All you wanted to know about Linux certification but were afraid to ask

By David M Williams
Monday, 23 July 2007 19:48

Open Source

In IT, certification is a big deal. Try as professional societies like the ACM and ACS might, there’s no universal qualification – like the accountant’s CPA – that states you are recognised as competent and capable. This is where vendor certifications fill a gap.

Lest I be flamed terribly, let me say experience is key. However certifications are a great way to prove experience at a measurable level. There’s also an argument that employers put weight on certs. Everyone’s heard of Microsoft’s MCSE for system engineers (now supplanted by the vaguer MCITP, perhaps in effort to regain value eroded by the plethora of “paper MCSE” holders.) According to Foote Partners people with MCSE’s receive salaries 7% higher than sysadmins without certifications. That in itself is a pretty compelling reason to get certified.

This is well and good, but what if you live in the world of Linux, freed from the constraints of vendors, able to work on technologies instead? You have not been forgotten. There are quite a number of Linux certification options in existence today. In fact, Linux certification can effectively counter the “no support” argument often levelled at the operating system by commercial vendors. And nicely Foote Partners see no reason to doubt the higher pay rate applies equally to Linux certified pros too.

Of these options, there are three main players: CompTIA, LPI and Red Hat. The latter actually is partial to a specific flavour of Linux – and is the oldest in existence - but the first two are entirely distro-neutral.

How to be certified

Before discussing these varying alternatives in more detail, let’s get to the gist of just how to be certified. The following applies universally to the great bulk of all certifications – be they Microsoft or Linux or Cisco or others (Note, there are some exceptions, particularly higher-level credentials like Cisco’s CCIE.)

It’s important to understand from the onset that certification does not equal education. Certs can follow a course of study, and often they are advertised in conjunction with an educational vendor’s program.

Certifications are actually attained by completing examinations. Some certs may require just one exam. Others may take several. However, it is the successful completion of these exams which merit the qualifications. It’s not uncommon for the highly experienced to take an exam without undertaking training specifically, or even reviewing study materials. Training will help prepare, but the attainment is based solely on exam performance.

Each exam has a set number of questions and a time limit. Ordinarily, if you know your stuff, the time allotted is very generous. Almost all questions are multiple choice. This is a matter of continual debate and discussion. A Microsoft blogger offers some reasons why this is so – citing the cost of developing alternate examination forms as very expensive and the increased difficulty in accurately assessing a submitted answer which may have a wide array of possible solutions. Additionally, Microsoft appeal to standard U.S. tests such as the SAT which is itself multiple choice but yet highly regarded.

Exams typically cost between $150 and $200 and are pass/fail situations only and the exam fee must be repaid if the test is failed and then re-taken. Should you be unlucky enough to fail exam do check if you can take advantage of any re-take policy which may offer a discount valid within a certain time period.

The examinations are taken at authorised exam centres which may themselves also be training providers. However, the exams are entirely independent of whether you have undertaken a course there or not. The exams are typically booked with a national exam provider like Pearson Vue or Thomson Prometric and taken at your nearest local centre.

Let's now check out the options available if you're seeking recognition of your Linux ability.