Many people working this field often likes to ask, how important is Linux certification? It’s common knowledge that earning a Linux Certification is a great way to qualify your experience in the eyes of your peers and employer and to increase your organization’s proficiency with Linux-based applications. Acquiring certification indicates that you have completed the steps and have the knowledge required to perform at a specified level as an IT professional. Certification also proves to your employer and clients that your expertise is confirmed by a recognized industry organization and can increase your salary, enhance your skills and make your job more satisfying. If nothing else, it can keep your resume from being rejected by the resume-scanning programs now used by every Human Resources department these days.
Linux Certification - How Importance is it
The number of job ads calling for some knowledge of Linux has risen by nearly 100% over the last year. On the other hand the number of applicants choosing Linux certification hasn't risen proportionally. Part of the reason for this anomaly is that employers generally haven't put much faith in Linux certifications and therefore there has been little demand for them. Also, many of the Linux jobs advertised are for more senior and technical roles such as programmers and developers - skills that far outweigh the level that are tested on some Linux certification tracks. All that appears to be changing however, with Linux becoming ever more mainstream and people with Linux skills becoming more in demand.
Advantages of Linux Certification
While actual work experience with Linux or any computer technology will always count for so much more than any piece of paper, gaining Linux certification certainly won't do your credentials any harm. The demand for credentials in every field, computer-related or not, is increasing and one has to keep up with the pack.
Having that certification makes your resume stand out in a positive way and not having it might make it stand out in a negative one. Large bureaucratic IT organizations take them more seriously than groovy startups if that's the environment you're looking to work for.
There are several specific situations where I've found computer certification in general to be of benefit. First, certification courses offer better knowledge retention than the typical corporate training course since you do have to study to pass an exam, even if only a multiple-choice one. Another one is where you have related experience and is moving (or was moved) into a new environment.
Choice of Linux certification
There are several options to choose from and, given the amount of time and money that you'll need to invest into gaining your Linux certification, you'll want to be sure that you make the right certification track choice to begin with. For those new to Linux then the entry-level, vendor-neutral certifications offered by CompTIA (Information Technology (IT) Industry & Association) and LPI (Linux Professional Institute) an appropriate choice. However, these involve only multiple-choice tests and as a result have rather less credibility with technical managers.
If you are already working with Linux then one of the proprietary, more difficult, and more expensive Linux certifications (Red Hat, Novell) would be better suited. Like the respected Cisco certifications these certs involve rigorous hands-on practical exercises under severe time constraints and have much more credibility with technical managers. The cost is significant, especially if you have to retake the test, as almost 50% of Red Hat wannabes fail the first time around.
Given that there are numerous distributions of Linux available one problem of Linux certifications is that there is no central organization that can set the certification standards and ensure that the candidates meet those standards. What this means is that you have quite a degree of freedom to choose which certification track is right for you, but you equally need to be sure that the one you choose will meet your end needs.
Length of Time To Get Certified
The time span varies considerably depending on your choice of certification, current experience level, and the learning methods you employ. The biggest portion of your time will go to preparing for exams. For some of the certifications it's possible to compress preparation time into a few weeks - if you're willing and able to put just about everything else aside. It's more common and more practical for professionals who are earning certification on their own time to start with one exam, determine the requirements, self-study, and then take the exam. The process is repeated for the next exam for that certification.
Although many of the Linux certifications require just one exam, you may decide that one of the more complex certifications will provide more value to you in the long run. In this case, you can expect a longer study period and multiple exams. But whichever route you choose, you should be able to earn certification in less than a year.
Training Options
As with any other certification track that you take, Linux certifications can be taken by way of instructor led courses or you can undertake a regime of self-study on your own. Don't get too bogged down on deciding which distribution is better or is more likely to result in a job at the end of the day. While there are obvious differences between the various Linux distributions a degree of competency in one flavor will set you up to transition to the others if need be at a later stage.
Conclusion
There will not be any perfect answer to the question on how important is Linux certification as different people will have their own view. Most importantly, it is your own view that count. For myself, I would chose to go for certification so as to self-test my knowledge.
