CQI vs CQE vs CSSGB: which ASQ exam fits your job
ASQ runs the Certified Quality Inspector (CQI), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) exams. They share one set of rules for books, calculators and delivery, but they test different jobs. This guide puts them side by side so you can pick the one that matches the work you do.
Side by side
| CQI | CQE | CSSGB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 110 (100 scored) | 175 (160 scored) | 110 (100 scored) |
| Exam clock | 4 hours 18 minutes | 5 hours 18 minutes | 4 hours 18 minutes |
| BoK sections | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Largest section | Inspection and Test (32) | Quantitative Methods and Tools (34) | Define Phase and Measure Phase (20 each) |
Each exam mixes its unscored pretest questions in at random, so treat every question as if it counts.
Which one matches your work
- CQI is for inspectors who measure, test and judge product against a drawing or specification. Its sections are technical mathematics, metrology, inspection and test, and quality assurance and improvement. If your day is gauges, sampling plans and nonconforming material, start here. See the CQI exam outline.
- CQE is for engineers who design, control and improve quality systems. It is the longest of the three, and its heaviest section is statistics, SPC, capability and designed experiments. See the CQE exam outline.
- CSSGB is for people who run or support improvement projects with the DMAIC method. Five of its six sections are the DMAIC phases. See the CSSGB exam outline.
The three overlap in places. Sampling, SPC and measurement systems show up in all of them, at different depths.
Try one question
Question 1 of the free 10-question check on ASQ CQI. No signup. Then ask Mic, the AI study assistant, why the answer is right and the others are wrong.
Inspection and Test
Which hardness test suits a soft rubber seal?
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What all three share
- Open book: your own references, bound and staying bound. No electronic copies. Post-it notes count only as tabs attached before you arrive.
- Calculator: a basic scientific calculator is on screen in every computer-based exam.
- Delivery: computer-based through Prometric, at a test center or by live remote proctoring.
- Passing: ASQ reports a scaled score, with 550 needed to pass. It publishes no pass rate for these exams, so we quote none.
ASQ sets the eligibility rules for each exam and can change them, so read its certification page for your exam before you apply.
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Each exam has a free 10-question check weighted to its BoK, with no signup: CQI, CQE or CSSGB. Your score comes back by section, so you can see how far you are from ready.
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Sources
Show the list
- Certified Quality Inspector, ASQ, read 7 November 2026.
- Certified Quality Engineer, ASQ, read 9 November 2026.
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, ASQ, read 9 November 2026.
- ASQ certification candidate handbook, ASQ, read 9 November 2026.
Facts come from the sources listed above. If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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