Top 11 Linux Engineer Certifications

Certifications are essential for Linux engineers in the job market, as they demonstrate a mastery of Linux systems and provide employers with a means to differentiate between applicants. Certified professionals have demonstrated their knowledge of Linux systems and their ability to use them effectively, making them more attractive candidates for positions. Certified professionals can also be seen as more reliable and trustworthy than non-certified individuals, since certifications are only awarded to those who have successfully passed rigorous tests or completed other specific requirements. Additionally, certifications can help a Linux Engineer stay up-to-date on the latest technologies, trends, and best practices in the field. This can help them remain competitive in the job market and make them more attractive hires.

This article reviews the top certifications for Linux Engineers and explains how they can help advance a Linux Engineer's career.

What are Linux Engineer Certifications?

Linux engineer certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a professional’s knowledge and expertise in the Linux operating system. This certification can help professionals stand out in the job market, increase their earning potential, and open up new career opportunities. Having a Linux engineer certification proves to employers that an individual has the necessary skills to manage and maintain Linux systems, troubleshoot any issues that may arise, and configure new software or hardware components. It also shows that they have a thorough understanding of how to use the command line interface (CLI) for administrative tasks. With this certification, professionals can gain access to more advanced roles such as system administrator or network engineer. Additionally, it can give them an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs since many employers prefer candidates with these credentials.

Pro Tip: When considering a Linux engineer certification, look for programs that offer hands-on experience with the tools and technologies you will be using in your job. This will help ensure you have the skills and knowledge to be successful on the job.

Related: What does a Linux Engineer do?

Top 11 Linux Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Linux Engineers today.

1. Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Level 1 and 2 Certification

Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Level 1 and 2 Certification is an industry-recognized certification program that validates the skills of system administrators who use Linux operating systems. It is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of Linux fundamentals, including installation, configuration, maintenance, security, networking, and scripting.

The LPI Level 1 and 2 Certification consists of two exams: LPIC-1 (101 and 102) and LPIC-2 (201 and 202). Candidates must pass both exams in order to receive the certification. Each exam consists of multiple choice questions that cover topics such as system administration, networking, scripting, security, hardware support, software development tools, software packaging systems, user management and more.

It typically takes around 6 months to prepare for the LPI Level 1 and 2 Certification exams. Candidates should be familiar with Linux command line basics as well as have experience working with Linux distributions such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu. Additionally, candidates should have a good understanding of basic networking concepts such as IP addressing schemes and routing protocols.

To get certified by the LPI Level 1 and 2 Certification program you will need to register for the exams through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. The cost of each exam varies depending on location but typically ranges from $200-$300 per exam.

In addition to taking the exams you will also need to pay an annual membership fee which is currently $75 USD per year for individuals or $150 USD per year for organizations. This fee covers access to additional resources such as practice tests, study guides and online forums where you can ask questions about your studies or get help from other certified professionals.

2. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) is a certification program offered by Red Hat, Inc. It is designed to test and validate the skills of IT professionals in the areas of system administration and engineering on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

The RHCE certification requires passing an exam which covers topics such as installation, configuration, security, networking, storage, virtualization, and troubleshooting. The exam takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

To become an RHCE certified engineer you must first have a valid Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification or equivalent experience. Once you have met this requirement you can then register for the RHCE exam.

The cost of the RHCE exam varies depending on location but typically ranges between $400-500 USD.

3. CompTIA Linux+ Certification

CompTIA Linux+ is a certification program designed to validate the skills of professionals who work with the Linux operating system. It is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates an individual’s ability to use, configure, and troubleshoot Linux systems.

The CompTIA Linux+ certification exam consists of two parts: LX0-103 and LX0-104. The LX0-103 exam focuses on system administration, while the LX0-104 exam focuses on more advanced topics such as security, networking, and scripting. The exams are administered by Pearson VUE and can be taken at any authorized testing center.

It typically takes about three months to prepare for the CompTIA Linux+ certification exams. This includes studying for the exams using books and online resources, taking practice tests, and attending training courses if available.

To get certified in CompTIA Linux+, you must pass both of the exams mentioned above with a score of at least 750 out of 900 points. You will then receive your certification from CompTIA after successfully completing all requirements.

The cost of the CompTIA Linux+ certification varies depending on where you take the exam and whether or not you purchase additional study materials or attend training courses. Generally speaking, it costs around $300 USD for both exams combined (not including any additional fees).

4. SUSE Certified Linux Administrator (CLA)

SUSE Certified Linux Administrator (CLA) is a certification program offered by SUSE, the leading provider of open source infrastructure solutions. The CLA certification validates an individual's knowledge and skills in administering SUSE Linux Enterprise Server systems.

To become a SUSE Certified Linux Administrator, one must pass two exams: the CLA Core Exam and the CLA Advanced Exam. The Core Exam tests fundamental skills such as system installation and configuration, user administration, networking, file systems, storage management, security and system maintenance. The Advanced Exam focuses on more advanced topics such as high availability clustering and virtualization.

The total time for both exams is approximately 6 hours. It is recommended that individuals have at least six months of experience using SUSE Linux Enterprise Server before attempting the exams.

The cost for each exam varies depending on the country in which you are taking it. Generally speaking, each exam costs around US$200-250.

In order to take the exams, individuals must register with Pearson VUE or Prometric Testing Centers. Once registered, they can select their preferred testing center location and schedule their exams at a convenient time.

5. Oracle Linux Certified Implementation Specialist (OCI)

Oracle Linux Certified Implementation Specialist (OCI) is an Oracle certification that demonstrates a professional’s expertise in installing, configuring, and managing Oracle Linux. It is designed to validate the skills of IT professionals who are responsible for the installation, configuration, and ongoing management of Oracle Linux systems. The OCI certification requires passing two exams: 1Z0-100 Oracle Linux 5 and 6 System Administration and 1Z0-101 Oracle Linux Administrator Certified Associate.

The exams are offered online through Pearson VUE or at an authorized testing center. The cost for each exam is $245 USD. It typically takes about two to three months to prepare for both exams, depending on your experience level with Oracle Linux. After passing both exams, you will receive your official OCI certification from Oracle.

6. Novell Certified Linux Professional (CLP)

Novell Certified Linux Professional (CLP) is a certification program that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot Novell Linux Enterprise Server. The CLP certification is designed to demonstrate proficiency in the installation, configuration, management and troubleshooting of Novell Linux Enterprise Server.

The CLP certification requires candidates to pass two exams: the CLP Foundation Exam and the CLP Advanced Exam. The Foundation exam covers topics such as system administration, networking fundamentals, security fundamentals, and basic system management. The Advanced exam covers topics such as advanced system administration, advanced networking concepts, advanced security concepts, scripting and automation tools for system administrators.

It typically takes about four months to prepare for the CLP certification exams. Candidates should have a good understanding of Linux operating systems before taking the exams. They should also have experience working with Novell Linux Enterprise Server or other versions of Linux. Additionally, they should be familiar with basic network protocols such as TCP/IP and DNS.

To get certified as a Novell Certified Linux Professional (CLP), candidates must register for the exams through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. Each exam costs $150 USD per attempt. Candidates must pass both exams within 12 months in order to achieve their CLP certification status.

7. Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) is a certification program offered by Red Hat, Inc., a leading provider of open source solutions. It is designed to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to be an effective system administrator in a Linux environment. The certification covers topics such as installation and configuration of systems, managing users and groups, managing file systems, configuring network services, and troubleshooting system issues.

The RHCSA certification requires passing one exam that typically takes two hours to complete. To prepare for the exam, it is recommended that candidates have six months or more of experience working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux or another Linux distribution. Candidates can also take advantage of training courses offered by Red Hat or its partners to help them prepare for the exam.

The cost of the RHCSA exam varies depending on where you take it but generally ranges from $400-$500 USD.

8. Ubuntu Certified Professional (UCP)

Ubuntu Certified Professional (UCP) is a certification from Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, that validates an individual’s skills and knowledge in using Ubuntu. It is designed for system administrators, developers, and other IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in working with Ubuntu.

The UCP exam is a two-hour online test that covers topics such as installation and configuration of Ubuntu systems, system administration tasks, user management, package management, networking, security, and more. The exam can be taken from anywhere with an internet connection.

It takes approximately one hour to complete the registration process for the UCP exam. After registering for the exam you will have 90 days to take it. Once you have registered and paid for the exam you will receive an email with instructions on how to access it.

The cost of taking the UCP exam is $200 USD per attempt.

9. Open Source Technology Certification from the Linux Foundation

Open Source Technology Certification from the Linux Foundation is a certification program designed to help individuals demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of open source technologies. The certification is available for both professionals and students, and focuses on key areas such as Linux, OpenStack, Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes, and more.

The certification process takes approximately two months to complete. To get certified, applicants must first register with the Linux Foundation and then take an online assessment that covers topics such as open source software development, system administration, security, cloud computing, DevOps and more. Once the assessment is completed successfully, applicants will receive their certification.

The cost of the Open Source Technology Certification from the Linux Foundation depends on which type of certification you are looking for. For professionals seeking a Certified System Administrator (CSA) or Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA) certification it costs $300 per exam. For students seeking a Certified System Administrator (CSA) or Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA) certification it costs $150 per exam.

10. Microsoft Technology Associate: Linux on Azure

Microsoft Technology Associate: Linux on Azure is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to deploy, configure, and manage Linux-based applications and services on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This certification is designed for IT professionals who want to gain a better understanding of how to use the Azure platform to host Linux workloads.

The exam for this certification takes about two hours and consists of multiple-choice questions. To become certified, individuals must pass the exam with a score of 700 or higher. The cost of the exam varies by country but typically ranges from $99-$160 USD.

To get started, individuals must first register for an account on the Microsoft Learning website and then purchase an exam voucher from the same site. After registering and purchasing the voucher, individuals can schedule their exam at a local testing center or take it online through Pearson VUE or Prometric.

Once the individual passes their exam, they will receive their official Microsoft Technology Associate: Linux on Azure certification via email within two weeks.

11. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation's Certified Kubernetes Administrator

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation's Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) is a certification program designed to help professionals demonstrate their knowledge and skills in managing Kubernetes clusters. The CKA exam covers core concepts such as installation, networking, storage, security, monitoring, logging, application lifecycle management and troubleshooting of Kubernetes clusters.

It typically takes around 8-10 hours to complete the CKA exam. Candidates must have a minimum of 6 months experience working with Kubernetes before taking the exam.

To get the CKA certification, candidates must first register for the exam at the Linux Foundation website. The registration fee for the exam is US$300. After registering for the exam, candidates will receive an email with instructions on how to access and take the online proctored exam.

Once they have completed the exam successfully, they will be awarded with a digital certificate of completion and their name will be added to a public registry of certified Kubernetes administrators maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.

Do You Really Need a Linux Engineer Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on your individual goals and career aspirations. If you are looking to become a Linux engineer, it is likely that a certificate will be beneficial in helping you stand out from the competition. A certification can demonstrate your knowledge and experience in the field, which can be helpful when applying for jobs or seeking promotions.

On the other hand, if you are already working as a Linux engineer and have in-depth knowledge of the subject, then you may not need a certificate. Employers may be more interested in seeing your portfolio of work or speaking with references who can attest to your skills and abilities. Similarly, if you are already working at an advanced level in the field, then taking a course or earning a certificate may not necessarily benefit your career any further.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a Linux engineer certificate depends on where you’re at in your career and where you want to go moving forward.

Related: Linux Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Linux Engineer Certifications

Q1: What is a Linux Engineer Certification?

A1: A Linux Engineer Certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a person's proficiency in managing and deploying Linux systems. It validates a person's knowledge and skills in areas such as system administration, networking, scripting, security and more.

Q2: What types of certifications are available for Linux Engineers?

A2: There are several certifications available for Linux Engineers, including Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), CompTIA Linux+, SUSE Certified Linux Professional (CLP), and Oracle Linux Certified Professional (OLCP).

Q3: How do I become certified as a Linux Engineer?

A3: To become certified as a Linux Engineer, you must pass the relevant certification exam offered by the certification provider. Each provider has different prerequisites and requirements for taking their exams. You can find more information about each certification on their websites.

Q4: How long does it take to become certified as a Linux Engineer?

A4: The amount of time it takes to become certified as a Linux Engineer will depend on your background knowledge and experience with the technology. Generally speaking, it may take anywhere from one to two months to prepare for and pass the exams. However, some candidates may be able to complete their certifications in less time depending on their prior experience.

Q5: Are there any job opportunities available for those who have earned a Linux Engineering Certification?

A5: Yes! Many employers value professionals with this type of certification due to its credibility and recognition in the IT industry. Earning your certification can open up many doors to new job opportunities in areas such as system administration, network engineering, software development, cloud computing, DevOps and more.