Lean Six Sigma Certification - What's Right For Me?

A question that frequently comes up over and over again in forums is "Where do I get my certification in Lean Six Sigma?" and it is usually paired with "Should I do Yellow, Green, or Black Belt?". Since there are so many providers of Lean Six Sigma training and certifications, I'd figure I should share some of my own research that I used in making my decisions on this topic.

List your motivations and purpose - As the journey towards Lean Six Sigma certification requires much financial and time investment, the first step should be to affirm your motivations. The level of your certification and where you choose to be accredited will be based on what you hope to accomplish. Are you looking to acquire skills to supplement your existing role or are you looking to raise your job market value in pursuit of another career opportunity? 

Research the Job Market - Continuous improvement roles exist in all types of industries and in different capacities. While that is always good news, different positions also means different job requirements. If you're looking to beef up your resume or land a particular role, work backwards from the job description. Once you've seen a good sample of listings, you can gauge what skills are most valuable to the employers. You could also get this information through some ol' fashioned networking. Have in mind the following: Do you need industry specific experience? Is Lean Six Sigma Certification required or is just practical experience enough? What level of certification is recommended? 

Pick a Certification Provider - If everything checks out then you're on your way to getting certified! One problem. There is no single governing body that oversees Lean Six Sigma certification. In fact, this Wikipedia page boasts over 40+ organizations. To make matters more complicated, I know the list is far from comprehensive. For this reason, you should spend some time "shopping" and recognize if employers lean more towards applicants with a specific certification background. 
There are four main providers of certifications, each with their own advantages and disadvantages:

1. Employers - Some companies have their own internal knowledge base and standards for Lean Six Sigma training. This is a great way to get a second party certification if you have access to such a program. The downside is that these programs are likely tailored for the company and the material will not be known to outsiders. Due to the specificity of the training, other employers may not value this much as independent certification providers. 
2. Professional Organizations - Professional organizations such as ASQ or CQI are  third party providers which have their own Body of Knowledge (BoK) for certification and require assessment of professional experience through application process. The certifications awarded by popular professional organizations are the most widely recognized. The downside is that these professional organizations often require self-study of the BoK. 
3. Universities/Colleges - Many post secondary institutions now offer Lean Six Sigma training through continuous education or certificate programs. While these may offer thorough study of Lean Six Sigma, there is often no practical component. However, a classroom setting is good for more attentive teaching and networking opportunities. 
4. Certification Service Provider - These refer to independent professional training consultants/companies that conduct their own training sessions or provide course ware for Lean Six Sigma certification. This method of training should be approached much like employer provided training, although valuable, it may not be widely accepted.

(Check out this article by Michelle Gabriel for further reading)

There is no wrong choice to certification so long as the provider is reputable and recognized in the industry. 

Certificate vs. Certification - With so many different options from the providers listed above, these are not to be confused. 

• Training Certificate - These are awarded by educational program providers or institutions. Training certificates require knowledge assessment of a specific set of courses and are available to newcomers and experienced professionals. There is no expiration period on training certificates.
• Professional Certification - These are awarded by third party organizations. Professional certifications require some combination of knowledge assessment and professional experience. There is ongoing requirements for re-certification to ensure up-to-date knowledge of the specified area. 

(Check out this comparison table from ASQ for further reading)

Yellow Belt vs. Green Belt vs. Black Belt - Again, this is where it also gets confusing. Every certification provider can dictate their own requirements for attaining the different belts. The differences from one to another can be based on years of professional experience, number of successful projects completed, types of training/examination completed, or performance metrics of a particular project. This is why it is important to research and choose a certification provider that is known within the industry and to also highlight these requirements in your CV or cover letter where applicable. It should also be noted that the belt system while hierarchical is not successive, meaning the belts are not dependent on one another. If you have the right knowledge and experience level, you could conceivably go straight to a Black Belt certification if you so choose.  

(Check out how ASQ defines each belt here)

Record of Success - Congratulations if you made it this far! No matter which route you choose, there's nothing more valuable to an employer than real-world results. Remember to always keep a record of your success such as a portfolio of past projects that list all the key performance metrics that were impacted.