Preparation
In preparation for the exam, Red Hat recommends that candidates be a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE®), but it is not required to take the exam.
Red Hat encourages all candidates for the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management exam (EX405) to consider taking the Configuration Management with Puppet (DO405) course. Attendance in the course is not required, so one can choose to take just the exam.
While attending Red Hat courses can be an important part of one's preparation to take this exam, attending courses does not guarantee success on the exam. Previous experience, practice, and native aptitude are also important determinants of success.
Many books and other resources on using Red Hat's products are available. Red Hat does not officially endorse any as preparation guides for its exam. Nevertheless, you may find additional reading deepens understanding and can prove helpful.
Exam format
This exam is a performance-based evaluation of system administration skills and knowledge with a focus on Puppet and Red Hat Satellite 6. Candidates will be required to perform a number of routine system administration tasks utilizing Puppet and will be evaluated on whether they have met specific objective criteria.
Performance-based testing means that candidates must perform tasks similar to what they perform on the job.
The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management exam is a hands-on exam that lasts 3 hours.
Scores and reporting
Official scores for exams come exclusively from Red Hat Certification Central. Red Hat does not authorize examiners or training partners to report results to candidates directly. Scores on the exam are usually reported within 3 U.S. business days.
Exam results are reported as total scores. Red Hat does not report performance on individual items, nor will it provide additional information upon request.