Top 5 Red Hat Courses to Become a Certified Red Hat Expert

crawsecsaket
Jun 3
7 min read

5 Red Hat Courses to Become a Certified Red Hat Expert

1. Red Hat OpenStack 2. Red Hat RH358 3. Red Hat Rapid Track Course 4. Red Hat OpenShift Administration 5. Red Hat RHCSA

Introduction

When it comes to career advancement in the IT world, certifications can be the game-changer. And if you're serious about enterprise-level Linux systems, there's no better choice than Red Hat certifications. Known globally for its robust enterprise solutions, Red Hat offers a suite of certifications designed to validate your expertise and open doors to new professional opportunities.

So, why Red Hat? For starters, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) powers some of the most secure and scalable enterprise environments around the globe. From cloud computing and automation to container orchestration and hybrid infrastructures, Red Hat has built a stronghold in these tech domains. Companies trust certified Red Hat professionals to manage, scale, and optimize their systems.

1. Red Hat OpenStack

Red Hat OpenStack is a cloud computing platform that’s used to deploy, manage, and scale open cloud infrastructure. It’s widely used by telecom providers, financial institutions, and even governmental agencies. If cloud infrastructure and virtualization excite you, Red Hat OpenStack is your ticket to that dream job.

What Makes It Special?

Red Hat’s version of OpenStack adds enterprise-level security, stability, and support to the open-source cloud platform. It allows professionals to build private and public clouds, manage virtual machines, and automate IT infrastructure.

Who Should Learn Red Hat OpenStack?

This course is ideal for system administrators, cloud administrators, and DevOps professionals looking to deepen their understanding of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). It’s also great for professionals aiming to work in hybrid cloud environments.

What Will You Learn?

Deploying and configuring OpenStack services
Managing OpenStack with CLI and dashboards
Networking, storage, and resource scheduling
Troubleshooting and performance tuning

Certification Path

The main credential is the Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenStack Administration. The exam (EX210) evaluates your ability to install and manage a Red Hat OpenStack Platform environment.

2. Red Hat RH358: Red Hat Services Management and Automation

The RH358 course is a deep dive into managing and automating Red Hat services. As automation becomes the backbone of modern IT, this course empowers you with tools and techniques to streamline service deployment.

Why This Course is Essential

System administrators often face bottlenecks with manual processes. RH358 teaches how to break these chains through automation and efficient service management. You'll master tools like Ansible and systemd to control services with precision.

What You’ll Master

Managing network services and configurations
Configuring logging and monitoring services
Automating routine tasks using Red Hat Ansible
Applying system performance tuning

Ideal Candidate

If you already have foundational Linux knowledge or have completed RHCSA, RH358 is a solid next step. It bridges the gap between basic system admin skills and advanced service automation.

Certification Outcome

Completing RH358 prepares you for the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) level, making it a crucial part of your Red Hat certification ladder.

3. Red Hat Rapid Track Course (RH199)

Short on time but hungry for knowledge? The Rapid Track Course (RH199) is a high-intensity, fast-paced program designed for experienced Linux users. It merges content from RH124 and RH134, offering a streamlined path to RHCSA certification.

Why Take the Rapid Track?

Unlike traditional training modules that take weeks, RH199 compresses all the essential content into a tight schedule, perfect for professionals looking to upskill quickly. If you’re familiar with command-line basics, this course will elevate your knowledge without wasting your time.

Course Highlights

Managing users and groups
Working with virtual machines and containers
Scheduling tasks and managing services
Advanced storage and network configuration

Target Audience

Linux administrators with at least 1-2 years of experience who want to quickly prepare for the RHCSA certification will benefit most.

Certification Exam

RH199 prepares you for EX200, the RHCSA exam. It’s a hands-on, performance-based test that assesses your ability to perform real-world tasks.

4. Red Hat OpenShift Administration

Containers are the future, and Red Hat OpenShift is leading that charge. OpenShift is a Kubernetes-based container platform that simplifies app deployment, scaling, and management.

Why Learn OpenShift?

In a DevOps-driven world, OpenShift is the backbone of continuous integration and delivery. It automates software lifecycle processes, making development and deployment smoother and more scalable.

Skills You’ll Gain

Deploying and managing containerized applications
Using Kubernetes resources with OpenShift
Securing and scaling applications
Monitoring and logging in OpenShift environments

Who Should Enroll?

Developers, DevOps engineers, and system admins who work with containerized environments or aim to transition into cloud-native roles should consider OpenShift.

Certification Path

After completing the course, you can aim for the Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration (EX280)—a powerful addition to any DevOps resume.

Artifical intelligence and Machine learning course

5. Red Hat RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator)

This is your foundational step into the Red Hat world. The RHCSA course lays the groundwork for managing and operating Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments. It’s the most recognized entry-level certification in the Red Hat suite.

Why Start with RHCSA?

Whether you're just entering IT or pivoting careers, RHCSA is the baseline requirement for many Red Hat jobs. It ensures you understand core system administration tasks—from installation and configuration to troubleshooting and user management.

What You’ll Learn

Essential Linux command-line skills
Managing files, permissions, and users
Installing and updating software
Configuring local storage and networking

Who Should Take It?

Aspiring system administrators, support engineers, and students who want to build a solid foundation in Linux administration.

Certification Exam

You’ll sit for the EX200 exam, which is entirely performance-based. This means you'll complete tasks on a live system, not just answer multiple-choice questions.

Choosing the Right Red Hat Course for You

With so many powerful Red Hat courses at your disposal, how do you know which one is the best fit for you? That choice depends on where you are in your IT career and where you want to go. Selecting the right course is like choosing the right weapon before heading into battle—you need the one that matches your skills and mission.

Start by Defining Your Career Goals

Are you looking to break into IT? Or maybe you’re already in the field but want to specialize in cloud, containers, or automation? Your goals should guide your course selection. For example:

If you're new to Linux, start with RHCSA.
If you're looking into cloud solutions, OpenStack is your friend.
DevOps or container orchestration on your radar? Go for OpenShift.
Need to automate enterprise services? The RH358 course is for you.
Want to fast-track your learning with existing Linux knowledge? Rapid Track (RH199) might be your best bet.

Compare Each Course

Each course serves a unique purpose:

RHCSA = Foundational knowledge
RH199 = Accelerated path to RHCSA
RH358 = Advanced automation and services
OpenStack = Cloud infrastructure management
OpenShift = Container orchestration with Kubernetes

Build a Roadmap

Once you know your starting point, map out your learning path:

Start with RHCSA
Level up to RHCE via RH358 or OpenShift
Branch into specializations like OpenStack or OpenShift

This layered learning approach ensures that you’re always building on your existing knowledge and skills.

Red Hat Certification Path Overview

Red Hat offers a structured certification hierarchy that allows you to grow from a beginner to an elite Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA). Here's a breakdown:

1. RHCSA (Red Hat Certified System Administrator) This is the starting point. It proves your ability to handle core system administration tasks.

2. RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) builds on RHCSA by adding skills in automation and advanced service management. Courses like RH358 and OpenShift help you prepare for this level.

3. RHCA (Red Hat Certified Architect) The pinnacle of Red Hat certification. To get here, you need to pass at least five additional Red Hat specialist exams in areas like cloud, automation, security, or containers.

Final Thoughts on Becoming a Certified Red Hat Expert

Becoming a Certified Red Hat Expert isn’t just about passing exams—it’s about mastering the skills that run the digital world. Red Hat professionals are the unsung heroes behind secure servers, cloud platforms, and automated networks.

Here’s what makes the journey worth it:

You gain marketable, real-world skills.
You open doors to high-paying job roles.
You become part of an elite group of enterprise-level Linux professionals.

So whether you’re just starting with RHCSA or going full-throttle with OpenStack and OpenShift, know that every course you take is a stepping stone toward something bigger.

Make the investment in yourself. Take the time. Put in the work. And watch your tech career take off.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best Red Hat course to start with? Start with Red Hat RHCSA, as it provides the foundational skills required for all other advanced Red Hat certifications.

2. How long does it take to become Red Hat certified? It varies by course and your experience, but most people prepare for 1–3 months per certification with regular study and practice.

3. Are Red Hat certifications worth the investment? Absolutely. Red Hat certifications are among the highest paying IT certifications and are recognized worldwide.

4. Do I need programming experience to learn Red Hat? No, but basic scripting and command-line skills will help. Programming isn't required but can be beneficial in automation roles.

5. Is the RHCSA exam hard? It’s challenging due to its hands-on nature, but with sufficient practice and study, it’s very achievable.

6. Can I take Red Hat courses online? Yes. Red Hat offers self-paced, virtual, and instructor-led training options to suit every schedule.

7. How much does a Red Hat course cost? Course prices vary, but most range between 25,000 to 40,000, depending on the format and location.

8. What jobs can I get with Red Hat certifications? You can work as a Linux Administrator, DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer, or Automation Specialist.

9. Is Red Hat better than Ubuntu for learning Linux? For enterprise environments, Red Hat is the better choice. Ubuntu is great for personal use and development.

10. What is the difference between RHCSA and RHCE? RHCSA covers core Linux skills, while RHCE focuses on automation and advanced administration tasks.

11. How often do I need to renew Red Hat certifications? Red Hat certifications are valid for 3 years, after which you’ll need to retake exams or earn higher-level certs.

12. Can I skip RHCSA and go straight to RHCE? No, RHCSA is a prerequisite for RHCE.

13. Which Red Hat course is best for cloud computing? Red Hat OpenStack and OpenShift are the top choices for cloud and container-based roles.

14. Are there free resources to study Red Hat? Yes. You can find free labs, guides, and forums online, but official Red Hat training is more structured and reliable.

15. Will Red Hat certifications help in DevOps careers? Yes! Courses like OpenShift and RH358 align perfectly with DevOps principles and practices.