Understanding Six Sigma belts
Lean Six Sigma Belts Explained: Six Sigma Belt Levels in Order and Which to Get
Lean Six Sigma belts show how deep your process-improvement training goes and what role you play on a project. Here are the belts in order, what each one does, and how to decide which to earn.
See the belts in orderFind a class near youThe Six Sigma Belts in Order
The Six Sigma belts in order are White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt. Lean Six Sigma borrows this martial-arts ladder: you start at the bottom and move up as your training and project experience grow. Select a belt to see what it covers.
Lean Six Sigma White Belt
- Role on a project
- Supports improvement work in your own area.
- What you do
- Learn the basic Six Sigma terms and concepts, take part in problem-solving activities, and work with Green and Black Belts when a problem needs solving.
- Who it is for
- Team members who want to understand the language of process improvement.
- Our class
- 1 day
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- Role on a project
- Project team member.
- What you do
- Use the core Six Sigma tools, collect data, map processes, and support improvement projects led by Green or Black Belts. You apply basic problem-solving methods to your daily work.
- Who it is for
- People who contribute to projects without leading them.
- Our class
- 2 days
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Role on a project
- Project leader or team member.
- What you do
- Lead improvement projects of moderate complexity alongside your regular job, apply DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and statistical tools, and support Black Belts on larger initiatives.
- Who it is for
- Analysts, engineers, managers and others who solve quality and process problems at work.
- Our class
- 5-day boot camp, plus an exam and a project
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
- Role on a project
- Improvement leader and coach.
- What you do
- Lead complex, high-impact projects, coach and mentor Green Belts, apply advanced statistical analysis, and drive change across teams or departments.
- Who it is for
- Professionals who are ready to lead improvement beyond their own team.
- Our class
- 5-day boot camp, plus an exam and a project. Registering requires a Green Belt certificate.
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
- Role on a project
- Mentor and strategist.
- What you do
- Coach Black Belts, steer an organization's improvement program, and connect projects to business strategy.
- Who it is for
- Experienced Black Belts moving into program leadership.
- How you get there
- Usually through years of Black Belt project experience rather than a single class.
Where does a Champion fit? A Champion is a role, not a belt: a leader who sponsors improvement projects and makes sure they match the organization's strategic goals.
Which Six Sigma Belt Is Right for You?
Pick the line that sounds most like you.
Choose an option to see a recommendation.
Start with Yellow Belt. It is a 2-day class that teaches the core tools and how to support a project. If you only need the basics, White Belt is a 1-day introduction.
Yellow Belt classesWhite Belt classesGreen Belt is your belt. Our Green Belt is a 5-day boot camp that prepares you to lead moderate-complexity projects, with an exam and a project to earn the belt.
Green Belt classesMove up to Black Belt. Our Black Belt is also a 5-day boot camp, and registering requires a Green Belt certificate. You finish with an exam and a project.
Black Belt classesAim for Black Belt, and start with Green Belt if you do not hold a certificate yet. Black Belt registration requires a Green Belt certificate, so the Green Belt boot camp is the first step.
Green Belt classesBlack Belt classesGreen Belt vs Black Belt
These are the two belts most people ask about. Both take you from learning the method to applying it on real projects.
| Green Belt | Black Belt | |
|---|---|---|
| Role on a project | Leads moderate-complexity projects and supports Black Belts | Leads complex, high-impact projects and coaches Green Belts |
| Tools | DMAIC and core statistical tools | Advanced statistical analysis and change leadership |
| Our boot camp | 5 days | 5 days |
| To earn the belt | Exam and project | Exam and project |
| Classes | Green Belt classes | Black Belt classes |
Registering for the Black Belt boot camp requires a Green Belt certificate.
Want the method behind the belts? Read our guide to Lean Six Sigma methodology.
What Is Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven method for improving how work gets done. It combines Lean, which removes waste and delays, with Six Sigma, which reduces variation and defects. Projects follow the DMAIC method: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. The belts show how much training you have and what role you play on those projects.
Six Sigma quality means no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. Lean Six Sigma is used in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, technology and government.
Lean vs Six Sigma: What Is the Difference?
Traditional Six Sigma is about reducing variation. Lean is about removing waste. Lean Six Sigma uses both, which is why the belts are called Lean Six Sigma belts.
| Traditional Six Sigma | Lean Six Sigma | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Reducing variation | Reducing waste and variation |
| Tools | Mainly statistical tools | Statistical and visual tools |
| Method | DMAIC | DMAIC combined with Lean principles |
| Goal | Quality | A balance of speed, quality and cost |
How Six Sigma Belts Are Certified
Six Sigma has no single governing body, so what a belt requires depends on who certifies it. Two examples show how different the paths can be:
ASQ
The Certified Six Sigma Green Belt asks for three years of on-the-job experience in the exam's subject areas.
The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt asks for three years of experience plus at least one completed project with a signed affidavit.
IASSC through PeopleCert
The IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam lists no prerequisites. It is a 100-question, closed-book, multiple-choice exam with a 180-minute limit.
Training providers set their own standards too. At Certification Academy you earn a Green or Black Belt in two steps. First you complete the class and pass the final exam, which earns a Training and Examination Certificate. Then you complete a project, either inside your organization or as an approved mock project, and our Master Black Belt review team reviews it. Once the project is approved you receive the belt certification.
Our training covers topics largely in line with ASQ's, but it is not an ASQ certification.
Six Sigma Belts FAQ
What are the Six Sigma belts in order?
From the entry level up: White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt. A Champion is a leadership role that sits alongside the belts rather than a belt.
What is the difference between a Green Belt and a Black Belt?
A Green Belt leads improvement projects of moderate complexity while keeping a regular job, and supports Black Belts on larger initiatives. A Black Belt leads complex, high-impact projects, coaches Green Belts and applies more advanced statistical analysis. Our Green Belt and Black Belt are both 5-day boot camps. Both require an exam and a project.
Do I have to earn the belts in order?
Not always. Moving up level by level gives the strongest foundation, but candidates with a strong statistics background may be able to start at Green Belt. Registering for our Black Belt boot camp requires a Green Belt certificate.
Is there one official Six Sigma certification?
No. There is no single body that governs Six Sigma, so certifiers such as ASQ and IASSC (through PeopleCert) and training providers each set their own requirements. Choose a program that gives you the knowledge and tools to apply Lean Six Sigma at work.
How long does it take to earn a belt with Certification Academy?
White Belt is 1 day, Yellow Belt is 2 days, Green Belt and Black Belt are both 5-day boot camps. Green Belt and Black Belt also require a final exam and a project.
What is a Six Sigma Champion?
A Champion is a leader who sponsors improvement projects and makes sure they line up with the organization's strategic goals. It is a role in a Lean Six Sigma program, not a belt.
Why is it called Lean Six Sigma?
Because it combines two methods. Lean removes waste and delays from a process, and Six Sigma reduces variation and defects. Used together they improve speed, quality and cost, so the belts are called Lean Six Sigma belts.
What is the difference between Lean and Six Sigma?
Lean focuses on waste: steps that add no value for the customer. Six Sigma focuses on variation: using data and statistics to reduce defects. Lean Six Sigma uses both, with DMAIC as the project method.
Is there one certifying body for Six Sigma belts?
No. Six Sigma has no single governing body, so each certifier sets its own requirements. ASQ and IASSC (through PeopleCert) are two well-known examples, and training providers such as Certification Academy set their own. Check what a certification requires and what your employer values before you choose.
What does DMAIC stand for?
Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. It is the five-phase method that Six Sigma projects follow, and Green Belts and Black Belts use it to lead improvement projects.
What does Six Sigma mean?
Six Sigma is a quality level of no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. The method uses data to measure defects in a process and then reduce them toward zero.
Which industries use Lean Six Sigma belts?
Manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, technology and government all use Lean Six Sigma to cut waste, reduce errors and improve quality.
Can I take belt classes online?
Yes. Live, instructor-led online classes are available and follow the same curriculum as our in-person classes. See the Green Belt online class or the Black Belt online class.
Ready to Choose Your Class?
See Green Belt and Black Belt classes in cities across the country, or take the class live online.
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