The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is for part-time roles on Lean Six Sigma projects. They are team members managed by Black Belts. However, they can lead smaller projects.
Yellow Belts, on the other hand, are less involved team members with basic Six Sigma training and a foundational understanding of quality. They contribute their expertise and support during DMAIC phases as needed.
In this article, I will explain the two certification levels and help you differentiate Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt vs. Green Belt. I’ll also highlight an important reality about this certification and how to address the inconsistencies in today’s curriculum.
Which Lean Six Sigma Belt Should You Choose?
Answer these questions to find the introductory or intermediate certification level and provider that best match your experience and goals.
You Must Know This
Lean Six Sigma certification is very particular; not all certifications are worth the same. We don’t cover this divergence in this blog, as we did in a dedicated one: Which Six Sigma Certification Is Most Recognized?
What is a Yellow Belt Level for
Although some certification providers offer the White Belt as the lowest certification level, at WhichCert we consider the Yellow Belt as the introductory level in Lean Six Sigma, as it is the only role that can be involved in a Six Sigma project.
Six Sigma Yellow Belt is for:
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt helps HR and finance professionals and any manager leading a process by equipping them with priceless tools to lead internal department improvement initiatives.
For project management professionals, the Yellow Belt helps them use these tools to improve project planning and continuously reduce variation in deliverables.
Who is a Green Belt Level for
Six Sigma Green Belt certification is for:
Practically, they participate as team members in Six Sigma projects and can lead smaller projects with Black Belt support.
Yellow Belt vs. Green Belt Roles Side-by-Side
| Factor | Yellow Belt | Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| Lean Six Sigma Participation | Periodic Supporter | Part-time |
| Responsibilities | As team members, they have basic Six Sigma training and understand quality. They contribute their expertise and support during DMAIC phases as needed. | They work part-time on DMAIC projects. They use Six Sigma tools in their daily tasks and lead smaller projects with support from Black Belts. |
| Annual Salary* | Approximately $65,000 | Approximately $85,000 |
*Source: https://www.sixsigmacouncil.org/six-sigma-certifications
Yellow Belt vs. Green Belt Certifications Side-by-Side
1. Prerequisites (Requirements)
| Certification Provider | Yellow Belt | Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| American Society of Quality (ASQ) | No | 3 years of relevant experience |
| Management and Strategy Institute (MSI) | No | No |
| RPM-Academy—Accredited by ILSSI* (YB; GB) | Access to an organization to run and submit a real improvement project | Access to an organization to run and submit a real improvement project |
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | No | Yellow Belt + Project Submission (No Access to Organization Needed) |
*Explore ILSSI-accredited providers in your region for local-language training, local-currency payments, and alternative pricing and delivery options. Note: Project submission is an RPM-specific requirement, not an ILSSI requirement.
2. How Long to Get It
| Certification Provider | Yellow Belt | Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| American Society of Quality (ASQ): ASQ self-paced training + exam | 8 + 2.5 hours | 42 + 4.5 hours |
| Management and Strategy Institute (MSI)* | 1-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| RPM-Academy—Accredited by ILSSI (YB; GB) | 18 + 1 hour | 44 + 2 hours |
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | 88 hours | 80 hours |
*MSI exam preparation comes through study material; thus, the time to achieve depends on your study pace.
Note:
Time to Get Certified has two Formats on WhichCert.com:
XX hours/weeks/months = Estimated total duration, excluding experience, projects, and prerequisite certifications.
XX + YY hours/weeks/months = XX hours/ of training/study + YY hours of exam time, excluding experience, projects, and prerequisite certifications.
3. Expiration Duration (Renewal Cycle)
| Certification Provider | Yellow Belt | Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| American Society of Quality (ASQ) | Does not expire | Does not expire |
| Management and Strategy Institute (MSI) | Does not expire | Does not expire |
| RPM-Academy—Accredited by ILSSI (YB; GB) | Does not expire | Does not expire |
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | Does not expire | Does not expire |
4. Price
| Certification Provider | Yellow Belt | Green Belt |
|---|---|---|
| American Society of Quality (ASQ): ASQ self-paced training + exam | $424 + $434 | $824 + $469 |
| Management and Strategy Institute (MSI) | $199.95 | $299.95 |
| RPM-Academy—Accredited by ILSSI (YB; GB) | $100 | $125 |
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | $546.30 | $1,301.40 (includes Yellow Belt Fee) |
When Not to Pick the Yellow Belt
You shouldn’t pick the Yellow Belt certification and opt for the Green Belt if at least one of the following applies to you:
When Not to Pick the Green Belt
You shouldn’t pick the Green Belt certification and opt for the Yellow Belt if at least one of the following applies to you:
When You Should Not Pick Either
You shouldn’t pick any certification if at least one of the following applies to you: