Linux Foundation certifications are highly regarded credentials in the IT industry, demonstrating expertise in various aspects of open-source technologies and Linux-based systems. These certifications provide professionals with the opportunity to validate their skills, enhance their career prospects, and stay abreast of the latest advancements in the field. Just like any other certification program, Linux Foundation exams require regular updates to keep up with the evolving technology landscape and ensure the relevance and currency of the certifications.
In this blog, we will delve into the importance of staying updated with Linux Foundation certification exam content and explore the recent updates that have been made. We will discuss the significance of these updates, and the benefits they bring to certified professionals, and provide tips on how to stay informed and effectively prepare for the exams.
Linux Foundation Certification – March 2024 Exam Updates
The Linux Foundation certification exams have undergone significant updates in recent years to ensure that they remain aligned with the latest trends and technologies in the open-source ecosystem. These updates reflect the dynamic nature of the industry and the evolving needs of professionals. Here are some notable recent updates:
1. New Exams
Linux Foundation has decided to upgrade its exam list by adding new exams. These exams will reflect the latest concepts and innovations to help candidates get more advanced. The exams are:
Istio Certified Associate (ICA):
The ICA is a certification for people who are into engineering, CI/CD, or just really into Istio. It’s like a badge for those who want to show off their skills in these areas.
Course Outline:
- Istio Installation, Upgrade & Configuration 7%
- Traffic Management 40%
- Resilience and Fault Injection 20%
- Securing Workloads 20%
- Advanced Scenarios 13%
Certified Argo Project Associate (CAPA):
The CAPA is a certification for those into engineering, data science, or anyone keen on proving they get how the Argo Project ecosystem works.
Course Outline:
- Argo Workflows 36%
- ARGO CD 34%
- Argo Rollouts 18%
- Argo Events 12%
Cilium Certified Associate (CCA):
The CCA is an entry-level certification designed for platform or cloud engineers with interests in networking, security, and observability.
Course Outline:
- Architecture 20%
- Network Policy 18%
- Service Mesh 16%
- Network Observability 10%
- Installation and Configuration
- Cluster Mesh
- eBPF
- BGP and External Networking
Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA):
The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) exam show that a user is capable of hardening security controls, testing and monitoring security, and participating in assessments of security threats and vulnerabilities. This understanding of the baseline security configuration of Kubernetes clusters is necessary to meet compliance objectives.
Course Outline:
- Overview of Cloud Native Security14%
- Kubernetes Cluster Component Security22%
- Kubernetes Security Fundamentals22%
- Kubernetes Threat Model16%
- Platform Security16%
- Compliance and Security Frameworks10%
Hyperledger Fabric Certified Practitioner (HFCP):
Candidates can show their knowledge of the foundations of blockchain technology, the Hyperledger Fabric model, and networks by clearing the Hyperledger Fabric Certified Practitioner (HFCP) exam, which includes creating production installations.
Course Outline:
- Fundamentals of Blockchain16%
- Hyperledger Fabric Networks36 %
- Smart Contracts24%
- Client Applications24%
Certified GitOps Associate (CGOA):
Candidates can demonstrate their knowledge of GitOps principles, terminology, and best practices by passing the Certified GitOps Associate (CGOA) exam. They can also demonstrate their understanding of related practices like Configuration of Code, Infrastructure as Code, DevOps & DevSecOps, and CI & CD and how to map them to GitOps.
Course Outline:
- GitOps Terminology20%
- GitOps Principles30%
- Related Practices16%
- GitOps Patterns20%
- Tooling14%
2. Course Outline Update
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) Exam:
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS) has some modifications in it’s it domain. Below you can check both previous and updated course outlines:
Previous Course Outline:
- Essential Commands 25%
- Operation of Running Systems 20%
- User and Group Management 10%
- Networking 12%
- Service Configuration 20%
- Storage Management 13%
Updated Course Outline:
- Operations Deployment25%
- Networking 25%
- Storage20%
- Essential Commands20%
- Users and Groups10%
Shell Scripting Using Bash (SC103) Exam:
Linux Foundation has provided some changes in the course outline of the Shell Scripting Using Bash (SC103) exam. Check below to understand the changes:
Previous Course Outline:
- Editors and Script Basics
- Variables
- Operators
- Customize the Shell Environment
- Shell Parameter Expansion
- Flow Control
- File Processing
- Functions
- Command Line Arguments
- Process Handling and Running Scripts
- Scheduling Scripts
- Debugging Scripts
- Scripting @ The Command-line
- Linux Commands
- Standard I/O Concepts
Updated Course Outline:
- Interactive use of Bash
- Bash configuration, flags, and options
- Simple Commands, Basic Syntax, and Builtins
- Variables, Special Parameters, and Environment
- Expansion, Globbing, and Quoting
- Conditional Expressions, Control Structures, and Operators
- Compound Commands and Functions
- I/O: Pipes, redirections, and reading input
Overview of Linux Foundation Certifications
Linux Foundation certifications are globally recognized credentials that validate professionals’ knowledge and expertise in open-source technologies and Linux-based systems. These certifications are designed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving technology landscape and provide professionals with the skills necessary to excel in their careers. Here is the list of Linux Foundation active certification exams:
| Certification Name | Code | Course Outline |
| Certified Kubernetes Administrator | CKA | Storage10% Troubleshooting30% Workloads & Scheduling15% Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration25% Services & Networking20% |
| Certified Kubernetes Application Developer | CKAD | Application Design and Build20% Application Deployment20% Application Observability and Maintenance15% Application Environment, Configuration and Security25% Services and Networking20% |
| Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist | CKS | Custer Setup10% Cluster Hardening15% System Hardening15% Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities20% Supply Chain Security20% Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security20% |
| Linux Foundation Certified Cloud Technician | LFCT | Essential Commands20% System Configuration15% Troubleshooting20% Virtualization and Containers20% GitOps Basics25% |
| Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator | LFCS | Operations Deployment25% Networking 25% Storage20% Essential Commands20% Users and Groups10% |
| Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate | LFCA | Linux Fundamentals20% System Administration Fundamentals20% Cloud Computing Fundamentals20% Security Fundamentals16% DevOps Fundamentals16% Supporting Applications and Developers8% |
| OpenJS Node.js Services Developer | JSNSD | Servers and Services70% Security30 % |
| OpenJS Node.js Application Developer | JSNAD | Buffer and Streams11% Control flow 12 % Child Processes8% Diagnostics6% Error Handling8% Node.js CLI4% Events11% File System8% JavaScript Prerequisites7% Module system 7% Process/Operating System6% Package.json6% Unit Testing6% |
| FinOps Certified Practitioner | FOCP | Challenge of Cloud8% What is FinOps & FinOps Principles 12% FinOps Teams & Motivation 12% FinOps Capabilities28% FinOps Lifecycle30% Terminology & the Cloud Bill10% |
| Certified TARS Application Developer | CTAD | Configuration12% Database & Storage6% Installation & Deployment10% Logging & Monitoring18% RPC & Networking18% Scheduling16% TARS Core Concepts8% Testing6% Troubleshooting6% |
| Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate | KCNA | Kubernetes Fundamentals46% Container Orchestration22% Cloud Native Architecture16% Cloud Native Observability8% Cloud Native Application Delivery8% |
| RISC-V Foundational Associate | RVFA | RISC-V Overview10% RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture35% Assembly Language for RISC-V25% High Level Languages for RISC-V: C Programming15% RISC-V Operating Systems & Tools15% |
| Prometheus Certified Associate | PCA | Observability Concepts18% Prometheus Fundamentals20% PromQL28% Instrumentation and Exporters16% Alerting & Dashboarding18% |
| Text Editing with Vim | SC100 | Created, open, and save files Insert, edit, and append text Mark, cut, copy, and paste text Search and replace text Configure and personalize Vim Filter and transform text Use buffers, windows, and tabs Work with multiple files within Vim |
| Shell Scripting Using Bash | SC103 | Interactive use of Bash Bash configuration, flags, and options Simple Commands, Basic Syntax, and Builtins Variables, Special Parameters, and Environment Expansion, Globbing, and Quoting Conditional Expressions, Control Structures, and Operators Compound Commands and Functions I/O: Pipes, redirections, and reading input |
| Source Control Management with Git | SC102 | Clone and initialize repositories Stage and snapshot changes Branch and tag repositories Reconcile changes Inspect and compare commits Work with remote repositories Undo changes and modify commits Use temporary commits |
| Open Data Formats: YAML | SC101 | Formatting YAML documents Data types YAML document streams Data type notations and implicit typing Anchors and aliases Validate YAML documents |
| Developing Helm Charts | SC104 | Create charts using basic templating Customize existing charts Manage chart dependencies Use chart hooks Understand types of charts Test and troubleshoot (charts, templates, and values) Publish charts |
| Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate | KCSA | Overview of Cloud Native Security14% Kubernetes Cluster Component Security22% Kubernetes Security Fundamentals22% Kubernetes Threat Model16% Platform Security16% Compliance and Security Frameworks10% |
| Hyperledger Fabric Certified Practitioner | HFCP | Fundamentals of Blockchain16% Hyperledger Fabric Networks36 % Smart Contracts24% Client Applications24% |
| Certified GitOps Associate | CGOA | GitOps Terminology20% GitOps Principles30% Related Practices16% GitOps Patterns20% Tooling14% |
| Istio Certified Associate | ICA | Istio Installation, Upgrade & Configuration 7% Traffic Management 40% Resilience and Fault Injection 20% Securing Workloads 20% Advanced Scenarios 13% |
| Cilium Certified Associate | CCA | Architecture 20% Network Policy 18% Service Mesh 16% Network Observability 10% Installation and Configuration Cluster Mesh eBPF BGP and External Networking |
| Certified Argo Project Associate | CAPA | Argo Workflows 36% ARGO CD 34% Argo Rollouts 18% Argo Events 12% |
Why Certification Exams Need Updates?
Certification exams play a vital role in validating the knowledge, skills, and expertise of professionals in a specific field. However, as industries and technologies evolve, certification exams need to undergo regular updates to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. Here are some reasons why certification exams require updates:
- Evolving Technology Landscape: Technology is constantly advancing, and new tools, frameworks, and methodologies are introduced to meet changing industry needs. Certification exams need to reflect these advancements to ensure that certified professionals are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills relevant to their field.
- Industry Best Practices and Standards: Best practices and industry standards evolve over time as new insights, research, and experiences emerge. Certification exams must incorporate these updated practices to ensure that certified professionals adhere to the most current industry standards and deliver high-quality work.
- Emerging Trends and Innovations: Certification exams should address emerging trends and innovations to keep professionals abreast of the latest developments in their field. This ensures that certified individuals can effectively leverage new technologies and stay competitive in the industry.
- Feedback and Insights from Practitioners: Ongoing feedback from certified professionals, industry experts, and practitioners is invaluable for improving certification exams. Their input helps identify areas that may require updates or revisions, ensuring that exams remain aligned with real-world scenarios and challenges faced by professionals.
- Avoiding Obsolescence: Without updates, certification exams run the risk of becoming outdated and losing their value in the industry. Regular updates ensure that certifications remain relevant and meaningful, providing professionals with current knowledge and skills that employers and clients seek.
- Quality Assurance and Credibility: Updating certification exams helps maintain the quality and credibility of the certification program. By incorporating the latest advancements and best practices, certification bodies can ensure that certified professionals meet the highest standards and are prepared to tackle real-world challenges.
Final words
Linux Foundation certifications offer professionals the opportunity to validate their skills and expertise in open-source technologies and Linux-based systems. With the rapidly evolving technology landscape, these certifications play a crucial role in staying relevant, advancing careers, and meeting industry demands.
By earning Linux Foundation certifications, professionals can demonstrate their competence, expand their career opportunities, and contribute to the open-source community. The certifications validate proficiency in the latest industry best practices, standards, and emerging technologies, ensuring that certified individuals are well-equipped to tackle real-world challenges.
To achieve Linux Foundation certifications, professionals must pass rigorous exams that assess practical knowledge and skills in their respective domains. Continuous learning, staying updated with the latest industry trends, and hands-on experience are essential for exam success and maintaining the certifications’ value over time.
Whether you are starting your journey in Linux and open-source technologies or looking to advance your career, Linux Foundation certifications offer a pathway to success. Embrace the opportunity to validate your expertise, enhance your skills, and contribute to the ever-evolving world of open-source technology.
