Certified Six Sigma Green Belt credential artwork

Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)

Validates knowledge of the DMAIC method, lean tools and the statistics needed to lead Six Sigma process-improvement projects.

Summary

CSSGB is ASQ's practitioner-level Six Sigma certification, for people who run or support data-driven improvement projects. It tests the full DMAIC method, lean tools and the statistics behind them, so employers read it as applied improvement skill, not just classroom knowledge.

Good fit if

  • You have three years of full-time quality or process improvement work
  • You run or support DMAIC projects using data
  • Your employer or customers ask for an ASQ belt

Look elsewhere if

  • You lack three years of experience: IASSC Green Belt or CSSYB
  • You lead complex projects and coach other belts: CSSBB
  • You want general project management: PMP

Salary & jobs

Prerequisites

Experience required to sit the exam

3 years of full-time paid work in the Green Belt Body of Knowledge

Required

The work can be in one or more of the six Body of Knowledge areas. Internships, co-ops and coursework do not count, and ASQ grants no education waivers.

ASQ audits applications at random. If yours is chosen, you have 30 days to return a form signed by a manager or colleague who has seen your work, or an HR letter or W-2. You apply with a résumé that lists the experience.

Cost

USD · Non-member pricing
$483
ASQ members pay $383. A retake costs $283 for anyone and must be taken within two years of your last attempt. Changing a Prometric appointment costs $130.

What holders say

Certification path

ASQ’s Six Sigma certifications run Yellow Belt, Green Belt and Black Belt.

Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt credential artwork
CSSYBFoundations, no experience required
This certification
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt credential artwork
CSSGBSupports Black Belts, analyzes quality problems
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt credential artwork
CSSBBLeads improvement projects

Renewal

CSSGB is a lifetime certification.

Validity
No expiry
Renewal requirement
None
Renewal fee
None
ASQ recertification ↗

Alternatives

IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt credential artwork
ICGB$402 required · Intermediate

A Green Belt exam with no experience requirement.

Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt credential artwork
CSSYB$434 required · Entry

ASQ’s entry belt, with no experience requirement.

Certified Six Sigma Black Belt credential artwork
CSSBB$585 required · Advanced

ASQ’s project-leader belt, with project affidavits required.

Project Management Professional credential artwork
PMP$695 required · Advanced

Broader project management rather than process improvement.

FAQ

How much does the CSSGB exam cost?

$483, or $383 for ASQ members. A retake costs $283.

Do I need experience for CSSGB?

Yes. You need three years of full-time paid work in one or more Body of Knowledge areas before ASQ approves your application. Education does not replace it.

Does CSSGB expire?

No. It is a lifetime certification with no recertification.

Is the CSSGB exam open book?

Yes. All references must be bound, and the exam includes an on-screen calculator.

Can I take CSSGB online?

Yes. Prometric offers live remote proctoring in most countries, alongside test centres.

Is CSSGB ISO 17024 accredited?

No. ASQ lists ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation for its Black Belt (CSSBB) and Quality Auditor (CQA) certifications, not for CSSGB.

What is the difference between CSSGB and IASSC Green Belt?

CSSGB is an open-book ASQ exam that requires three years of work. The IASSC Green Belt is a closed-book exam with no experience requirement.

Last updated October 2026