Becoming Certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Last Updated January 17, 2020
Achieving certification as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt can be of enormous benefit to your career. The knowledge, skills and prestige that come with this level of training can help you move into the ranks of upper management within your current company and make you a much more attractive candidate to prospective employers. However, you need to be prepared to commit time and energy to the process, which is why it’s a good idea to research what obtaining Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification will entail.
What a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Candidate Needs to Know
To prepare for the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam, a candidate will need to complete in-depth training. The material in a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course builds on the concepts covered in earlier training courses, such as Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Six Sigma. At the Black Belt level, students must be able to perform a variety of complex process-related calculations and understand how to identify, address and correct a problem in any part of the business structure. The training courses for Lean Six Sigma Black Belts also focus on developing managerial and leadership qualities, as these relate to a broad implementation of Lean Six Sigma throughout an organization.
Another key role of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is to act as a coach and mentor to Green Belts within the company. This is an extremely important aspect of the Lean Six Sigma methodology overall, as it emphasizes the importance of adopting and applying the principles of Lean and Six Sigma at all levels of an organization. Developing Green Belt talent will help departments throughout the company to operate more efficiently, which is why this is such a vital role for a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Maintaining Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
Once you have completed the necessary training and earned your Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, you’ll need to commit to ongoing education to keep your knowledge current and hone your skills in key business areas. Lean Six Sigma Black Belts must complete a set number of continuing education units (CEUs) within a specified time period to obtain re-certification. One option is to pursue further Lean Six Sigma training. Another is to complete coursework in other relevant disciplines, such as project management, business analysis or organizational leadership. While continuing education is mandatory for maintaining Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, the new skills and credentials you attain will benefit both your company and your career.
Become a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 100% Online
While most professionals understand the value of Lean Six Sigma certification, many have delayed pursuing it because of the difficulty of fitting training into a busy work schedule. That’s why Villanova University developed 100% online training and certification programs that lead to Green Belt, Lean Sensei, Lean Black Belt credentials. All of Villanova’s courses are delivered via a flexible, video-based e-learning platform, and each prepares students for the industry’s only 100% online, university-backed certification exams.
If you have attained Green Belt status or possess equivalent experience, you are eligible to enroll in Villanova’s 16-week Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course. If you don’t have previous Lean Six Sigma training or certification, you may elect to first complete the university’s eight-week Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Six Sigma courses. Completion of Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Green Belt and one elective course will lead to a Certificate in Lean Six Sigma.
When you enroll in any of Villanova’s online Lean Six Sigma training courses, you will have the opportunity to:
- Participate in weekly live interactive sessions led by noted experts in the field
- View lectures via streaming video whenever and wherever it suits you
- Interact with instructors and classmates easily and efficiently through online message boards live chat rooms, email, two-way voice over IP (VOIP) and virtual whiteboards
- Complete your coursework and tests – and even take your certification exam – 100% online, at any time of the day or night
- Receive a certificate of achievement from Villanova upon completion of each certificate course, plus an additional certificate for the three-course certificate track
With Villanova’s intensive, non-degree certificate programs and industry-recognized certification exams, it’s never been easier to gain the skills and knowledge to distinguish yourself as a Lean Six Sigma expert.
