LSSA run the Lean Six Sigma certification in collaboration with University of Twente (the Netherlands) and with European Certification & Qualification Association (ECQA). They partner with APMG International and iSQI  (International Software Quality Institute) to deliver the certification globally.

LSSA’s Lean Six Sigma qualification levels

LSSA’s qualification is in four levels or belts. The belts are yellow, orange, green and black belts respectively. The belts can be taken in any order depending on what you are trying to achieve. 

YELLOW BELT 

Overview

The yellow belt is for anyone who wants to understand the basics of the Lean Six Sigma methodology. It is for those who are new to process improvement environment. This belt certifies that you can work with or as a member of a process improvement team.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Change Managers

Project Managers

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Human Resources Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Multiple choice questions

50 questions in total

Pass mark – 32 (64%)

1-hour duration

Calculators are not allowed for this exam

Open-book

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

ORANGE BELT 

Overview

This belt is for those who have sufficient understanding of the Lean Six Sigma methodology. It certifies that you can lead or supervise a non-complex process improvement project. In addition, you can work as a member of a Green or Black belt project.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Team leaders

Change Managers

Project Managers

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Human Resources Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Multiple choice questions

50 questions in total

Pass mark – 32 (64%)

1-hour duration

Calculators are allowed for this exam

Open-book

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

GREEN BELT 

Overview

This belt confirms that you have a thorough understanding of the concept, analytical tools, and techniques used in Lean Six Sigma. A Green belt holder can work as a leader of a team or as a team member in a larger Black belt project.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Project Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Improvement Managers

Team Managers

Team leaders

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Anyone interested in learning and applying and Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

The exam is of two types. Firstly, there is the theory exam and, secondly, the practical assessment. The format for the theory exam is shown below.

Theory Exam Format:

Multiple choice questions

60 questions in total

Pass mark – 38 (63%)

3-hour duration

Calculators are allowed for this exam

Open-book

The practical assessment is for those who want to prove their continual involvements in improvement projects. After passing the Green theory belt exam, you can choose to take the assessment or not. In other words, the practical assessment is not compulsory. Should you wish to take the assessment,  you must satisfy the following conditions:

The submission of two Lean Six Sigma projects to APMG for assessment.

Each submitted project must demonstrate an achievement of saving/cost avoidance of at least € 20,000 per year.

Each project must be signed-off by the Champion and Financial Controller.

The Practical Assessment must be taken within 3 years of passing the Green belt theory exam.

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

BLACK BELT 

Overview

This belt proves that you have a thorough understanding of the Lean Six Sigma methodology, practice and analytical tools. With these, you can work effectively as the team leader of complex breakthrough process improvement projects. Also, it shows that you can support and supervise process improvement teams.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Team leaders

Project Managers

Line Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Improvement Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Anyone interested in learning and applying Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Here, the exam is of two types. The first is the theory exam while the second is the practical assessment. The theory exam takes the format shown below.

Theory Exam Format:

Multiple choice questions

60 questions in total

Pass mark – 38 (63%)

3-hour duration

Calculators are allowed for this exam

Open-book

In contrast, the practical assessment is for those who want to prove their continual involvements in improvement projects. After passing the Black belt theory exam, you can choose to take the assessment or not. In other words, the practical assessment is not compulsory. Should you wish to take the assessment,  you must satisfy the following conditions:

The submission of two Lean Six Sigma projects to APMG for assessment.

Each submitted project must demonstrate an achievement of saving/cost avoidance of at least € 50,000 per year.

Each project must be signed-off by the Champion and Financial Controller.

The Practical Assessment must be taken within 3 years of passing the Black belt theory exam.

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources‘ page to learn more.

How to get certified

LSSA’s certification in two parts. Firstly, you need to attend training so that you can equip yourself with the knowledge of Lean Six Sigma. This will prepare you adequately for the second part. Secondly, you must sit and pass the LSSA’s exam. Harrybaker Training Institute is accredited by LSSA through APMG (the exam institute) to conduct Lean Six Sigma training and exam.

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma training page’ to learn more.

Recertification

No recertification is required for any of the belts.

YELLOW BELT 

Overview

This belt is for anyone who wants to understand the Lean Six Sigma methodology. It is for those who are new to process improvement environment. This qualification level confirms that you can work with a process improvement team. Also, it shows that you can work as a member of a team that is involved in a process improvement project.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Project Managers

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Multiple choice questions

60 questions in total for 300 points

Pass mark – 46 (230 points)

2-hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more.

GREEN BELT 

Overview

This belt confirms that you have a thorough understanding of the concept, analytical tools, and techniques used in Lean Six Sigma. A Green belt holder can work as a leader of a non-complex improvement project or as a team member in a larger Black belt project.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Team Managers

Project Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Multiple choice questions

100 questions in total for 500 points

Pass mark – 77 (385 points)

3 hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

BLACK BELT 

Overview

This belt proves that you have a thorough understanding of the Lean Six Sigma methodology, practice and analytical tools. With these, you can work effectively as the leader of any complex breakthrough process improvement project. Also, it shows that you can provide support and supervise process improvement teams.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Project Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Multiple choice questions

150 questions in total for 750 points

Pass mark – 116 (580 points)

4 hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources‘ page to learn more. 

How to get certified

Getting certified requires that you attend training and then sit the IASSC exam. Harrybaker Training Institute is accredited by IASSC to conduct Lean Six Sigma training and exam.

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma training page’ to learn more.

Recertification

Recertification is required for the three different belts. From the day you are certified, IASSC grants you a ‘current status’. The current status shows that your certification is active. Within three years of being awarded the IASSC certification, you will have to take a recertification exam. If you do not take the recertification exam, IASSC will grant you an ‘elapsed status’. Therefore, to have an ‘active status’, you need to take the recertification exam before the end of the three years or no longer than 90 days after ‘elapsed status; has been granted’. 

Founded in 1946, ASQ has been at the forefront of quality movement. Their beginning can be traced to the end of World War II, as quality experts sought ways to sustain quality improvement. They are headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

ASQ’s Six Sigma qualification levels

ASQ’s qualification is in three levels or belts. The belts are yellow, green and black belts respectively. The belts can be taken in any order depending on what you are trying to achieve. 

YELLOW BELT  

Overview

The yellow belt is for anyone who wants to get the foundational knowledge of the methodology. It is for those who are new to process improvement environment. This belt certifies that you can work with or as a member of a process improvement team.

Eligibility

There are no formal requirements for taking the course.

Target audience

Employees involved in improvement projects

Line Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Change Managers

Team Managers

Project Managers

Human Resources Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Paper-based exam

Multiple choice questions

85 questions in total (only 75 is scored for 750 points )

Pass mark – 55 (550 points)

2 hours 30 mins duration

Computer-based exam

Multiple choice questions

75 questions in total for 750 points

Pass mark – 55 (550 points)

2-hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

GREEN BELT 

Overview

This belt certifies that you have the knowledge of Lean Six Sigma tools and processes. It also shows that you can lead a process improvement team.

Eligibility

To sit the exam, you must have at least three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge. However, there are no requirements for attending a Lean Six Sigma training.

Target audience

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Team Managers

Project Managers

Employees involved in improvement projects

Line Managers

IT Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Paper-based exam

Multiple choice questions

110 questions in total (only 100 is scored for 750 points )

Pass mark – 73.3 (550 points)

4 hours 30 mins duration

Computer-based exam

Multiple choice questions

100 questions in total for 750 points

Pass mark – 73.3 (550 points)

4-hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

BLACK BELT 

Overview

This belt certifies that you have a thorough understanding of Lean Six Sigma concept, tools, and techniques. Also, this belt certifies that you can lead a complex breakthrough process improvement project.

Eligibility

To sit the exam, you must have:

Two completed projects with signed affidavits or

One completed project with a signed affidavit and three years work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Black Belt Body of Knowledge.

However, there are no requirements for attending a Lean Six Sigma training,

Target audience

Line Managers

Change Managers

Human Resources Managers

Employees involved in improvement projects

Team Managers

Project Managers

IT Managers

Finance Managers

Improvement Managers

Anyone interested in learning Lean Six Sigma principles

Exam format

Paper-based exam

Multiple choice questions

165 questions in total (only 150 is scored for 750 points )

Pass mark – 110 (550 points)

4 hours 30 mins duration

Computer-based exam

Multiple choice questions

150 questions in total for 750 points

Pass mark – 55 (550 points)

4-hour duration

Exam content outline

Please, visit our ‘Lean Six Sigma Resources’ page to learn more. 

How to get certified

Getting certified requires that you attend training and then sit the ASQ exam. Harrybaker Training Institute conducts Lean Six Sigma training. After the training, you can then apply for the exam on ASQ’s website. Please note that we do not register candidates for ASQ’s exam. Therefore, candidates who opt for ASQ’s exam will take responsibility for the registration and all exam cost. Follow the steps below to apply for any of the belts:

Account creation: To apply for any of the certifications, you’ll be required to create an account on www.asq.org

Application for certification: After creating the account, you then apply for the particular certification you are interested in  (e.g. Six Sigma Black Belt) on the “Certification Catalogue”. Click here to learn more.

Application steps: When applying for the certification, you’ll go through the following stages and fill in appropriate details:

Contact information

Education and work experience

Exam selection and compliance

Payment information

Review and submit your application

Recertification

Six Sigma Green belt and Six Sigma Yellow belt are lifetime certifications. They have no recertification requirements.

ASQ requires Black belt holders to recertify every three years by either obtaining 18 Recertification Units or retaking the Black belt exam. Click here to learn more.