Six Sigma Certification is essentially a complete process in and of itself. However, many people often wonder if continuing education is a necessary part of the process or not. If you think about it, the Six Sigma Projects that you take on can easily become continuing education because they teach new applications and practices using Six Sigma Tools and training along the way. As far as formal education is concerned, though, many people feel like they need more along the way to help keep them up to speed. The reality of the situation is that in most cases, the training that you receive as a part of Six Sigma Certification is complete. Unless you are seeking higher levels of certification such as the transition from Green Belt to Black Belt, you shouldn’t actually NEED any more formal education in your career.
That isn’t to say that you won’t benefit from refresher courses or other means of education and training that can come along in regards to Six Sigma Projects. If you find a seminar, conference, or class that piques your interest, take it. You should have enough education and experience to get you through, but it never hurts to learn more or refresh your knowledge if you feel the urge. You might even find a number of seminars or courses available outside of the specific training realm that focus on various specialties and specific areas of Six Sigma Training that you want to pursue. Go ahead, because there is never such a thing as too much information.
If you think about it, the more informed you are, the better you are able to perform. That means that even if you go to one short conference or attend one simple lecture, you can easily give yourself a whole new perspective and view on the Six Sigma Process that you didn’t have before. This can help you to be more productive or creative in the Six Sigma Projects that you complete, giving you better chances for success in the end. However, you shouldn’t worry about required training beyond what you’ve already accomplished, because it simply isn’t required.
While further training and education isn’t necessary, it is something that you can pursue on your own. Your company might require refresher courses, or you might simply want to keep up on the latest trends and information within the industry. This will be your call to make, or your company’s if that is the case. Either way, education beyond your initial Six Sigma Training is hardly required, but always welcome.
