Red Hat Certification Program

Red Hat Certification Program

The Red Hat Certification Program is Red Hat's professional certification program for Red Hat and general Linux related skills such as system administration on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

All certifications are given after passing exams. The program distinguishes itself in that the exams are performance-based, meaning that students must perform tasks on a live system, rather than answering multiple choice questions.

The program was launched in January 1999. As of 2010, there are nearly 75,000 Red Hat certified professionals spanning 162 countries. GoCertify considers it "the most prominent Linux certification programs"^]

Certifications

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

RHCSA is an entry-level certification that focuses on actual competencies at system administration, including installation and configuration of a Red Hat Linux system and attaching it to a live network running network services.

To achieve the RHCSA certification the student must pass EX200, a two-hour hands-on lab exam. There is no prerequisite for the exam, but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exam by taking courses in Red Hat System Administration (RH124 or RH135) if one does not have previous experience.

RHCT was launched in 2002 as Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT).^] As of July 2009 there were 30,000 RHCTs. In November 2010 it was renamed to RHCSA.

Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

Self-titled "the flagship" certification, RHCE is a mid to advanced-level certification that builds on topics covered in the RHCSA certification to include more advanced topics such as security and installing common enterprise networking (IP) services. To achieve the RHCE certification, the student must pass the RHCSA exam, EX200, and in addition EX300, a two hour hands-on lab exam. Red Hat recommends preparing for the exam by taking courses in Linux essentials (RH033), Linux administration (RH131 or RH133), and Linux networking and security (RH253) if one does not have previous experience. Previous real-world experience is also advised. RHCE was the first Red Hat certificate launched, in 1999. As of July 2009 there were 40,000 RHCEs. It was named the Hottest Certification for 2006 by CertCities.com.

Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS)

RHCSS is an advanced-level certification that builds on the security skills covered by the RHCE certification, and enhances it with deeper capabilities in network services security, directory services, authentication, and Security-Enhanced Linux policy management. To achieve the RHCSS certification, the student must pass three exams, EX333, a six hour exam on Network Services, EX423, a 4 hour exam on Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication and EX429, a three and a half hour exam on Security-Enhanced Linux.^[14] RHCE is prerequisite for taking any of the exams. Other than RHCE there is no prerequisite for the exams, but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exams by taking the three respective four day courses, RHS333, RH423 and RHS429. RHCSS was launched in October 2005.

Red Hat Certified Datacenter Specialist (RHCDS)

RHCDS is an advanced-level certification that builds on system administration skills covered by the RHCE certification, and enhances it with the capabilities required to build solutions in mission-critical datacenter environments using Red Hat technologies. To achieve the RHCDS certification, the student must pass three exams, EX401, a four hour exam on Enterprise Deployment, EX436, a 4 hour exam on Clustering and Storage and either EX423 described above or EX318, a three hour exam on Virtualization RHCE is prerequisite for the certificate. Other than RHCE there is no prerequisite for the exams (EX318 does not require RHCE), but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exams by taking the three respective four day courses, RH401, RH436 and either RH423 or RH318.

RHCDS was launched in October 2007.

]Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Self-titled "the capstone certificate", RHCA is the most complete certificate in the program, adding an enterprise-level focus. To achieve the RHCA certification, the student must pass five exams, EX333, EX401, EX423 or EX318, EX436 and EX422, all described above. RHCE is prerequisite for the certificate. Other than RHCE there is no prerequisite for the exams (EX318 does not require RHCE), but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exams by taking the respective courses. RHCA was Launched in 2005.

Red Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator (RHCVA)

RHCVA is a certification that focuses on Virtualization administration. To achieve the RHCVA certification the student must pass EX318 described above. There is no prerequisite for the exam, but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exam by taking the respective course RH318.The exam also requires knowledge in using and installing Microsoft Windows operating systems. RHCVA was Launched in November 2009.

JBoss Certified Application Administrator (JBCAA)

JBCAA is a certification that focuses on managing the JBoss Enterprise Application Platform. To achieve the JBCAA certification the student must pass EX336, a four hour hands-on lab exam.^] There is no prerequisite for the exam, but Red Hat recommends preparing for the exam by taking course JB336, a four day course in JBoss application administration. JCBAA was Launched in September 2009.