Note: This is an Advanced Level Certification.  A Six Sigma Black Belt Level II issued by The Council for Six Sigma Certification is a prerequisite for applying for this Certification.  

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification – Level III

A Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) Certified Six Sigma Black Belt III has a proven understanding of the entire Six Sigma Body of Knowledge through the execution of a DMAIC or DMADV Project.  In addition, by having submitted an approved project, this individual has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of both Six Sigma philosophies and principles (including supporting systems and tools). The Black Belt Certification III designation also reflects proficiency in team leadership, team dynamics, and the ability to successfully assign team members with roles and responsibilities. Lastly, it indicates a high-level understanding of the DMAIC model in accordance with the Six Sigma principles, basic knowledge of lean enterprise concepts, and skills to quickly identify “non-value-added” activities.

What to Expect

The Official CSSC Six Sigma Black Belt Level III Certification has no exam component.  Instead, it requires that the individual submit a completed Six Sigma project following either the DMAIC or DMADV methodology.  The project must be completely separate from any project submitted for the Six Sigma Black Belt Level III Certification.

The project is fundamentally an evaluation of the individual’s understanding of the Six Sigma methodology and his or her proficiency in outlining and executing the necessary steps.

In the past, projects required that the project be completed in a “live” business environment. However, employers are not always willing to provide the necessary resources for a project or to report financial data to an outside organization for review. It is for this primary reason, individuals can submit either a “live” sponsored project or submit a “hypothetical” project to demonstrate proficiency.

If submitting a “hypothetical” project, a candidate will be graded primarily on the steps that are taken (as opposed to the actual “data” submitted). Again, the main purpose of the project is to measure a candidate’s ability to carry out a Six Sigma Project from creation to the final stages.

Upon payment of the project review fee of $300.00, an email address will be provided to submit the project for review.

The projects are graded by one or more Master Black Belts from our Accredited Training Provider network.  All project examiners are under strict contractual Non-Disclosure Agreements to help ensure confidentiality.

Projects take 7-10 business days to be reviewed.

The MBB reviewing the project will be checking to see if certain “criteria” that needs to be met to demonstrate an understanding of project implementation is provided. They typically look for things like comparing possible projects in pre-planning, project charters, understanding and implementation of analysis tools, adequate control plans, etc.

If the project is rejected for not meeting CSSC’s standards, candidates will be provided an opportunity to modify and resubmit the project up to 3 times (within 1 year of payment). When a project is not accepted, the candidate is informed in regards to which parts of the project need improvement before re-submission.

If unsuccessful after 3 attempts, the applicant would need to pay the project review fee again.

Certification Requirements

The project must be completely separate from any project submitted for the Six Sigma Black Belt Level III Certification.

Candidates are expected to list, in great detail, the DMAIC/DMADV steps taken throughout the course of the project.

Projects are reviewed and graded on a “pass/fail” basis.  To successfully obtain the professional designation of a CSSC Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Level III (CSSC-CSSBB-III) issued by The Council for Six Sigma Certification, individuals must receive a “passing” mark within 1 year of registration (up to 3 attempts permitted).

Generally speaking, many applicants submit projects that are most commonly 20-30 pages when counting supporting charts/graphs. Styles are typically well-outlined or in an essay format.

There is no required general format or length for the project. However, a clear and concise plan (i.e. Project Charter, DMAIC, Gantt chart, etc.) is expected.

Prerequisites

A Six Sigma Black Belt Level II issued by The Council for Six Sigma Certification is a prerequisite for applying for this Certification.  

Awarding of Certification

After passing the requirements, individuals will receive an Official CSSC Six Sigma Black Belt Level III Certification issued by The Council for Six Sigma Certification, the most respected accrediting organization in the Six Sigma industry.

Our certifications have no expiration date.  We strongly feel that certifications that require “renewals” only serve to increase the profits of the certification providers instead of benefiting the individual.  Or put another way, a Master’s Degree in Business does not expire… why would your professional certification?

Individuals that would like to obtain a more recent certification date can always resubmit additional projects at any time (often for less money than a provider would charge for a “renewal”).

Upon completion of the requirements, individuals are issued a Six Sigma Black Belt Level III Certification in an electronic form.  All certifications contain a verifiable certification number and the certification holder is added to the Council for Six Sigma Certification Official Register.