Wake Technical Community College has announced a new workforce development training program created through a collaboration with Red Hat. Designed to give students a strong set of skills for entry into an IT career, this pilot program marks an initiative that will bring training opportunities to students in and around the Raleigh, N.C. area, home to Red Hat’s global headquarters.

It is common practice within the IT industry to require or lend preference to certified candidates within the job applicant pool. The world of enterprise open source software is no exception, as verified expertise in Linux and related technologies proves valuable to organizations and individuals alike. 

With more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies relying upon Red Hat technologies in one form or another, Red Hat Enterprise Linux has solidified its position in the marketplace as a key platform to understand. Studies have shown that trained employees can help organizations reach their business goals, and individuals that successfully validate their understanding of RHEL and other open source technology by way of certification may find themselves at an advantage within the workforce.

Beginning in August 2021, a new course focused on the Red Hat Certified Systems Administrator certification is planned for inclusion in Wake Tech’s catalogue. It is scoped as a four-month program available online, in-person, or as a hybrid, and has two parts: Red Hat System Administration I and Red Hat System Administration II. 

This program is designed to prepare students to take on the Red Hat Certified System Administrator exam through the installation and maintenance of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system.

In addition, students that successfully complete the course will be offered career counseling, networking, and mentoring opportunities. With both Red Hat and Wake Tech investing back in local communities to foster the growth of open source talent, we can begin to address the skills gap and help maintain pace with technological change.

To learn more about our collaboration with Wake Technical Community College, see Wake Tech's announcement on their site.

Check out Wake Tech's July 15 entry to their "We Are Wake Tech" podcast, “Red Hat Special Announcement.” Red Hat Director of Certification Randy Russell guests on the podcast to discuss the exciting new collaboration to bring high-quality IT training to students.


About the author

Karl Reynolds is the Senior Director of Red Hat Training and Certification, based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. In this role, he provides strategic direction and leads the sales and delivery of new Red Hat Training and Certification offerings globally.

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