Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA): Complete Guide 2026
The gold standard hands-on Linux certification for system administrators.
What is RHCSA?
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) is a performance-based certification that validates core system administration skills on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Unlike multiple-choice exams, RHCSA is 100% hands-on - you must perform real tasks on live systems.
RHCSA is highly respected in enterprise environments and is often required for Linux administrator positions.
Quick Exam Facts
- Exam Code: EX200
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Format: 100% performance-based (hands-on)
- Passing Score: 210/300 (70%)
- Cost: $450 USD
- Prerequisites: None (RH124 + RH134 recommended)
- Validity: 3 years
- RHEL Version: RHEL 9
Exam Objectives
| Category | Skills Required |
|---|---|
| Essential Tools | Shell, files, directories, documentation |
| Operating Running Systems | Boot, processes, services, logging |
| Storage Configuration | Partitions, LVM, file systems, mounting |
| File Systems | Permissions, SELinux, ACLs, NFS/CIFS |
| Users and Groups | Local users, password policies, sudo |
| Security | Firewall, SELinux, SSH, basic security |
| Containers | Podman basics, running containers |
Critical Skills to Master
- Create and manage LVM logical volumes
- Configure persistent storage and NFS mounts
- Set up and troubleshoot SELinux contexts
- Manage systemd services and targets
- Configure networking with nmcli
- Reset root password via rescue mode
- Manage containers with Podman
RHCSA vs Linux+ Comparison
| Criteria | RHCSA | Linux+ |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 100% hands-on | MCQ + PBQ |
| Distribution | RHEL only | Vendor-neutral |
| Difficulty | Harder | Moderate |
| Industry Value | Premium | Good |
| Cost | $450 | $358 |
Study Resources
- Red Hat Training: RH124 + RH134 courses
- Sander van Vugt: RHCSA video course and book
- Lab Practice: Critical - use VMs or cloud instances
- Red Hat Developer: Free RHEL subscription for testing
Career Impact
- Average salary: $85,000 - $120,000 USD
- Linux System Administrator roles
- Required by many enterprise employers
- Foundation for RHCE certification
🎯 Related Practice Exams
Prepare with free practice questions on ExamCert:
Plan Your Study Journey
Use our free tools to optimize your preparation