thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

LPI · Linux & Systems · Entry

LPI Linux Essentials exam guide

Exam 010-200 (v2.0); 010-160 (v1.6) available until April 2027

LPI Linux Essentials validates foundational Linux and open source knowledge: the command line, data processing, basic system administration, security and permissions. Version 2.0 (exam 010-200) is current; version 1.6 (010-160) remains available until April 2027.

Questions40
Time limit60 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam feeSee official page
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctored

Format: Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Fee note: LPI country tiers: $120/$100/$80 USD; confirm your country on lpi.org.

Who it's for

Students, career changers and IT staff starting with Linux before LPIC-1 or Linux+.

What the exam covers

The Linux Operating System and Open Source Software—
Command Line Basics—
Data Processing—
Linux System Administration Basics—
Security and File System Permissions—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: None; basic computer literacy.

Keeping it active

Lifetime; does not expire.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Navigating the shell and file system
  • Working with files, archives and pipes
  • Text processing with grep and regular expressions
  • Basic scripting
  • Users, groups and permissions
  • Open source licensing concepts

Job roles

IT Support TechnicianJunior Linux AdministratorHelp Desk TechnicianNOC TechnicianJunior DevOps Intern

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Install a Linux VM; shell basics, navigation, help systems
  2. Week 2: Files, archives, pipes, grep, regex and simple scripts
  3. Week 3: Users, groups, permissions and processes
  4. Week 4: Networking basics and open source licensing; LPI learning materials and practice questions

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Make sure your study material matches your version (010-200 v2.0 vs 010-160 v1.6)
  • Practice every command in a terminal - fill-in-the-blank questions need exact syntax
  • Know octal and symbolic permission notation
  • Open source licensing questions are easy points if you review them

Key terms for this exam

All 71 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much is Linux Essentials?

LPI uses country tiers: $120, $100 or $80 USD.

Does Linux Essentials expire?

No, it is a lifetime certificate.

Which version should I take?

Version 2.0 (010-200) is current; 1.6 (010-160) stays available until April 2027.

Is it worth it?

It is a low-cost first proof of Linux basics; LPIC-1, Linux+ or RHCSA carry more weight with employers.

How long to prepare?

Two to four weeks for beginners.

Official page: www.lpi.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.