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The Linux Foundation Exam Checklist is the portal workflow for managing a purchased certification exam—from identity and system checks to booking through PSI, launching the exam, and checking results. Start by signing in to the Linux Foundation training portal with the account used for the purchase. Complete the four required Getting Started items; the Schedule button should become available about 30 minutes later.
What the Exam Checklist does
This is more than a study list. It is the operational path for verifying your identity, accepting exam terms, confirming your computer and testing location, scheduling or managing an appointment, opening preparation resources, launching the exam, and viewing results. The standard stages are Getting Started, Scheduling Your Exam, Preparing for the Exam, Taking the Exam, and Getting Your Results. The exact resources and exam rules can vary by certification.
Open the checklist
- Go to the Linux Foundation training portal and sign in to the account used to purchase or activate the exam.
- Open My Portal or My Learning and locate the certification. Portal labels may change.
- Select Start Certification the first time, or Resume if you have opened it before.
- Open the Exam Preparation Checklist.
If the exam does not appear, check that you are signed in to the correct account and that the registration is complete. Sign out and back in; if it is still missing, contact Linux Foundation Training Support with the purchase details. Do not buy another registration simply because the portal has not yet updated.
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Linux Foundation says all four items under Getting Started must be completed before Schedule activates. Allow approximately 30 minutes after finishing them; this is an expected delay, not a guaranteed instant switch.
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- Global Candidate Agreement: Review and accept the certification and confidentiality terms, including applicable exam rules and obligations. Read the Global Certification and Confidentiality Agreement.
- Identity Verification: Verify the name you will present to the proctor. It must match the identification document you bring. Correct discrepancies before exam day—and before starting the Take Exam process, after which a name change may not be allowed. See the current identification and authentication policy.
- Operating System: Confirm that your computer meets the current requirements for the PSI remote-proctoring process. Run the system check early and repeat it if you change computers, operating systems, browsers, network, or relevant hardware.
- Testing Location Requirements: Prepare a private, suitable space. You may need to show the proctor the room or desk using your webcam, so ensure the camera can show the required area.
Schedule through PSI
Once the Schedule button is active, select it and follow the redirect to PSI. Choose an available date and time, check the time zone carefully, and confirm the reservation. If offered, add the appointment to your calendar. Return to the Linux Foundation checklist and verify that the booking is recorded. The official scheduling guide documents a minimum lead time of about 24 hours and a calendar that may show dates up to 60 days ahead. Neither detail guarantees that a particular appointment will be available.
To reschedule or cancel, use the reservation workflow and check the confirmation and candidate handbook for the rules that apply to your exam. Do not assume a universal cancellation cutoff. If you cannot find an appointment that works, check other dates, times, and time zones and contact support promptly—especially if your registration is nearing expiry.
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Prepare before exam day
- Read the instructions for your certification. Exam duration, passing score, format, allowed resources, simulator eligibility, and technical requirements are not identical across Linux Foundation exams.
- Complete the PSI tutorial and system check. Test the computer, webcam, microphone, speakers, network, and any required software well before the appointment. A successful system check does not override certification-specific rules.
- Use one display. Linux Foundation’s FAQ allows only one monitor/display during the exam. An external monitor may replace a laptop display, but do not use both screens at once. Follow current PSI instructions for disabling or disconnecting any extra display.
- Test the camera angle. A built-in webcam may not reach far enough to show the room. Try the required environment scan in advance; an independently movable external webcam may help where permitted.
- Prepare the space. Clear unauthorized materials and devices, and be ready for the proctor’s room or desk scan.
- Confirm your physical ID. The general policy calls for an original, physical, unexpired government-issued ID. Examples include an international passport, government-issued driver’s license or permit, national or state/province identity card, and certain permanent-resident or visa documents. The document generally needs the candidate’s name, photograph, and signature; the policy notes that some government biometric IDs without signatures may be accepted. Country-specific and other edge cases should be checked against the current policy. Do not rely on a phone image, photocopy, or expired ID.
- Check simulator access rather than assuming it. The Exam Checklist identifies simulator access for selected certifications including CKA, CKAD, CKS, LFCS, and CNPE. Eligibility and terms vary. Some certification documentation names Killer.sh; for example, the LFCT FAQ describes two attempts with 36 hours of access per activated attempt for that exam. Those LFCT terms should not be applied to other certifications.
On the day: a practical sequence
- Before the appointment: Confirm the date, time, and time zone in the reservation. Recheck the name against your physical ID, computer setup, one-display configuration, camera and microphone, and testing space. Keep your ID ready.
- About 30 minutes before: The checklist says Take Exam becomes available approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Open it when available and follow the PSI check-in instructions.
- During check-in: Be ready to present the physical ID and complete any identity and environment checks requested by the proctor. Follow PSI’s current instructions for remote monitoring and screen or desktop access.
- If launch fails or the connection drops: Report the issue immediately through the available PSI or Linux Foundation support route. Record the time and error message and preserve screenshots if possible. A technical incident does not automatically guarantee a free retake; the case may require review.
For current portal notices, check Linux Foundation communications before your appointment. A maintenance notice can affect checklist access or the Take Exam button; a dated workaround for one maintenance window is not a standing alternative launch method. Use a direct PSI route only when current official instructions for your appointment say to do so.
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The Exam Checklist says exams are normally graded within 24 hours. After a pass, the portal may show the score and a View Certificate option. If the result is No Pass, a retake option may appear if your registration includes one; the FAQ says the first attempt generally must be graded before a retake can be issued. A retake is not automatic or available with every registration.
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Linux Foundation’s FAQ says an exam registration generally remains valid for 12 months from purchase, subject to the candidate’s purchase terms. The first attempt and any eligible retake must fit the applicable deadline. Because results, claiming a retake, and appointment availability take time, the FAQ recommends scheduling the first attempt at least two weeks before expiry if you want room for a possible retake. Check the terms shown for your own registration.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check or do |
|---|---|
| Purchased exam is missing | Verify the purchase account and registration status; sign out and back in. If it remains absent, contact Training Support with the exam name, account email, and transaction details. |
| Schedule is still disabled | Reopen all four Getting Started items and confirm each is marked complete. Wait about 30 minutes, restart the portal session, and try a desktop browser or private window. Check current service notices. If it remains inactive, contact support; a refresh cannot resolve every account-side issue. |
| PSI redirect or appointment booking fails | Return to the checklist and try the official scheduling link again. Confirm your registration is active and allow the documented lead time. If PSI still fails, contact support rather than purchasing another exam. |
| No suitable appointment appears | Try other dates, times, and time zones while leaving enough time before registration expiry. Contact support early if availability is limited. |
| Name and ID do not match | Use the checklist’s Verify Name step to correct or confirm the name before exam launch. If you cannot resolve the discrepancy, contact support before the appointment. |
| ID is electronic, expired, or incomplete | Arrange an original, physical, unexpired document that meets the current policy. Check the policy for country-specific or exceptional cases; do not assume a digital copy will be accepted. |
| Webcam cannot show the room | Test the environment scan in advance and adjust the setup or use a permitted movable webcam if needed. Follow the proctor’s instructions. |
| More than one display is connected | Configure one display only and follow PSI’s current instructions for the other screen. Do not assume a powered-off second monitor is acceptable. |
| PSI software will not install or launch | Complete the tutorial and system check beforehand, use a supported configuration, and restart the computer if appropriate. If the issue persists, contact PSI or Linux Foundation support immediately and retain the error details. |
| Power, network, or exam interruption | Report the incident immediately, note timestamps and error messages, and preserve evidence. Any restoration of eligibility or retake is subject to review; it is not guaranteed. |
| Portal maintenance affects launch | Check the current maintenance notice and official appointment instructions. Do not reuse a workaround published for a different maintenance window. |
Final checklist
- Exam appears in the correct portal account.
- Global Candidate Agreement accepted.
- Verified name matches the physical ID.
- Operating-system and system checks completed.
- Testing location prepared.
- Schedule button active and PSI reservation confirmed.
- Date, time, and time zone checked.
- PSI tutorial completed; camera, microphone, network, and software tested.
- One display configured and webcam can support the environment scan.
- Physical, unexpired ID ready.
- Exam launched from the checklist or another current official route explicitly provided for the appointment.
- Results checked; eligible retake claimed within the registration deadline, if applicable.
Check your certification’s own instructions
The checklist provides a shared workflow, not a universal exam rulebook. Before test day, consult the page for your specific certification for its duration, score requirements, task format, permitted resources, language, technical details, simulator access, and retake terms. For example, the LFCS/LFCE instructions are specific to those exams.
Official references: Exam Checklist, Schedule an Exam, Certification FAQ, and Candidate Identification and Authentication.
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