FIRST-IN-INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION

Operational Excellence in Animal Healthcare (OpExAHC) Program

The OpExAHC Belt Certification program is the first lean training created by and for animal healthcare professionals. Each module uses real-world animal healthcare examples to teach proven improvement techniques that reduce waste, enhance animal welfare, and improve operational efficiency.
Whether you're new to operational excellence or ready to lead strategic improvements, our progressive certification path meets you where you are.

3

CERTIFICATION
​LEVELS

100%

ANIMAL HEALTHCARE
​FOCUSED

8

TYPES OF WASTE
ADDRESSED

GETTING STARTED

Choose Your Certification Path

Progress from foundational awareness to advanced leadership capabilities through our three-tier certification system.

WHITE

White Belt Certification

Beginner Level

The White Belt is the foundation of your lean journey in animal healthcare operations.

What You'll Learn:

• Introduction to the 8 wastes in animal healthcare settings
• Basic lean terminology and concepts
• How to identify waste in daily operations
• Customer and stakeholder perspectives in vivarium operations
• Value stream awareness and process thinking

Who Should Enroll:

Animal care staff, technicians, and anyone new to operational excellence who wants to contribute to process improvements and understand lean fundamentals.

Certification Requirement:

Pass a proficiency exam demonstrating understanding of lean fundamentals and waste identification in animal healthcare operations.

□ Duration: 4-6 hours

□ Member: $90 | Non-Member: $100

YELLOW

Yellow Belt Certification

Intermediate Level

Build on your foundation with hands-on lean tools and practical application in animal healthcare.

What You'll Learn:

• 5S methodology for vivarium organization and standardization
• Value stream mapping in animal care processes
• Root cause analysis techniques (5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams)
• Standard work development and documentation
• Visual management systems and controls
• Kaizen event planning and participation
• Data collection, analysis, and basic metrics

Prerequisites:

White Belt Certification or equivalent lean fundamentals knowledge.

Who Should Enroll:

Staff ready to lead small improvement projects, team leaders, supervisors, and those who want to actively drive waste reduction initiatives in their animal care facilities.

Certification Requirement:

Pass a proficiency exam demonstrating mastery of lean tools and ability to apply them in animal healthcare improvement projects.

□ Duration: 12-16 hours

□ Member: $270 | Non-Member: $300

GREEN

Green Belt Certification

Advanced Level

Master advanced lean methodologies and lead significant operational improvements in animal healthcare.

What You'll Learn:

• Advanced process mapping and analysis techniques
• DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology
• Statistical process control for animal care operations
• Leading and facilitating cross-functional improvement teams
• Change management strategies in vivarium settings
• Cost-benefit analysis and ROI calculations for projects
• Sustainability planning and continuous improvement systems
• Coaching and mentoring White and Yellow Belt holders

Prerequisites:

Yellow Belt Certification and demonstrated experience leading or participating in improvement projects.

Who Should Enroll:

Supervisors, managers, quality professionals, and operational excellence champions ready to drive strategic improvements, lead organizational change, and mentor others in lean methodologies.

Certification Requirement:

Pass a comprehensive proficiency exam demonstrating mastery of advanced lean concepts and their application in animal healthcare settings.

□ Duration: 25-35 hours

□ Member: $720 | Non-Member: $800

Enroll as a Member

Enroll as a Non-Member

Save with Certifcation Bundles

Commit to your professional development and save up to 30% with our multi-belt packages.

Duo Belt Bundle

Save 20%

White + Yellow Belt

$320

Purchase Now

Trio Belt Bundle

Save 30%

White + Yellow + Green Belt

$850

 Purchase Now

Not a  Member Yet? No Problem 

Click the button below to register your institution and join our team ​of animal institutions committed to quality animal care driven by operational excellence. You will receive many benefits in addition to discounts on belt certification. 

Become a Member

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An institution's primary account holder is solely able to add secondary members when they register for an institutional membership. If any additional secondary members need to be added to an institutions account the primary account holder can add individuals here!

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​Contact us at: [email protected]