You must pass a written test and a display your abilities in a hands-on environment in order to become certified.  As an example, compare it to learning to drive a car and to qualify for a driver’s license. You study the book, you take the written test and then you demonstrate your driving ability in the car with a qualified driving instructor sitting in the passenger seat. The 6 sigma training instructor is either someone from within your company or an outside consultant hired to run the training process.  What usually happens is that businesses require their employees to demonstrate their competence by completing one or two quality projects to show their proficiency learned in the classroom.

What qualifies as 6 Sigma Certification is defined by the company or organization conducting the 6 sigma training. There really is no set standard for what defines 6 Sigma Certification. One thing that is the same, is that certification involves training, written testing and a hands on demonstration.  But how a business conducts this is pretty much up to the organization itself.  Many senior executives are pushing for some form of standardization so that 6 Sigma Certification can be defined universally for each level of certification.

However, like our drivers license example, it is possible to transfer 6 Sigma Certification, in the same way that drivers are allowed to drive outside of the state which issued their drivers license. If you do  have 6 Sigma Certification and get hired by another company, it may be necessary to re-certify certain aspects of your training under the new company's rules and regulations, kind of like renewing your license with a new address in a different state.

Getting certified is good for business because it validates your worth within a company and lets you display your proficiency in the subject matter. Companies are always looking for workers who are willing to go that extra mile to improve themselves. This can and does usually lead to higher salaries and bonuses for the worker who has the 6 Sigma Certification.  Certification is a business decision; however, it may also be a requirement of the corporation as a prerequisite to advancing up the corporate ladder.  6 Sigma Certification is seen as an indication of your energy and desire to become a leader within your organization.