Red Hat Introduces New Certification and Role-Based Training Paths

Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) credential aligns with the skills of today's enterprise system administrators

RALEIGH, N.C. -

Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced 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 a highly 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. During this time, the IT infrastructure landscape has changed; 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 datacenters 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," said 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, enrollment 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," said 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 available in North America and Europe starting today, and will be phased in globally over the coming months.

For more information about Red Hat Training and these new offerings, visit www.redhat.com/training.

For additional information on the new training paths and delivery method, as well as for more details on the changes to the Red Hat certification program, visit www.press.redhat.com.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions and an S&P 500 company, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with over 65 offices spanning the globe. CIOs ranked Red Hat as one of the top vendors delivering value in Enterprise Software for seven consecutive years in the CIO Insight Magazine Vendor Value survey. Red Hat provides high-quality, affordable technology with its operating system platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, together with virtualization, applications, management and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) solutions, including Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization and JBoss Enterprise Middleware. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending, the effects of industry consolidation, uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements, the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; the ability of the Company to effectively compete; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

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  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
  • Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company’s growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.