WEBVTT NOTE Copyright (c) GoSkills Ltd, 2013 00:00:05.442 --> 00:00:07.030 Hi, this is Ray Sheen. 00:00:07.030 --> 00:00:10.220 I wanna talk with you briefly about becoming certified with 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:11.440 a Lean Six Sigma belt. 00:00:13.570 --> 00:00:17.665 There are many different certifying agencies that offer Lean Six Sigma yellow 00:00:17.665 --> 00:00:20.406 belt, green belt, and black belt certification. 00:00:20.406 --> 00:00:25.050 Some are independent testing agencies that test to recognize bodies of knowledge. 00:00:25.050 --> 00:00:29.120 Some are local consulting firms that have created their own curriculum and tests. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.656 Some large companies have created their own internal Lean Six Sigma program and 00:00:33.656 --> 00:00:36.440 have their own tests and certifying standards. 00:00:36.440 --> 00:00:40.364 The agency that we have selected to tailor this program for 00:00:40.364 --> 00:00:45.421 is the International Association of Six Sigma Certification, or IASSC. 00:00:45.421 --> 00:00:50.264 Their website is IASSC.org, and if you're considering certification, 00:00:50.264 --> 00:00:52.163 I suggest you check them out. 00:00:52.163 --> 00:00:56.043 One of the reasons that we have chosen this certifying program is because it 00:00:56.043 --> 00:00:58.500 truly is an independent program. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.090 They have compiled a recognized, representative body of knowledge for 00:01:02.090 --> 00:01:04.850 yellow belt, green belt, and black belt. 00:01:04.850 --> 00:01:08.760 They're not selling their own canned program or require that you have their 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:13.360 training or become a member of their organization in order to take the exam. 00:01:13.360 --> 00:01:17.090 By not selling training or coaching, they have remained independent from some of 00:01:17.090 --> 00:01:20.030 the fads and gimmicks that have shown up on other programs. 00:01:21.190 --> 00:01:25.720 In other words, their tests are designed to test your knowledge of Lean Six Sigma 00:01:25.720 --> 00:01:28.190 and your ability to apply that knowledge. 00:01:28.190 --> 00:01:31.010 In particular, it is the knowledge associated with 00:01:31.010 --> 00:01:34.888 the Universally Accepted Lean Six Sigma Body of Knowledge. 00:01:34.888 --> 00:01:37.020 It's not subjective assessment of whether or 00:01:37.020 --> 00:01:39.910 not someone feels that you have done a good job on a project. 00:01:41.010 --> 00:01:44.090 Now let me talk a bit more about the administrative side of preparing for 00:01:44.090 --> 00:01:46.170 an IASSC exam. 00:01:46.170 --> 00:01:48.730 In another session, I will discuss the body of knowledge for 00:01:48.730 --> 00:01:50.600 yellow belt, green belt, or black belt. 00:01:51.670 --> 00:01:55.190 Once you believe you are ready for an exam, or at least close to being ready, 00:01:55.190 --> 00:01:59.760 you can go to the IASSC website and start the registration process. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:03.790 The website is shown on this slide, or you can just go their homepage and 00:02:03.790 --> 00:02:05.660 you can navigate to the registration site. 00:02:06.810 --> 00:02:09.900 The exam is an online proctored exam. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:12.490 You can take it in a proctored examination center or 00:02:12.490 --> 00:02:15.870 you can take it from your home or office, in a proctored mode. 00:02:15.870 --> 00:02:20.198 Either way, it is a closed book exam, so you need to know your stuff. 00:02:20.198 --> 00:02:21.650 When you arrive at the exam center, 00:02:21.650 --> 00:02:25.890 you will need to show two forms of ID to prove who you are. 00:02:25.890 --> 00:02:29.390 At this time, the exam centers are affiliated with PearsonVue, 00:02:29.390 --> 00:02:32.350 which provides testing services for many programs. 00:02:32.350 --> 00:02:37.740 And also at this time, they have over 8,000 exam centers in 165 countries. 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:40.930 You can check their site to find a location near you. 00:02:40.930 --> 00:02:42.940 If you need to take the exam from your home or office, 00:02:42.940 --> 00:02:46.260 there are several restrictions about your computer and 00:02:46.260 --> 00:02:50.670 the technology that you're using in order to operate in a proctored mode. 00:02:50.670 --> 00:02:53.810 These restrictions are being updated regularly as new technology 00:02:53.810 --> 00:02:55.120 becomes available. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.710 So go to their website to find out the current requirements. 00:02:58.710 --> 00:03:02.390 IASSC offers yellow belt, green belt and black belt. 00:03:02.390 --> 00:03:06.250 It should be no surprise that the number of questions, test time, and 00:03:06.250 --> 00:03:09.470 the costs vary depending on the level of the belt. 00:03:09.470 --> 00:03:11.860 This is the current levels for each of these. 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:16.020 IASSC can change these, although they haven't for a number of years. 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:19.190 But just to be safe, check the website for the current information. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.907 Let me give you some pointers in preparing for your exam. 00:03:24.907 --> 00:03:27.609 Study the appropriate body of knowledge for your belt, 00:03:27.609 --> 00:03:30.270 I will discuss these in other sessions. 00:03:30.270 --> 00:03:32.811 Fortunately, there are no other prerequisites. 00:03:32.811 --> 00:03:37.523 You don't have to have been a practitioner in the field for some number of years or 00:03:37.523 --> 00:03:41.008 lead multiple projects, you just need to know your stuff. 00:03:41.008 --> 00:03:44.015 The exam questions are multiple choice or true, false. 00:03:44.015 --> 00:03:48.330 Of course, the number of questions is based upon the belt level, and 00:03:48.330 --> 00:03:50.850 I showed you those on the previous slide. 00:03:50.850 --> 00:03:53.790 But don't think that you might not need to do some math. 00:03:53.790 --> 00:03:57.184 Many of the questions on the green belt and black belt will be set up 00:03:57.184 --> 00:04:00.837 with an analysis and some math may be required to calculate an answer. 00:04:00.837 --> 00:04:05.177 Also, one of the more difficult aspects of the questions is that often the question 00:04:05.177 --> 00:04:09.332 will have more than one correct answer, and you'll need to select all of them. 00:04:09.332 --> 00:04:13.916 That means you'll really need to pay close attention to terms and definitions and 00:04:13.916 --> 00:04:17.650 you'll really need to understand the concepts of Lean Six Sigma. 00:04:18.820 --> 00:04:24.029 The exam is closed book, you can't bring anything in with you as an aid in exam. 00:04:24.029 --> 00:04:26.330 I even had to leave my phone, my watch and 00:04:26.330 --> 00:04:30.665 my wallet in a locker outside the test room so that they could be certain that I 00:04:30.665 --> 00:04:35.006 didn't bring any notes in with me or any kind of communication device. 00:04:35.006 --> 00:04:37.345 If you have trouble doing math in your head, 00:04:37.345 --> 00:04:41.110 you can use the calculator that's on the computer. 00:04:41.110 --> 00:04:45.737 One nice thing that's provided is a file accessible on the testing computer that 00:04:45.737 --> 00:04:48.740 has a list of many of the formulas and lookup tables. 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:52.677 You don't need to memorize those, but you do need to know when and 00:04:52.677 --> 00:04:53.829 how to apply them. 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:57.130 The testing center will also provide a notepad and pen for you to take notes or 00:04:57.130 --> 00:04:58.760 to work out problems. 00:04:58.760 --> 00:05:01.202 You must turn those in at the end. 00:05:01.202 --> 00:05:04.409 A passing score is approximately 77%. 00:05:04.409 --> 00:05:07.420 I say approximately because some of those questions with 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:11.748 multiple correct answers are weighted based upon which answers are selected, so 00:05:11.748 --> 00:05:14.210 the exact number of correct answers can vary. 00:05:16.470 --> 00:05:20.200 Professional certification is usually a good thing to have on your resume. 00:05:20.200 --> 00:05:21.630 You should consider sitting for 00:05:21.630 --> 00:05:25.940 the IASSC Lean Six Sigma yellow belt, green belt or black belt. NOTE Copyright (c) GoSkills Ltd, 2013