Exam facts & prep options

Linux Essentials Exam 010-160

Linux Essentials is the Linux Professional Institute's entry-level certificate exam (exam code 010, objectives version 1.6), a 40-question, 60-minute vendor-neutral test covering the Linux community and open source careers, working on a Linux system, the command line, the Linux operating system, and security and file permissions; it is delivered worldwide at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE and is valid for life.

Official exam site
Start preparing1 prep option listed

Jump to prep options ↓

Questions40 questions
Testing time60 minutes
ScoringPassing score of 500 on a 200–800 scale (number of correct answers required varies with question difficulty)
Exam feeUSD 120 / USD 100 / USD 80 for a Linux Essentials 010 exam voucher depending on the purchaser's country pricing tier (also EUR 110 and JPY 13,000 in the euro and yen marketplaces); vouchers are bought from the LPI marketplace

Prep options

Study resources for Linux Essentials

Independent prep

Courses and study resources

Exam overview

What to know before choosing your prep

Who runs it
LPI
Category
Linux & Open Source
Current version
Objectives version 1.6 (exam code 010-160)
Where it applies
Global
Exam languages
English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese
Score scale
200–800
Testing provider
Pearson VUE
Format
Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers worldwide, or online via the Pearson VUE OnVUE remote-proctoring platform (Linux Essentials is one of the exams offered online)
Availability
Year-round by appointment at Pearson VUE test centers or via OnVUE online testing
Results
Results and a score report are provided immediately following the exam; Pearson VUE transfers exam results to LPI within 24 hours
Credential validity
Lifetime — the Linux Essentials certificate does not expire
Remote testing
Available

Exam structure

One 40-item exam spanning five weighted topics: The Linux Community and a Career in Open Source (weight 7), Finding Your Way on a Linux System (9), The Power of the Command Line (9), The Linux Operating System (8), and Security and File Permissions (7); the objective weights sum to 40, matching the question count.

Where rules vary

Vendor-neutral exam delivered worldwide; LPI states it 'has certified professionals in over 180 countries'

Eligibility

None

Retake policy

After a first failed attempt a candidate must wait 7 days to retake; after a second or later failure, 14 days; anyone who passes may not retake the exam for at least 2 years