Kanban Foundation Certification (KBFC™)
The Kanban Foundation Professional Certification (KBFC™) is an entry-level credential from CertiProf that validates your understanding of the Kanban Method: visualizing work on a board, limiting work in progress, managing flow, measuring lead time, cycle time and throughput, and improving continuously. The exam is free and online, with 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, and you pass with 12 correct answers (60%). Getting the official certificate and digital badge afterward is optional.
Kanban Foundation (KBFC™)
Free exam · 20 questions · 30 minutes
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No sign-up fee. Study material included.
Download the free study guideView the KBFC™ product pageAbout the Kanban Foundation certification
Kanban is both a method and a tool. As a method, it is a way to manage work and change gradually, starting from what you do now and respecting current processes. As a tool, it is the physical or digital board where cards move through columns, so everyone can see what is pending, what is in progress and what is done. Its roots go back to Toyota in the 1950s, where Taiichi Ohno created a card-based system to signal what to produce, when and how much.
The KBFC™ is designed as a first step. It does not require prior experience or a paid course. You study the official material at your own pace, take the exam online when you feel ready, and only pay if you decide to make your result official.
- Visual work management
- Kanban boards
- WIP limits
- Flow management
- Bottleneck analysis
- Lead time and cycle time
- Continuous improvement
How to get the KBFC™ certification
Two free steps. No sign-up fee and no credit card needed.
Download the free study guide
Study at your own pace in the language you prefer.
- Step 3: pass with 60% or moreAnswer at least 12 of 20 questions correctly.
- Step 4 (optional): make it officialClaim the official certificate and digital badge after you pass. See what is free and what is paid.
Why Kanban skills matter
87%
of respondents report Kanban to be more effective or much more effective than other methods they have used.
Kanban University, State of Kanban Report (2022)86%
of respondents say their organizations intend to expand their Kanban adoption within the next 12 months.
Kanban University, State of Kanban Report (2022)41%
of responses came from people working in organizations that apply Kanban across 10 or more teams or to the whole company.
Kanban University, State of Kanban Report (2022)Figures come from the independent sources linked on each card.
What you'll learn
What Kanban is
The origins of Kanban at Toyota, and why Kanban is both a continuous improvement method and a visual tool.
Kanban principles
Start with what you do now, visualize the work, limit work in progress, manage flow, encourage leadership at all levels and pursue continuous improvement.
The board and the cards
How columns such as To Do, In Progress and Done show the status of work, and how to write effective cards with a clear action, an owner and a deadline.
Limiting work in progress and managing flow
Why WIP limits help you finish more, how to spot bottlenecks, and practical strategies to resolve them.
Kanban metrics
Lead time, cycle time and throughput, and how they turn perceptions into data you can use to plan.
Continuous improvement
How to identify blockers, use feedback and apply small, incremental changes that add up over time.
The official study guide is organized in five short modules, each built around a practical workplace story, with a glossary of key terms and everyday and workplace examples. Its suggested total study time is about four hours.
Who this certification is for
- Students and beginnersA first, recognizable Lean and Agile credential for your résumé.
- Team leaders and project managersVisualize your team's work, reduce bottlenecks and improve productivity.
- DevelopersOrganize tasks more effectively and improve the flow of your daily work.
- Teams implementing Lean practicesBuild a shared foundation in the Kanban Method before going further.
KBFC™ exam format
| Format | Multiple choice |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 20 |
| Time limit | 30 minutes |
| Passing score | 12 out of 20 (60%) |
| Delivery | Online, at the candidate's discretion |
| Languages | Spanish, English and Portuguese |
| Exam cost | Free |
| Certificate and digital badge | Optional, only after you pass (see below) |
KBFC™ vs. TKP® vs. KMP®
All three focus on the Kanban Method, but they serve different professional levels.
| KBFC™ (CertiProf) | TKP® (Kanban University) | KMP® (Kanban University) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Entry-level microcredential | Practitioner level | Management level |
| Best for | Beginners who want a solid theoretical foundation | Team-level implementation of Kanban | Designing and scaling Kanban systems across organizations |
| Course required | No | Yes, certified training | Yes, certified training |
Ready to go further? CertiProf's Kanban Essentials Professional Certification (KEPC™) is the natural next step toward technical implementation and workflow optimization.
Learn more about Kanban Foundation
What is free and what is paid
Taking the KBFC™ exam costs nothing. You only pay if you pass and decide you want official proof of your result.
Always free
$0
- Official study guide in Spanish, English and Portuguese
- Online exam: 20 questions, 30 minutes
- Take it online, whenever you are ready
- No credit card needed to start
Optional, after you pass
$50 USD, one-time payment
- Official KBFC™ certificate in PDF
- Verifiable digital badge issued through BadgeClaimed
- Share it on LinkedIn, your résumé and your email signature
- Employers can verify it online
Want several certifications? See all certification options, including the bundle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kanban Foundation Professional Certification (KBFC™)?
The Kanban Foundation Professional Certification (KBFC™) is an entry-level credential from CertiProf that validates your understanding of the Kanban Method: visualizing work on a board, limiting work in progress, managing flow, measuring lead time, cycle time and throughput, and improving continuously. The exam is free and online, with 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, and you pass with 12 correct answers (60%). Getting the official certificate and digital badge afterward is optional.
Who is the KBFC™ for?
It is intended for beginners, students, team leaders, project managers and developers who want to visualize their work, organize tasks more effectively and improve the flow of their daily activities. It is particularly useful for teams implementing Lean practices.
Is the KBFC™ exam free?
Yes. The KBFC™ exam and the official study material are free. You only pay US$50 if you pass and decide to claim the official certificate and digital badge.
How many questions are on the KBFC™ exam, and what score do I need to pass?
The exam has 20 multiple-choice questions with a 30-minute time limit. You need 12 correct answers (60%) to pass.
In which languages can I take the KBFC™ exam?
You can take the exam online in Spanish, English or Portuguese. The study material is available in the same three languages.
What do I receive when I get certified?
An official KBFC™ certificate in PDF and a verifiable digital badge, issued through BadgeClaimed, that you can share on LinkedIn, your résumé or your email signature.
What does the KBFC™ exam cover?
The exam covers the core concepts of the Kanban Method, such as Kanban boards and cards, the Kanban principles, WIP limits, flow and bottlenecks, the metrics lead time, cycle time and throughput, and continuous improvement.
What is the difference between lead time and cycle time?
Lead time is the total time from the moment a task is requested to the moment it is delivered, so it reflects the customer's experience. Cycle time only measures the time from when work on the task begins until it is completed.
Start the KBFC™ exam today. It's free.
Study with the free guide and take the exam online whenever you are ready.
