Linux+ V8: should a working Linux admin sit XK0-006?
Linux+ XK0-006 is the current exam, and a US voucher costs $399 as of November 2026 ($519 with a retake). Paid preparation puts a first attempt at $548 or more (CompTIA's practice bundle), rising to $3,194 for a five-day class; pairing a free course with the voucher keeps it to $399. Our estimate for admins already working on Linux servers is 8 to 12 weeks of study.
Key facts
- CompTIA's US price for a Linux+ exam voucher is $399; with a retake added it is $519, and both expire 12 months after purchase. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
- Linux+ V8, exam XK0-006, launched July 15, 2025; CompTIA estimates retirement in 2028. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
- You get up to 90 questions and 90 minutes for XK0-006 and need 720 to pass, scored from 100 to 900. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
- Each three-year Linux+ cycle calls for 50 CEUs and a $150 CompTIA fee if you renew through continuing education. (CompTIA, checked November 5, 2026)
What a Linux+ holder can do
CompTIA says Linux+ V8 "validates your ability to manage, secure, automate and troubleshoot Linux systems in cloud and hybrid environments." CompTIA names Linux systems administrator, systems engineer and network engineer as the roles it prepares you for.
A good fit if
- About a year of running Linux servers at work that you want recognized
- A Windows or network admin role that now includes Linux systems
- Daily work that mixes Linux with scripting, containers or configuration management
Think twice if
- You have not yet used Linux beyond a desktop: start with a free course and a lab server
- Your employer standardizes on one distribution and asks for that vendor's own certification
- You want to move into Kubernetes operations, where a hands-on Kubernetes exam fits better
Consider instead: A+ or Network+ if you are earlier in IT, or CKA if you run Kubernetes clusters.
Experience CompTIA recommends, and the XK0-006 exam
No certification or experience is required to book the exam. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience with Linux servers, plus A+, Network+ or Server+ or comparable knowledge. The exam itself is English-only: up to 90 questions, a mix of multiple choice and performance-based items, in 90 minutes, with 720 needed to pass. CompTIA says Linux+ is ISO accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board.
| Domain | Percent of the exam |
|---|---|
| System management | 23% |
| Troubleshooting | 22% |
| Services and user management | 20% |
| Security | 18% |
| Automation, orchestration and scripting | 17% |
The automation area goes past shell scripts: CompTIA's summary names Ansible and Puppet, Python basics, Git and responsible use of AI code generation. If you have only written Bash, budget extra time there.
Preparing for XK0-006
- Free groundwork. The Linux Foundation's Introduction to Linux (LFS101) is free with 90 days of access. It teaches general Linux use, not the XK0-006 objectives, so treat it as a starting point for newcomers.
- Independent video course. Dion Training sells an XK0-006 course with labs and practice questions for $315; the voucher is extra. It suits self-starters who want structure at a low price.
- CertMaster, CompTIA's own material. Bought singly, Practice is $209, Learn $499 and Perform, which adds live virtual machines to work on, $664. Buying Practice or Learn inside an exam bundle is cheaper than adding the voucher yourself.
- Instructor for a week. ONLC and Global Knowledge both run XK0-006 over five days online. Worth it for teams, or for admins who need someone to walk them through the security and automation tools they have not touched at work.
What Linux+ costs, option by option
Rows without the exam in their price have the $399 voucher added to the total. The free route is the voucher alone, $399.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Linux basics course | The Linux Foundation, Introduction to Linux (LFS101), self-paced, 60 hours of material, 90 days of access; general Linux, not built around XK0-006. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $399 voucher | $399 |
| Video course with labs | Dion Training, CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) Complete Certification Course: 30+ hours of video, labs, 500+ practice questions, 12 months of access. Checked November 5, 2026. | $315 | + $399 voucher | $714 |
| Official practice tests, exam bundled | CompTIA, the Linux+ Practice and Exam Bundle with Retake, which pairs CertMaster Practice with an exam attempt and a retake. Checked November 5, 2026. | $548 | Included | $548 |
| Official lessons, exam bundled | CompTIA, the Linux+ Learn and Exam Bundle with Retake: CertMaster Learn lessons, an exam attempt and a retake. Checked November 5, 2026. | $764 | Included | $764 |
| Five-day class, exam included | ONLC, Linux+ Certification Training for XK0-006, taught live online; exam prep and a CompTIA voucher included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,495 | Included | $2,495 |
| Five-day class | Global Knowledge, course G016 for XK0-006, delivered virtually; the exam is bought on its own. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,795 | + $399 voucher | $3,194 |
Easy to overlook: a fail on a plain voucher costs another $399, whereas buying the retake up front costs $120 more. Bundle contents expire if not redeemed in the 12 months after you buy. Then there is $150 each renewal cycle if you keep Linux+ through continuing education.
Before paying for Linux+ training
- Check the exam code says XK0-006. ONLC, Global Knowledge and Dion all list XK0-006. Material written for an earlier Linux+ version will not match the V8 objectives.
- Who pays for a second try. ONLC puts the exam in its price, offers what it calls an Exam Pass Guarantee, and lets you sit the class again free within a year. Dion advertises a 60-day pass guarantee covering a retake; read its terms. With Global Knowledge you buy the exam yourself.
- Real servers or simulations. Ask which distributions the labs run and how long you keep access; Dion lists 12 months for its course.
- Python and automation coverage. Ask whether the course teaches the Ansible, Python and Git parts of the automation area, not only shell scripting.
Keeping Linux+ current
Linux+ lasts three years. The continuing education route means collecting 50 units before the expiry date and paying $150. Two routes skip a separate Linux+ fee: sit the newest Linux+ exam, or keep Cloud+ current: CompTIA's renewal table lists Cloud+ V3 as fully renewing Linux+ (it does not list V4).
Common questions
- How much does the Linux+ exam cost?
- In November 2026, CompTIA charges $399 in the US, or $519 if you want a retake included.
- Which Linux+ exam is current?
- XK0-006 (V8), launched July 15, 2025. CompTIA estimates it will retire in 2028.
- Does Linux+ require A+ or Network+?
- No. CompTIA recommends them, or comparable knowledge, plus 12 months on Linux servers, but nothing is required to book the exam.
- Is there a free way to prepare?
- The Linux Foundation's free Introduction to Linux covers the basics. For XK0-006 itself, the cheapest paid course we found is Dion Training's at $315 plus the voucher.
Next step
Unsure whether self-study or a class fits you or your team? We can help you weigh it.
Ask for help choosing Linux+ training
Sources
- CompTIA Linux+ V8 page: XK0-006 facts, domain weights, CertMaster and exam prices, checked November 5, 2026
- CompTIA: how many CEUs each certification needs, checked November 5, 2026
- CompTIA: which certifications renew others, checked November 5, 2026
- CompTIA: renewal fees by certification, checked November 5, 2026
- The Linux Foundation: Introduction to Linux (LFS101), checked November 5, 2026
- Dion Training: CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) Complete Certification Course, checked November 5, 2026
- ONLC: Linux+ classes and fees, checked November 5, 2026
- Global Knowledge: Linux+ course G016, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.