Order and Need for Professional Certifications

Jessterish

Starting to get Involved
I am new to the QC world, and don't yet have the experience to get any of the certs from our friends at ASQ. It appears from the ASQ website that I could start with CQI, and then on to CQT, ect. However, I wondered as I mature in my position which are usually most valued within organizations? I may also have opportunity to get my CSSGB on the company dime, and wondered how valuable that is considered to be.

I did some looking in the backlog of forum posts, and there seems to be some disagreement as to the value of a good number of the certs.

I think it worth noting that due to the nature of my company's payscale and structure, none of these would necessarily involve an immediate raise or promotion. So I would instead be looking at them mostly with an eye at marketability if/when I decide that I have achieved all I can at my current employer.
 

John Broomfield

Leader
Super Moderator
I am new to the QC world, and don't yet have the experience to get any of the certs from our friends at ASQ. It appears from the ASQ website that I could start with CQI, and then on to CQT, ect. However, I wondered as I mature in my position which are usually most valued within organizations? I may also have opportunity to get my CSSGB on the company dime, and wondered how valuable that is considered to be.

I did some looking in the backlog of forum posts, and there seems to be some disagreement as to the value of a good number of the certs.

I think it worth noting that due to the nature of my company's payscale and structure, none of these would necessarily involve an immediate raise or promotion. So I would instead be looking at them mostly with an eye at marketability if/when I decide that I have achieved all I can at my current employer.

Jess,

Would you mind sharing your career objectives with us?

We can then advise you on the order and need for certifications.

Thanks,

John
 

Jessterish

Starting to get Involved
honestly, I am not sure what my objectives would be. I haven't thought of a progression that I am that interested in. Mostly, I bid on the QC job because I felt stagnated in my current role at the time, and it was a raise.

I guess it's more a question of what certs are most marketable and give the best return on invested time and effort. I have so far enjoyed the work I have, but I don't want to be stagnated again like my last position. Does that make sense?
 

John Broomfield

Leader
Super Moderator
honestly, I am not sure what my objectives would be. I haven't thought of a progression that I am that interested in. Mostly, I bid on the QC job because I felt stagnated in my current role at the time, and it was a raise.

I guess it's more a question of what certs are most marketable and give the best return on invested time and effort. I have so far enjoyed the work I have, but I don't want to be stagnated again like my last position. Does that make sense?

Jess,

The stagnation you feel may be a result of having no objectives for your work life.

So, I’ll leave it others to weigh up the value of those certifications.

Good luck.

John
 

dsanabria

Quite Involved in Discussions
I am new to the QC world, and don't yet have the experience to get any of the certs from our friends at ASQ. It appears from the ASQ website that I could start with CQI, and then on to CQT, ect. However, I wondered as I mature in my position which are usually most valued within organizations? I may also have opportunity to get my CSSGB on the company dime, and wondered how valuable that is considered to be.

I did some looking in the backlog of forum posts, and there seems to be some disagreement as to the value of a good number of the certs.

I think it worth noting that due to the nature of my company's payscale and structure, none of these would necessarily involve an immediate raise or promotion. So I would instead be looking at them mostly with an eye at marketability if/when I decide that I have achieved all I can at my current employer.

Your education and experience are more valuable.

From a financial point of view - become a consultant and or an externa; auditors.

While I am not diminishing the value of ASQ - it is worth noting that only the large company glances at it - with the thought that you could read and pass a test. The small companies - well, they are not impressed. IMHO
 
To be frank, I rarely see companies interested in certifications, in many cases the "quality guy" job is just foisted on someone in the company. That said, there is value in the certifications, at least for yourself. I hold seven at the moment but am working on nine, but I do not see them as overly helpful in obtaining employment.
From what I have taken, I noticed they progress, building on the previous one in roughly this order:
CQPA -quality process analyst
CQIA - quality improvement associate
CSSGB - Green belt
CQT - quality tech
CQI - inspector
CCT - Calibration tech
CQM/OE - manager
CQA - auditor
CQE - quality engineer
 

Brizilla

Quite Involved in Discussions
I agree with the consensus that most ASQ Certificates have little employability value but they do confirm a certain floor of base knowledge. I guess what we need to know is what type of Quality do you do? (Mfg, IT, Service) What does your company produce? What is your current Quality role? From that info we can help you.
 

Johnnymo62

Haste Makes Waste
ASQ does an annual salary survey that looks at certifications, degrees, location, age, etc.

Tools and Resources : Salary Survey - Quality Progress

I think you have to be a member or buy the Quality Progress magazine to see the survey results.

Also, I think I remember a chart that showed path of career progression for being either a technical expert (QE) or going into management (QM).

I'll see if I can find it.
 

Jessterish

Starting to get Involved
sorry to leave a gap in replies here. I work a 2/2/3 shift and the last couple of days I had off. I had a lot to do at home, so I didn't log in here to look at anything.

To answer the couple of questions that have been posed to me:
I work in Mfg, at a dry van trailer company. The division I work for produces composite panels. And from that you could probably find what company I work for, as it's not much of a field.

Right now my role is mostly auditing paperwork, and investigating non-conformance, though I do some testing. Officially, I primarily "record, observe, and advise."

John, having given more thought to my "stagnation" I think a great deal of it was that I had learned almost all there was to know in the role that I had. Aside from new and interesting ways that machines could break down there wasn't anything that surprised me anymore.

I want to thank all that have taken time to reply, it seems the consensus is that while the certs have value, they are mostly of value to myself, and play a minimal (though perhaps measurable) role in employability.
 
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