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Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Linux Foundation · associate
LFCSLinux Foundation Certified System Administrator
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator
Official pageComparing
CompTIALinux+
Linux FoundationLFCS
› Cost
Exam fee
Linux+$358
LFCS$375
Exam fee
$358
$375
Annual maintenance fee
Linux+—
LFCS—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
Linux+$358
LFCS$375
3-year cost of ownership
$358
$375
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
Linux+720/900 (~80%)
LFCS—
Pass mark
720/900 (~80%)
—
Retake policy
Linux+$404 fee · 0d wait
LFCS—
Retake policy
$404 fee · 0d wait
—
Study time
Linux+80–160 hrs
LFCS—
Study time
80–160 hrs
—
Validity
Linux+3 yrs
LFCS—
Validity
3 yrs
—
CPE / yr
Linux+17 CPEs
LFCS—
CPE / yr
17 CPEs
—
Delivery
Linux+mixed
LFCS—
Delivery
mixed
—
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
Linux+$75K – $115K
LFCS—
Range
$75K – $115K
—
Median
Linux+$92,000
LFCS—
Median
$92,000
—
Premium %
Linux+—
LFCS—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
Linux+Junior Linux admin / DevOps practitioner, US, 1-3 years.
LFCS—
Role context
Junior Linux admin / DevOps practitioner, US, 1-3 years.
—
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
Linux+7.0
LFCS8.5
Schema quality
7.0
8.5
Practice evidence
Linux+5.5
LFCS9.5
Practice evidence
5.5
9.5
Maintenance
Linux+7.5
LFCS9.0
Maintenance
7.5
9.0
Market recognition
Linux+7.0
LFCS7.5
Market recognition
7.0
7.5
Average
Linux+6.8
LFCS8.6
Average
6.8
8.6
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
Linux+Global
LFCSGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
Linux+—
LFCS—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
Linux+—
LFCS—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
Linux+80,000
LFCS—
Holders worldwide
80,000
—
Current version
Linux+XK0-005 (2022-04)
LFCS—
Current version
XK0-005 (2022-04)
—
› Domain coverage
A2Network Security
Linux+● core
LFCS·
A2Network Security
● core
·
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
Linux+·
LFCS● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
·
● core
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