Greetings Linux users --

I am interested in pursuing the Red Hat Certified Tech and then Engineer courses from start to finish, but for a linux newbie, that could cost as much as 8000+$.

Now I'm a 40+ administrator at an international high school with no background in computing other than what I've taught myself (which I've found in many cases at least equals the computer techs we have working at our school -- which says more about the techs than it actually does about me). I'm an educator and have used Linux at home for 6+ years. I've pushed FLOSS for our school computers and have installed Edubuntu on 7 of the 20 computers in our lab.

But I'd like to get a certification in linux that will allow me to not only fix up the lab, but perhaps run the network and install a ltsp type system.

And so here is the question: is the Red Hat Cert the way to go? What other options are out there?

Up to this point, I mess around with bash, fiddle with hardware, take apart and put computers back together -- with no guidance other than what I google. I teach in a third world country at a well-to-do school that keeps on spending money replacing computers (Pentium IV 256 MB RAM for example) that run Edubuntu or ZenWalk or Puppy or MiniMe or any number of other distros very well (and I've experimented with at least a dozen).

I want to convince them to stop spending money on new computers and build a LTSP lab (which I think I could do, or would like to try at least) and to switch over to FLOSS and linux systems.

But on top of that, I want to educate myself to be able to "make the sale" -- which is where Red Hat comes in. Going back to college is not an option right now. Only online courses could work.

I even have the OLPC through the G1G1 programme and tout the wonders of linux to all that will listen, but I lack the credentials to back up my bluster.

So if you had 5 - 10 grand to spend and a year or two to commit for 8 - 10 hours per week, what would you do in my situation? Red Hat looks good, but what else is out there?

Thanks to all who read and reply. I do appreciate it.

I probably would have put this in the Certification forum..
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...tification-46/
Which you may want to browse anyway. I'm certain some of your questions have been asked before..

Personally I prefer non-vendor specific certifications such as LPIC, over vendor certifications such as the ones from Suse or Redhat. I've been burned by Vendor certs before *cough* Microsoft *cough* it left a very sour taste in my mouth not to mention my wallet. (also gave me a push to start working with Linux) I'm certain there are people here that will say don't waste time with LPIC, RH is the only way to go. That is a decision that I feel is a personal one, that you will have to make for yourself.

Although there are times when vendor based certs would be of more value, it would depend on the situation and job requirements involved. LPIC is also a lot easier on the wallet than the RH and Suse certs..

So anyway theres my opinion and two other Linux Certs for you too look at.
http://www.lpi.org/
http://www.novell.com/training/

Thanx farslayer -- I'll look them up and read the info in the cert forum.