept.
2. Improve your team’s communication and collaboration
Six Sigma is meant to be a company-wide initiative that encourages everyone to see problems as opportunities and truth as the most important goal.
As a result, employees will be less afraid to raise their concerns, and other teams and departments will be seen as collaborators rather than competitors in terms of performance.
3. Improving customer satisfaction and quality
Six Sigma is about reducing defects and variations in the customer experience, whether for something concrete like a box of cookies or something intangible like web software, as previously stated.
You can make the necessary modifications to improve your client experience once you start monitoring and measuring your operations.
4. Lower cost
Missed deadlines, lost customer loyalty, design changes, managerial changes, engineering changes, and so on are expenses caused by poor quality and inefficiencies in processes.
5. Improve time management and productivity
Your entire organization will be more efficient with a better team structure, project planning, data collection and analysis, and business strategy.
You’ll be able to spend more time on what matters if you don’t address issues that could have been prevented or reduced.