What Pre-requisites Are Needed for a Six Sigma Green Belt? Every Six Sigma organization is different. Here’s a few of the most popular.

Does Six Sigma Green Belt exam have any prerequisite? Do I have to pass  Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam first?

Dalia H (email)

Every Six Sigma organization is different. Generally, you DO NOT have to get a yellow belt before getting a green belt.

ASQ Green Belt Pre-Requisites

Here are the requirements and exam specifics for a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (source).

Work Experience

Six Sigma Green Belts are employees who spend some of their time on process improvement teams. They analyze and solve quality problems, and are involved with Six Sigma, lean or other quality improvement projects.

The Six Sigma Green Belt certification requires three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge.

Candidates must have worked in a full-time, paid role. Paid intern, co-op or any other course work cannot be applied toward the work experience requirement.

Education

Educational waivers are not granted.

Here are the minimum expectations of a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

Operates in support of or under the supervision of a Six Sigma Black Belt.

Analyzes and solves quality problems.

Involved in quality improvement projects.

Participated in a project, but has not led a project.

Has at least three years of work experience.

Has ability to demonstrate their knowledge of Six Sigma tools and processes.

Costs

Costs are based on whether you are a member of ASQ or not. It also looks like there are different prices for members and non-members.

IASSC or Villanova Green Belt Certification

Are you ready to take your Green Belt certification but do not meet the qualifications? The American Society for Quality (ASQ) supports the experiential learning model by requiring you to have three years of full time Six Sigma experience before you can take your Green Belt exam.

Fortunately, there are other options if you want Six Sigma Green Belt certification but do not yet have three years of work experience. IASSC or Villanova are two potential choices.

Hi Ted,

I am masters student at X university. I want to take green belt six sigma exam but I have work experience of two years. So, I can’t take ASQ. Which other organization IASSC OR VILLANOVA  is best for me and how can I prepare for this exam?

The IASSC is a good introductory certification for those who do not have relevant work experience. However, part of their ethos is not to provide training or certification preparation. If you select that route, be sure to make certain that your instructor is following an approved IASSC curriculum. It’s also a good idea to select a Six Sigma trainer that has met the accreditation standards for IASSC.

Both courses have their strengths and weaknesses. Whichever path you choose, additionally, it would be wise to invest in a study preparation/exam simulator course like the one I provide. This extra support will help you fill in the gaps.

Remember that although the ASQ is globally respected in quality, no global standard exists for Lean Six Sigma certification. To ensure you have the best qualifications, peruse job ads and speak with hiring managers to determine which certifications companies seek in Six Sigma job candidates.

IASSC Green Belt Pre-Requisites

(From source)

In order to achieve the professional designation of IASSC Certified Green Belt (IASSC-CGB™) from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification, candidates must sit for the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam and achieve a minimum score of 70%.

There are no prerequisites required in order to sit for the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam. For more about this see FAQ’s and the IASSC position on knowledge and application. 

Villanova Green Belt Pre-Requisites

Villanova bundles training and certification that follows the Villanova Green Belt BOK.

(From Source 1, Source 2, & Source 3)

Designed for professionals with little or no prior experience with Six Sigma methodologies, this course helps develop critical skills required for successful project management.

This course includes a required, simulated project that integrates critical topics into every phase of Six Sigma. To become a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB), you must successfully complete the course and sit for an exam.

The Academic Calendar outlines the time you have to complete your certificate course. 

Your course may include exams, research papers, discussion boards, projects and other types of assignments where you will demonstrate mastery of the concepts.

Certification tests are administered by Villanova University upon your successful completion of the online program. This certification is available only to students who have completed the Villanova University online program. The timed exam is administered online, with questions randomly selected.

In order to best prepare for the exam, please note the following exam expectations:*

  • Spend at least 200 hours preparing for the exam, even if you already have some background in Six Sigma.
  • Once you begin your certification exam, you cannot pause or restart the examination clock. The questions are selected randomly from a bank of questions.
  • You must have a passing score of seventy (70) or better. Your score will be posted upon completion of the exam.

When you’re ready, there are a few ways I can help:

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Comments (2)

Interesting article! I’m currently pursuing my Green Belt certification and this post highlights some of the pre-requisites I need to consider. I find the section on statistical knowledge particularly helpful as it’s an area I’m struggling with. Looking forward to sharing my experiences and learning from others in the comments!!

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