RHCE
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) exam
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The Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) is Red Hat's Engineer-level (Level 3) credential, and in the Ansible specialization it is earned by completing two exams: EX200, the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam, and EX294, the Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam. Red Hat's requirements state that Engineer-level candidates "must successfully earn both the foundational credential and its corresponding advanced credential within the same specialization," so the RHCE is a capstone designation rather than a standalone test. It suits system administrators and senior administrators whose work spans multi-system, automated infrastructure - people who already administer Linux servers day to day and now need to codify that work in Ansible. The exam content centers on Ansible fundamentals: core components, installing and configuring a control node, configuring managed nodes, running ad hoc commands, writing plays, playbooks and roles, managing variables and facts, and automating standard system administration tasks. Because the credential is practical, preparation should be lab-heavy: build a control node with several managed nodes, write and re-run playbooks until inventory, templating, conditionals, handlers and roles are second nature, and treat RHCSA-level Linux skills as the prerequisite foundation. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Red Hat.
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About RHCE preparation
Do I need the RHCSA before I can hold the RHCE?
Yes. Red Hat lists both exams as the requirements for the Engineer level in this specialization: "EX200 : Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam" and "EX294 : Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam." The Engineer designation is only conferred once you hold the foundational credential and its matching advanced credential.
Which exam codes make up the Ansible RHCE?
Two: EX200 (RHCSA) and EX294, which Red Hat titles the Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam. Note that EX294 alone is not the RHCE - the RHCSA exam is part of the requirement set, so plan your study schedule around passing both.
How many questions are on the exam, and how long is it?
That information is not published on Red Hat's certification overview page, which lists exam requirements only. Question counts, time limits, passing scores and fees are stated on the individual exam pages and in the Red Hat Certification Program Guide. Confirm the current figures there before you book a seat.
What score do I need to pass?
Red Hat does not state the passing score on the certification page that lists the Engineer-level requirements. Passing standards for individual exams are published with the exam details and program guide, so treat any fixed number you see elsewhere as unverified until you confirm it at the official source.
How is the RHCE different from the RHCE in Enterprise Linux?
Both sit at Engineer level and both require EX200. The difference is the advanced exam: the Ansible specialization pairs RHCSA with EX294, while the Enterprise Linux engineering path pairs RHCSA with EX342, the Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Enterprise Linux exam. Pick the path that matches where your daily work sits.
Does the RHCE expire, and how do I renew it?
Red Hat's page emphasizes keeping credentials current - "Renew your certifications to keep your expertise relevant and give employers confidence" - and offers a certification status lookup, but it does not state a validity period. Check the Red Hat Certification Program Guide for the renewal rules that apply to your credential.
What study order works best?
Get Linux administration fluency first, since the RHCSA exam is a hard requirement. Then work outward through Ansible: inventory and control-node configuration, ad hoc commands, playbooks, variables and facts, templating and conditionals, roles, and finally automating recurring admin tasks. Build a multi-node lab early and re-run every playbook you write.
What trips people up most on this kind of practical exam?
Usually not the concepts but the execution under time pressure: playbooks that are never re-run, so idempotency and error handling go untested; roles written but never wired into a site playbook; inventory and connection settings left half-configured. Practise in a real multi-host environment rather than reading examples, and re-run each playbook twice to prove it is safe.
Does the RHCE count toward the architect level?
Yes, it is the gate. Red Hat states the architect level is "automatically conferred upon individuals who hold a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential and three distinct Red Hat Certified Specialist (RHCS) credentials within the same specialization," so the RHCE plus three matching specialist exams completes that path.