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LPI · Linux & Systems · Associate

LPI LPIC-1 Linux Administrator exam guide

Exam 101-500 and 102-500 (v5.0)

LPIC-1 validates the ability to perform maintenance tasks on the Linux command line, install and configure a computer running Linux and configure basic networking. It is a distribution-neutral administrator certification requiring two exams, 101-500 and 102-500 (version 5.0).

Questions60 per exam
Time limit90 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam feeSee official page
Valid for5 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctored

Format: Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Fee note: LPI uses country-based pricing tiers: $200/$165/$132 USD per exam; confirm your country's price on lpi.org.

Who it's for

Junior Linux administrators and support engineers who work across multiple distributions.

What the exam covers

101: System Architecture—
101: Linux Installation and Package Management—
101: GNU and Unix Commands—
101: Devices, Linux Filesystems, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard—
102: Shells and Shell Scripting—
102: User Interfaces and Desktops—
102: Administrative Tasks—
102: Essential System Services—
102: Networking Fundamentals—
102: Security—

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

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None. Both exams must be passed (within 5 years of each other).

Recommended: Hands-on Linux command-line experience.

Keeping it active

Active for 5 years. Recertify by retaking LPIC-1 or earning a higher-level LPI certification (e.g. LPIC-2) within the active period.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Boot process, runlevels/targets and hardware configuration
  • Package management with dpkg/apt and rpm/dnf
  • Text processing and stream editing
  • Filesystems, partitions and mounts
  • Shell scripting
  • User management, cron and system services
  • Basic networking and security

Job roles

Linux AdministratorSystems AdministratorTechnical Support EngineerDevOps Engineer (junior)NOC Engineer

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 1-2: 101 - system architecture, boot, package management on Debian and RHEL-family VMs
  2. Week 3-4: 101 - GNU commands, regex, sed/awk, filesystems and permissions; take exam 101
  3. Week 5-6: 102 - shell scripting, admin tasks, cron, localization
  4. Week 7-8: 102 - services, networking, security; take exam 102

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

  • Practice on both Debian-based and RHEL-based systems - both package families are tested
  • Fill-in-the-blank requires exact command names and options
  • Learn command options by function (e.g. which ls/ps/find flags do what)
  • Schedule exam 101 first; the topics build on each other

Key terms for this exam

All 153 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How many exams for LPIC-1?

Two: 101-500 and 102-500.

How much does LPIC-1 cost?

LPI tier pricing is $200, $165 or $132 USD per exam depending on country.

How long is LPIC-1 valid?

Five years active.

LPIC-1 vs Linux+?

Both are distribution-neutral. CompTIA Linux+ is a single exam with simulations; LPIC-1 is two exams and widely recognized internationally.

LPIC-1 vs RHCSA?

RHCSA is hands-on and RHEL-specific; LPIC-1 is multi-distribution and question-based.

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.