Certification guide · For employees and employers in Malaysia
Free Six Sigma Green Belt certification in Malaysia: what is free, what is funded
Which parts of a Lean Six Sigma certification can genuinely cost you nothing, how HRD Corp funding lets employers pay for accredited training, and what happened to the free Program Latihan MADANI Green Belt course.
A fully free, accredited Six Sigma Green Belt certification is rare. Study material is often free, but accredited exams carry a fee, and a certificate of completion from a free online course is not a belt certification. In Malaysia the practical way to get certified at no cost to yourself is employer-funded training: companies registered with HRD Corp can use their training levy for claimable courses. Government programmes occasionally fund courses for specific groups; MBizM’s free Green Belt course under HRD Corp’s Program Latihan MADANI ran in 2024 and has ended.
Free vs funded: the options
“Free” usually covers only part of the journey. Training, the exam and the certificate are often priced separately, so check what each offer actually includes.
| Route | Cost to you | What you get | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free study material | Free | Knowledge for self-study; some accrediting bodies publish it (CSSC does) | The certification exam is charged separately |
| Free online introductory course | Free | A certificate of completion | Usually not an accredited belt; often no exam or project |
| Government or HRD Corp programme | Free to eligible participants | A funded course, sometimes with certification | Only for specific groups, and only while a call is open |
| Employer-funded through HRD Corp | Free to the employee | An accredited course chosen with your employer | Your employer must be registered and approve the course |
| Self-funded course | You pay | Your choice of course, format and timing | Compare what the fee includes: exam, retakes, project review |
Is a free certificate accredited?
A Green Belt carries weight with employers when it is issued by, or prepares you for, a recognised certification body, and when it involves a proper exam. Before you spend time on any course, free or paid, ask four questions:
- Who issues the certificate? Look for the name of the certifying body, such as CSSC, PeopleCert IASSC or ILSSI, rather than only the training company’s own certificate.
- Is there an exam, and is it included? Free courses often leave the exam out; paid courses should say whether the exam fee is in the price.
- Is a project required or reviewed? Some Green Belt routes ask you to complete an improvement project, which is what employers value most.
- Can the certificate be verified? A credential that an employer can check online is worth more than a PDF.
Our guide to getting Lean Six Sigma certified in Malaysia explains the certification bodies and routes in more detail.
Employer funding through HRD Corp
For most employees in Malaysia, the realistic way to get certified at no personal cost is to ask your employer to fund it through HRD Corp (Human Resource Development Corporation).
- Who pays the levy: employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees must register with HRD Corp and pay a levy of 1% of monthly wages. Employers with 5 to 9 Malaysian employees can choose to register, at 0.5%. The company’s activities must be covered by the PSMB Act 2001.
- How the levy funds training: registered employers can claim the allowable costs of approved training against their levy, under HRD Corp’s rules on claimable costs and training types.
- What to do: ask your HR team whether the company is registered and has levy balance, then propose an HRD Corp claimable course with the dates and the business problem you want to work on.
Several of our Lean Six Sigma courses are HRD Corp claimable, including Green Belt options. For a group from one company, in-house training is often the better use of levy.
The 2024 Program Latihan MADANI Green Belt course
Program Latihan MADANI (PLM) was announced by the Prime Minister as part of Budget 2024 and is run by HRD Corp. It funds training for groups that find it harder to access it, including an MSME initiative for employees of micro, small and medium enterprises.
On 15 May 2024, MBizM Sdn. Bhd. announced a free 5-day Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification course for micro-SME employees under PLM’s MSME Development Initiative. The first class ran in September 2024 at the Acappella Suite Hotel, Shah Alam, in two sessions (3 to 5 September and 10 to 11 September), with 25 MSME employees from different industries.
This free course has ended and is not open for registration. HRD Corp opens PLM calls for specific initiatives from time to time; check the HRD Corp PLM page for current initiatives and eligibility. If your company is an MSME, ask us whether a funded option is available for your team.
Which belt to start with
- Yellow Belt suits team members who will take part in improvement projects and want the basics. It is shorter and a sensible first step if you are unsure. See Yellow Belt courses.
- Green Belt suits team leads, engineers and analysts who will lead projects in their own area using DMAIC. It is the belt most employers ask for. See Green Belt courses.
If you can only study on your own for now, free material is a good way to learn the tools. When you are ready to certify, use an accredited exam and, if possible, apply what you learn on a real project at work.
FAQ
Can I get a Six Sigma Green Belt certification for free?
Fully free accredited certification is rare. Study material is often free, but accredited exams carry a fee. In Malaysia the usual way to get certified at no personal cost is for your employer to fund an HRD Corp claimable course from its levy.
Is the free Program Latihan MADANI Green Belt course still open?
No. MBizM’s free 5-day Green Belt course for micro-SME employees under Program Latihan MADANI ran in September 2024 and has ended. Check the HRD Corp PLM page for current initiatives.
Is Lean Six Sigma training HRD Corp claimable?
Many Lean Six Sigma courses are. Employers registered with HRD Corp can claim the allowable costs of approved training against their levy. Check that the course is listed as HRD Corp claimable before you book.
Is a free online Six Sigma certificate accredited?
Usually not. A free online course normally gives a certificate of completion. An accredited belt is issued by, or prepared for, a recognised certification body and involves an exam.
Who has to pay the HRD Corp levy?
Employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees must register and pay 1% of monthly wages. Employers with 5 to 9 Malaysian employees can choose to register at 0.5%. Their activities must be covered by the PSMB Act 2001.
Key takeaway
Free study material and introductory courses are a good start, but an accredited Green Belt involves an exam that is rarely free. In Malaysia, the reliable route to certification at no personal cost is an HRD Corp claimable course funded by your employer’s levy.
Funded Lean Six Sigma training
Use your employer’s HRD Corp levy
Our HRD Corp claimable courses include Green Belt options in classroom and virtual formats. Share the course page with your HR team to start the claim.
Training a group from one company? See in-house training.
Related reading
Sources
- HRD Corp. Registered employers (registration rules and levy rates). Accessed 12 October 2026.
- HRD Corp. Program Latihan MADANI. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- The Council for Six Sigma Certification. Six Sigma certification and free self-study training materials. Accessed 12 October 2026.
- MBizM Sdn. Bhd. (11 September 2024). MBizM concludes first Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course under Program Latihan MADANI.
Start today
Learn Lean Six Sigma at your own pace
Each belt is a self-paced online course with quizzes and a certification exam. 12 months' access, start any day.
Self-paced onlineLean Six Sigma Yellow BeltA first grounding in Lean, Six Sigma and DMAICStart any day · 12 months’ access · Certification exam includedRM2,088 
Self-paced onlinePopularLean Six Sigma Green BeltRun improvement projects with the core DMAIC toolsStart any day · 12 months’ access · Certification exam includedRM3,788 
Self-paced onlineBest sellerLean Six Sigma Black BeltLead larger projects with the full DMAIC toolkitStart any day · 12 months’ access · Certification exam includedRM5,088 Compare the three online courses · Self-paced courses are not HRD Corp claimable. For a claimable option, see live virtual courses.
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