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Certificates and Certification

Certified Candidates (“Certificants”) receive a Certificate ID number and a certificate indicating the successful completion of the requirements necessary to achieve the title indicated on their certificate.
Certifications expire 36* months from the date that a certificant successfully passes their certification exam, unless revoked earlier for cause or certificant successfully completes certification renewal requirements. * NOTE: CKS Certifications expire 24 months from the date that certificant successfully passes their certification exam, unless revoked earlier for cause or certificant successfully completes certification renewal requirements
The primary method for confirming the status of a certification is to use The Linux Foundation’s Certification Verification Tool.

Certificate

The Linux Foundation Exam Certificates lists the following information:
  • Name of the Candidate who obtained the certificate
  • Title of Certification (e.g. Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator)
  • Certificate ID number
  • Achievement Date (i.e. date Exam was passed

Certification Expiration

Certifications expire 36** months from the date that the Program Certification requirements are met by a candidate.
**NOTE THE SPECIFIC EXPIRATION POLICY FOR CKS, LFCS, LFCE AND CFCD CERTIFICATIONS **

LFCS

LFCS Certifications awarded on or after April 10, 2018 (based on LFCS v3 release) will expire 36 months from the date that the program Certification requirements were met by the candidate. All other LFCS Certifications will expire 24 months from the date that the Program Certification Requirements were met.

LFCE

LFCE Certifications awarded on or after June 10, 2018 (based on LFCS v3 release) will expire 36 months from the date the Program Certification requirements were met by the candidate. All other LFCE Certifications will expire 24 months from the date that the Program Certification Requirements were met.

CFCD

CFCD Certifications awarded on or after September 05, 2019 will expire 36 months from the date that the Program certification requirements are met by a candidate, all other CFCD Certifications will expire 24 months from the date that the Program certification requirements are met, unless revoked earlier for cause of Certificant successfully completes Certification renewal
Certificants must meet renewal requirements prior to the expiration date of their current certification in order to maintain active certification. If certification renewal requirements are not completed before the expiration date, certification will be revoked.

CKS

CKS Certifications will expire 24 months from the date that the Program certification requirements are met, unless revoked earlier for cause of Certificant successfully completes Certification renewal

Certification Renewal Requirements

Certification Renewal requirements must be completed prior to the expiration of the Certification.
Candidates may keep their Certification valid by retaking and passing the same exam, prior to the expiration of their certification. The Certification will become valid for 3 years (2 years for CKS) starting on the date the exam is retaken and passed.