Linux Professional Institute

Linux Professional Institute

Logo of LPI
Founded October 25, 1999
Type 149(1), Income Tax Act (Canada)
Focus IT qualification
Location
  • Canada Toronto, Canada
Products LPIC
Website http://www.lpi.org

The Linux Professional Institute Inc. (LPI) is a non-profit organization that provides vendor-independent professional certification for Linux system administrators and programmers.

The Linux Professional Institute Certifications (LPIC) provide a qualification that can be used to indicate that someone is competent at a certain level.

LPI Certification Program

The exams cover a range of different Linux based topics. The exams are available in almost every country in the world, and are translated into a number of different languages.

The exams are primarily multiple choice questions, with some written answers. These are either taken using a computer based system, or using a paper based exam.

The organisation encourages active community participation in creating and updating exams. Anyone can use the exam Objectives Development wiki, or the Exam Development Mailing List to participate in the creation of new exams and the update of the existing ones.

The exams are distribution-neutral, requiring a general knowledge of Linux rather than specifics about a certain distribution. This is shown in the way that the exams deal with the differing package management formats .deb and .rpm. In earlier versions of the test one of these was chosen by the candidate; in the current version the candidate is expected to know both formats.

The LPI program has a three level hierarchy for professional certifications. Each level is mapped to one certification, as follows:

In 2012, LPI announced an introductory level certification, called Linux Essentials.

Organization

The Linux Professional Institute Inc. was incorporated as a Canadian non-profit organisation on the 25 October 1999. It is headquartered near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The exams are not normally administered by Linux Professional Institute Inc., but instead through one of their training partners. Most exams are administered through a Pearson VUE test centre. Also a number of exams offered at major Linux and IT trade shows and conferences where the exams are often available at a reduced price, or sometimes even free of charge.

The LPI is also a founding member of the Desktop Linux Consortium.

International affiliates

LPI works with organizations around the world to ensure the growth and adoption of Linux, Open Source and Free Software. This work involves a strategy of assisting and co-operating with existing organizations that share similar interests. Our "Regional Enablement Initiative" focuses on identifying the best partner organizations in regions around the globe that are best suited for the task of promoting Linux professionalism and are also able, with our assistance, to identify other partner organizations [1]

Recertification policy

LPI has changed its recertification policy three times from its founding. At first there was no recertification policy, but on 1 September 2004 LPI decided to introduce a ten-year recertification policy in order to supply relevant and current skills. Certification designations earned before 1 September 2004 were considered lifetime designations and were not affected by that policy. Again on 1 December 2006 LPI decided that the provided skills were not relevant and current so they introduced a five-year recertification policy.[2] Candidates who have earned LPIC certifications will have to re-certify every five years or alternatively earn a higher certification status even if their certification was earned prior to 1 September 2004. However, certification designations earned prior to 1 September 2003 were considered ACTIVE certifications until September 1, 2008.

See also

References

  1. ↑ International Affiliates | Linux Professional Institute. LPI. Retrieved on 2014-05-23.
  2. ↑

External links

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: LPI Linux Certification