SecProve
ProfessionalVendor-neutralCompTIA· issued from US

Linux+

CompTIA Linux+

CompTIA Linux+

Official page at CompTIA↔ Compare with another cert
Exam fee
$358
Ongoing
$0/yr AMF · 17 CPE/yr
Study time
80–160 hrs
Delivery
Hybrid
Validity
3 yrs (renewal cycle)

› Quality score

27.0 / 40

Four-axis SecProve rubric, each 0–10. SecProve editorial assessment — each axis carries a written justification so you can push back on any single call without dismissing the whole score.

Blueprint rigor
How well-defined and rigorous the exam blueprint is.
Linux+ ECO covers admin, scripting, security fundamentals.
7.0/10
Practical evidence
Hands-on labs / written reports vs pure MCQ.
Performance-based items grounded in CLI tasks.
5.5/10
Currency & upkeep
How aggressively content is kept current with the field.
Refreshed in 2024 (XK0-005).
7.5/10
Market recognition
How often this signal actually moves a hiring decision.
Recognised in Linux-track admin roles; popular pre-OSCP. [Holders: 80k, 2024-12]
7.0/10

› Market signals

public, citable inputs to the recognition score
Holders worldwide
80,000
as of 2024-12 · source

› Exam format

Max. 90 questions (multiple-choice + performance-based), 90 minutes, proctored via Pearson VUE. Passing score: 720/900.

Passing score
720/900 (~80%)
Retake policy
Fee: $404 per attempt
Wait: 0d between attempts

First retake immediate; 14-day wait before each subsequent attempt. Retake fee equals the standard exam fee.

› Recertification

Valid for 3 years. Renewal via 30 CEUs or higher CompTIA cert or re-exam.

› NICE Framework work roles

The NIST NICE work-role IDs this cert maps to. NICCS lookup.

DD-WRL-001DD-WRL-004IO-WRL-004IO-WRL-005
Recognition
Global
Exam languages
en

› Core domains covered

The 1 domain this cert is centrally about. Passing the exam demonstrates working knowledge of each.

A2Network Security

Firewalls, IDS/IPS, network segmentation, DNS security, SD-WAN, VPN, traffic analysis, wireless security.

› Prerequisites

Experience

No formal prerequisites. Recommended: A+ and 12 months Linux experience.

› Study materials

Curated starting points. Not exhaustive — vet each against your learning style and the current exam version.

Official guides
  • CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-005) Study Guide — Sybex / Pearson IT Certification
Training providers
Practice tests
  • Boson ExSim-Max for Linux+ (XK0-005)
  • Jason Dion Practice Exams (Udemy)

› Version & lifecycle

Current version
XK0-005
Released
2022-04

› Salary signal

Junior Linux admin / DevOps practitioner, US, 1-3 years.

$75K–$115K
median $92K

Robert Half Salary Guide · 2024 · US base only · p25–p75 range

› How it compares

vs
LFCS

Linux+ is MCQ + perf items; LFCS is fully hands-on lab. LFCS carries more practical weight.

↔ Compare side-by-side
vs
RHCSA

Linux+ is vendor-neutral; RHCSA is Red Hat-specific with hands-on lab exam.

↔ Compare side-by-side

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