CSSBB

Computer-delivered exams have 165 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 15 are unscored. Exam time is 4 hours and 18 minutes within a four-and-a-half-hour appointment. Paper-and-pencil sittings have 150 questions with four hours of exam time.

All exams are open book, and you bring your own references. Materials must be bound - stitched or glued, or held in ring binders, spiral binders, plastic snap binders, brads or screw posts. Hand-stapled and unbound notes are prohibited. Post-Its may be used only as book tabs and must be attached before you enter.

A basic scientific calculator appears on-screen in computer-based exams, and a hand-held basic calculator can be requested at the test centre. Any silent, hand-held, battery-operated calculator without programmable memory is allowed. Programmable and graphing models such as the TI-89 are not permitted.

You need three years of full-time, paid experience in one or more areas of the CSSBB Body of Knowledge, plus one completed project with a signed affidavit - or two completed projects with signed affidavits. Experience and projects are reviewed when your application is assessed.

Computer-based candidates see a result immediately after submitting, with a confirming email within 3-5 business days. Paper-based results are slightly delayed. Exams built on an updated or new Body of Knowledge are reported within five weeks.

You receive a performance summary by email within 3-5 business days. For two years from your previous attempt you can reapply at a significantly reduced retake rate, so a failed attempt does not mean starting over at full cost.

Online applications are reviewed in 1-2 business days; hardcopy applications take 3-5. Once approved, computer-based candidates get an eligibility email 1-2 business days later with instructions for scheduling through Prometric. Paper-based candidates receive a seating letter about two weeks before the exam date.

Breadth rather than trick questions. The Body of Knowledge runs from organization-wide planning and deployment through team management and the full DMAIC cycle, so statistics (measurement systems, hypothesis tests, regression, design of experiments) sit alongside leadership and process-management content you cannot skip.

Use the Body of Knowledge as your syllabus and work through it in DMAIC order, then loop back to the organization-wide and team topics you skimmed. Layer in timed practice sets so you build speed, and prepare your bound reference tabs early instead of in the final week.

Changes must be made at least five days before your appointment and carry a $130 fee; failing to appear forfeits all application fees. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early for check-in, since late arrivals are not permitted to test and forfeit the exam fee.