Apart from innovative open source products, Red Hat also offers a wide range of certification programs that help professionals prove their skills and build their careers while giving employers a meaningful way to find and develop qualified professionals.
Are Red Hat Certifications Worth It?
The pace of evolution in the IT industry is ruthless, and companies are always on the lookout for talented, educated, highly trained, and, above all else, proven employees that stand out from the crowd. According to one survey by Red Hat, “91 percent of employers consider certifications vital in hiring and predicting employee success.”
Employers perceive certified employees to be proactive, motivated, and perspective. Because more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies rely on Red Hat, having a certification that proves a certain level of familiarity with Red Hat’s solutions is like finding a shortcut to success.
Besides the fact that Red Hat-certified employees are more attractive to employers, Red Hat certifications also access to Red Hat Certification Central, which is a hub where certified IT professionals who have successfully proved their skills can connect with potential employers and the global Red Hat community.
Which Red Hat Certifications I Should Know About?
Red Hat’s certification program is famous for its breadth of possible specializations. There are over 30 certifications to choose from, and they cover everything from server administration to security to the cloud. By far the most sought-after Red Hat certifications are the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), and Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA).
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
RHCSA is the most common starting point for IT professionals who choose the get certified with Red Hat. “An IT professional who has earned the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) is able to perform the core system administration skills required in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments,” explains Red Hat.
In order to earn this certification, candidates must pass the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam (EX200), which takes roughly 2.5 hours. Those who succeed can move on to the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
RHCE is for candidates who have passed the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam (EX200), and it demonstrates additional skills, knowledge, and abilities required of senior system administrators responsible for Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems.
This certification ends with the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) exam (EX300), which takes around 3.5 hours to pass. RHCE fulfills requirements of U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570, and it’s highly valued by IT hiring agencies.
Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)
The last Red Hat certification you should know about is RHCA, which is the highest point of the Red Hat Certification program. Depending on which skills you choose to concentrate on, you might be required to pass five or more exams in order to obtain RHCA, including RHCE.
With RHCA, you can concentrate on data centers, DevOps, cloud, building and managing tools and applications, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise application development, integration, and architecture. “Joining the RHCA ranks requires significant time and effort,” warns Red Hat, but those who earn this prestigious certification can expect to earn around $110,000 annually.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you’re just at the start of your IT career or you already have several years of experience under your belt, Red Hat’s certifications can help you move up the ladder and find a job worthy of your skills and aspirations.
