1. Are the RHCE and RHCT Certification Exams open-book?

No. They are closed-book, with no notes or reference materials permitted other than those distributed with the Red Hat OS on which the exam is taken. Most standardized tests, including most IT certification exams, are closed-book.

2. I have heard the RHCE and RHCT Certification Exams described as "performance-based". What is meant by "performance-based" certification or "performance-based" testing?

The RHCE and RHCT exams are performance-based in two very specific and important senses. First, the actual performance of candidates is tested by requiring them to successfully complete installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance tasks similar to those they must complete on the job as system administrators. Second, we determine their performance on these tasks by whether their systems perform as specified in an objective and verifiable manner.

3. Why did Red Hat decide to make the RHCE and RHCT Certification Exams performance-based?

We designed the RHCE Certificate to be performance-based for one good reason: quality. We want the RHCE certificate to be a meaningful, serious certificate, proof of actual competency, unimpeachably better as a measure of actual skill than other OS certifications. When we introduced RHCT in January, 2003, we had the same goals of quality, and felt that RHCE had demonstrated the value of this approach.

Linux professionals want a certificate they can respect and which they know is challenging to earn. Employers need to feel confident when they hire an RHCE or RHCT that the person has demonstrated the skills and competencies required to administer Red Hat systems for critical roles. Consulting companies, VARs, and resellers with RHCEs and RHCTs on staff are able to make a better business case to their customers, and RHCEs themselves report greater confidence, greater success with their Linux implementations for customers or their employers.

4. What's the difference between RHCT and RHCE certifications?

An RHCT has proven technician-level competencies required to install, attach, configure, and manage new Red Hat systems on an existing production network. RHCTs are capable of performing the the core system administration common to all systems, regardless of whether they are workstations, servers, network devices, or some other kind of system. An RHCE has also proven these RHCT competencies, and has demonstrated that he or she can configure networking services and security on servers running a Red Hat OS. Please see our RHCE program page and the Exam Prep Guide for more specific information on RHCE and RHCT skills.

5. If the RHCT competencies are included within the RHCE Certification Exam, can I earn RHCT if I don't pass RHCE?

Yes, this is possible. When you take the RHCE Exam you are measured on the competencies for RHCT as part of RHCE. You cannot pass RHCE without passing the competencies for RHCT, since an RHCE must be able do everything an RHCT can do plus a lot more. Certain competencies are compulsory for RHCT, without which a pass is not possible for either RHCT or RHCE. Additional competencies are compulsory for RHCE, without which a pass is not possible for RHCE. Candidates taking the RHCE certification exam who do not demonstrate the competencies for RHCE may earn the RHCT if they demonstrate the RHCT-specific competencies in the RHCE exam.

6. What is the structure of the RHCE Certification Exam and what is required to pass it?

The RHCE Certification Exam consists of two sections:

• Section I: Troubleshooting and System Maintenance (2.5 hours)
• Section II: Installation and Configuration (3.0 hours)

In order to earn RHCE, candidates must complete all compulsory Troubleshooting and System Maintenance problems, earn a section score of 80 or higher on Section I, and earn a score of 70 or higher on both the RHCT and RHCE items in the Installation and Configuration section.

7. What is the structure of the RHCT Certification Exam and what is required to pass it?

The RHCT Certification Exam consists of two sections:

• Section I: Troubleshooting and System Maintenance (1.0 hours)
• Section II: Installation and Configuration (2.0 hours)

In order to earn RHCE, candidates must complete all compulsory Troubleshooting and System Maintenance problems in Section I and earn a score of 70 or higher in the Installation and Configuration section. Candidates in RHCE Certification Exams who fulfill these requirements, but do not fulfill the additional RHCE requirements earn RHCT.

8. Why did Red Hat drop multiple choice from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and higher exams?

After nearly five years of delivering RHCE exams, we concluded that the time spent during the exam asking multiple choice questions would be better spent on performance-based tasks. Analysis of the data we have collected demonstrates that the performance-based sections of the exam were far more effective than the multiple choice section.

9. When do I receive my official results after taking an exam?

Exam results are emailed to candidates within 3 US business days, assuming they have provided accurate contact information. Unfortunately, some mail servers mistakenly treat results notifications as spam and filter them. Candidates who do not receive their results within 3 US business days should contact Red Hat at www.redhat.com/training/certification/comments.html.

10. What does Red Hat report when it sends exam results?

Candidates receive section scores for the RHCT Certification Exam. For the RHCE exam, they receive Section I compulsory and non-compulsory scores, their Section I aggregate score, their Section II RHCT score, and their Section II RHCE score. Red Hat does not report item-level information, that is, a candidate's performance on particular tasks or problems.

11. When do I get my certificate?

For your convenince you will be issued an electronic certificate that will be attached to your results email.

12. Why doesn't Red Hat send a hard copy certificate?

Electronic certificates provide several benefits. First, they can be sent at the same time that results are processed for immediate use by the person receiving the certificate. Second, they allow certificate holders to print multiple copies for use at home and at the office. Third, they make replacement faster and easier. And yes, they are also more cost-effective, which allows Red Hat to offer the RHCE Certification Exam at the same price today that it did when it launched the program in 1999. In addition, we believe that verification at www.redhat.com/training/certification/verify/ is far more valuable than a physical certificate. A hard copy certificate can be forged by anyone with a computer and a decent graphics program. Having a unique certificate number that is verifiable by its issuer (in this case, Red Hat), is far more authoritative, reliable, and valuable.

13. How often can I re-take the RHCE or RHCT Certification Exams?

You can re-take these exams as often as you wish. When taken again, exams must be taken in their entirety, and credit for successfully completed sections in previous exams is not carried forward.

14. Can I cram for the RHCE or RHCT Certification Exams?

No. Red Hat does not recommend cramming. The RHCE Exam is very different from most IT certification tests. It is possible to cram for a multiple-choice test. It is not possible to cram for a live system performance-based test, unless the "cramming" means getting real-world experience. Cramming will not turn an unqualified person into one who is qualified.

15. How can I do self-paced study for the RHCE Exam? Are there books or self-paced book and CD kits that Red Hat recommends?

Red Hat recommends its eLearning series as the best mechanism for self-paced study. Red Hat does not endorse and has not authorized any particular RHCE prep books or self-paced study programs. We do not recommend for or against any of these, as we do not have time to review these or measure their performance, and we will not endorse something without being able to vouch for its performance. Red Hat provides an RHCE and RHCT Exam Prep Guide for use by all persons who wish to pursue certification, including those who must prepare on their own.

16. What does Red Hat recommend to prepare for the RHCE and RHCT Certification Exams?

Red Hat recommends that persons interesting in preparing for the RHCE and RHCT exams 1) obtain high quality hands-on training such as is available in the Red Hat courses that are designed to cover the skill areas tested by the exams; 2) get hands-on, real-world experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems administration; 3) make sure that the prerequisite networking skills specified in the Prep Guide are obtained before attempting the exams.

Both the RHCE and RHCT test professional-level system administration skills and such skills cannot be obtained through training alone. High quality hands-on training must be accompanied by real-world experience, preferably on the job. Good training can be a vital part of success, but the rest is up to the individual.

Whatever your method of preparation, use the RHCE and RHCT Exam Prep Guide, to guide your studies and practice, not third-party materials or other second-hand information, as the Prep Guide is the authoritative guide to what Red Hat tests in its exams.

17. For how long will my RHCE certification be considered current?

RHCE and RHCT certifications are considered current until after one (1) major release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux following the release on which the certification was earned. Certificates earned on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 will be current until the release of Red Hat Enterprise 5, and those earned on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 will remain current until the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Certifications earned on Red Hat Linux 8.0 and Red Hat Linux 9 are pegged to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, and hence will be current until the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

While evidence suggests that RHCEs who stay professionally active can evolve their skills in pace with new releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux technology, it is important for Red Hat to maintain a policy for determining whether an RHCE or RHCT certificate can be considered current. Thus, verification at Certification Central has always included the version a certificate was earned on, and whether the certificate is considered current or no longer current.

18. What are the benefits of getting certified by Red Hat?

Interviews and independent surveys have been conducted on RHCEs and the results substantiate what we have known all along: Performance-based certifications prove competency more meaningfully, and are accorded higher status than other types of certification. The benefits of RHCE for both individuals and their employers and managers are multiple:

• Confidence and competence: RHCEs report greater confidence in their skills and better success at building and managing Linux servers. The actual quality of their work and their professionalism improve. They are better at performing their jobs for their employers, can take on more challenging assignments, and they receive recognition for this.
• Career results: RHCEs interviewed also report one or more of the following within 90 days of earning the RHCE certificate: a new job, a raise, a promotion, increased responsibility, assignment to lead or supervisory role, increased recognition and/or prestige among colleagues.
• Hard dollars: RHCE earn more because of their RHCE, as shown by two recent independent surveys: Computer Reseller News, and Certification Magazine. These surveys are linked at: Salary Surveys

 

19. What benefits of RHCE and RHCT are provided directly by Red Hat, and for how long?

Verification services for all certificate holders are provided at Certification Central. Certificate holders and their employers or customers can type in the 15-digit RHCE number and verify that the person is really certified.

RHCEs have exclusive access to RHCE Connection, a special site for RHCEs to receive special offers, discounts and benefits, as well as technical updates and access to resources. Access to RHCE Connection and its services is a value-added benefit provided at Red Hat's sole discretion. At the present time the policy for access to RHCE Connection is that access is granted so long as a person's RHCE certificate is current. RHCTs similarly have access to RHCT Connection.

Certain other discretionary benefits of certification, such as partner programs between Red Hat and the company at which you may be employed, may require you to maintain certification on the most recent major release or otherwise on a more frequent basis than Red Hat GLS stated policy for individuals. This policy ensures a high standard of practice by the Red Hat partner company. It is up to you and/or your employer to stay up to date on the eligibility requirements of such programs.

20. How do I get re-certified for a new release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Take and pass the certification exam on that new release.

21. When should I consider getting re-certified?

Re-certification is largely a matter of your own choice and that of any employer or customer who may have an interest in how current your certificate is. Know your market: if the installed base you service is in a hurry to upgrade to the newest release, or requires features and services in the latest release, then it may be time to re-certify. Regardless of whether you decide to re-certify you can keep your skills current by using and learning each new version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

22. Where can I take the RHCE and RHCT Exams?

Red Hat has training facilities at its Raleigh, North Carolina headquarters and worldwide through its own offices and through its Red Hat Certified Training Partners. Contact your nearest Red Hat office for additional information.

23. Will training provided by other training vendors who are not Red Hat Certified Training Partners be useful preparation for RHCE?

Unless the training is being provided by Red Hat, Inc., or a Red Hat Certified Training Partner, authorized by Red Hat, Inc., Red Hat, Inc., cannot endorse it or vouch for it. Only by taking the courses in the RHCE Program offered by Red Hat, Inc. and Red Hat Certified Training Partners do you have a guarantee that the content, instruction, and design of the courses and curriculum will be up-to-date, professional, and geared for the RHCE program.

24. How does the standard track of skills courses (RH033, RH133, RH253) relate to the RH300 and RH301 Rapid Track RHCE courses?

RH300 and RH301 are accelerated training courses for experienced Linux and UNIX systems administrators. RH300 includes the RHCE Certification Exam on the last of five days; RH301 does not. Only course participants with either Linux system administration experience or considerable UNIX system administration including networking services should take RH300 because of the highly accelerated pace.

In contrast the suite of RH033, RH133, and RH253 provides a more gradual path for building skills. More time is spent on each topic, and participants are assumed to be doing most of the tasks for the first time. Make no mistake, however: these courses are not "fluff". People who attend them often find the pace and quantity of information challenging compared to other IT training they have attended.

25. Will there be other certifications created by Red Hat?

Yes, Red Hat has expanded advanced training beyond the level of RHCE to create the Enterprise Architect curriculum and Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) certification. See Enterprise Architect/RHCA

26. What is the Goal of RHCE and RHCT Certification?

The primary goal of RHCE and RHCT certification is to meet the demand of individuals and employers for useful metrics of individual skills and competencies with Red Hat Linux, the largest-selling distribution of Linux. The RHCE Program provides performance based certification at two critical job role levels: Technician (RHCT) and Engineer (RHCE).

RHCE and/or RHCT may be required for selected personnel employed at Red Hat channel partners, IHVs, ISVs, OEMs, and other partners, to provide meaningful assurance of standards.

27. What is the Meaning of RHCE and RHCT Certification?

RHCE or RHCT certification serve as a metric (hopefully one of many) of use to both individuals and employers to assess individual preparation and competency for key job roles involving Red Hat Linux computing.

(a) RHCE certification indicates that the person has passed a realistic performance-based lab exam that tests his/her ability to: install and configure Red Hat Linux; understand limitations of hardware; configure basic networking and file systems for a network; configure the X Window System; perform essential Red Hat Linux system administration; configure basic security for a network server; set up and manage common enterprise networking (IP) services for the organization, carry out server diagnostics and troubleshooting.

The readiness objective of RHCE is to assure standard level of systems and network administration skills so that a person is "ready from a technical point of view for professional responsibilities in setting up, configuring, and managing a Red Hat Linux server running common enterprise networking services and security."

(b) RHCT certification indicates that the person has passed a realistic performance-based lab exam that tests his/her ability to: install and configure Red Hat Linux; understand limitations of hardware; configure basic networking and file systems for a single system attached to a network; configure the X Window System; perform essential Red Hat Linux system administration; configure basic host security, set up client-side networking services required to attach to a production network, and carry out basic diagnostics and troubleshooting.

The readiness objective of RHCT is to assure a minimum level of systems administration skills so that a person is "ready from a technical point of view for professional responsibilities in installing, configuring, attaching, and supporting Red Hat Linux systems on an existing production network."

28. What is Certification in the context of professionalism?

Becoming a successful technician or engineer requires years of experience in heterogenous, networked computing environments, coping with day-to-day issues, and developing best practices. This kind of experience does not result from taking one course or exam, but it can be measured during training and in a certification exam, especially if these are administered using hands-on exercises in a lab. That's why the RHCE and RHCT exams are lab-based, performance-based practical exams.

Red Hat is benchmarking the RHCE and RHCT certificates to be useful metrics for measuring experience, skill, and competency with Red Hat Linux, and for demonstrating preparedness for professional responsibilities at two critical levels of Red Hat Linux systems administration. 

29. What is the Verification and Validity Period?

Red Hat provides complete verification of RHCE certification, including version numbers, at Certification Central, so that individuals, their employers and customers can make their own informed decisions based on what version they are actually running and how critical re-certification is for their own requirements.

The validity period for all RHCEs and RHCTs is now officially pegged to the release of the Enterprise product commercially available at the time certification was earned, and certification shall be current until after one (1) major release of the Enterprise product. All RHCEs earned on Red Hat Linux 7.3 or prior will be considered current until the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS/ES/WS 4. All RHCEs and RHCTs earned on Red Hat Linux 8.0 or 9 will remain current until the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. Validity and current status of an RHCE certificate will continue to be verified at Certification Central.

Our information suggests that the RHCE is such a strong certification that RHCEs in continuous practice as professionals are likely to be able to keep their skill levels up in pace with Red Hat Linux technology. Some Red Hat partner programs mandate RHCEs maintain certification on the most recent release.