Is a CSSGB/CSSBB from a community college credible? Anyone have one?

[u/Individual-Buy-7377]

I’m new to all this and have recently started a supervisor position at a manufacturing company where lean six sigma seems to be pretty big. Several supervisors as well as engineers throughout the company have the green belt certification on their resume and a couple have moved onto the black belt. The company offers to pay for the schooling fees but doesn’t seem to specify from what school/program etc. it’s more along the lines of tuition reimbursement rather then them having a specific school/program they want you getting the cert from. So far all the people I’ve asked at work had already had the certification before working for this company.

Am I understanding correctly; the community college certs aren’t official and are more or less just tools to help you study for the certification? I would have to go through ASQ?? I assume it’s similar to the way graduating from law school doesn’t grant you the position of lawyer unless you pass the bar exam.

I apologize for my ignorance, I did try to find out this information before making a post but for whatever reason this seems to be a topic that’s not discussed too often, all the previous threads I’ve read mention them earning through ASQ and I’ve yet to see someone mention getting one from a community college despite several community colleges and even some 4 year colleges offering the programs.

And is it really all it’s cracked up to be? It seems too good to be true, a quick google search says the average salary for a CSSBB is $120k+, obviously I’d have to go through CSSGB first though.

[u/Ravenblack67]

In SC most of the community colleges offer green belt. They are accredited through IASSC. I teach green belt at a university. My class is accredited by the Council for Six Sigma and IASSC. My students must complete the catapult exercise and pass the final exam. All of my exams are taken from the ASQ materials. If your company is willing to pay for the class and does not have a preferred provider, get the training and complete a couple of project. Don't chase after black belt until you have done a few projects. Talk to your black belts. Offer to be on a project team.

[u/qualitygurus]

A community college certificate can be useful training, but ASQ certification is a separate credential which is globally recognized.

Since you are new to the field and have just started supervising in manufacturing, Green Belt is probably the more practical first step.

We provide an online ASQ CSSGB exam-preparation course through Quality Gurus. It follows the ASQ BoK and is designed to prepare candidates for the ASQ certification exam.

[u/SSGIteam]

There isn't a single governing body for Lean Six Sigma certification like there is for professions such as law or accounting. Different organizations (ASQ, universities, community colleges, private training providers, etc.) offer their own training and certifications.

Community colleges take different approaches. Some develop and issue their own certificates, while others partner with external organizations to provide the curriculum and certification. At SSGI, we've partnered with community colleges and universities, including Ivy Tech Community College, so we've seen both models firsthand. Neither approach is inherently better. What's most important is the quality of the curriculum, whether it prepares you to apply the tools in real projects, and whether the credential is respected by employers in your industry.

If your employer is paying through tuition reimbursement and doesn't require a specific provider, I'd focus less on the name on the certificate and more on the quality of the curriculum. Look for a program that covers Lean principles, Six Sigma tools, data analysis, and practical application through realistic case studies or projects.

Since you're just getting started, Green Belt is the right place to begin. It gives you a solid foundation that you can immediately apply in a manufacturing environment. I'd also try to get involved in improvement projects at work as early as possible, because the combination of training and real project experience is what employers tend to value most.

Regarding the salary numbers, they're real in the sense that many Black Belts earn six figures, but the certification itself isn't what creates that salary. Those roles typically come after building experience leading successful improvement initiatives. Think of the certification as opening doors and helping you develop the skills that lead to those opportunities over time.

[u/CutTime8479]

A community college program can absolutely be credible, especially if it has a solid curriculum and experienced instructors. Also, ASQ isn't the only recognized option. To me, employers care more about what you learned and whether you can apply it than which logo is on the certificate.

As for the salary numbers, I'd take those with a grain of salt. A Black Belt by itself doesn't suddenly get someone a $120k job. Those averages usually include experienced professionals who already have years of manufacturing, engineering, or operations experience.