There are hundreds of Six Sigma certification courses you can choose from. So, how do you make sure you pick the best one? What’s your goal – preparing for an exam or getting a job as a Black Belt? No matter what you need, here is the guide to help you find and enroll in the proper Six Sigma certification and training course.
Six Sigma Certification Training
To begin with, make sure you get a certificate from a reputable company. There are dozens of companies that offer certification courses and certifications themselves, but not all can be considered high quality.
Ensure the training provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform specific tasks in a real-life situation. It’s not only enough to know the theory but also to apply it practically. Ask about each subject’s exam structure and weight before you enroll in specific training.
Online Vs. Classroom Training
According to reports, by 2023, over 33 percent of large-sized businesses will practice decision intelligence.
Not all training has to be conducted in person. Some companies offer online or hybrid courses that combine classroom time and online activities. If you’re an experienced professional, your time may be more valuable than the price of the course.
Online courses are a great alternative if you don’t have enough time or it’s hard for you to take one or two weeks off for training.
Benefits of Classroom Training
– You get to interact with other students taking the same training as you. It gives you more opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, hear answers from experienced professionals, and find new job opportunities.
– A certification exam usually follows classroom courses, so you have to study and pass the exam. Passing an exam is always a nice feeling.
– The trainer can answer specific questions from individual students in person.
Benefits of Online Training
You don’t have to travel or spend time away from your family and job. Just log in and enjoy online learning. You can complete the training within a few months after you’ve enrolled.
Most online courses are self-paced, so you can start studying when it suits your schedule. It’s much easier to find time and focus on learning if you don’t have to attend classes at specific times.
Online training is cheaper than classroom training.
Course Duration
When choosing a Six Sigma certification and training program, consider how quickly you need to learn everything and get certified. If you have time, go for a course that will take around three months from the beginning to the end. In this case, an online course is a perfect option – it’s cheaper and offers more flexibility.
If you need to get a certification in a short amount of time, for example, for a new job, an accelerated training program may be the best choice. Sometimes companies offer their employees courses that last a few weeks only.
In this case, classroom training is a good option because you can get questions answered more quickly and interact with your trainer(s).
Course Content
Each Six Sigma certification training should cover a certain amount of material depending on how much knowledge is required to perform the tasks you’ll be able to do after getting your certificate.
The best way to check if a training meets your needs is to read their course description and add up all the chapters taught during the program. For instance, most Six Sigma Green Belt courses include the following topics.
- Six Sigma concepts and tools
- Statistical process control (SPC) training
- Project management
- Design of experiments (DOE)
- Measurement system analysis (MSA)
- FMEA training
As you can see, such courses cover all the main areas.
Who is Your Trainer?
When choosing a training program, keep in mind that you don’t just learn from textbooks and PowerPoints presentations. The trainer’s experience and knowledge are also significant.
Even if you live in another country, try to learn more about the trainers’ professional background and education.
– Do they have experience working with companies that perform Six Sigma projects? – What kind of certifications do they have?
– Can they offer references from previous students?
Good training must be taught by someone who has extensive experience in Six Sigma projects so that you can learn from their mistakes. Be sure to choose a trainer whose personality suits yours – if you have different opinions on some topics, it will be difficult for both of you to learn.
Do You Need Extra Classes?
Some training programs offer additional courses or workshops that teach additional areas of Six Sigma methodology. If you need extra knowledge, such courses might be helpful, and they can fill the gaps if you feel like something important was left out from your core certification training.
