Recertification policies

A good recertification policy ensures that employers who make hiring and management decisions informed by a certification have a relevant, up-to-date tool. Over time, technology changes, so it's important to gauge whether your knowledge and skills have kept pace.

It's also important that you use your certification skills regularly enough to keep them sharp. Inactivity with a technology can mean that you're unfamiliar with a newer release and might not have retained skills on an earlier one.

Until the release of Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 6, a certification holder remained current for 2 major releases. For example, if you earned your Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE®) credential under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, you remained current until 60 days after the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

With the release of Red Hat enterprise Linux 6, a new 3-year calendar-based current window is in effect for Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) and RHCE certifications earned or recertified on Red Hat enterprise Linux 6. If an RHCSA or RHCE earned on Red Hat enterprise Linux 6 passes a higher-level exam during that 3-year period, Red Hat will reset the 3-year current window to the date of the most recent exam.

These changes to the current window ensure that employers can count on Red Hat-certified individuals to be able to demonstrate the skills needed for today's technology.

Currency policy for RHCT/RHCE (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and below)

• Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT)/RHCE certifications earned on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 will become non-current 60 days after general availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
• For RHCEs earned under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, they are required to recertify their RHCE certification to retain upper-level credentials such as Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS), Red Hat Certified Datacenter Specialist (RHCDS), and Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA).
• RHCT earned under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 will automatically be converted to the RHCSA certification—a replacement certification for RHCT and one that more accurately reflects the system administrator's job role, level of understanding, and skill set.
• RHCE certification earned under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 will be considered current until 60 days after the general availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.
• An RHCE under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 can move to the new recertification policy by recertifying as an RHCE under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Currency policy for RHCVA and JBCAA (all releases)

• JBoss Certified Application Administrator (JBCAA) and Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator (RHCVA) certifications have a current window of 3 calendar years.

Currency policies for RHCSA/RHCE (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and above)

• RHCSA and RHCE certifications have a current window of 3 calendar years.
• If an RHCSA under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 earns an RHCE, the current window is adjusted to the date one passes the RHCE Exam (EX300).
• If an RHCE earned on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 passes an expertise exam*, the current window moves to the date one passes the expertise exam.

*Candidates who earned RHCE under Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (or earlier) and then earn a Certificate of Expertise after Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 will not have their currency extended.

Summary of currency status and actions