CPFA learner - Certified Public Finance Administrator Updated: 2023

• Certification programs help system administrators stand out from their peers while expanding and validating their skills. 
• Certification training and testing help IT professionals earn professional credibility and more power to direct and control their career paths. 
• Numerous certifications are available, but several are exceptionally valued and respected. 
• This article is for system administrators and IT professionals who want to expand their knowledge and professional credibility through certification programs.

System administrators are the glue holding together business operations, ensuring smooth-running IT infrastructures. The role requires in-demand career skills that range from server and client configuration and maintenance to access controls, network services and application resource requirements. SysAdmins may even work with more user-facing products, like directory and name services, network addressing, database services, web and desktop applications, and email. They’re often the company “tech expert” – sometimes at several organizations simultaneously. 

System administrator certifications help IT professionals navigate their career paths, expand their knowledge and demonstrate their expertise to managers and employers. SysAdmin certs may even help you secure managerial and executive level jobs and higher pay.

Best system administrator certifications

After examining various credentials, we developed this list of our five favorite system administrator certifications for 2023. These certifications are geared toward various experience levels, product interests and skill sets. They can foster your development within system administration, encourage you to explore new areas of expertise, and help you set and achieve career goals. 

1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert 

Many businesses operate within Microsoft ecosystems, making Microsoft certifications extremely valuable and sought after. However, Microsoft has overhauled its certification processes in recent years, replacing broad certificates like Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert with a wider variety of role-based certification options divided into the following roles: 

• Data engineer
• Data scientist
• Artificial intelligence engineer
• Security engineer
• DevOps engineer
• Functional consultant
• Developer
• Administrator
• Solutions architect 

Certifications come in beginner, intermediate, and expert levels, based on applicants’ experience. 

Various system administrators may find some Microsoft certifications more advantageous than others. However, the Azure Solutions Architect Expert is the most in-demand certification for a SysAdmin with IT operation experience.  

The Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification is ideal for someone with extensive experience using Azure to solve problems and make decisions for a business’s tech needs. Candidates must have experience with every level of IT operations as well as DevOps. Candidates will be tested on their knowledge and ability to design solutions for data storage, identity, infrastructure and more using Azure. 

This certification combines elements of system administration, Azure implementation and solutions architect experience. Candidates should have one prerequisite qualification: the Azure Administrator Associate certification.  

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert facts and figures

2. Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator 

Although Oracle is known for its database products and solutions, it also distributes Linux products geared for the enterprise and designed to support cloud environments. Oracle Linux is optimized for various Oracle products and platforms, such as:

• Oracle Exadata Database Machine
• Oracle Exalytics In-Memory Machine
• Oracle Exalogic Elastic Cloud
• Oracle Database Appliance

To support Oracle Linux, the company offers several Oracle Linux System Administrator learning paths. It also provides several standalone Linux administration courses. Oracle’s Linux certifications are considered among the best Linux certifications to earn. We’ll highlight the Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator certification below. 

The OCP Oracle Linux System Administrator certification, currently at version 8, covers many tools and processes. Candidates must be well-versed in:

• Linux file systems
• Control groups
• Container concepts
• Advanced storage administration techniques
• Oracle cluster management 
• Using Ksplice Uptrack commands 

The certification also tests for knowledge of network bonding, task automation, security configuration and more. 

SysAdmins who support Oracle Solaris might also be interested in the Oracle Solaris System Administrator certification, which Oracle offers at the Associate and Professional levels. Oracle also offers a Cloud Database Migration and Integration Professional certificate. 

Professional Oracle Linux 8 System Administrator certification facts and figures

3. RHCE: Red Hat Certified Engineer

In the realm of Linux system administrator certifications, Red Hat certifications stand out. Red Hat’s more senior-level certifications are especially popular among IT professionals and the firms that hire them. Those holding the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential qualify for highly competitive job roles, including the following:

• Senior Linux administrator
• Senior UNIX administrator
• Senior systems engineer
• Infrastructure systems engineer
• IT analyst 

The RHCE is considered a high-level credential that’s not easy to obtain. Candidates must first obtain the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) credential. The RHCE credential expands the RHCSA’s understanding of automation in multisystem environments. Candidates must then pass an intense, demanding, four-hour, hands-on, performance-based exam. Those who earn the RHCE can go on to earn the Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) in Infrastructure credential.

Candidates can choose a path based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. RHCE certification is valid for three years from the date the certification was achieved. To maintain the certification, a credential holder must pass any RHCA exam or pass the RHCE certification exam again before the end of the three years.

RHCE facts and figures

4. CompTIA Server+

CompTIA certifications, such as the A+ for hardware technicians, Network+ for network admins and Security+ for security specialists, are highly regarded in the computing industry. The CompTIA Server+ certification is no exception. 

Companies such as Intel, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Xerox and Microsoft recommend or require their server technicians to earn CompTIA Server+ credentials.

The Server+ certification exam focuses on fundamental, vendor-neutral server-related topics, including:

• Server hardware
• Operating systems
• Storage systems
• Networking
• The IT environment (documentation, diagrams and best practices)
• Security and disaster recovery
• Virtualization 
• Troubleshooting

Individuals seeking positions across the system administration world, including data technician, network administrator, IT technician and data center engineer, can benefit from CompTIA Server+ certification. This certification also provides new IT professionals with an excellent foundation for more specialized certifications.

Candidates for the Server+ certification take one exam: SK0-005. CompTIA recommends that candidates have at least two years of practical experience working with servers and either CompTIA A+ certification or comparable knowledge. This certification also stands out because it does not expire – certification is good for life. 

CompTIA Server+ facts and figures

5. VCAP-DCV Design 2022: VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Virtualization Design 2022

VMware certifications are must-have credentials for IT professionals interested in virtualization. With a comprehensive certification program encompassing all skill levels, VMware credentials are recognized globally as the best in their class of professional certifications.  

The latest incarnation of the VMware vSphere product is Version 8. VMware offers five credentials related to the vSphere product:

• Certified Technical
• Certified Professional
• Certified Advanced Professional (Data Center Virtualization Design)
• Certified Advanced Professional (Data Center Virtualization Deploy)
• Certified Design Expert 

VMware also offers a wide range of badges for specific product applications. We’re highlighting the intermediate certification: Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Virtualization Design. 

Training is required for non-credential holders seeking to obtain the VCAP-DCV credential. VMware offers various training options to meet the training prerequisite: self-paced (on demand), live online and live classroom – some of which include virtual labs. Those possessing a valid VCAP-DCV Design certificate must attend a training course or pass the VCAP-DCV Design exam. 

VCAP-DCV Design 2022 facts and figures

Beyond the top 5: More SysAdmin certifications

In addition to the five system administrator certifications we highlighted above, many other certification programs can help further the careers and professional development of IT professionals in system administration.

It makes sense to investigate the plethora of vendor-specific programs available for those who work with systems from companies like Brocade, Dell EMC, HPE, IBM, NetApp and Symantec. Many play into critical system specialty areas, such as storage, security and virtualization, while others offer a broad range of platforms for these and other technology areas. 

Here are some examples:

• IBM Certified System Administrator MQ V9.1: IBM Certified System Administrator MQ V9.1 is for SysAdmins who cover admin activities such as migrating, configuration, availability, performance tuning and problem determination.
• NetApp Certified Data Administrator (NCDA): NCDA is geared toward professionals who manage NetApp data storage controllers running the ONTAP operating system.
• ServiceNow Certified System Administrator: ServiceNow Certified System Administrator is aimed at professionals adept at configuring, implementing and managing ServiceNow systems.

Vendor-neutral certification programs also offer a variety of interesting and potentially valuable credentials. For example, Linux Professional Institute certifications are well known and widely recognized in IT shops and operations that depend on Linux servers to handle their workloads. 

Job board search results (in alphabetical order by certification)

The following chart shows the results of an informal job search we conducted to deliver you an idea of the relative frequency with which our top five certifications appear in actual job postings. While all the certifications are popular, the CompTIA Server+ stands out as the clear favorite.

* When searching for VCP – Data Center credentials, we found most job descriptions didn’t indicate a specific version.

Although employers tend to pay SysAdmins less than some of their IT peers, such as network engineers and enterprise IT architects, a career in system administration is still worth pursuing. SimplyHired reports $79,283 as the national average salary for system administrators, with a range of $49,718 to $136,224. Indeed.com similarly reports that $76,942 is the average base salary for system administrators, while senior system administrators can expect an average salary of around $92,803.  

Building a dynamic IT skill set

IT systems are dynamic. They grow with companies and change with evolving technology. Therefore, it’s important for system administrators to nourish their skills. Certifications and training show you’re qualified to handle the responsibilities of your desired position while demonstrating your willingness to learn and grow. 

As you move through your career in system administration, you may want to branch into new specialties or software. Fortunately, in addition to receiving certifications, you can access many excellent courses and educational resources to help you continue to grow in your field. 

Ed Tittel and Kim Lindros contributed to the reporting and writing in this article.

Feeding Tube Size and Placement Site

Two important things to consider when administering medications through a feeding tube include the tube size and placement site. The outer lumen tube diameters are typically measured in French units (1 French unit = 0.33 mm) and are often designated as small-bore (e.g., 5–12 French) or large-bore (e.g., ≥ 14 French) tubes.^[6,7,12] Small-bore tubes are placed into the stomach (e.g., NG, gastrostomy) or small bowel (e.g., ND, NJ, jejunostomy, percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy, needle-catheter jejunostomy) and are used for feeding or administering medication.^[5] Small-bore tubes are more comfortable but have a greater likelihood of becoming clogged by medications or thick EN formulations. NG tubes are also available in a larger diameter (e.g., Salem sumps). Large-bore NG tubes can be used for feeding or administering medication, but their primary functions are gastric suctioning and decompression. Another function of large-bore NG tubes is the measurement of gastric pH or residual volumes. These large-bore tubes are stiffer and cause greater patient discomfort, but they are less prone to clogging than smaller diameter tubes. When NG tubes are used for gastric suctioning, medications should not be administered via this route because they can also be removed with frequent suctioning. However, if drug delivery through the NG tube is necessary and the GI tract is working, then clamping the NG tube, if the patient can tolerate it, for at least 30 minutes after giving a medication may Excellerate absorption before reattaching the suction. Other large-bore tubes include OG, gastrostomy, and PEG tubes; these are also less likely to occlude.^{[5,6,7,10,12]}

The feeding tube placement site also affects drug absorption. Most oral medications are absorbed in the small intestine, but for some the stomach is the target for drug action and absorption. Therefore, if the feeding tube is placed in the small bowel, certain medications may have minimal benefit because the stomach is bypassed. These medications include antacids, which neutralize stomach acid, as well as sucralfate and bismuth, which both form a protective barrier in the stomach. Additionally, when certain medications that are characterized by extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism (e.g., opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, β-blockers, nitrates) are administered into the jejunum, increased absorption and greater systemic effects may occur.^[5,10,12,13] The antifungals ketoconazole and itraconazole may also have decreased bioavailability when administered via intestinal feeding tubes. These medications require gastric acidity for optimal absorption, and the environment is less acidic as the feeding tube tip moves further down the GI tract.^[10,13,14] By bypassing the stomach, intrajejunal administration may also result in incomplete drug absorption because the stomach aids in medication disintegration and dissolution.^[15]

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a pair of discussion papers this week in an effort to outline areas artificial intelligence and machine learning may help in manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs along with regulatory issues it presents.

The FDA’s two discussion papers aim to spur a conversation with stakeholders in the medical community such as pharmaceutical companies, physicians, ethicists, patients and patient advocacy groups and regulatory authorities about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in developing and producing medications.

"AI/ML’s growth in data volume and complexity, combined with cutting-edge computing power and methodological advancements, have the potential to transform how stakeholders develop, manufacture, use and evaluate therapies," Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, wrote.

Ultimately, AI/ML can help bring safe, effective and high-quality treatments to patients faster."

NEW AI TOOL HELPS DOCTORS STREAMLINE DOCUMENTATION AND FOCUS ON PATIENTS

Cavazzoni noted that AI and machine learning may help health care providers scan medical literature for findings and offer predictions about how individual patients may respond to certain treatment options and whether they may be more at risk of side effects. 

She also wrote that AI chatbots may help answer questions about participation in clinical trials or reporting adverse events, or even create digital "twins" of patients to model a medical intervention before a real-life intervention is done with a human patient.

IS AI ADA COMPLIANT?

The FDA is already seeing an influx of drug and biological product applications referencing the use of AI and machine learning as those technologies have advanced in recent years. More than 100 submissions in 2021 alone mentioned the use of those technologies. 

The most common use of AI and ML was in the clinical development and research phase, but they were also deployed in drug discovery, clinical trial enrichment and safety surveillance.

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The discussion paper by several divisions of the FDA about AI and machine learning in developing drug and biological products touched on several areas where those technologies are being applied or may be applied in the future:

• Early-stage drug discovery, including the use of compound screening and drug design, could be accelerated or made more efficient through the use of AI and ML.
• Nonclinical research can benefit from AI and ML algorithms analyzing complex data sets and models that may Excellerate the accuracy of those applications.
• Clinical trials are identified as "one of the most significant applications" of AI and ML, as they can be leveraged in designing trials, analyzing and interpreting large data sets and improving the operational efficiency of trials.
• Safety surveillance at the post-marketing stage of drug development could leverage AI and ML to process data around adverse events.
• AI could spur the development of novel types of drugs and personalized approaches to treatment.

It also noted there are some risks involved in the use of AI and machine learning in the development of drugs and biological products that may arise due to biases in the data used to train ML algorithms, inaccuracies or incomplete data sets. 

Further, the paper emphasized the importance of human-led governance of AI and machine learning to "help ensure adherence to legal and ethical values, where accountability and transparency are essential for the development of trustworthy AI."

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The drug manufacturing discussion paper by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research noted areas where AI and machine learning could be applied in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, such as:

• Using AI models to more quickly identify optimal manufacturing processing parameters or scale-up processes to reduce development time and waste.
• Advanced Process Control, which could use AI to predict the progression of a process in combination with real-time sensor data and Excellerate the understanding of chemical, physical and biological transformations that occur in the drug manufacturing process.
• AI methods can be used to monitor equipment and detect changes that divert from normal performance to trigger maintenance activities and reduce downtime for manufacturing processes. They can also be used to monitor product quality and the quality of packaging that can detect deviations from requirements related to things like packaging, labels and glass vials.
• AI can examine consumer complaints and manufacturing-related deviation reports that contain large volumes of text to identify problem areas and prioritize improvement areas. Similarly, AI can be used to proactively monitor manufacturing operations and set thresholds for corrective and preventive actions.h

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Both FDA papers posed questions to stakeholders regarding the various use cases for AI and machine learning, best practices, barriers to their use, views on transparency, processes for auditing, current or future regulatory frameworks and more.

At least 1.5 million illegal immigrants identified as "gotaways" have crossed the border under the Biden administration, according to a report.

The term refers to the estimated number of illegal immigrants who entered the country and were not caught, which hit 530,000 in fiscal year 2023 with four months still remaining, The New York Post reported. This adds to the 600,000 estimated "gotaways" from 2022 and 389,000 from 2021.

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The tally of the Biden administration's "gotaways" surpasses 1.5 million, which is nearly four times the estimated 415,000 under the Trump administration's final three years.

The 2023 fiscal year total is expected to increase after the expiration of COVID-19 emergency policy Title 42, which allowed the Biden administration to turn away migrants at the border as a means of preventing the spread of COVID.

WHAT IS TITLE 42? WHAT THE END OF THE BORDER POLICY MEANS FOR THE US

The policy expired Thursday after Customs and Border Patrol apprehended more than 10,000 migrants daily from Monday to Wednesday. Another 15,000 migrants were apprehended over the weekend.

The Texas Department of Public Safety launched an operation with the Texas National Guard in December to track down "gotaways" with tracking dogs and drone operators.

U.S. LAWMAKERS WEIGH IN ON END OF TITLE 42, BIDEN’S BORDER CRISIS: ‘WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING’

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The Biden administration planned to release migrants in custody who have yet to receive a court date if detention centers reached capacity, but a federal judge blocked that plan on Thursday. Two days later, the same judge denied the administration's request to place a stay on the temporary restraining order blocking the releases.

James Freeman is assistant editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page and author of the weekday Best of the Web column. He is the co-author of "Borrowed Time: Two Centuries of Booms, Busts and Bailouts at Citi," recognized as a New York Times Editors' Choice and a Financial Times Business Book of the Month. He is a contributor to the Fox News Channel and a host of "Deep Dive" on Fox Nation. Before joining the Journal in September 2007, James served as investor advocate at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he encouraged the transformation of financial reporting technology to benefit individual investors. He is a graduate of Yale.

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The Biden administration has unleashed a flurry of regulations this year targeting popular household appliances as part of its climate and conservation agenda and has paved the way for additional actions.

Over the last several months, the Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled standards to make various appliances, including gas stoves, ovens, clothes washers, refrigerators, air conditioners and dishwashers, more efficient, and experts have said this would worsen product quality and lead to higher prices.

"It's just spreading to more and more appliances. It seems that almost everything that plugs in or fires up around the house is either subject to a pending regulation or soon will be," Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

"Consumers aren't going to like any of it. These rules are almost always bad for consumers for the simple reason that they restrict consumer choice.

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"Anybody who wants to choose the more eco-friendly versions of appliances is always free to do so. But these rules force that choice on everyone, whether it makes sense for them or not," Lieberman added. "Almost all of these appliance standards raise the upfront costs. It's not clear that you'll ever earn that back in the form of energy or water savings."

According to the current federal Unified Agenda, a government-wide, semiannual list that highlights regulations agencies plan to propose or finalize within the next 12 months, the Biden administration is moving forward with rules impacting dozens more appliances, including consumer furnaces, pool pumps, battery chargers, ceiling fans and dehumidifiers.

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Under the DOE's mission statement, the Unified Agenda highlights advancing "energy efficiency and conservation" as one of five central pillars. Broadly, Democrats and environmentalists have argued that electrification, banning natural gas hookups and implementing strict energy efficiency standards could help accelerate emissions reductions.

"This administration is using all of the tools at our disposal to save Americans money while promoting innovations that will reduce carbon pollution and combat the climate crisis," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said May 5 after unveiling rules cracking down on dishwashers, electric motors and beverage vending machines.

"With today’s announcements, DOE is making rapid progress to strengthen outdated energy efficiency standards — as directed by Congress and in coordination with our industry partners and stakeholders — and support healthier, safer communities for the American people."

In December, Granholm touted that the administration had taken 110 actions on energy efficiency standards in 2022 alone. The energy secretary added that the regulations strengthened U.S. leadership in "the race towards a clean energy future."

In addition, the White House hosted an electrification summit that same month during which Granholm played a leading role. During the summit, administration officials and environmental advocates discussed ways to push electrification of buildings and transportation while decreasing economy-wide fossil fuel use.

"We've got to get these technologies in homes all across America, and we've got to do it as fast as possible," White House clean energy czar John Podesta said during the summit.

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On his first day in office in January 2021, President Biden signed an executive order requiring the Department of Energy to make "major revisions" to current appliance regulation standards and standards set by the Trump administration. A month later, the agency listed more than a dozen energy efficiency rules impacting appliances like water heaters, cooking products and lamps, that it would review.

"Their philosophy is energy efficiency at all costs or energy efficiency no matter the cost," a former senior DOE official, who served during the Trump administration, previously told Fox News Digital. "That means we are going to see, as a result of their efficiency standards, higher-priced appliances. It's that simple.

"The reality is that we are not talking about saving huge amounts of energy from these new regulations."