[ Thanks to LinuxPR for this link.
]
The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) and Canonical Ltd.
jointly announced the development of a certification exam for the
Ubuntu distribution. This certification exam will enable qualified
candidates to demonstrate specific expertise in the professional
use of Ubuntu. The certification exam will be launched at
Johannesburg, South Africa, May 16 – 19, 2006.
“We have long considered LPIC-1 to be the entry-level
professional certification for all Linux distributions. This
collaborative initiative with Ubuntu clearly demonstrates how Linux
software developers can leverage our existing distribution-neutral
program to create professional certification programs for their own
software packages,” said Jim Lacey, President and CEO of the Linux
Professional Institute. Mr. Lacey added that they were open to
similar approaches from other distributions.
Jane Silber, a spokesperson for Canonical Ltd., the company
which is the overall sponsor of Ubuntu, said that the certification
was in response to extensive demand from both individuals and
enterprises. She also recognized that LPI was a natural partner in
the development of Ubuntu’s certification program: “Ubuntu use in
the enterprise is increasing, leading to an increasing demand from
engineers and managers for a certification which proves an
individual’s Ubuntu skills. LPI’s entry-level LPIC-1 program is the
right basis for our own professional certification, and their
global delivery structure will ensure the availability of our
program to candidates around the world.”
The Ubuntu certification will consist of a single exam on top of
LPI’s existing 101 and 102 exams. This will give candidates the
advantage of an existing global standard, LPIC-1, plus the “Ubuntu
Certified Professional” status. The exam is being developed by
LPI’s product development team and Ubuntu community members from
around the globe. The exam is expected to be completed in early May
with the first paper exams being available in mid-May to qualified
LPIC-1 candidates who are attending LinuxWorld Johannesburg. The
computer-based testing version will be made available later in June
through Thomson Prometric and Pearson VUE testing centres around
the world. Initial exam price has been set at $100 US.