Posted by Michael Marr

If you’re looking to boost your resume and professional credentials as a LAMP developer, here are some of the certifications you should seek:

Linux There are various Linux certifications available, which makes choosing the right certification difficult. You could get a distribution/commercial level certification, i.e. from Ubuntu, Redhat, Novell, etc. However, these certifications could limit your career options if a job opportunity comes up utilizing a different distribution from what you are certified in. Therefore, a more general Linux certification would be ideal, and the Linux Professional Institute supplies this. In fact, this institute provides some of the same certifications listed above on behalf of those organizations, but also supplies their own tiered certification system. Depending on your career goals, you can choose one of three certification levels to aim for, but for the purposes of a LAMP developer, Level 2 is recommended. Cost: ($160 per exam ~ approximately $640)

Apache There is no official or widely accepted Apache certification. Therefore, obtaining a Level 2 LPI Certification will give you the proper background for Apache. Most of the objectives of the second exam in Level 2 of the LPIC revolve around Apache operation and configuration, and thus will properly certify that you know Apache. Cost: ($0 – Included in LPIC)

MySQL There are multiple options for MySQL certification. You can get one of four Sun Certified MySQL accreditations from Oracle. This is as simple as an Associate Certification, meaning you are familiar with basic operations of MySQL, to a Cluster DBA Certification, meaning you can build, administer, and maintain large cluster databases. In between these two levels are the Developer and regular DBA options, which is one of the certifications you should aim for if you are seeking a career strictly as a LAMP Developer. Cost: ($195 per exam ~ approximately $390)

PHP Lastly, there is PHP. Zend is the industry leader in PHP, and thus you should seek your PHP certification from them. Cost: (approximately $160)

Keep in mind there are other great LAMP related certifications out there, but that this mix is a good recommendation if you are building your career in LAMP Development. Let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed a crucial certification.

About the Author: Michael Marr is a IT staff Writer for WebProNews.