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More than 20 years after Linus Torvalds developed Linux, the operating system remains a force in the
computing industry. While Linux is not widely used on desktops (making up just over 2.4% of the overall
desktop operating system market share in January 2019, according to NetMarketShare), it is extraordinarily
strong on the web server side, where it enjoys a market share of almost 54%.
IT professionals invest considerable time learning about server computing for everything from installation,
con guration, maintenance and virtualization to application support and security. This also means that many
IT professionals are working with and around Linux operating systems daily, often alongside Windows and
various UNIX OS brands as well.
The best of the Linux certi cations vie for considerable mindshare among IT professionals and present an
interesting mix of distribution- or brand-agnostic credentials alongside some pretty formidable vendor-speci c
credentials. There are multiple well-elaborated certi cation ladders available to those interested in learning,
using, and mastering the Linux operating system environment and all the many bells and whistles it supports.
The results of a job search we conducted on several popular job posting sites show which Linux certi cations
employers are looking for when hiring new employees. While results vary from day to day (and job board to
job board), this table re ects those Linux-related certi cations that employers were seeking in the U.S.
We found that for nearly every certi cation category listed above, the number of national jobs postings
mentioning that certi cation has increased, in some cases substantially, since we surveyed the same job sites a
year ago. Linux system administrators and engineers can expect average earnings in the low $70s and upward,
depending on the job role. PayScale lists $70,194 as the average salary for Linux system administrators
($52,000/low and $101,000/high). Glassdoor reports earnings for Linux system administrators averaging
$68,884, Linux system engineers at $99,348 and senior Linux system engineers at $122,071.
The Global Information Assurance Certi cation (GIAC) program is part of SANS, a highly regarded source of
instruction and research in the information security eld. SANS also provides breaking news, operates a
security alert service and serves on all kinds of government, research and academic information security task
forces, working groups and industry organizations.
The SANS GIAC program encompasses 37 information security certi cations across several categories, such as
cyber defense, penetration testing, incident response and forensics, management, audit, legal, developer and
industrial control systems. The GIAC Certi ed UNIX Security Administrator (GCUX) falls under its Cyber Defense
category, and aims at professionals who install, con gure, monitor, secure and audit both Unix and Linux
systems.
GIAC certi cations must be renewed every four years by earning 36 continuing professional experience (CPE)
credits. Also, credential holders must pay a certi cation maintenance fee of $429 every four years.
Certi cation
GIAC Certi ed Unix Security Administrator (GCUX)
Name
Prerequisites
None; SEC506: Securing Linux/Unix training recommended (classroom, on demand, self-study or private;
& Required
$6,610)
Courses
Number of
One exam (75 questions, two hours, minimum passing score 68%)
Exams
$1,899 without training (called a GIAC certi cation attempt; includes two free practice exams) $769 as part
Cost per
of a training course $769 retake fee $429 certi cation renewal
Exam
Exams administered by Pearson VUE.
URL https://www.giac.org/certi cation/certi ed-unix-security-administrator-gcux
Practice tests available on the GIAC exam preparation page (two tests included in exam fee; additional
Self-Study
practice tests are $159 each). No GCUX-speci c study guides found; GIAC recommends searching for self-
Materials
study materials based on the GCUX objectives' knowledge areas and getting practical experience.
CompTIA exercises extraordinary certi cation clout at the entry level in many IT niches. This nonpro t has
shown itself as willing to team up with more focused IT organizations, associations and consortia to combine
their own market reach and visibility with niche smarts and subject matter expertise on loan from various
partners.
One great example is the organization's partnership with the Linux Professional Institute (LPI), which resulted
in the CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI credential. This unique certi cation replaced the original CompTIA
Linux+ certi cation in 2010 and uses the same two exams required for LPIC-1 certi cation.
As a result of this partnership, IT professionals who are serious about Linux can earn both the Linux+
credential and the LPIC-1 at the same time. Candidates must rst earn the Linux+ credential and then submit a
request to CompTIA asking that their results be sent to LPI to obtain the LPIC-1 certi cation. CompTIA exam
records are con dential, so candidates must request that their records be forwarded to LPI when taking the
CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI exams.
Earning the CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI requires candidates to pass two exams. The rst covers system
architecture, installation and package management, GNU and Unix commands, devices, le systems and
standard le system hierarchies. The second exam digs into command shells, scripting and data management,
user interfaces and desktops, administrative tasks and activities, basic system services, networking
fundamentals and security topics. The CompTIA Linux+ Beta Exam (XK1-004) closed as of October 22, 2018,
though candidates who took the exam prior to the end date can still access those scores and apply a passing
grade to their Linux+ certi cation. The replacement Linux+ 104 exam based on this beta exam will become
publicly available in April of 2019.
Certi cation
CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI
Name
Prerequisites None required
& Required
Courses Recommended: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and 12 months of Linux administration experience
Two exams: LX0-103 and LX0-104 (60 multiple-choice questions each, 90 minutes, 500 required out of 200
Number of
to 800 scale to pass). Note that the LX0-104 Beta Exam is no longer offered as of October 22, 2018; the
Exams
replacement 104 exam becomes publicly available in April of 2019.
Cost per
$200 per exam; prices vary by geography
Exam
URL https://certi cation.comptia.org/certi cations/linux
CompTIA maintains a list of training materials and additional study options, including links to study guides,
Self-Study
exam crams, practice tests, online and classroom training, CertMaster, and more. Additional third-party
Materials
reference and review materials can be found on Amazon.
The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) started up in October of 1999, almost one decade after Linus Torvalds
began his pioneering efforts on the Linux kernel. Since then, LPI has become one of the leading certi cation
providers on Linux topics and technologies. Given the organization's distribution-agnostic approach to Linux, it
offers excellent coverage of a platform that's available in many forms and avors in today's marketplace.
The LPI Certi cation (LPIC) program is available in three distinct levels:
LPIC-1: Linux Administrator: A junior-level Linux certi cation with no prerequisites. Candidates must pass two exams that cover basic
Linux skills, including installing and con guring Linux on a workstation, working at the command line, performing basic maintenance
tasks, and making LAN or internet connections. While you can obtain the LPIC-1 credential directly from LPI, candidates should consider
obtaining the CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI credential rst, which quali es you for both the Linux+ and LPIC-1 credentials.
LPIC-2: Linux Engineer: An advanced-level Linux certi cation that requires an active LPIC-1 certi cation. Candidates must pass two
exams that cover signi cant Linux skills and topics. The rst exam covers the kernel, system startup, le system and devices, advanced
storage administration, network con guration, system maintenance and capacity planning. The second exam covers web services, le
sharing, network client management, email services, system security and troubleshooting, and domain name servers.
LPIC-3: Linux Enterprise Professional Certi cation: A senior-level Linux certi cation that requires an active LPIC-2 and passing any
single exam in the 300 series. Valid exam IDs currently include 300: Mixed Environment, 303: Security, and 304: Virtualization and High
Availability. The Mixed Environment exam covers Samba (domain integration, user and group management, name services, share
con guration and so forth), plus OpenLDAP, and working with Linux and Windows clients. The Security exam covers network, operations
and application security, as well as cryptography and access controls. High availability cluster storage and management, along with
virtualization, are covered in the Virtualization and High Availability exam.
In addition to the LPIC-1, 2 and 3 credentials, LPI also offers an entry-level credential, the Linux
Essentials Professional Development Certi cate (PDC). Linux Essentials focuses on foundational skills, such as
creating and running simple scripts, restoring compressed backups and archives, working with the command
line, Linux operating system basics, FOSS, and users/groups and le permissions for public and private
directories. Linux Essentials is a great way to get started while gaining the skills and knowledge needed for
the more challenging LPIC credentials.
LPI's newest certi cation is the LPIC-OT DevOps Tools Engineer, which recognizes the effective use of tools for
collaboration during system and software development. There are no prerequisites, and the single exam lasts
for 90 minutes and has 60 questions.
LPIC credentials are worthwhile for IT pros whose chosen Linux distributions do not warrant their own
certi cation programs, and for those seeking broad, vendor- and distribution-neutral coverage of Linux topics,
tools and technologies. They are popular among IT pros and in demand among IT employers.
The Complete Linux LPIC-1 Certi cation Course Exams 101-102 On Udemy ►
Certi cation
LPIC-2: Linux Engineer
Name
Oracle Linux OCA & OCP
When Oracle bought Sun Microsystems in 2010, it acquired a rich and deep UNIX tradition. Oracle started
phasing out Solaris almost immediately after nalizing the Sun acquisition.
Today, Oracle offers associate- and professional-level certi cations based on Linux rather than harking back to
any kind of UNIX roots. These certi cations retain enough of their Sun roots, however, so that courses are not
mandatory prerequisites to taking the exams for the two Oracle Linux certi cations currently available.
As with other vendor-speci c Linux certi cations, Oracle's are most appealing to those who work with or
around that distribution, or who wish to work for employers who use those distributions.
Certi cation Oracle Certi ed Associate (OCA), Oracle Linux 5 and 6 System Administrator
Name Oracle Certi ed Professional (OCP), Oracle Linux 6 System Administrator
Prerequisites OCA: No prerequisites. Recommended training: Oracle Linux System Administration OCP: OCA Linux 5 and
& Required 6 System Administrator or Linux Administrator Certi ed Associate (now retired). Recommended
Courses training: Oracle Linux System Administration
OCA: One exam, 1Z0-100 Oracle Linux 5 and 6 System Administration (150 minutes, 80 questions, 61% to
Number of
pass) OCP: One exam, 1Z0-105 Oracle Linux 6 Advanced System Administrator (150 minutes, 97 questions,
Exams
61% to pass)
Cost per OCA: $245
Exam OCP: $245
URL https://education.oracle.com/oracle-linux/oracle-linux-administration/product_295?certPage=true
Oracle offers online and in-class training for its credentials, with hit-or-miss coverage for them on the
Self-Study
aftermarket. Start with Amazon searches — check exam IDs 1Z0-100 and 1Z0-105 to get a sense for what's
Materials
available.
Note: Though there is now an OCA and OCP exam available for Oracle Linux 7 System Administrator, Oracle
has yet to announce this new certi cation or release the details of new Linux 7-based certi cation tests for
OCA and OCP candidates.
The Oracle Linux 6 Certi ed Implementation Specialist Certi cation is a certi cation available for those who
sell, design, con gure and implement Oracle Linux 6 solutions. Though any candidate can complete this
certi cation, it is most typically achieved by Oracle partner implementation personnel with strong
foundational experience in Linux and previous eld experience implementing Linux 6.
If there's one major star in the vendor-speci c Linux certi cation rmament, it's got to be Red Hat. The
company has major market presence and serious duration as a commercial provider of Linux platforms and
technologies.
Red Hat offers a typical administrator, engineer, architect certi cation ladder. Unlike many other such
programs, however, it offers highly regarded and valued credentials at each rung, along with demanding and
hands-on oriented exams and an excellent training curriculum to match. All exams for the following Red Hat
certi cations are performance based and last two hours or longer.
The giveaway for Red Hat certi cations is that all come with acronyms that start with RH, as follows:
Red Hat Certi ed System Administrator (RHCSA): This foundation certi cation vets essential skills in handling les, working at the
command line and using system documentation, along with managing systems (boot up, identifying processes, start/stop virtual machines,
controlling services), con guring storage partitions and logical volumes, and more.
Red Hat Certi ed Engineer (RHCE): This cornerstone certi cation is designed to test and validate the skills and knowledge necessary to
work as a senior-level Linux system administrator. Topics covered include advanced IP routing and services, managing runtime kernel
behavior, working with iSCSI, automating maintenance tasks with shell scripts and working with networking services for Web, FTP, NFS,
SMB, SMTP, SSH and more. An RHSCA is a prerequisite for the RHCE.
Red Hat Certi ed Architect (RHCA): Red Hat's pinnacle certi cation offers two paths to certi cation, depending on which prerequisite
advanced Red Hat certi cation credentials you have already completed: Red Hat Certi ed Enterprise Microservices Developers (RHCEMDs)
and Red Hat Certi ed JBoss Developers (RHCJDs) can earn an RHCA in Enterprise Applications, and Red Hat Certi ed Engineers (RHCEs) can
earn an RHCA in Infrastructure. In general, the ve additional exams that must be passed to achieve the RCHA in either Infrastructure or in
Enterprise Applications are speci c to each area of specialization, though a few of the tests can be used to satisfy the ve exam
requirement in both RHCA tracks. A number of previously available certi cation exams have been discontinued for new RHCA candidates
and renewals, though those exams can still be applied to the RHCA certi cation if you've already passed them. Find out more about
discontinued exams that can be counted towards the RHCA credential on the RHCA page under the Candidate Guidance tab.
Because Red Hat Linux is widely used in the business world, the RHCA certi cation is an excellent choice for
those interested in a more platform-focused path into the Linux world. Of course, for those who already work
with or around Red Hat, it is a natural certi cation choice as well.
Outside the top ve Linux credentials and programs covered in this article, other Linux certi cations may be
worthy of your time and attention.
The Linux Foundation, a membership-based organization, promotes the development of the Linux kernel
through collaboration, conferences and education. The organization's small but respected certi cation program
includes the Linux Foundation Certi ed System Administrator (LFCS) and the Linux Foundation Certi ed
Engineer (LFCE).
IBM continues to offer a handful of Linux-related certi cations. One certi cation of interest is the Certi ed
Database Administrator, which continues to be in demand for those running DB2 on Linux, Unix and Windows
systems.
Many industry experts, including Steven J. Vaughn-Nichols, a long-time user and expert on Linux and Unix
operating systems, say that certi cations can be an important ingredient in a job candidate's quali cations. But
interviewers should also pay close attention to how many Linux systems candidates have set up, managed or
used to get a sense of the scale and scope of their experience.
In other words, when you see a web hosting service advertising for Linux jobs, they're not looking for people
who've installed and used Linux at home or in a small business setting; they're looking for professionals
who've set up and managed Linux in a highly distributed and virtualized data center environment, with lots of
complex networking and services coming into the mix.
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