First, assess the price across multiple training courses.

For Six Sigma, there are three typical varieties of training courses. These include Certificate Courses. Certification Courses, and Training Courses. For a quick run down of each: a Certificate Course will usually only include the exam and, when passed, provide you with a certificate of completion. A Certification Course covers book material, real-life examples, the opportunity to work on a Six Sigma project, and a certification exam. Likewise, a Training Course usually only offers a classroom-like education, focusing on terminology and textbook examples. You will most likely not have a real-life Six Sigma project to work on and will only be tested on the theory.

Once you have determined what type of training program you are seeking, assess the price for multiple courses. If the prices are relatively similar, then it’s a safe bet they will be at a similar standard. However, if prices do vary significantly, move on to the second step: Course Assessment.

Second, review the course material.

While we recommend this step for training programs that vary in prices, it’s also beneficial to do so regardless of the cost. Any reputable Six Sigma training course will provide a brief syllabus of what you can expect to cover. It should Include the course hours, weeks, general topics, what reading material and programming software you need, and what projects (if any) you will work on. Depending on your course, each program should offer roughly the same amount of content within a similar timeframe. Likewise, if the program is more expensive, it should cover more material over a longer period of time. Less expensive programs, the opposite. Use this opportunity to compare programs, see patterns, and determine the exact “bang for your buck!”

Last, request and read reviews of the program.

When in doubt, always request reviews and testimonials from a training program’s coordinator. This step is similar to ones in our previous articles about ‘Due Diligence’ and ‘Asking for Testimonials’ and is rightly important. Feedback from former students can easily determine if a training course is worth the cost you are expected to pain. Many negative reviews from an expensive program is a clear warning sign to look elsewhere. Likewise, consistently positive reviews from a similarly priced program is a safer bet.

When searching for the right Six Sigma training program, the price and time commitment is a large factor in your decision making. Regardless of the certification level, follow these three simple steps to ensure you get the right value for the correct price!

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One tip we recommend you try why finding the right Six Sigma practitioner is to request testimonials. These can be from past or current students, or even companies who employ personnel from this particular course. Regardless, testimonials will offer needed insight into your practitioner. Though, practicing this tip can face numerous obstacles. In today’s article, we will outline our three-step approach to asking for testimonials from your online practitioner.

The Approach

Never begin asking for testimonials without a clear mission in mind. First, what type of practitioner are you considering? Do they offer certification, training, or only certificate examinations? Next, decide what information you want to receive. Do you want to read only testimonials from current students or should you request ones from certified Six Sigma employees as well? Once you have compiled your fundamental goal for using your practitioner, contact them

This step will provide you with the first indication of how official your practitioner in question is. If basic contact information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, or a physical address are hard to find, chances are you should find a new provider. If you do have contact information, first begin by sending an email. Briefly, explain that you’re interested in their program (specify which one if there are multiple). Then, ask for a list of testimonials from past or current students. Additionally, you can also request contact information for people who have taken the course, like references on a resume. 

The Response

How and when your Six Sigma provider responds will be your next indication of their program. If you have to wait more than two working days to receive a response via email, look for a new provider. Not only is this unprofessional, but it also indicates the level of attention you can expect to receive from staff if you enroll in the course.

If you get a response back but without any testimonials, this is another warning sign that you should consider a new recruiter. While the practitioner may be caught off guard by your response, providing feedback, positive or negative, on the course is not out of the question. Furthermore, if you received a reply but an answer as to why testimonials would not be provided, try giving them a call. This is also an opportunity to ask questions about the program directly to the provider and to feel out how they will interact with you.

The Conclusion

The end goal of this process is to receive testimonials from your potential Six Sigma practitioner. Now at the final step, your job is to form a conclusion. To help, here are some basic guidelines you can follow to decide if your practitioner is worth your time.

If you receive testimonials without hassle, move forward with said provider. Likewise, if they also provide positive and negative reviews about the course, it’s a safe bet you can trust the information given. However, if you do not receive testimonials, have difficulty communicating with the provider, or face a prolonged delay in contact, walk away. Of course, it can be irritating to have wasted time on an ill-repute practitioner. However, it’s better to waste an email, phone call, and a few days than weeks of partaking in a program, only to not receive what you expected.

Following this simple, three-step guide to asking for testimonials will put you on track to finding the right Six Sigma provider!

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Certificate, Certification, and Training

The first, and simplest form of due diligence to practice is clarifying what exactly you need. When searching for a practitioner, it can be easy to click on the first few links that show up. However, keep in mind that programs’ orders correlate to their amount of paid advertising. Furthermore, multiple practitioners will attempt to blur the lines of what their programs offer. This is where due diligence comes into play!

If you have years of experience practicing the Six Sigma methodology, a practitioner who provides a formal certificate after passing an online course is the best option for you. Likewise, if you’re new to Six Sigma and need a basic understanding of the process, a training practitioner is the better option. Lastly, a certification program is ideal for those who want to combine the training and certification test process under one practitioner. While this is usually the most expensive option, it does provide the most experience and formal understanding of Six Sigma. 

Where Does the Accreditation Come From?

While it’s important to understand what type of program your practitioner offers, it’s even more so to recognize where accreditation will come from. Is your practitioner offering a training course through a university or an online program? Does the Better Business Bureau support the program’s accreditation? Have industry leading corporations used a particular certificate exam to test their employees? These questions and more are an easy way to not only assess the legitimacy of your course but to also clarify where your accreditation comes from. A Six Sigma certification is only worth as much as the provider!

Quality vs. Quantity of Content

Lastly, finding a reputable practitioner can be done by assessing the quality and quantity of the course’s content. For example, most classroom Black Belt certification courses take between four to six weeks to complete. If you find a practitioner online who offers a similar course, does their curriculum take the same amount of time? Likewise, the quality of the course work provided should help you determine whether your practitioner is the right fit or not. Most legitimate certification courses require you to complete a Six Sigma project to receive feedback on your process improvement skills. If you practitioner offers no hands-on experience, they may be lacking in content quality. Additionally, another due diligence tip is to analyze the platforms on which these courses run. Is a practitioner using an up-to-date software for their projects? Is your practitioner providing the correct examples for you to practice; i.e. service industry versus manufacturing?

Slightly questioning and researching Six Sigma practitioners can easily determine if they are the right fit for your needs. Remember, Six Sigma is a business process improvement method that requires discipline, structure, and most importantly, due diligence!

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First – Ask Questions

If you believe your Six Sigma certification is not authentic, chances are, someone else in your program feels the same. Depending on your course’s structure, the first tip is to talk with our students about the program. Does everyone feel cheated out on authentic Six Sigma training? Were there any major indications of foul practice by the instructor? Remember, there is power in numbers. If a collective of participants believe the training is illegitimate, there may be actions you can take against said program. While legal actions may be difficult and expensive to entertain, you can always bring the attention of the falsely advertised program to the Six Sigma community. Word of mouth travels farther than most think!

Second – Assess Your Losses & Gains

Of course, it’s discouraging when you have spent countless hours reviewing material and projects only for your work not to be formally recognized. However, you will not loose all knowledge. Imagine failing an exam in high school. The grade alone does not reflect every detailed of knowledge and experience you gained through the course. For Six Sigma, it’s the same situation. While the quality of education concerning the business process may lack compared to other programs, there is still substance on what you did learn. Accepting being take advantage of can be difficult, but it’s important not to undermine what experiences you gain through each endeavor in life.

Third – Damage Control

Hopefully, you will recognize a reputable practitioner early on in your Six Sigma certification journey. However, if you have not been aware of the illegitimate practice and have invested countless hours and money into a program, the best thing to do is damage control. Assess exactly how much time, energy, and work you have invested in the program and what your losses are. Just like some business deals will fall through, not all Six Sigma training programs will truthfully advertise their program. If you believe you have fallen victim to gaining a fake Six Sigma certificate, your best option is to leave the program immediately. Then, consult other Six Sigma professionals you know well and discuss your situation. Whether these are work colleagues, managers, or counterparts, it’s important to discuss what has happened and clarify what experiences are worth keeping.

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Experience

When interviewing for a new position, you are sure to be asked about your past work experiences. What projects you managed, how you tackled difficult situations, and more, will all be assessed by your interviewer. Likewise, when searching for a Six Sigma accreditor, first look at what experiences you will gain. If a training program is only a few weeks long and offers no hands-on experience, chances are, they are a poor accreditor. Additionally, further warning signs of poor training would be a lack of communication with other students, reluctance to critique your work and progress, and no availability to work on certified Six Sigma projects.

Course Work

Whenever applying to a new course or training program, it’s important to see exactly the institute plans to teach you. Whether you’re seeking a Black Belt certification or just beginning as a White Belt, it’s vital to know what your course covers. Likewise, if you have access to the training program’s content, compare it to other programs. This allows you to assess their similarities and differences. This tip is a easy was to see if you’re facing a poor accreditor based on the lack of relevant content. Remember, the goal of a Six Sigma training program should focus on exposing you to the methodology, not just taking your money.

Past Users

When you shop online, it’s commonplace to read reviews of products you might wish to purchase. Likewise, search for reviews of past individuals who have taken the Six Sigma training course(s) you’re interested in. Are past students now senior managers at well-known corporations? Do they run their own consulting firm? Or have they become stagnant in their progress? Furthermore, if you’re interested in gaining a higher Six Sigma certification, sometimes the best method to find the right training program is to just ask your manager. Chances are, your employer has a list of preferred programs that they trust and send their colleagues to.

Your Next Steps

At the end of the day, finding the perfect Six Sigma training course depends on three things. They are your time limitations, your budget, and most importantly, your own preference. Six Sigma certification is an invaluable asset that will progress you within your career faster than most other certifications. Take the time to carefully find the right program for you and always be on the watch for poor accreditors!

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What Makes an Honest Practitioner?

First, the positives; what makes an honest practitioner? Certified Six Sigma will first provide evidence of their qualifications. Typically, this includes a certificate from a training program. For Black Belts, a four-week course is almost always mandatory. Additionally, their certification should be accredited from a formal institute or company. However, be aware that many fake accreditors will try and pass off their certifications as authentic! You can read more about this in our recent article, Fake Accreditation.

Second, your applicant should provide concrete examples of working on Six Sigma projects. For Certified Black Belts and above, full-time, project managerial roles are the standard. These professionals devote their time to assisting executives while managing the majority of core operations. Likewise, said employees will have experience training others, as well as mentoring Certified Green Belts along their own Six Sigma journey. Finally, they should be excellent communicators. From discussing business process improvements with management to managing customer relations, Six Sigma employees take pride in their roles and have a dire passion for constant improvement.

What is NOT an Honest Practitioner?

Now, the negatives; what to look for in a dodgy practitioner. Every year, hundreds of individuals claiming to be Six Sigma employees will submit phony resumes to employers, hoping to trick a recruiter into believing their qualifications. Yet, there are a few obvious signs that said applicant is not exactly who he claims to be. First, there should be not difficulty with asking concrete questions about the business methodology. Whether an applicant is beginning as a White Belt or is a Master Black Belt, all Six Sigma professionals have a base understand of the business process and can explain how and where to implement it.

Next, no evidence of Six Sigma projects is an obvious warning sign. Unfortunately, no governing body dictates whether a Six Sigma certification is legitimate or not. Because of this, employers expect examples of working on projects with other Six Sigma professionals as evidence of their qualifications. Finally, a dodgy practitioner will have no enthusiasm. As a Six Sigma professional, you understand the need for discipline, structure, and desire to better your business processes. Without this passion and self-determination, you can never truly be a Six Sigma employee.

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What Do We Consider “Fake”?

Unlike earning a Bachelor’s Degree from an acclaimed university, there’s no governance of Six Sigma certification levels. Because the methodology depends solely on your skills and understanding, most professionals use past experiences, projects, and training courses to verify accreditations. Additionally, Six Sigma employees routinely partake in training courses, workshops, and manage projects that increase their knowledge of the methodology. However, this lack of a “governing body” over Six Sigma certification has led to fake accreditors providing inadequate training to individuals. 

The Signs

Chances are throughout your life, you have received a spam email claiming to give you $1,000,000 if you respond with your bank account information. Or maybe you have read into a business model that tried convincing you it was not a pyramid scheme. No doubt, these examples are nothing more than a scam. Yet, how do you seek out a fake Six Sigma accreditor from the rest?

First, the basics.

Check their website for a phone number, physical address, or an email address. These simple contact details can tell you right away if an accreditor is legitimate or not. You’d be surprised how many fake accreditors list inaccurate addresses or non-working contact numbers online!

Second, the reviews.

All Six Sigma certification and training programs should be willing to provide you with references who have used their services. Additionally, if an accreditor “claims” to be an official accreditor, they should proudly display reviews from successful professionals.

Third, the sources.

Before embarking on your Six Sigma journey, you must first ask why you want a certification. For professionals, employers either encourage (or demand) they become x-Belt Certified and will offset the costs of the training program. Likewise, most employers will use a verified, proven certification program that has a history of delivering quality education to their students. Third-party accreditors typically want one thing: your money. Furthermore, they will have little interest in providing you the hands-on experience you will need to be an official Six Sigma professional.

What to Do If Encountering a Fake Accreditation?

However, what should you do if you find yourself enrolled in a fake accreditor? Depending on how much time and money you have invested in the program, the easiest option would be to simply walk away. If you have just begun your certification training, notify your employer or other prospective students of the fake accreditor.

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