Red Hat, Inc. has launched a new base-level certification that will allow system administrators to validate their ability to perform the key tasks required of Red Hat Enterprise Linux system administrators in today's IT environments. The new certification, Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), will replace Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) with the launch of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Red Hat also announced that it has restructured its industry-leading training curriculum by implementing an interactive, facilitative teaching approach, and will offer distinct training paths that are more tightly aligned with today's IT job roles and tasks.
Red Hat has offered Linux system administration certifications and courses for more than a decade. However, during this time, the IT infrastructure landscape has changed. For example, Linux deployments in enterprise IT environments have expanded, job roles are more fluid and system administrators need skills across multiple platforms to keep today's complex data centers running. As a result, Red Hat Training has restructured its curriculum to offer training paths that more closely align with the diverse customer job profiles, backgrounds and skill-set goals including Windows and Solaris administrators.
“With the introduction of the RHCSA certification, role-based training paths, and new facilitative training delivery approach, we are providing a training and certification program that is more aligned with today's marketplace,” says Danielle Tomlinson, senior director of Red Hat Training. “As Red Hat continues to penetrate the enterprise, it becomes more important for today's technical leaders to be trained and certified on Red Hat's products and solutions.”
With the launch of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat is also introducing two distinct curriculum tracks aligned with the new credential. For IT professionals who do not have extensive Linux command line experience, enrolment will begin with the Red Hat System Administration I and II courses, including the RHCSA exam. For practicing system administrators with at least one year of experience, an accelerated RHCSA Fast Track course will be offered. To help prospective course participants determine the right path, a skills assessment has been designed to reflect the new curriculum and provide prescriptive multi-course training paths based upon experience level and goals.
“We have worked closely with Red Hat for three years as a Red Hat-certified training partner,” says Hees Ham, co-CEO of ExitCertified Corporation. “Their training courses and certifications are well-known in the industry, and praised by employers and employees alike. With its offerings, Red Hat Training provides students with the skills to manage, scale and secure their Red Hat deployments with ease and confidence.”
To earn the RHCSA credential, candidates must demonstrate the skills required to be a successful Linux system administrator through a hands-on, half-day exam. Candidates who pass the hands-on RHCSA exam will be better equipped to handle the frequent and critical tasks required of Linux system administrators. While there are some key differences between the RHCSA and the outgoing RHCT programs, RHCSA certifications will be issued retroactively to individuals who have earned RHCT on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.
Red Hat's new curriculum delivers four discrete learning paths for IT professionals. A track for Windows and other IT professionals accustomed to GUI-based system administration, a track for Solaris system administrators, as well as tracks for both mid-level and senior Linux system administrators. Each track is optimized to build on existing skills and focuses on tasks that will be immediately relevant.
Red Hat Training has always placed a focus on practical, relevant hands-on labs for course participants to practice skills and tasks in its courses. The new curriculum is designed to increase student participation by incorporating a highly interactive teaching approach that actively engages course participants in task-focused activities, lab-based knowledge checks and workshop-based discussions. The new courses aim to increase knowledge retention and ensure return on investment for the enterprise, as well as increased job productivity for the individual.
The new RHCSA certification, course offerings and skills assessment tool are already available in North America and will be phased in globally over the coming months.