About Lean Six Sigma Certification
Overview
Lean Six Sigma Training and Certifications
Useful links
Useful links
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Lean Six Sigma Academy
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Yellow Belt eLearning + exam bundle
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Practical Assessment templates:
Documentation
Documentation
Study materials
Study materials
Success in 1 2 3
Over 2.6 million people in 192 countries have an APMG certification. Our certifications are used by 80% of the FTSE 100 and a third of the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, and are proven to deliver better outcomes.
Select your certification
APMG certifications can advance your career, build your confidence and help you transition into a new field. Browse our careers section for inspiration or visit our certification pages for details of what you’ll learn and how you will benefit from certification.
Choose your learning style
APMG is not a training provider. Please contact accredited training organization's listed on our website for prices and dates. Alternatively, you can self-study for an exam directly through APMG.
Pass the exam & receive a certificate
When you are ready to take your exam, book an online timeslot yourself with APMG, or your training organization may organize this for you. If you pass your exam APMG will issue you with a digital badge for you to share!
Lean Six Sigma Certification levels
Ready to start your learning journey?
Choose a Training Organization
APMG accredits Training Organizations (ATOs) to make sure they are delivering our products and certifications to high standards.
Buy a training course and exam through one of our Training Organizations below.
Self-study
Buy your book and exam from APMG
Training organizations for Lean Six Sigma Certification
Testimonials
Videos
Videos
Lean Six Sigma in Education
Lean Six Sigma Meets Handball
SFIA

This APMG certification has been informally mapped against the SFIA Framework to indicate the skills that are addressed and referenced by the certification. Although it is not yet possible to claim this digital badge, the indicative skills can be used to plan your professional development through assessing the skills you have and the skills you need for the role you want.
knowledge
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3
Same as above plus Organisational Change Management up to level 4
skills
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 4, Generic attribute Business Skills up to level 4, Organisational Change Management up to level 4
Same as above plus Business Process Improvement level 5, Organisational Capability Development level 5
knowledge
Green Belt (Theory exam)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 3
Same as above plus Organisational Change Management up to level 4
skills
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 4, Generic attribute Business Skills up to level 4, Organisational Change Management up to level 5, Business Process Improvement level 5, Organisational Capability Development level 5
Same as above plus Business Process Improvement level 6, Organisational Capability Development level 6
knowledge
Black Belt (Theory exam)
Generic attribute Knowledge up to level 5
Same as above plus Business Process Improvement level 5, Organisational Capability Development level 5
FAQs
After passing the Lean Six Sigma Green or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt theory examination, individuals can complete the Green or Black Belt practical assessment(s) in order to become a Lean Six Sigma Certified Green Belt or Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.
You can apply to complete the practical assessment either via your Accredited Training Organisation, or directly via APMG.
The practical assessment must be completed within 3 years of passing the Theory exam. To download the templates for the practical assessments, please visit the Lean Six Sigma Academy website.
APMG International's Lean Six Sigma qualifications are based on the "Climbing the Mountain: mind set, skill set and tool set" publications and exercise books. These can be purchased directly from the Lean Six Sigma Academy website.
Most Lean Six Sigma accredited training organizations include the relevant publication(s) with the course materials, but please check when booking a course.
The Yellow Belt certification is not valid for a defined period and will not expire.
Within 3 years of passing the Green or Black Belt Theory examination, candidates should complete the Green or Black Belt Practical Assessment to be recognized as a 'Lean Six Sigma Certified Green/Black Belt'. The Green Belt and Black Belt Practical Assessments are not valid for a defined period and do not expire.
All of the Belts are available in English and Dutch.
The Yellow Belt exam is also available in Italian and Spanish.
- Yellow Belt - Yes
- Green Belt - Yes. Minitab is also permitted.
- Black Belt - Yes. Minitab is also permitted.
Please note that where a calculator is permitted, only basic calculators are to be used.
To upgrade from Lean Green Belt to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, candidates will need to attend a Lean Six Sigma 5-day training course and then sit the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Theory exam.
Lean Green Belt training equips you to drive efficiency and continuous improvement by identifying and eliminating waste. You'll gain practical skills in tools like 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping to streamline processes effectively.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training takes it further by integrating Lean efficiency with Six Sigma’s rigorous quality analysis. You'll learn advanced statistical tools and the DMAIC framework to tackle complex problems and drive measurable improvement.
All Lean Six Sigma exams are open book and the following materials can be taken into the exam:
Yellow Belt:
- A maximum of two books:
- We recommend ‘Climbing the Mountain – Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Orange Belts’ for exams based on version 2.4 of the skill set
- We recommend ‘Climbing the Mountain – Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts’ for exams based on version 3.2 of the skill set
- Calculator
- Please note that the Exercise books are NOT permitted in the exam
Green Belt:
- A maximum of two books:
- We recommend ‘Climbing the Mountain – Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Green Belts’ and ‘Statistical Tables Aid for Green & Black Belt Examinations’
- Calculator
- Minitab
- Please note that the Exercise books are NOT permitted in the exam
Black Belt:
- A maximum of two books:
- We recommend ‘Climbing the Mountain – Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Black Belts’ and ‘Statistical Tables Aid for Green & Black Belt Examinations’
- Calculator
- Minitab
- Please note that the Exercise books are NOT permitted in the exam
- Provisional results: After completing the Foundation examination, candidates may receive provisional results either orally from the invigilator or on-screen at the end of an online exam.
- Official results: Once processed, official results, including a PDF breakdown of marks by syllabus area, are available in the APMG Candidate Portal. Results are issued as the total number of marks achieved.
- Processing time: Exam papers are usually marked immediately after the exam. APMG formally processes and confirms results via the Candidate Portal within 2 working days of receiving completed papers.
- Outstanding payments: In exceptional cases, results may be withheld until full payment has been received.
Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam, you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.
Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.
This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.
Once you have created an account with Credly, log into the account and accept your pending badge.