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Red Hat Certification: A Comprehensive Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Certification Path - Centriq Training

Red Hat is a renowned software company that specializes in developing open-source products for enterprise-level applications. For IT professionals, whose expertise and technical abilities are highly valued, obtaining a Red Hat certification offers an excellent opportunity to broaden their skill set and propel their career forward. If you’re considering pursuing a Red Hat certification, it’s crucial to understand its requirements and explore the available options.

This article analyzes the topic of Red Hat certification, covering 30 distinct certifications that you may be interested in pursuing. We also discuss the certification renewal procedure and the importance of certification for persons working in the IT business.

What are the Red Hat Certification Programs?

The certification programs offered by Red Hat are comprehensive training courses designed to equip IT professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize Red Hat’s diverse range of software products. These programs are specifically tailored for individuals who incorporate the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system into their IT infrastructures, including:

  • System administrators
  • System engineers
  • System architects
  • Enterprise developers
  • Application administrators
  • Cloud and virtualization administrators

The programs ensure that candidates possess a thorough understanding of RHEL by assessing their performance through practical exams, rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge. Red Hat certification exams are conducted in proctored testing centers located in select cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia, ensuring secure examination environments.

The specific requirements for candidates differ based on the type of certification they are pursuing. Previously, it was customary for candidates to complete training courses before taking a Red Hat certification exam. However, the training courses are no longer mandatory, although they can still be beneficial for exam preparation.

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4 types of Red Hat certifications

When it comes to selecting a Red Hat certification, you have a wide range of options, although most of them serve as supplementary resources for the main programs. The following are the most highly sought-after primary Red Hat certifications:

1. Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

The RHCSA certification is designed for seasoned Red Hat administrators. It serves as a prerequisite for obtaining the Red Hat Certified Engineer designation and is often required by organizations to comply with the United States Department of Defense Directive 8570. Upon earning this credential, an RHCSA holder can:

  • Utilize essential tools to manage files, directories, command-line environments, and documentation.
  • Operate running systems, including booting into different run levels, identifying processes, starting and stopping virtual machines, and managing services.
  • Configure local storage using partitions and logical volumes.
  • Create and manage file systems, including setting permissions, encryption, access control lists, and network file systems.
  • Install, configure, and maintain systems, including software installation, updates, and core services.
  • Manage users and groups, including the use of a centralized directory for authentication.
  • Control security measures, including basic firewall configuration and SELinux settings.

To achieve the RCHSA certification, individuals are required to successfully complete the 2.5-hour RHCSA exam. Various training courses are offered to help candidates prepare for the exam. Windows system administrators are encouraged to take the Red Hat System Administration I (RH124) and Red Hat System Administration II (RH134) courses. Linux or UNIX administrators can opt for the RHCSA Rapid Track Course (RH199) as their recommended training program.

2. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

The RHCE certification is designed for seasoned senior system administrators and also meets the requirements of U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570. Individuals who achieve this certification possess the skills and expertise to:

  • Automate Red Hat Enterprise Linux tasks
  • Integrate Red Hat technologies
  • Apply efficient and innovative automation

As mentioned earlier, to qualify for the RHCE certification, candidates must first pass the RHCSA exam. Afterward, they are required to pass the 3.5-hour RHCE exam (EX300). The recommended training courses by Red Hat may vary based on the candidate’s level of skill and experience.

For Windows administrators who have limited experience with Linux systems, the recommended courses are Red Hat System Administration I, II, and III (RH124, RH134, and RH254). On the other hand, Linux or UNIX administrators with one to three years of experience can opt for both the RHCSA Rapid Track Course (RH199) and the Red Hat System Administration III course (RH254).

For RHCEs who wish to renew their certification or candidates who prefer a lab-based review before taking the RHCE exam, it is advisable to enroll in the RHCE Certification lab (RH299). This lab provides an opportunity to work through all the Red Hat System Administration I, II, and III courses, along with the Rapid Track course, in a four-day, instructor-led program.

3. Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

There are multiple certification combinations available for the RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect), depending on the candidate’s area of expertise. The two main credentials offered are the RHCA in Infrastructure for Red Hat Certified Engineers (RHCE) and the RHCA in Enterprise Applications for Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservices Developers (RHCEMD) or Red Hat Certified JBoss Developers (RHCJD).

To earn the RHCA designation, candidates are required to pass a minimum of five exams. The specific exam options vary based on whether the candidate is an RHCE, RHCEMD, or RHCJD. For RHCEs, the available options include:

  • EX125 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ceph Storage Administration exam
  • EX210 – Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack exam
  • EX220 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Hybrid Cloud Management exam
  • EX236 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Gluster Storage Administration exam
  • EX240 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in API Management
  • EX248 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration exam
  • EX270 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Container Management (Retired)
  • EX276 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containerized Application Development (Retired)
  • EX280 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration exam
  • EX310 – Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack
  • EX318 – Red Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator exam
  • EX333 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Security: Network Services exam (Retired)
  • EX342 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Linux Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
  • EX362 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Identity Management
  • EX401 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Deployment and Systems Management exam (Retired)
  • EX403 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Deployment and Systems Management exam
  • EX405 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management

For RHCEMDs and RHCJDs, they are:

  • EX240 –Red Hat Certified Specialist in API Management
  • EX248 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration exam
  • EX276 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containerized Application Development exam (Retired)
  • EX280 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration exam
  • EX288 –Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Application Development exam
  • EX405 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management
  • EX407 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation exam
  • EX421 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Camel Development exam
  • EX427 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Business Process Design exam
  • EX440 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Messaging Administration exam
  • EX453 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Fast-Cache Application Development exam
  • EX465 – Red Hat Certified Specialist in Business Rules exam

4. Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack

The Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack certification is designed for IT professionals with knowledge and experience in Red Hat virtualization and cloud technologies. Individuals holding this certification are capable of:

  • Make and manage virtual network devices
  • Work with OpenStack networking agents
  • Launch IPv6 networks in OpenStack
  • Supervise OpenStack networks
  • Use distributed virtual routing
  • Put NFV data paths into place
  • Create software-defined networks with OpenDaylight

To be eligible for this certification, candidates must first obtain the RHCSA certification. In addition to passing the RHCSA exam (EX210), candidates are required to successfully complete the three-hour Red Hat Certified System Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack (EX310) exam. To adequately prepare for the exam, Red Hat recommends that candidates enroll in the Red Hat OpenStack System Administration courses, specifically Red Hat OpenStack Administration I (CL110), II (CL210), and III (CL310).

26 other Certifications in Red Hat

In addition to the four widely recognized and versatile certifications mentioned earlier, Red Hat offers an extensive range of 26 additional certification programs. Some of these programs include:

  1. Red Hat Certified Enterprise Application Developer
  2. Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservices Developer
  3. Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack
  4. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Hybrid Cloud Management
  5. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Gluster Storage Administration
  6. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Virtualization
  7. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration
  8. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Business Rules
  9. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Business Process Design
  10. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Camel Development
  11. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Deployment and Systems Management
  12. Red Hat Certified Specialist in High Availability Clustering
  13. Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration
  14. Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Application Development
  15. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Linux Performance Tuning
  16. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Fast-Cache Application Development
  17. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management
  18. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Linux Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
  19. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
  20. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Messaging Administration
  21. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ceph Storage Administration
  22. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Identity Management
  23. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Security: Linux
  24. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Security: Containers and OpenShift Container Platform
  25. Red Hat Certified Specialist in API management
  26. Red Hat Certified Specialist in Advanced Automation: Ansible Best Practices

Certification renewal

Red Hat certifications have a validity period of three years. After this period, the certifications are considered “noncurrent” but do not expire completely. The process for renewal differs based on the specific certification, so it is recommended to directly consult with Red Hat to understand the renewal process for your certification.

Typically, one option for renewal is to retake the exam associated with your certification. Additionally, depending on the certification you hold, there may be opportunities to earn other certifications that contribute to the maintenance of your existing certification.

Why are Red Hat certifications important?

IT professionals are highly likely to come across organizations that utilize Red Hat software. In fact, Red Hat serves as the primary provider of open-source software for a wide range of corporations across various industries. Some examples of companies that use Red Hat software include:

  • Internet service providers
  • Airlines
  • Health care companies
  • Commercial banks

The widespread adoption and popularity of Red Hat have created a specific demand for IT professionals who possess the necessary training to effectively utilize the technology. Obtaining a Red Hat certification can significantly enhance your career prospects and open up new professional avenues.

Moreover, earning a Red Hat certificate grants you the status of a Red Hat Certified Professional (RHCP), which provides access to Red Hat Certification Central. This online network enables employers to verify and search for candidates who hold Red Hat certifications, further boosting your credibility and visibility in the job market.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com