Red Hat Certifications
Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Overview

Red Hat's Enterprise Architect courses provide in-depth, hands-on training for senior Linux system administrators responsible for the deployment and management of many systems in large enterprise environments. Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) is a capstone certification to Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) and Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), the most recognized, acclaimed, and mature certifications in the Linux space.

Curriculum and Expertise Exams

The full RHCA curriculum consists of four advanced 400-level Enterprise Architect courses and an upper-level security course.

  • Only current RHCEs are eligible to be certified as a Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA), while anyone can attend the courses in this track. Verify your RHCE.
  • Current RHCEs will obtain RHCA certification upon successfully passing all five Expertise Exams.
  • The courses are not required as the tests can be taken separately but they are strongly recommended.
RHCA Courses
(Recommended)		 Expertise Exams
(Required: Must pass all 5 for RHCA)
RHS333 Red Hat Enterprise Security: Network Services EX333 Red Hat Enterprise Security: Network Services Expertise Exam
RH401 Red Hat Enterprise Deployment and Systems Management EX401 Red Hat Enterprise Deployment and Systems Management Expertise Exam
RH423 Red Hat Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication
OR
RH318 Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization		 EX423 Red Hat Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication Expertise Exam
OR
EX318 Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Exam
RH436 Red Hat Enterprise Clustering and Storage Management EX436 Red Hat Enterprise Clustering and Storage Management Expertise Exam
RH442 Red Hat Enterprise Performance Tuning EX442 Red Hat Enterprise Performance Tuning Expertise Exam

Each course in the Enterprise Architect curriculum is followed by a Certificate of Expertise exam on the fifth day. Expertise Exams may be taken immediately following the corresponding course, or at any time. The exams are performance-based and test skills of the job role competencies covered in the prior four days of hands-on training. Passing the Expertise Exam earns the candidate an Certificate of Expertise to his or her RHCE credential for that specific enterprise skillset.

An RHCA has proven the skills required to plan, design and manage open source infrastructure in large complex environments consisting of many Linux systems across the enterprise.

Expertise Exams vary in length from 2 to 8 hours depending on the course, and can only be taken by current RHCEs. Official notification of PASS or DID NOT PASS is sent via email within 5 US business days of the Expertise Exam.

Words of Wisdom: Florian Brand

In September 2005, Florian Brand, a Red Hat instructor based in Stuttgart, Germany, was the first person to earn Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) certification. Read more about his experience earning an RHCA certification.

Notice: The term 'architect' as used in the Red Hat Enterprise Architect curriculum and Red Hat Certified Architect certification mark refers exclusively to information technology planning, design, and deployment and is not intended to refer to civil architecture or design of physical structures. Some countries, states, provinces, or other governing bodies may have laws or statutes restricting the use and representation of the term 'architect'. Participant is solely responsible for compliance with laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which Participant resides or renders or offers services.