RhCE

RHCE stands for Red Hat Certified Engineer, a professional certification offered by Red Hat that validates advanced skills in administering and securing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) systems and related technologies. It is part of Red Hat’s certification program and is designed for experienced Linux administrators who manage enterprise environments, often involving automation and integration with other Red Hat products.

Prerequisites and pathway: The typical path begins with the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification. RHCE is earned after demonstrating elevated competence in RHEL administration beyond the basics. The exact prerequisites and required version may vary by release, as Red Hat updates its certification tracks to align with current RHEL versions.

Exam format and scope: The RHCE exam is a hands-on, performance-based test conducted in a controlled, proctored environment. Candidates complete real-world tasks on a live RHEL system within a defined time window. The exam is version-specific to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux release targeted (for example, the version corresponding to a particular major RHEL release). It typically covers areas such as configuring and managing services, networking, storage, security hardening, and automation with tools such as Ansible, reflecting modern enterprise administration practices.

Validity and renewal: Red Hat certifications are generally valid for a fixed period (commonly three years). To maintain status for a given version, recipients must recertify when the certification expires, typically by passing the current version of the RHCE exam or by earning a higher-level Red Hat certification.

Related certifications: The RHCE sits within a family that includes the RHCSA (foundational), various Red Hat Certified Specialists, and the Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA), a capstone credential achieved by earning multiple specialties.