A two-stage hands-on credential: pass RHCSA to prove you can administer RHEL, then EX294 to prove you can automate it with Ansible.
RHCE is not a single exam. You must hold a current RHCSA, earned through EX200, and then pass EX294, the Ansible automation exam. Both are timed practical labs with no multiple-choice questions.
The sequencing is deliberate: EX294 asks you to automate the same tasks EX200 asked you to perform by hand. Candidates who rushed RHCSA usually struggle, because writing a playbook for a task you only half understand is considerably harder than doing it manually.
RHCE is also the gateway to the Red Hat Certified Architect programme, which is awarded for accumulating enough additional specialist credentials on top.
In the order most candidates take them. Where a track offers a choice of concentration, every eligible exam is listed.
The foundation of the Red Hat programme: a timed practical exam covering user and file management, storage, networking, services, containers and system troubleshooting on RHEL.
The RHCE exam, rebuilt around Ansible: writing and running playbooks, using roles and collections, managing variables and secrets, and automating RHEL administration at scale.
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) requires 2 exams. They are listed below in the order most candidates take them.
36 months from the date the final exam is passed. Renewal requirements are set by the vendor and change from time to time, so confirm before your expiry date.