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Six Sigma Certificate Online Prepare for Black Belt Certification

Matt Seawright, who earned his degree from SNHU in 2019, sitting at a desk in an office wearing a headset with a microphone and typing on a keyboard.

Cost per credit $637

Total courses 4

Total credits 12

Program Overview Why get a Six Sigma certificate online?

Are you working in manufacturing or a production-oriented industry, or just want to specialize in Six Sigma? Gain the knowledge you need to become a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and enhance your project management skills, and with the help of an online Six Sigma Black Belt Graduate Certificate from Southern New Hampshire University.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Six Sigma principles and the DMAIC model
  • Basic lean enterprise concept applications
  • Leadership techniques to be an agency of change
  • Project management practices
  • Team assignment methodologies
  • Efficient process implementation and analysis
Mecca Bey, who earned her degree from SNHU in 2014.

Courses & Curriculum Six Sigma certificate online classes that can help you earn a coveted certification

This 4-course program teaches you how to use the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) approach to identify the root causes of process inefficiencies and eliminate them. It can be completed in as few as 6 months, and its 12 credits can be applied toward our master's in project management degree if you decide to continue your education.

Note: The completion of this program neither guarantees to help satisfy the eligibility requirements for taking a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam nor ensures a passing grade on a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam.

Degree Courses

Online six sigma degree courses

The Six Sigma online graduate certificate program is especially beneficial to individuals working in manufacturing and production-oriented industries, as well as consumer-facing roles. This program is also appropriate for individuals with bachelor's degrees in different fields—like STEM or another area of business—looking to specialize in Six Sigma. QSO 625 also helps students to prepare for the Six Sigma certification exam.

Courses may include:

Course ID: QSO 530
This course will provide the students with statistical tools and techniques that will enable them to make an immediate impact in their careers. This course will be realistically oriented and numerous business examples and cases will be analyzed.
Course ID: QSO 620
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the design and implementation of quality control and improvement systems. It is an introduction to current quality management approaches, statistical quality control and quality improvement techniques. ISO-9000 also will be discussed. Case studies and the use of computer technology will be integral to the course.
Course ID: QSO 625
This course teaches advanced concepts in Six Sigma while incorporating Lean Management tools. Students learn waste elimination, value stream mapping, Six Sigma roles and responsibilities, team management, and the various elements of the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) phases of a Six Sigma project. The Design for Six Sigma (SFSS) approach to design a new process is also reviewed. The course is designed to help students prepare for a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam. However, it neither guarantees to help satisfy the eligibility requirements for taking a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam nor ensures success on a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam.
Course ID: QSO 640
This course includes the study of concepts, tools, and practices of project management. The course adopts a managerial process approach to Project Management, which consists of initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing the project. Major topics will include project scope, project time, project cost, project quality, project risk, project resources, project communications and how to be an effective project manager. Cases are utilized to integrate the learning in the course and provide decision- making experience for the student.

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Upcoming term starts: October 14, 2024 | January 06, 2024

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Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online certificate programs

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 12-credit certificate
Full- and part-time students
$637
$1,911
$7,644
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students*
$470
$1,410
$5,640

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

*Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online Six Sigma certificate?

Six Sigma is one of the most commonly used quality management methods in the modern business world, and Black Belt certification is a way to show off your expertise. Finishing your graduate certificate and earning the distinction as a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt could help give you a competitive advantage in the job market, because the corresponding skills are useful to professionals in manufacturing, engineering, operations and executive positions. 

Occupations

After completing our Six Sigma certificate program, you might explore the following positions. 

Lead the planning and policies that help organizations reach their goals efficiently, while overseeing large strategic initiatives and directing daily business operations. 

Coordinate, plan and direct production operations within an organization, in addition to streamlining the production process through scheduling, budgeting and data analysis. 

Find ways to increase efficiency in an organization and analyze data to advise managers on how they can improve their businesses by reducing costs and increasing revenue.

1.1 million

Openings projected each year, on average, for management occupations through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1

$116,880

Median annual pay for management occupations as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiple organizations administer Six Sigma certification exams. If you're looking to become a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB), the American Society for Quality (ASQ) is a well-known organization with global recognition.

To receive your Six Sigma Black Belt certification from the ASQ, you'll have to first meet some requirements:

  • 3 years of full-time employment that demonstrates on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the CSSBB Body of Knowledge
  • 1 completed Six Sigma project with a signed affidavit

If you do not have 3 years of work experience, you can opt to submit signed affidavits for 2 Six Sigma projects you've completed instead.

Before sitting for the exam, you'll want to study. Depending on your years of experience and how much time you can allot for studying each week, this could take you a month, a year or anywhere in between.

Southern New Hampshire University's graduate certificate in Six Sigma Black Belt can help you master the competencies outlined in the CSSBB Body of Knowledge. This 4-course master's-level program is completely online, giving you the flexibility to complete it while working full time.

Finally, you'll then take the multiple-choice exam online. This 165-question exam tests your awareness of the CSSBB Body of Knowledge. By taking the exam for Six Sigma certification online, you'll receive your pass/fail results immediately.

Yes, you can take the exam for Six Sigma Black Belt certification online after meeting all of the criteria to sit for the exam. Since there is no single authorizing agency that lists a body of knowledge, requirements for Six Sigma Black Belt certification are unique to each certifying body.

The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is recognized as a leader in Six Sigma and provides an online version of the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) exam. This computer-based test is a scheduled 4.5-hour exam made up of 165 multiple-choice questions.

The ASQ has requirements for sitting for its Six Sigma Black Belt exam. These requirements include 3 years of relevant full-time employment and completion of a Six Sigma project.

Becoming Six Sigma certified could take you anywhere from a few months to 3 years depending on your experience, which Six Sigma certification you want and the organization you take the exam with.

One of the most recognized Six Sigma certifications is the Six Sigma Black Belt certification. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) – a respected community of quality professionals – requires 3 years of full-time professional experience and a completed Six Sigma project. If you have met these requirements, you'll want to study and apply to take the exam.

You might want to take a course or program that specializes in Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) provides a 4-course master's-level certificate in Six Sigma Black Belt to help you prepare for the certification exam. This program provides in-depth information on the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge, helping you build the skills you'll need to pass the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam.

Even better? SNHU boasts some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation, and the graduate certificate program can be completed entirely online. This makes the Graduate Certificate in Six Sigma Black Belt from SNHU a great choice in preparing for your Six Sigma certification exam.

Whether it's Six Sigma education, training or formal certification, it's something worth adding to your resume – especially if you work in environments like manufacturing and supply chain management.

Since its rise in the 1990s, Six Sigma has remained a tried-and-true process in the industry. Having a background in Six Sigma principles, processes and tools could help your career path as it is useful across many industries – not to mention in demand by employers.

Ultimately, the worth of Six Sigma training depends on your goals. There are a few different levels of certification in Six Sigma, including Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt.

Becoming a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt is an impressive feat that qualifies your skills and knowledge in areas such as cost reduction, increasing revenue, streamlining business processes and improving employee buy-in. If you need more education and training before taking your exam, you'll want to look into reputable programs.

Southern New Hampshire University offers the Six Sigma Black Belt Graduate Certificate, an online, 4-course master's-level program designed to help you in preparing for Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certification exams. You'll study topics that help you effectively implement the define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) approach to identify the root causes of process inefficiencies and eliminate them.

This training can help you in 2 ways. First, by earning a graduate certificate, you'll have evidence of formal education that helps qualify your expertise. And, second, if you go on to earn your Six Sigma Black Belt, you'll have a professional certification widely recognized in the world of quality improvement.

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm (viewed May 31, 2024). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.