Certificates of Expertise Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the Certificates of Expertise?
  2. Who is eligible to earn Certificates of Expertise?
  3. Why is RHCE required in order to take these exams?
  4. How long does a Certificate of Expertise remain current?
  5. These used to be called Endorsements. Why the name change?
  6. If one objective is to make each Certificate stand more on its own, why not make each one a separate certification?
  7. I'm an RHCE. Why should I earn one or more of these Certificates of Expertise?
  8. How are Certificates of Expertise related to Red Hat Certified Architect, Red Hat Certified Security Specialist, and Red Hat Certified Datacenter Specialist?

1. What are the Certificates of Expertise?

Certificates of Expertise are credentials that demonstrate specialized knowledge in particular areas of system administration using Red Hat supported technologies. The Certificates of Expertise we offer include

  • Network Services Security
  • Deployment and Systems Management
  • Directory Services and Authentication
  • SELinux Policy Administration
  • Clustering and Storage Management
  • System Monitoring and Performance Tuning

2. Who is eligible to earn Certificates of Expertise?

Only Red Hat Certified Engineers (RHCEs) certified on a current release are eligible to take the Expertise exams. RHCEs can determine whether they are current by entering their RHCE number at the verification page.

3. Why is RHCE required in order to take these exams?

We require RHCE because there are certain skills and knowledge we consider fundamental to most system administration tasks, and RHCE certifies people in those areas. If we did not have that requirement, we would need to test those skills in these other exams and we would need to duplicate that testing with each exam. By consolidating our testing in RHCE and making it a requirement, we are able to offer a core, foundational certification and build from it.

4. How long does a Certificate of Expertise remain current?

Certificates of Expertise do not expire and are not flagged as current or non-current, unlike the underlying RHCE. The verification page will report the technology releases associated with a given Certificate of Expertise. Some of these involve multiple technologies besides Red Hat Enterprise Linuxs and all release versions are reported. Consequently, we are leaving it up to the individual and the market to decide on how current "current enough" is. Someone who is seeking a new job and hoping to illustrate additional abilities in Clustering and Storage Management might find it beneficial to earn a newer Certificate of Expertise in that area if one has already been earned on an earlier release, for example.

5. These used to be called Endorsements. Why the name change?

We have decided to rename what were previously called Endorsements as Certificates of Expertise to clarify further that each Certificate is a worthy, meaningful, and valuable credential in its own right. Certificates of Expertise translates better, too, thus better serving our global audience.

6. If one objective is to make each Certificate stand more on its own, why not make each one a separate certification?

One important goal of our program is to keep it clear, simple, and useful. Rolling out a long list of titles does not help the IT manager who is trying to hire, nor the IT professional trying to get hired. Clarity does help. Someone who is an RHCE has our core credential and the skills and knowledge it embodies are portable to just about any IT shop using Red Hat Enterprise Linux. By using supplemental credentials like the Certificates of Expertise, we are able to build on the established value of RHCE. The Certificates provide additional information about areas of specialization, but the core credential of the program remains RHCE.

7. I'm an RHCE. Why should I earn one or more of these Certificates of Expertise?

The decision to pursue one or more Certificates of Expertise beyond earning RHCE depends on the individual. If you are seeking a new job or perhaps a new role with your existing employer, a Certificate of Expertise can provide real differentiation between you and other candidates. IT organizations are often highly specialized, so the ability to demonstrate proven skills in an area of specialization can be valuable. Beyond that, we would add that most people will find their professional lives more rewarding if they engage in a continual process of learning and growth. Certificates of Expertise are tangible measures of having really learned and mastered new skills.

8. How are Certificates of Expertise related to Red Hat Certified Architect, Red Hat Certified Security Specialist, and Red Hat Certified Datacenter Specialist?

The RHCA, RHCSS, and RHCDS certifications are earned by passing specific Certificates of Expertise.