What Is Red Hat Certification?

Earning a Red Hat certification could boost your resume and skill set, helping you take advantage of this growing computer job market and show proficiency with open-source software. 

Computer-related job markets could grow 12 percent between 2023 and 2033 due to increased demand for computer-related skills and the need to replace workers leaving their positions to retire or seek another occupation [1]. By earning certifications, you can increase your confidence in yourself while adding valuable credentials to your resume. 

Discover the various Red Hat certifications available and explore which ones could be right for you.

Why do you need a Red Hat certification?

Earning a Red Hat certification can help demonstrate your skills and knowledge of Red Hat open-source software products and services in various roles. It can be particularly helpful if you work in information technology-related roles, which require you to have particular skills and knowledge to enter or advance. Red Hat certification could be beneficial for proving your understanding of Red Hat products and services in roles such as system administration, engineering, and cloud and virtualization administration. It’s also notable that Red Hat provides services for more than 90 percent of US Fortune 500 companies, and it remains an industry leader worldwide.

Popular Red Hat certifications

Learn about some of the popular Red Hat certifications that could help you improve your knowledge of Red Hat products.

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

The Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification is an entry-level option to learn how to administer Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It covers core system administration skills, such as how to use essential tools for files and directories, create shell scripts, configure local storage and file systems, manage users and groups, and manage security issues.

Requirements: Previous Red Hat system administration courses or work experience as a system administrator for Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Cost (US): $500 [2]

Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

The Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certificate is the next step up from the RHCSA certification to show off your advanced skills with Red Hat Enterprise Linux in a DevOps environment. It tests you on tasks that illustrate your understanding of automation skills for deployment, management, and support.

Requirements: No formal requirements, but it’s recommended that you have an RHCSA certification. Existing RHCE holders must renew their certification after three years.

Cost (US): $500 [3]

Red Hat Certified OpenShift Application Developer

A Red Hat Certified OpenShift Application Developer certification is specifically designed to demonstrate your proficiency with the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. It can highlight your talent for self-managed OpenShift as well as versions of the tool for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

Requirements: No requirements, but it’s recommended you have experience with containers and Kubernetes

Cost (US): $500 [4]

Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration

The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration certification highlights your knowledge of the Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform. To earn this certification, you need to understand how to install, configure, and maintain applications on the platform.

Requirements: An RHCSA certificate or comparable experience, or you must have completed the Red Hat JBoss Application Administration I (AD248) course, or you must have work experience with JBoss EAP and applications

Cost (US): $500 [5]

Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Consider a Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) certification if you want to demonstrate your proficiency with a wide variety of Red Hat technologies. This certification is an addition to other Red Hat certifications you already have to prove your depth of understanding of Red Hat topics and technologies.

Requirements: You must hold a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), Red Hat Certified Enterprise Microservices Developer (RHCEMD), or Red Hat Certified Cloud-native Developer (RHCCD) certification with five additional current certifications in systems administration and development.

Cost (US): Varies depending on how many exams you take to earn your RHCA

Who can get a Red Hat certification?

A Red Hat certification is appropriate for anyone looking to show proficiency with different aspects of Red Hat technology. These certifications can be good for IT professionals who work with Red Hat Enterprise Linux in areas like application development, system administration, or cloud computing.

How to get a Red Hat certification

It’s important to review the different options for Red Hat certifications to decide which ones are right for you. Consider the following four steps toward earning your certification:

1. Choose the right certification.

Red Hat offers different certification options that cover a variety of topics. It’s important to assess your skills and decide how a certification could help you achieve your professional goals. You can review popular certification options or take a free skills assessment on Red Hat’s website to help you find the best options.

2. Review certification requirements.

Some certifications may have requirements or recommendations you need to review to see if you qualify for them. Consider researching the qualifications and evaluating how they align with your current work experience.

3. Enroll in training programs.

Red Hat offers training programs and classes that can help prepare you for your certification exam. Red Hat’s website allows you to search for training programs based on your certification path and/or the specific Red Hat products you want to learn more about.

4. Register for the exam.

Check the Red Hat website to register for the exam you need to take to earn your certification. You may be able to take an exam in person at a testing location or take your test virtually.

You can receive your exam results within five business days. The company gives you the option to retake an exam for free if you don’t pass it on your first try.

Training resources for Red Hat certification

You can find training resources to help you prepare for Red Hat certifications with online offerings tailored to your needs.

It could be a good idea to start with Red Hat itself, which provides courses customized for specific certifications. The company offers options for beginners who want to learn more about Linux and the basic aspects of Red Hat products, as well as more advanced users who want to earn multiple certifications through Red Hat.

You can also research training programs offered through third parties not affiliated with Red Hat to see if other options might fit your training needs.

Career opportunities with Red Hat certification

Earning a Red Hat certification can be helpful in your career, and it can be a requirement for some positions. Your certification could help you boost your salary and meet your professional goals.

Explore some of the Red Hat positions you could hold and their associated average annual salaries:

• Linux administrator: $96,859 [6]

• Database administrator: $89,889 [7]

• DevOps engineer: $113,420 [8]

• Cloud engineer: $111,902 [9]

Build skills to support Red Hat certification on Coursera

Red Hat certification can offer valuable credentials to help you boost your earning potential and meet your professional goals. Consider building your knowledge base and skill set with online educational programs like the IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate, or even earn your Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of London.

You’ll find these and many more options on Coursera.