Linux Certification: Vendor-Specific or Vendor-Neutral?

January 18, 2007
By

James Maguire

• Submit Feedback »
• More by Author »

CompTIA recently surveyed its members who have earned certifications across many areas (not Linux specifically, but other tech disciplines) regarding what type of Linux certification is more desirable: a vendor-specific cert, or a vendor-neutral cert?

About 40% selected “vendor-neutral” Linux cert as the best choice, with some 50% selecting “vendor-specific” Linux cert as a better option. Most telling, however, is the fact that 85% chose “both” – earning both a vendor-specific and a vendor-neutral Linux cert – as the most desirable choice.

CompTIA’s own certification, called Linux+, is vendor-neutral. “It makes sense for people to learn about Linux on a vendor neutral training and certification program first, before they make the platform decision,” says Carol Balkcom, CompTIA’s product manager

CompTIA promotes Linux+ as a foundational certification, the kind of cert a techie earns when they’re first getting their feet wet.

“Linux+ is for people with six to twelve months experience” in Linux, she says. Indeed, the Linux+ cert is positioned beneath LPI’s Level 1 exam, she says. While the Linux+ cert is for newbies, it does presume some basic expertise with computers.

“By the time they get to Red Hat, they should have had some experience with Linux already, and made the determination that they need to get that platform-specific certification.”

The cost for the Linux+ exam is $225, though CompTIA members get a discount. The training manual, to prepare for the 98-question multiple-choice test, retails for $65. The total number of people who have earned Linux+ certification is approaching 10,000.

In terms of helping an applicant find a job, the Linux+ cert opens doors for help desk and tech support positions, Balkcom says. Any employer “who needs help with Linux boxes, I think if they were evaluating resumes, then having the Linux+ on there would make a difference.”

Take a look at these leading Linux certification programs:

Red Hat

Linux Professional Institute

CompTIA

SAIR Linux GNU