PMP Vs Six Sigma: Which One to Choose?

If you are looking for ways to challenge your potential and advance your career, achieving certification is definitely what you need to put yourself ahead of others.

Certification is being a 'THING' among the industrial sector these days. So why do people do certification courses? Either they want to upgrade their skills or are looking for a more exemplary job career.

In today's blog, we will see the two most widely recognized certifications - PMP and Six Sigma similarities, differences, how to obtain them, and which one to choose.

As these certifications depend on business success rates, employers worldwide list either or both as job requirements. Moreover, both being highly-valued credentials, they can also be expensive and need months of preparation.

PMP Certification

What is PMP certification?

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a globally renowned and prestigious certification awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The credential is designed for professionals to test their skills in managing the project priorities - People, Process, and Business.

Now, how do you become one?

To be a certified PMP professional, you must pass the credential test. The exam deals with the Introduction to the PMBOK Guide and Project Management Process Groups. 

With the new PMP format, including predictive, agile, and hybrid practices, added across the three exam domains (People, Process, and Business), the certifications prove project leadership experience and proficiency in the working environment.

However, for project management aspirants, there are particular prerequisites you must know before you appear for the credential test. ‘How to earn the PMP credential’ will be mentioned in this blog. So, stay till the end.

What’s the PMP exam format?

• The PMP certification exam consists of:
• No. of questions - 180
• Duration: 230 minutes 
• Question type: a combination of MCQs, multiple responses, matching, limited fill-in-the-blanks, and hotspot.

You may also like: Top 50 PMP Questions with Answers 2022

How to Earn PMP Credential?

PMP certification warrants a certain knowledge level in the project management area. In addition, organizations give more value to PMP-certified professionals than other certification holders because PMI has a very rigorous application and audit process.

As you know, PMI administers the PMP credential exam; let’s see the two possible requirements where you will be eligible for the test:

• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
• 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or CAPM certification

OR

• 4-year degree (bachelor’s degree or global equivalent)
• 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
• 35 hours of project management education or CAPM certification

You may also like: Can You get PMP Without Experience?

Six Sigma Certification

Six Sigma is one of the most significant data-driven practices.

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is an industrial engineering quality approach based on quality control and statistical analysis. The methodology focuses on minimizing defects, eradicating wasteful processes, cutting expenses, and increasing efficiency and productivity.

What are Six Sigma phases?

The primary method of Six Sigma is Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve & Control (DMAIC) cycle that includes:

1. Define: Identify the issue that needs to be resolved and identify the scope and objective of the project.
2. Measure: Gather data to understand the effect of the issue and present state.
3. Analyze: Perform root-cause analysis with the gathered data to understand the real reason for issue occurrence.
4. Improve: Determine solutions to the issue and execute to make processes more efficient.
5. Control: Monitor the effect of solutions and align strategies to maintain results or outcomes.

What are different Six Sigma belts?

• White Belt
• Yellow Belt
• Green Belt
• Black Belt

How to Earn Six Sigma Credential?

As for the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) certification test, there is no single certifying entity. What's more, is its different certification levels with varying educational prerequisites.

The different types of certifications are as follows:

1. White Belt: It is an initial Six Sigma certification, where candidates get an insightful understanding of the fundamental level of the Six Sigma practices. With this basic level, White Belt holders participate in projects and problem-solving tasks related to waste minimization and quality control.
2. Yellow Belt: During Yellow Belt training, candidates focus on the Six Sigma theory, including necessary tools and procedures to enhance processes. These individuals may also guide minimal scope projects and assist managers of top belt levels.
3. Green Belt: Once you proceed to the Green Belt, you are a Six Sigma expert. Here, you will learn more about data gathering or collection and participate in the methodology initiatives. This training is valuable for professionals in project management, healthcare admin, or finance management, giving them an understanding of performance metrics and tools.
4. Black Belt: Here, you are responsible for managing White, Yellow, and Green Belts. During the training, professionals exhibit what they have learned and achieve hands-on experience by performing a project for a non-profit organization or their employer.

PMP Vs Six Sigma: Differences

The PMP exam demonstrates individual project management skills through the PMI. The certification focuses on a set of concepts and skills. The credential covers the five process groups:

• Initiating
• Planning
• Executing
• Monitoring
• Controlling
• Closing that is required to perform project management functions.

There are also ten PMP knowledge areas:

• Scope management
• Cost management
• Integration management
• Risk management
• Schedule management
• Procurement management
• Quality management
• Communications management
• Stakeholder management
• Resource management. 

Each knowledge area has its own process set, spread across the five process groups.

PMP certification has prerequisites: project managers must have specific knowledge and skills.

Six Sigma is the process of enhancing business workflows through quality engineering. The methodology uses data collection tools, statistical analysis, and more to improve 100 percent of process results at minimized costs.

Six Sigma focuses on defect minimization and eradicating wasteful processes, sales, and production. Therefore, the certification prerequisite is that individuals have a piece of specific knowledge to enhance operations.

Benefits of PMP & Six Sigma Certifications

Benefits of PMP are:

• Assess and mitigate the risks
• Prevents project failures
• Helps in determining and interacting the issue areas
• Helps managers to understand the project and its scope
• Higher pay scale

Benefits of Six Sigma are:

• Enhance business procedures and sustain quality improvement
• Excellent pay scale
• Helps organizations to minimize risk and eradicate defects and flaws
• Ensure compliance
• Obtain hands-on experience in quality management
• Promotion to managerial roles

PMP Vs Six Sigma: Which One to Choose?

If you are in a dilemma choosing between PMP or Six Sigma, remember these certifications' positive and negative sides. Depending on the career objective you have set, make an efficient choice. Remember that no certificate is better than the other, as they focus on different areas.

Whether you choose the PMP certification over Six Sigma certification depends on various factors. However, the choice is simple, i.e., if you're an aspiring project manager, it's best to get PMP certification, and if you're looking for a career in quality control, take Six Sigma certification.

Still, having doubts on which one to pursue? Then choose a training provider to walk you through the decision process. With the right training provider, you will have a basic idea of who should opt for which certification.

Take the first step towards exploring an opportunity to be either a global project management professional or a quality control/assurance professional. Prepare for the PMP or Six Sigma certification and fast track your career. Join Now!

Please fill in the enquiry form or call now on +1(713)-287-1355 or e-mail info {at} icertglobal {dot} com for our training consultant to understand your training requirements and guide you with an optimum way to achieve your learning objectives.

For more information about our PMP and Six Sigma certification, please visit us at https://www.icertglobal.com/