You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
LINUX PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTELPI Linux Essentials (010-160)
The LPI Linux Essentials certification validates foundational knowledge of the Linux operating system, open source software, and the command line. Designed for those new to Linux and open source, it demonstrates you can work confidently in a Linux environment and understand core concepts like security, file permissions, and basic scripting. Earning this credential is a strong first step toward a career in IT and a gateway to the more advanced LPIC professional track.
Exam formatMultiple choice
Duration60 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions493
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What LPI Linux Essentials (010-160) proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
5domains
19objectives
131concepts
US $110exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The LPI Linux Essentials certification is the ideal starting point for anyone beginning a career in IT or open source. It validates that you understand the Linux and open source industry, know the most popular open source applications, and can work effectively on the Linux command line. The exam covers essential topics such as system components, file management, security, and basic scripting, giving you a solid foundation for further study.
Earning the Linux Essentials certificate demonstrates to employers that you have the fundamental skills needed to work with Linux systems, a requirement in many modern ICT roles. It also serves as a stepping stone to the more advanced Linux Professional Institute (LPIC) certifications, helping you build a career as a Linux system administrator or engineer. With lifetime validity, this credential is a lasting addition to your professional profile.
Who it’s for
This certification is for individuals who are new to Linux and open source and want to demonstrate their foundational knowledge. It is ideal for students, career changers, and IT professionals who need to work with Linux systems but have no prior experience. The exam is designed for those who have made their first steps in IT and wish to validate their understanding of Linux basics. Typical candidates include end users of Linux systems, help desk staff, and aspiring system administrators. The Linux Essentials certificate is also suitable for professionals in adjacent fields, such as developers or cloud practitioners, who need a working knowledge of Linux to perform their roles effectively.
Recommended experience
No prior Linux experience is required, but familiarity with basic computer concepts and using a desktop operating system is helpful. Basic computer literacy, including file management and using a web browser; An interest in learning the Linux command line and open source software; Some exposure to any operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) is beneficial
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Linux Professional Institute measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Topic 1: The Linux Community and a Career in Open Source
- 1.1 Linux Evolution and Popular Operating Systems (weight: 2)
- 1.2 Major Open Source Applications (weight: 2)
- 1.3 Open Source Software and Licensing (weight: 1)
- 1.4 ICT Skills and Working in Linux (weight: 2)
Topic 2: Finding Your Way on a Linux System
- 2.1 Command Line Basics (weight: 3)
- 2.2 Using the Command Line to Get Help (weight: 2)
- 2.3 Using Directories and Listing Files (weight: 2)
- 2.4 Creating, Moving and Deleting Files (weight: 2)
Topic 3: The Power of the Command Line
- 3.1 Archiving Files on the Command Line (weight: 2)
- 3.2 Searching and Extracting Data from Files (weight: 3)
- 3.3 Turning Commands into a Script (weight: 4)
Topic 4: The Linux Operating System
- 4.1 Choosing an Operating System (weight: 1)
- 4.2 Understanding Computer Hardware (weight: 2)
- 4.3 Where Data is Stored (weight: 3)
- 4.4 Your Computer on the Network (weight: 2)
Topic 5: Security and File Permissions
- 5.1 Basic Security and Identifying User Types (weight: 2)
- 5.2 Creating Users and Groups (weight: 2)
- 5.3 Managing File Permissions and Ownership (weight: 2)
- 5.4 Special Directories and Files (weight: 1)
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Linux Professional Institute publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
CertificationLPI Linux Essentials (010-160)
Exam formatMultiple choice
Duration60 minutes
Questions40 questions
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish
PricingUS $110
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Linux Professional Institute lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to LPI Linux Essentials (010-160)
Credential earnedLPI Linux Essentials (010-160) Certification Renewal and maintenance
The Linux Essentials certificate is valid for life and does not require renewal. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Linux Professional Institute maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Linux Professional Institute
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Linux Professional Institute’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Linux Professional Institute certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the Linux Essentials exam relate to the previous version 1.5?
The current version is 1.6 (exam code 010-160). LPI provides a summary of changes from version 1.5 to 1.6 on their wiki, and the 1.5 objectives are still available for reference.
Do I need to earn Linux Essentials before attempting LPIC-1?
No. LPIC-1 has no prerequisites, and you can take the LPIC-1 exams without holding Linux Essentials. However, Linux Essentials is a recommended introduction to the professional track.
Can I take the Linux Essentials exam online?
Yes, the exam is available online via Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform, as well as at test centers. The same languages are offered for both delivery methods.
What is the retake policy if I fail the exam?
You must wait 7 days after the first failure before retaking. For subsequent failures, you must wait 14 days. If you pass, you cannot retake the same exam for at least 2 years.
Are there any hands-on or lab components in the exam?
No. The Linux Essentials exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. There are no performance-based or lab-based tasks.
What job roles does the Linux Essentials credential support?
Linux skills enhance many ICT roles, including developers, system administrators, cloud architects, DevOps engineers, IT support, and data analysts. The certificate is a foundation for roles that require Linux proficiency.
Can I recertify by passing a higher-level exam?
Linux Essentials is valid for life, so no recertification is needed. However, earning a higher-level certification like LPIC-1 can further advance your credentials.
Is the exam available in multiple languages?
Yes, the exam is offered in English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), and Spanish at both test centers and online.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 493 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Linux Professional Institute measures — each one written out.
5domains
19objectives
131concepts
105free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Linux Professional Institute exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Topic 1: The Linux Community and a Career in Open Source123 questions
1.1 Linux Evolution and Popular Operating Systems (weight: 2)6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →1.2 Major Open Source Applications (weight: 2)4 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.3 Open Source Software and Licensing (weight: 1)8 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →1.4 ICT Skills and Working in Linux (weight: 2)12 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →
2Topic 2: Finding Your Way on a Linux System88 questions
3Topic 3: The Power of the Command Line78 questions
4Topic 4: The Linux Operating System120 questions
5Topic 5: Security and File Permissions84 questions
5.1 Basic Security and Identifying User Types (weight: 2)6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →5.2 Creating Users and Groups (weight: 2)5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →5.3 Managing File Permissions and Ownership (weight: 2)7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →5.4 Special Directories and Files (weight: 1)4 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
1.1 Linux Evolution and Popular Operating Systems (weight: 2)6 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
26 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
493 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
493questions
105pages
19objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Topic 1: The Linux Community and a Career in Open Source123 questions
2Topic 2: Finding Your Way on a Linux System88 questions
3Topic 3: The Power of the Command Line78 questions
4Topic 4: The Linux Operating System120 questions
5Topic 5: Security and File Permissions84 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
131concepts
493free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Linux Professional Institute
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
5official links
131concepts mapped
The source
Linux Professional Institute’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Linux Professional Institute outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 19 objectives, 131 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Linux Professional Institute changes the outline, this page changes with it.
19objectives on the outline→131concepts written→493free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.