Red Hat training & certification

Our training courses teach you the fundamentals of each of our technologies, with practical use cases and in some cases access to hands-on labs designed to help you use our products successfully. By certifying those skills, you prove what you know and can do and validate your knowledge to the market or an employer.

You can get further details—including requirements and objectives—about each offering by reviewing the individual descriptions within our full lists of courses and certifications.

To accommodate the demanding schedules of modern professionals, we offer flexible testing options worldwide:

• Remote Exams: Secure testing from your own location.
• Testing Centers: Proctored environments at global facilities.
• On-site/Classroom: Integrated testing following training sessions

All methods use the same performance-based testing to ensure a consistent and rigorous validation of your skills. For more information, visit our Ways to Test page.

Use our online compatibility tester to check your connection for training. For remote exams, you must successfully run our Mandatory Compatibility Test via LiveUSB before your exam date. This ensures your hardware and network meet our secure environment standards.

You can take nearly any Red Hat exam from your own home or office via our remote exam delivery option. It offers the same secure, performance-based experience as a testing center, available globally. For training, the Red Hat Learning Subscription provides 24/7 digital access to our entire catalog and hands-on labs.

Our classroom requirements datasheet can help you properly configure your classroom as part of an interactive and efficient training environment. You’ll get all the information you need about classroom computing hardware, operating system requirements, CPU specifications, hardware virtualization support, and more.

Certification candidates who are unsuccessful on their first individual exam attempt are now eligible for a free exam retake. The retake will appear in your scheduling application after your first exam results have been reported. To schedule the free retake, use the same process as scheduling an exam for the first time.If you have a Standard or Premium Learning Subscription, you can take up to 5 different exams. For each exam, you have a maximum of 1 free retake at no cost to you. If you need more than 2 attempts on the same exam, you will need to pay for another attempt.

Training builds your skills, but certification validates them through hands-on, performance-based testing. For individuals, it provides impartial proof of expertise in a competitive market. For organizations, certified teams de-risk infrastructure, lower security threats, and keep critical projects on track by ensuring every admin can handle real-world challenges. Learn more about the value of certification in our 4 reasons to get Red Hat certified checklist.

Our subscription plan lets you access our entire portfolio of self-paced training and additional content, produced only for subscribers. We craft our lab environments so that you can gain skills and expertise with Red Hat products and architecture without spending your time on procuring and configuring local hardware. These environments are not simulations, but actual systems allocated to you for your laboratory use (subject to terms and conditions).

You can get more details about the Red Hat Learning Subscription program by viewing our more extensive FAQ resource.

To help remove the guesswork from skill validation, Red Hat Certification has created 5 specialized tracks to align our certifications with major product platforms such as RHEL, AI, OpenShift, and Ansible. These tracks create progressive paths to navigate from a beginner all the way to a Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA), with the new Technologist tier providing an easier entry point for individuals to kickstart their careers and businesses to onboard junior talent faster. Along with these changes, we also wanted to make staying current easier and more affordable by automatically renewing the same-level and lower-level credentials as professionals advance their skills. Read our datasheet to learn more.

As of May 11, 2026, Red Hat Certification has reorganized exams into a structured, five-level path to progressive skill development, making them easier to navigate and more aligned with the Red Hat platforms you rely on daily. We have moved to a 5-tier framework—Technologist, Administrator/Developer, Engineer, Specialist, and Architect—across 5 key specializations - Enterprise Linux, Ansible, OpenShift, Cloud-native Applications, and AI. To achieve Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) in any given track, a candidate must pass exactly five specific exams: one Administrator/Developer exam, one Engineer exam, and three Specialist (elective) exams. Explore the updated framework.

Red Hat Certification now focuses on five core product concentration areas:

• Enterprise Linux
• Ansible
• OpenShift
• Cloud-native Applications
• AI

Each track follows a standardized progression: Technologist → Administrator/Developer → Engineer → Specialist (Electives) → Architect. To achieve Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) in any given track, a candidate must pass exactly five specific exams: one Administrator/Developer exam, one Engineer exam, and three Specialist (elective) exams. 

Red Hat Certification’s framework is prescriptive to help you choose your path based on two main factors: your technology specialization and your current role or experience level.

• Choose Your Technology Specialization First: Identify which product platform or technology domain you primarily work with
• Identify Your Role and Experience Level: Once you know your specialization, you should align your daily responsibilities with certification tracks

This is a new, optional entry-level tier for career changers or students. It features a hands-on, proctored exam with a narrower, operator-focused scope, serving as a more accessible starting point than the full administrator or developer exams.

No, the entry-level "Technologist" certifications are optional. This tier is designed as an optional, entry-level starting point to help junior talent become productive contributors faster as they gain more experience in preparation for higher level certifications.

Yes, although the technologist certification tier is an optional entry point, you earn a valid Red Hat certification that is based on a specific specialization product track and is good for a period of three years. It is designed for those who are new to IT or Red Hat who need to demonstrate foundational competency.  Like all other Red Hat certifications, candidates for a technologist certification also need to take and pass a rigorous performance-based exam. This allows you to officially call yourself a Red Hat Certified Professional.

No, the foundational Technologist exams do not count toward earning a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) certification. The Technologist tier is designed as an optional, entry-level starting point to help junior talent become productive contributors faster as they gain more experience in preparation for higher level certifications.

No, candidates have the flexibility to take specialist (elective) exams at any time, and upon passing, they will be awarded those individual specialist credentials. However, while you can earn these individual specialist badges out of order, they will not automatically trigger the Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) title. To achieve the RHCA certification, you will also need to earn the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certification for that track, and pass three specialist exams within that specific product concentration.

To efficiently align with our new progressive specializations, some of the existing Red Hat Certification titles are getting an update to better reflect targeted skills for both earners and employers. For these exams, only the names are changing, so the exam SKUs, content, descriptions, and difficulty remain exactly the same:

Certifications remain valid for three years, but renewal is now more flexible:

• 3-Year Validity: Certifications are current for 3 years from the date earned.
• Expiration: Renewal must be completed before the expiration date. Expired certifications must be earned again from scratch.
• Renewal Options: To keep your certifications current, you have three primary paths:
  • Retake: Pass the exam associated with your highest-level certification to renew all your lower-level certifications.
  • Level Up: Earn a new certification at the same level as your highest certification to renew all your certifications at that level and below.
• Advance: Earn a higher-level certification to renew all your lower-level certifications

No. If you are currently studying or preparing to study, your plan should remain the same. There are no changes to the exam content, exam objectives, the training we recommend, the price of our exams, or how our exams are proctored. The certification framework structural changes are the mapping of existing certifications into five distinct specializations, levels assigned to each certification based on where it falls in the journey to expertise, updated titles of some existing certifications/ corresponding exams, and a new holder-friendly recertification policy. For more information, please see our blog detailing the structural changes. 

As of May 11, 2026, the updated Red Hat Certification titles are officially displayed through the Red Hat verification page. For more details on how these changes affect your certification path, please refer to this datasheet for more information.

No, Red Hat is committed to ensuring that no one is negatively affected or discredited by these changes. Existing certifications are grandfathered and mapped into the new framework.

No, there will be no automatic "bump-ups" to higher levels. You will only be awarded the equivalent certification within the new framework

The new rules apply retroactively to all active (unexpired) certifications. Once you pass a new exam after the changes on May 11, 2026, the updated renewal and mapping rules will apply to your entire active transcript.

The Red Hat Certified System Administrator exam (EX200) serves as the foundational entry-level requirement for both the Enterprise Linux and Ansible tracks. Red Hat requires candidates to pass this baseline exam for both paths because professionals must first know how to manage and administer a system before they can effectively automate it.

You will be awarded the equivalent RHCA certification. For example, if you are a Red Hat Certified OpenShift Architect, you will be awarded the Red Hat Certified Architect in OpenShift certification. 

The primary goal of the certification framework is to achieve greater clarity regarding expertise, which means RHCA levels will no longer be officially supported. However, it is expected that many individuals who currently hold RHCA levels will have their existing certifications mapped to a variety of RHCA specializations.

Yes. In the old system, passing EX294 without holding an RHCSA yielded no credential. Under the new framework, passing EX294 alone grants a standalone specialist certification (Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible).  This will fix the historical issue and properly recognize your achievement.

This is a new, optional entry-level tier to validate the foundational technical skills required to perform basic installation, configuration, and maintenance for a specific Red Hat product or technology. Once you pass this certification, continue by pursuing an Administrator/Developer level certification within your specialization.

You are already halfway there. Under the new "stackable" model, passing an advanced-level exam in your specialization will automatically trigger your Engineer designation. There is no longer a need to pass another exam for the higher title. You may also choose to pursue another Administrator/Developer certification in a different product specialization.

You've shown you can manage, automate, and scale complex environments at an enterprise level. To progress further, complete specialist exams that map to earning Red Hat Certified Architect within your current specialization. 

Specialist certifications remain the core building blocks of our program and give you a modular and flexible way to build your professional portfolio. You can take advantage of another single specialist exam to validate deep proficiency in specific, high-value functional areas. Continue to reach 3 specialist exams from the same track and pass your Red Hat Certified Engineer to become a Red Hat Certified Architect in that specialization.

Congratulations, you've reached the highest level of certification within your specialization. Ensure you keep this current by always renewing your certification prior to its expiration and continue your learning journey by exploring other pathways.

You must be 18 or older to take an exam. Most testing sites require government-issued photo identification to verify age and identity. If you are in a region for which government-issued photo IDs are not available, contact your local Red Hat office or your authorized Red Hat training partner for guidance on acceptable forms of identification. To find more requirements and exam prerequisites, check the descriptions within our full list of certifications and exams.

Log into the Red Hat Certification Central portal to make changes or updates to your profile.

You can verify any credential by entering the certificate number on our verification page. To keep your certifications active, you must renew them before they expire through one of three paths:

- Retake: Pass the current version of your specific exam.

- Level up: Earn a higher-tier certification within the same specialization (e.g., moving from Administrator to Engineer).

- Advance: Earn a new Specialist or Architect credential, which automatically extends all your qualifying lower-tier certifications.

Expired certifications cannot be renewed; they must be earned again from scratch. Log into Red Hat Certification Portal to track your expiration dates.

If you have certifications from before the renewal rule changes, the updated renewal and mapping rules will apply to your entire active transcript once you pass a new exam.

The Red Hat Training and Certification program offers digital credentials and downloadable certificates through Credly. Learn more about Digital Credentialing at Red Hat and read this blog to learn how to collect your badge.

Explore information about retired Red Hat Certifications here. 

After you pass an exam or earn an automated designation (such as Red Hat Certified Engineer), Red Hat issues a digital badge via Credly. To claim your credentials:

1. Check your email: Look for a notification from Red Hat via Credly.

2. Accept your badge: Click the link in the email to sign in or create a Credly account.

3. Download and Share: Once accepted, you can download your official certificate and share your digital badge directly to LinkedIn and other professional networks.

Subsequent badges will be automatically added to your existing Credly profile, making it easy to showcase your evolving expertise across Red Hat specializations.

For support, send an email to digitalcredentialing@redhat.com which will open a ticket with our internal team.

Red Hat issues digital badges via Credly to validate your course attendance and engagement. Requirements vary by how you learn:

- Instructor-led (Live): You receive a badge automatically after attending the scheduled sessions.

- Self-paced: You receive a badge once you complete at least 75% of the course content.

Key details:

- Version specific: You can earn one badge per course version (e.g., RHEL 9 vs. RHEL 10).

- Uniformity: Badges recognize the knowledge gained and do not differentiate between learning formats.

- Timeline: All Credly badges include your specific completion or attendance date.

For support, send an email to digitalcredentialing@redhat.com which will open a ticket with our internal team.

Login to your subscription and check your email for information on getting started.

You will receive an email with your official results within three U.S. business days of completing your exam. To ensure delivery, verify that your account email is accurate and check your spam folder if results are delayed.

Your results will include a 'Pass/Fail' status, as well as an objective-based score breakdown, providing transparency into your performance across specific exam sections.

If you do not receive your results after three business days, please contact the Red Hat Certification team for assistance.

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Your Red Hat subscription gives you direct access to the product knowledge and best practices you need to build, deploy, and manage your enterprise solutions. For access to product documentation and to connect with Red Hat support, check out the Red Hat Customer Portal, which includes a searchable knowledgebase, product documentation, and other support features. For assistance in managing your subscription, account, or user permissions, please reach out to our customer service team.

When you’re in need of more than just technical expertise, our consulting program can team you with a strategic adviser. A Red Hat expert will work with you to identify business challenges, propose viable solutions, and understand how to scale to your business’s unique needs.

When potential problems arise, you want someone on your side to minimize disruption and resolve issues while you focus on your key business challenges. If your organization would benefit from a seasoned professional to guide you through best practices, supportability assessments, lifecycle planning, early beta access, and other stops on your technology roadmap, find out more about our Technical Account Management program.

Red Hat Academy seeks to help prepare students for the enterprise through mastery of Red Hat technologies in an institutional setting. Using hands-on instruction, curriculum, labs, and performance-based testing, we have partner institutions all over the world who work with us to enable their IT infrastructures and foster innovative ways for their students to learn.