Frequently Asked Questions

ANS: You can write to help@asq.org using your registered email in your ASQ account.

ANS: As you explore ASQ's Web sites, you will encounter content that is reserved for members and registered visitors. When this happens, you will see a log-in screen where you can create an account. After that, use your e-mail and password to access materials on the site.

ANS: The first time you log in, enter your e-mail as your log-in ID and the password you were assigned when you joined. Your e-mail address must match the one you provided when you joined ASQ. You can change your password after you log in.

ANS: Different types of visitors have different levels of access to our materials.

• Registered Visitors can see and access a wide variety of articles and PDFs from ASQ. They won’t see materials restricted to members, such as articles from our magazines and journals.
• Subscribers can see what registered visitors can see, as well as articles from the journals or magazines to which they subscribe.
• Members can access even more materials from our journals and magazines, as well as a much larger archive of quality tools and resources.

ANS: Yes, there are annual membership fees for each different type of membership—Full, Associate, Forum/Division, Student, and
Organizational. Review our benefits matrix for the benefits and fees associate with each type.

ANS: Get an overview of the four individual memberships or compare the benefits of each.

Ans: ASQ offers four different types of membership to meet the needs of different customers. Review the options, prices and other information for each type in the benefits matrix and choose the one that's right for you.

ANS: All pricing discounts apply if you hold a Full, Associate or Student membership. Forum/Division members receive member pricing on all journals, but other pricing discounts are limited to the materials and activities offered by the Forum/Division you joined.

ANS: ASQ has a rich history of connecting knowledgeable people around common interests and industries. More than two dozen member-led Forums/Divisions help members with similar interests or jobs share their knowledge and resources with peers. When you join ASQ as a Full member you can choose to join one Forum/Division at no extra charge.

ANS: Sections help you meet other quality professionals in your community. One Section membership is included in your Full membership. Most sections offer meetings, newsletters, online information, educational courses/seminars/conferences and certification exam prep programs. You can also get involved by becoming a section volunteer.

ANS: No. If a company chooses not to renew an employee's membership and wants a different employee to be a member instead, that person would need to start a new membership.

ANS: Your member number is printed on the lower left side of your membership card. Your lifetime membership card is sent to you via postal mail when you first become a member.

Ans: Once you successfully log in, go to "My Account" near the upper right-hand corner of your screen to change your home/business address or e-mail address. It's that easy!

ANS: You can make some types of membership upgrade – such as going from a Forum/Division membership to a Full membership – at any time by contacting Customer Care at help@asq.org
Other types of upgrade, such as becoming a Senior member, have additional requirements.

Ans: You can e-mail a request for a new card to help@asq.org.

Ans: No. You will need to resubmit your credit card information each time you renew. If you need to make specific payment arrangements, contact Customer Care at help@asq.org .

ANS: No. Your certification is separate from your ASQ membership. However, some certifications require recertification, and the cost of recertification is higher for nonmembers.

Ans: There are several ways to apply. You can apply online. You can download an exam application for mailing or faxing. You will need your resumé and credit card to complete the application. Or you can request a free certification brochure and application by contacting ASQ Customer Care at help@asq.org .

Ans: ASQ offers all exams twice a year through local Sections and international sites. In all metro cities ASQ India facilitate venue for certification exam.

ANS: If you apply online you will receive an e-mail informing you that we received your application.

If you submit a written application through the mail or fax, you will receive an e-mail when your application is approved. You must include your e-mail on the application.

Once we review and approve your application, you will receive an approval e-mail. We make every effort to review your application in a timely manner. You may experience a delay during high-volume periods immediately before and after the application deadline date.

If you mail or fax your application, you can check the status of your application by logging-in to the ASQ site and visiting the certification overview page.

You will only be contacted by mail or e-mail if there is a problem with your application.

ASQ sends an e-mail confirming your exam testing location two to three weeks prior to the exam. Due to the high volume of applications received, we cannot send postal-mail confirmations.

Ans: Certification is formal recognition by ASQ that an individual has proficiency within, and a comprehension of, a specified body of knowledge. It is peer recognition, not registration or licensure.

ANS: Quality competition is a fact of life, and the need for a work force proficient in the principles and practices of quality control is a central concern of many companies. Certification is a mark of excellence. It demonstrates that the certified individual has the knowledge to assure quality of products and services. Certification is an investment in your career and in the future of your employer.

ANS: Job analysis survey

The starting point for the exam development process is a job analysis survey that is conducted every five years to identify the skills and knowledge areas currently being used in the field. In order to create appropriate items for the survey instrument, an advisory board is appointed by the sponsoring ASQ division.

This committee, like all of the subsequent exam development committees, is composed of ASQ members who work in the area to be tested and are already certified. In the case of brand new certification exams, ASQ volunteer member leaders who are subject matter experts in the field to be tested serve on the committee. These volunteers identify typical job responsibilities (what people do on the job) and the knowledge bases required (what people need to know in order to perform their job). The committee also reviews a wide variety of textbooks to ensure that these topics are covered in reference material that is readily available.

In the case of the survey advisory board, its work results in a questionnaire that asks respondents to rate each item in the survey in terms of criticality (how important is this task or knowledge) and frequency (how often is this task performed or knowledge used). The survey is piloted to ensure that the questionnaire itself is as clearly presented and as easy to complete as possible.

Member input

Once the survey instrument has been approved and all necessary revisions made, it is sent to a sample of certified ASQ members who either work in the area to be tested (as identified by job title) or supervise employees who perform the tasks identified in the survey. Except for the deliberate job title selection, the 2,000 plus certified ASQ members who receive the survey are randomly selected across geographic locations and industry types to ensure that no one industry or region skews the results of the survey.

The data from the survey are then analyzed and a set of recommended tasks and knowledge areas is presented in a summary report, which is submitted to the sponsoring division. The rule for recommendation is that a task or knowledge must score at or above the midpoint: in other words, earn a score of at least 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, for criticality or frequency. The sponsoring division approves the results, which are then submitted to the Certification Board for final approval.

After the approval process, a BOK committee is formed. This committee of subject matter experts, includes some members of the advisory committee and again has representatives from across a wide demographic spectrum.

The BOK committee's primary task is to translate the job analysis results into meaningful categories that can be tested. Committee members use a variety of quality tools to facilitate this process, and the final result forms an outline of major topic areas, supported by appropriate subtopics.

The committee then determines how many questions will be asked in each area of the BOK, based on the importance of the topic as well as the depth of testable material in that topic. The committee again uses tools such as multivoting and prioritization matrices to help guide the decision-making process.

AANS: ASQ Certification Board Value Statement

The ASQ Certification Board provides Leadership and Stewardship, with Integrity and Customer Focus, of the process for certifying Quality Professionals both now and in the future.

Stewardship: We assume the responsibility to organize and manage intellectual property of the Quality movement, including certification exams and related products. Our efforts imply and require a vision of, and dedication to, the Quality profession. The Board is tasked with outreach to internal and external customers, to communicate the value and importance of Certification to both employers and quality professionals.

Integrity: We oversee and uphold professionalism as a primary characteristic of our certification process, product, and application. A firm personal ethic becomes the strong professional ethic of volunteer members which, in turn, becomes personal validation. Broad-based certifications, multilingual, fair and unbiased in content and availability, are our product.

Customer Focus: ASQ, as leader of a diverse, ever-expanding, global quality community, supports quality professionals in academia, industry, and government. We create new certifications defined by the values and requirements of our customers, recognizing them as the future owners of quality knowledge, practice, and dissemination. We network with others across the world to advance innovation and the understanding of the value and importance of quality knowledge, professions, and certifications.

Teamwork, Involvement, Cooperation, and Partnering: We respect the values of others and strive for consensus. Teamwork and partnering encourage opportunities, inside and outside the quality community, for personal and professional development. Employee and corporate application of technology, tools, and processes fosters skill enhancement, employee expertise, and empowerment at all professional levels.

Application of Quality Tools and Techniques: Our dynamic, living strategy focuses on short- and long-term strategic planning and quality management. We create opportunities for the application of knowledge and skills, outreach and sharing of ideas, and on-going improvement in machine and computer technology. We believe that only the best we do today will be carried forward to tomorrow

ANS: Individuals with ASQ certification may indicate their certification(s) on their personal business cards. Please refer to your certification in terms which are consistent with the legal requirements found in many states.

Canadian Provincial and Territorial laws prohibit the use of the term "engineer" unless an individual is registered in Canada as a Professional Engineer. However, ASQ-certified individuals would not be in violation of this law if they use the acronyms "ASQ CQE," as appropriate, as a title instead of the word "engineer."

ANS: For those certifications with education waivers, you may waive some of the required work experience if you have a degree, diploma or certificate beyond high school.

If you do not have the education and work experience required to sit for a particular certification examination, you may obtain a partial refund of your examination fee by contacting ASQ. ASQ will not waive the examination requirements. If you are short on work experience, you may sit for the next exam, as long as you meet the requirement by the time you apply for the exam

ANS: The following certifications require that you get recertified every three years:

• Biomedical Auditor
• Calibration Technican
• HACCP Auditor
• Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence
• Master Black Belt
• Pharmaceutical GMP Professional
• Quality Auditor
• Quality Engineer
• Reliability Engineer
• Software Quality Engineer
• Six Sigma Black Belt

Quality Inspector, Quality Improvement Associate, Quality Process Analyst, Quality Technician, and Six Sigma Green Belt are lifetime certifications. They have no recertification requirements.

ANS: Six Sigma is a method for reducing variation in manufacturing, service or other business processes. Six Sigma projects measure the cost benefit of improving processes that are producing substandard products or services. Whether in manufacturing or service industries, such projects quantify the effect of process changes on delays or rework. The goal of each successful Six Sigma project is to produce statistically significant improvements in a process: Over time, multiple Six Sigma projects produce virtually defect-free performance.

The Six Sigma Black Belt project is one that uses appropriate tools within a Six Sigma approach to produce breakthrough performance and real financial benefit to an operating business or company.

The tools are generic. It is the structure of the project and the associated process (improvement model) that distinguish a Black Belt project from other similar quality improvement projects. Financial impact as an outcome is also a requirement within a Black Belt project when compared to other projects.

The following examples are not all-inclusive, but will provide examples of acceptable and unacceptable projects.

Examples of projects that qualify:

• Manufacturing product defect reduction.
• Human resources recruitment cycle time reduction.
• Reduced accounts payable invoice processing costs.
• Reduced Manufacturing machine setup time.

Projects that do not qualify:

• Prepackaged or classroom exercise that are mock, or simulated projects that were previously completed and/or that do not include actual “hands on” work.
• No real organization or business unit; no current problem or cost benefit.
• Basic product improvement projects not associated with process improvements.
• Software maintenance or remediation without detailed process measurements.
• Any project without measured before-and-after cost benefits.

Download a Six Sigma Black Belt Affidavit (PDF, 45 KB).

ANS: A Six Sigma Black Belt project is required. If you have not completed a project you are not eligible to sit for the exam.

Ans: Yes, as long as the project utilized the Six Sigma tools and methodologies, it is acceptable.

ANS: Yes you can apply, but your completed project affidavit(s) must be received at ASQ headquarters within one week of our receipt of your application and fees. Your application will be placed on HOLD status until we receive your affidavit(s). The affidavit(s) must be completed by your project champion. As the applicant, it is your responsibility to send the completed affidavit(s) to ASQ. If we do not receive your affidavit(s) within the required timeframe, your application will be cancelled and a partial refund will be sent to you (less the application fee).

ANS: No, affidavits received without an application form and fees will not be reviewed prior to your applying for the exam.

Ans: No, you may fax or e-mail your signed affidavit(s) to fax number 414-298-2500 or to cert@asq.org within one week of submitting your application.

ANS: It is your responsibility to have your project champion complete and sign the project affidavit. Affidavits will not be accepted if they are not signed by a project champion.

If you are unable to locate your project champion, a member of upper management at the company may sign the affidavit in your project champion's place, provided the individual is able to verify the contents of the affidavit are correct.

ANS: You may fax or e-mail a copy of the affidavit form to the champion. Please then have the champion send the signed form directly to ASQ by mail, fax or e-mail.

ANS: All examinations consist of multiple-choice questions that are carefully designed, reviewed for correctness, and computer-scored. The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence exam also contains two constructed-response (essay) questions. The Master Black Belt certification exam has two assessment components and a performance-based assessment that includes situation-specific materials that candidates will be directed to evaluate and respond to.

The exams take three to five hours, depending on the certification. If you complete your exam early, quietly take your exam booklet, answer sheet and any scratch paper you have to the proctor. You may then leave the exam room.

All exams are given in English. Additionally, ASQ offers translated exams in some countries.

ANS: With the exception of the constructed-response portion of the Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence exam, exams are open-book. Personally generated materials and notes from training or refresher courses are allowed, under the following conditions.

• Each examinee must make his/her reference materials available to the proctor for review.
• The proctor is the final authority on the admissibility of all reference materials.
• Absolutely no collections of questions and answers or weekly refresher-course quizzes are permitted. Reference sources that contain such copy are not allowed unless the questions are removed or obscured.
• Examinees are responsible for abiding by applicable copyright laws.

ANS: ASQ certification exams use a "cut-score" process. You need a score of 550 points out of a possible 750 to be certified. For more information on cut-scores, please see the exam-grading process.

ANS: Yes,

For making payment our bank details are given below. Once you transfer the fee, please let us know (asqindia@asq.org or brawat@asq.org) so that we can track the same.

Account Holder Name: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY INDIA PVT LTD

Current Account Number: 31459090888

IFSC/RTGS code (Indian Financial Security code): SBIN0003219

MICR code: 110002117

Branch Address: STATE BANK OF INDIA, M-2 SOUTH EXTENSION PART-2, NEW DELHI-110049

ANS: The fee for SSGB is Rs. 25,000 plus Service Tax.

ANS: The fee for SSBB is Rs. 45,000 plus Service Tax.

ANS: You will be provided a link to the webex session on the day of the training. You can log in and take part in the interactive session. You can also access the recording of the each days training session for up to 5-6 days via webex.

ANS: The classroom and webex fee is the same for SSGB and SSBB courses.

ANS: The duration for SSGB training course is 8 days (4 weekends).

ANS: The duration for SSGB training course is 16 days (8 weekends).

ANS: You will be provided with a SSGB/SSBB handbook and a training material.

ANS: The classroom training is only in Delhi. Outstation participants can join the training through webex.

ANS: Yes, you will receive a ASQ India training certificate upon completion of training.