Re: LPI

[Kara Pritchard <kara@luci.org>]

Ahh, well anything you want to know about Linux certifications, I can 
probably tell you :-)

I started with RHCE before ever looking at LPI, and I support both. 
They're very complimentary. I was one of the SME (subject matter experts) 
that consulted initially on the Linux+ project with Comptia, and I'll 
support it too as a very user level entry certification, and it too is 
complementary if you want a full learning path through Linux to become 
certified.

	Linux + --> LPI
                   /   \
                RHCE   Other Distro Specific (possibility)

There's a cute ASCII chart for you about how they fit together. I included 
Other because some distro companies are still playing around with modeling 
their own product certs like Red Hat. However, product certifications are 
much different than job based certifications, so they still all are very 
complimentary.

For people who have experience (at any level) with Linux, I recommend 
going ahead and starting with LPI's Level 1. If they have already gone the 
Comptia + route (A-net +, Hardware +, etc) then adding one more module to 
get Linux+ is an OK place to start too. I don't really recommend the Red 
Hat program to individuals who are paying for their own certifications. 
It's just too expensive, in general. It does carry weight with the big 
corporations though, but if you already have Linux certification, those 
organizations will likely invest in your going to Red Hat's programs, if 
they wish for you to have it. (Everyone I know who's completed the RH 
program has been sent by their company, except for me :-)

There are too many certification programs out there (and already a lot 
within the Linux community have (or are) failed, or combined their program 
to adopt LPI. (prosoft and another pro something for instance rolled into 
LPI. SuSE and Mandrake rolled into LPI too)

Due to this overabundance of cert programs, their became the famous term 
"paper cert". This refers to certification programs that don't have value. 
Cert programs lose their value when they have brain-dumps on the web, or 
can be passed by memorizing some set of answers from a book or training 
program. It's really hard to develop a certification program that resists 
this problem. That's why psychometric development methods are so 
important. It's taken me a long time to understand that (let alone even 
say it) but having been buried in this theology for the last 2 years, I 
finally understand it :-)

I, for obvious reasons, think there is a great value in Linux 
Certifications. As it grows in popularity as a requirement for jobs within 
the community, the desire to be certified and have a certification entity 
helps deliver a solution to the certification savvy corporate america who 
bases their choices on this phenomonae. Some of it does really help build 
the image of using Linux in corporate business and does give a competitive 
edge against our "friend$". It's hard to explain, but for LPI, the goal 
isn't just to have a certification, it's to provide an Institute for Linux 
Professionals, a standards body, if you will, to support Linux' success.

I'll step off my soapbox now :-)

-Kara

On Sat, 6 Apr 2002 frog@intertek.net wrote:

> Yes, thanks. The  reason I was asking was I'd like to go for it but there are
> so many dang certifications yet I think there may be a future in knowing
> Linux.
> 
> Kara Pritchard wrote:
> 
> > What do you mean, Why LPI?
> >
> > There are currently four Linux certifications.
> >
> >         *Linux + (Comptia)
> >         *LPIC 1 & LPIC 2 (LPI)
> >         *RHCE (Red Hat)
> >         *LCA (SAIR)
> >
> > The first is targeted for users of 6 month experience. Very very basic
> > material. It is designed as a lead-in certification for LPI (a level 0 if
> > you will). The exam is a single exam which you have to complete with the
> > A-net hardware exam to get your Linux+ cert.
> >
> > LPI has two levels, Jr Admin and Sr Admin. The third level (which I hope
> > will begin this year) will include specialty exams (security experts, DBA,
> > Web Admin, etc). LPI is a non-profit organization that isn't affiliated
> > with any training providers. We are both distribution and vendor neutral.
> > LPI uses psychometric development, which means our content is based on
> > surveys of thousands of working Linux people who currently hold jobs that
> > our specific level is certifying for. This means the content is based on
> > skills actually used, and not skills that some random person thinks is
> > important. I could go on all day about these technical differences, but
> > the other one that makes it so special is community involvement. What,
> > who, how, etc LPI works is modeled with an Open Source Project. We use
> > both consultants and volunteers to develop our exams, and the organization
> > itself is built primarily from volunteers. Add to the mix that our latest
> > board member addition is maddog, and our most active vendor partner at the
> > moment is IBM, and you have an interesting organizaiton. There are two
> > exams for each level ($100 each, unless you hap upon an offer).
> >
> > RHCE is another certification I hold. RHCE is a good product
> > certification. It isn't psychometrically developed (see above, but realize
> > that the purpose of this statistical development model is to create exam
> > results that will stand up in court. The cert statistically proves you
> > know something, and if someone threatens to sue you or your company for
> > hiring you due to your certification, the results will stand up in court.
> > (Therefore not creating an unfounded bias in the workplace). Since it is a
> > product certification (certifies you to use a product, not to hold a
> > specific job) this development model is fine. It's expensive, and this
> > exam is 2 parts hands on with 1 part written. It's tough if you aren't
> > good at stressful situations. Luckily I passed the first time around.
> > Phew.
> >
> > I could get myself into trouble saying anything about SAIR. But, I will
> > say this. SAIR's material was developed according to a "knowledge base"
> > developed by a University Professor who's never done the work. It's
> > supposed to be distribution neutral as well. There are four exams instead
> > of two, and they never completed their 2nd level. They were purchased by
> > Wave who was purchased by Thompson Learning, and now they all (including
> > the knowledge base guy, Tobin Maginnis, have been let go. All content for
> > the program is being handled by one guy in Ireland now, as all the Linux
> > people have been let go. The purpose of the SAIR program was to develop
> > courseware and training (unlike LPI who doesn't care) which can cause
> > problems. Skills which are hard to document or hard to train for are
> > usually left out, regardless of how important it is to the job. In any
> > case, the uprooting of all maintenance of the program and Thomson's
> > interest in providing training an courseware for an existing project
> > doesn't give me too many warm fuzzies about the future of that program.
> >
> > Does that answer your question? I can go on all day, but just tried to
> > give you an overview.
> >
> > -Kara
> >
> > On Fri, 5 Apr 2002, default wrote:
> >
> > > Why LPI?
> > >
> > > David Leathers wrote:
> > >
> > > >   Kara Would you recommend a good book to study for the LPI
> > > > certification for a beginner? Thanks
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Kara Pritchard                          Phone: 618-398-7360
> > Director of Exam Development            http://www.lpi.org/
> > --
> >
-- 
Kara Pritchard                          Phone: 618-398-7360
Director of Exam Development            http://www.lpi.org/
--



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