10 Best Linux Certifications in 2023 [Updated]

Present in almost all the devices of our day-to-day lives, Linux is one of the most-used operating systems in the world. With such widespread use, there are several opportunities available to those willing to put the time and effort into learning how Linux works.

Here, we’ll go over the 10 best Linux certifications for you to consider. But first, let’s go over some general questions about getting a Linux certification. If you want a quick summary, you can simply look at the summary table below.

Linux Certifications

	Fees	Passing Score	Duration	Total questions	Languages
Oracle Certified Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator certification	$245	60%	90 minutes	60	English
CompTIA Linux+	$348	720/900	90 minutes	90	English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
LPIC 1 – Linux Administrator	$120	500/800	90 minutes for each exam	Two exams, 60 questions each	English, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish
LPIC 2 – Linux Engineer	$120	500/800	90 minutes for each exam	Two exams, 60 questions each	English
LPIC 3 – 300 – Linux Enterprise Professional Certification	$120	500/800	90 minutes	60 questions	English
LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator) certification	$375 (exam only) or $575 (course and exam)	66%	2 hours	Performance-based	English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German
LFCE (Linux Foundation Certified Engineer) certification	$375	57%	2 hours	Performance-based	English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, German
RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator) certification	$450	210/300	3 hours	Performance-based	English
RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) certification	$450	210/300	3 hours	Performance-based	English
RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect) certification	Depends on the exams taken	210/300 for each exam taken	Depends on the exams taken	Requires passing at least 5 other Red Hat exams	English

Top 10 Best Linux Certifications

1. Oracle Certified Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: 60 Exam time: 90 minutes Passing score: 60% Languages: English Cost: $245	Deploying, configuring, and administering Oracle Linux 8 production server environment Installing, configuring, and monitoring a running system Familiarity with Oracle Linux

The Oracle Certified Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator certification tests for having an understanding of how to deploy, configure and administer an Oracle Linux 8 production server environment.

It provides a solid foundation for learning how to work with Oracle Linux as well as installing, configuring and monitoring a running system. You’ll learn how to use all the new features of Oracle Linux and the latest versions.

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2. CompTIA Linux+

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: 90 Exam time: 90 minutes Passing score: 720/900 Languages: English, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish Cost: $348	Security, storage, and visualization, Kernel modules Enterprise-level device management Git and automation Server-side and command line usage Networking Firewalls Troubleshooting SELinux

The CompTIA Linux+ certification covers the latest foundational skills and is a job-focused Linux certification. You’ll learn about tasks performed in Linux distributions, Linux Command line, maintenance, installation, configuration, and networking. The hands-on experience includes configuring, supporting, and monitoring servers that run the Linux Operating System.

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3. LPIC 1 – Linux Administrator

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Two exams, 60 questions each Exam time: 90 minutes for each exam Passing score: 500/800 Languages: English, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish Cost: $120	System Architecture Linux Installation Package Management GNU and Unix Commands Linux Filesystems, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard and Devices Shell & Shell Scripting Desktops and Interfaces. Administration System Services

The LPIC 1 – Linux Administrator certification teaches a candidate to perform command-line maintenance tasks, install and configure a Linux system, and basic networking. It validates a candidate’s ability to manage real-world system administration and the basic Linux commands.

This certification does not require any prerequisites and is valid for 5 years. A candidate is required to pass both 101 and 102 exams to qualify for the certification. This is arguably the best Linux certification for beginners.

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4. LPIC 2 – Linux Engineer

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Two exams, 60 questions each Exam time: 90 minutes for each exam Passing score: 500/800 Languages: English Cost: $120	System StartUp Linux Kernel FileSystem and Devices Capacity Planning Advanced Storage Device Administration Network Configuration & System Maintenance File Sharing and Network Client Management Domain Name Server Web and Email System Security

The LPIC 2 – Linux Engineer certification is the second of LPI’s multilevel professional certifications. It enables the candidate to administer small to medium-sized networks. To qualify for this certification, the candidate needs to have an active LPIC -1 Certification. However, the LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 exams can be taken in any order. The validity of this certification is 5 years.

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5. LPIC 3 – 300 – Linux Enterprise Professional Certification

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: 60 questions Exam time: 90 minutes Passing score: 500/800 Languages: English, Japanese Cost: $120	OpenLDAP Configuration and Authentication Backend Samba – Basics, Share Basics, User & Group Management Samba – Name Services and Domain Integration Working with Windows and Linux Clients.

The LPIC 3 – 300 – Linux Enterprise Professional Certification is an enterprise-level professional certification program that represents the highest level of proficiency in distribution-neural Linux. It requires a candidate to have an active LPIC – 2 certification. The validity of this certification is 5 years.

Apart from LPIC – 3 300, there are two more specialization certifications at this level. Passing any one of the three grants the certification for that specialty. Its prerequisites and validity periods are the same as that for LPIC 3.

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6. LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator)

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Performance-based exam Exam time: 2 hours Passing score: 66% Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and German Cost: $375 (exam only) or $575 (course and exam)	Essential Commands, File Systems, and Features. User and Group Management and System-wide environments Operation of Running Systems, Boot, Reboot, Install, Configure, and Troubleshoot. Service Configuration, DNS, SSH, HTTP, and Virtual Machine Maintenance. Networking, IP Routing, and synchronization Storage Management, LVM Storage, RAID Devices, and Configured File Systems.

The LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator) certification is ideal for beginners in Linux System Administration. It evaluates candidates based on on-the-job task simulations and real-world scenarios. It equates to hands-on experience for prospective employers. This certification is conducted online and has a validity of 3 years. This certification needs no prior knowledge of the subject matter.

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7. LFCE (Linux Foundation Certified Engineer)

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Performance-based Exam time: 2 hours Passing score: 57% Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and German Cost: $375	Essential Commands, File Systems, and Features. User and Group Management and System-wide environments Operation of Running Systems, Boot, Reboot, Install, Configure, and Troubleshoot. Service Configuration, DNS, SSH, HTTP, and Virtual Machine Maintenance. Networking, IP Routing, and synchronization Storage Management, LVM Storage, RAID Devices, and Configured File Systems.

The LFCE (Linux Foundation Certified Engineer) certification is for candidates with 3-5 years of Linux experience. It teaches candidates advanced concepts for more skilled job roles. It is a performance-based examination and focuses more on on-the-job scenarios. However, there are no prerequisites for this certification. This certification is valid for 3 years.

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8. RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator)

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Performance-based Exam time: 3 hours Passing score: 210/300 Languages: English Cost: $450	Handle files and directories, command-line environments, and documentation. Operate running systems, identify processes, run Virtual Machines and Control Services Storage Configuration File System Configuration Manage Core Services Manage Users and Groups. Manage Security and SELinux Configuration

The RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator) certification enables you to perform the core system administration tasks in Red Hat Linux Environments. This is a core exam, which is used as a foundation for other Red Hat certifications.

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9. RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer)

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Number of questions: Performance-based Exam time: 3 hours Passing score: 210/300 Languages: English Cost: $450	Automating the deployment, management, and support of multi-system environments Ansible Automation and shell scripting System administration

The RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) certification requires the RHCSA certification for this first. An RHCE can automate Red Hat Enterprise Linux tasks, integrate and automate emerging Red Hat technologies. The new RHCE certification, based on Linux 8, focuses on Linux System Administration Task Automation using Ansible and Shell Scripting. This certification needs renewal every 3 years.

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10. RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect)

Course Info	Course Syllabus
Requires passing at least 5 other exams	Multiple options, depending on track taken

The RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect) certification teaches you to adapt to a variety of requirements. It involves the RHCE, RHCEMD (Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservices Developer), or RHCJD (Red Hat Certified JBoss Developer) certifications.

Two RHCA certifications can be acquired. These are RHCA – Infrastructure and RHCA – Enterprise Applications. Candidates can choose to follow any or both of the learning paths.

Given that there are many certifications and learning paths associated with diverse expertise and subject matters, visit Red Hat Linux Certifications for more information.

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Pick the Best Linux Certification For You Today

Linux is perfect for programmers as it supports most of the major programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Perl, Python, and more. With the emergence of open cloud platforms, there has been an increasing demand for Linux professionals. As such, Linux certs are highly valued by organizations. You should also prepare for a role by thoroughly preparing with Linux interview questions.

Getting certified in Linux gives you access to real-world scenarios and simulated tasks that get treated as hands-on experience by recruitment firms. Before you get your first Linux certificate, assess all your options, sketch your learning path as per your areas of interest and make sure that it fits in with your career goal.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why get a Linux certification?

Linux certifications prove that you have the skills to carry out a set of tasks, and employers will look to it for a sense of your competency. Using Linux in a professional context requires a certain amount of skill, and getting a certification can both teach you that skill and show employers that you are equipped to handle a job.

2. Which Linux certification is best?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the certification you choose will depend on what career path you want to take. Beginners should take foundational courses, followed by specializations or more advanced courses. The certifications in this list provide a comprehensive range of certifications focusing on various niches, so you should get a good overview of the options. The LPIC 1 – Linux Administrator is a good place to start if you’d like a quick recommendation.

3. Are Linux certifications worth it?

If you have a Linux certification, you always have excellent career opportunities. Organizations are more interested in hiring resources who are capable of managing servers, scheduling batches, cron jobs, applying load balances, and working entirely on shell scripts. Certifications keep you ahead of the crowd and increase your competitive advantage.

With Linux certification courses, you’ll be better equipped to obtain opportunities as a systems administrator/system engineer, software programmer, Linux administrator/Linux engineer, DevOps engineer, Python developer, and network engineer.

4. Which Linux certification is good for beginners?

A good foundation Linux course is best for beginners, and you’ll find those on this list. They’ll guide you through how to use a Linux-based system, and prepare you for more advanced tasks. If you want a specific certification, then those offered by the Linux Foundation, Linux Professional Institute, and Red Hat are good first choices.

5. How much does the Linux exam cost?

The cost of a Linux exam will vary according to the exam. Expect to pay in the range of $200 to $500 for the most part. This is for each individual course, so if you plan to take multiple certifications, expect that number to go up by a considerable amount.

Linux Administration: The Complete Linux Bootcamp for 2023

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What is the best linux certificate for devops path ?

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Which is better: Red Hat or Microsoft Server certification?

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Windows and Linux servers are suited for (somewhat) different sets of tasks, so by choosing one or the other, you're selecting a type of working environment as well. Linux is best for public-facing stuff; Windows is best for internal-facing stuff. Windows favor a very integrated approach: Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, file sharing, and printing, Linux takes more of a "pick the tool that's right for you" approach. This means you'll be able to work with a wider variety of programming languages, web servers, database servers, etc., and that you'll get more performance out of a Linux server of the same physical specs.

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Linux Foundation or LPIC? How to become a Red Hat Certified Engineer?

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Linux Foundation or LPIC are two different organizations and so have different exams and levels. Each is distinct and hard to draw a direct parallel. LPI exams are question/answer based, but cover a very broad range of topics and require you to have a lot of knowledge memorized. Linux Foundation exams are practical and hands-on so less memorization is required, but you need to know what to do with minimal time spent on references to meet the time contstraints.To achieve the credential of Red Hat Certified Engineer, one needs to get the Red Hat Certified Engineer credential. To become a Red Hat Certified Engineer, the candidate requires to pass two certification exams, which are, Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA - EX200) and Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE - EX300). You will get the Red Hat Certified Engineer certification only when you have passed both the certification exams.

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What is the best Linux certificate? Which Linux certification is better?

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In the IT world, Linux certifications are the determining factor on how far your career goes seeing that more than half of the world’s servers run on Linux Operating Systems and virtually every IT expert is expected to have certain certificates to bank a job placement. Linux+ CompTIA certification has been on top of the list for the past two decades. For anyone wanting to boost their career opportunities, attaining the Linux+ CompTIA certification is an utter need to enter and thrive in this area of IT.

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Which certification is best for the system administrator?

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When it comes to managing computer systems, whether in an office environment, on a campus or in an enterprise data center, there's a long list of tools and technologies SysAdmins need to master. There are numerous certifications that can help validate knowledge and skills in those areas. Some of the top certifications that you can pick are Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Red Hat: RHCSA and RHCE, Linux Professional Institute (LPI): LPIC System Administrator, CompTIA Server+, VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV), ServiceNow Certified System Administrator.

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Does Linux certification expire?

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In the past, most Linux certifications had no expiration date or continuing certification requirements, but that has been changing of late. While some certificates are good for whole life, some of them expire in 3-5 years of time.

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How long does it take to get Linux certified?

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The amount of time you have to complete a task is often the amount of time the task takes to complete. If you give yourself a month to study for an exam, then that’s how much time you have, whether you’re ready or not. While most of the certifications are attainable in a span of four months, there are few which are covered in a time of 1 year. These include Certifications by Cisco.

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How much does Linux certification cost?

Beatrice Duncan

Besides being highly recommended by many companies as Linux gaining recognition by global platforms, these certification programs are gaining popularity among data administrators, system admins, DevOps engineers, these days. While some cost for $200 per exam, others go for upto $1800 per exam. You can join any suitable Linux Certification program that allows you to access to the official training material that helps you to prepare for the exam.

christine

would love to see the cost for the certifications.

10 Best Linux Certifications in 2023

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Linux Certifications

Top 10 Best Linux Certifications