Practical Linux System Administration

Chapter 14. Continuing Your Education

It doesn’t matter how technical you are. You must continue learning throughout your career. And if you’re certified, many certifications require some continuing education units (CEUs) per year that you must document and submit to the certifying authority. But continuing your education involves more than just gathering certifications and collecting CEUs yearly to maintain those certifications. Continuing your education means expanding your horizons, learning something new, and enhancing your skills as a technologist.

This chapter focuses on educational opportunities, including internal corporate training, certification training, independent study, and community college and university classes.

Training Internally

Often, the least expensive and most accessible training is that which your company produces, conducts, or hosts. I’m not referring to those annual refresher courses we must take to satisfy regulatory requirements. I’m referring to technical résumé-building classes that enhance your skills and knowledge. Internal training is either training that your company develops and delivers to employees or training that your company purchases and delivers on-premises. The delivery method depends on many factors, such as cost, instructor availability, time, and other logistical considerations.

There is a downside to internal training, and it’s that the training occurs on-site. Yes, one of the advantages is also a disadvantage. When you train at ...