Introducing Canonical Academy

Validate your skills and advance your career with recognized qualifications from the publishers of Ubuntu

London, October 23 2025 – Canonical today announced the launch of Canonical Academy, a new platform that enables individuals and enterprises to validate their open source skills with qualifications designed and maintained by the engineers behind Ubuntu. The first available track is the SysAdmin track, which includes four exams that test practical expertise with Linux and Ubuntu. Successful candidates can earn digital badges that prove their ability to employers and peers.

Canonical Academy exams are designed to prepare learners for the real world, with modular, self-paced assessments that fit into busy schedules. The SysAdmin track launches with three exams today:

• Using Linux Terminal – available now to the public
  
• Using Ubuntu Desktop – available in beta for community testing
  
• Using Ubuntu Server – available in beta for community testing

The fourth exam is currently in development and will be announced soon. To achieve the SysAdmin qualification, users must earn all the badges in the corresponding SysAdmin track.

Real-world exams, built by Ubuntu experts

Traditional certifications can leave gaps between theory and practice. Canonical Academy takes a different approach, creating assessments based on the challenges IT professionals face every day. With the launch of the SysAdmin track, candidates can prove their ability to navigate the Linux terminal, configure Ubuntu desktops, and manage servers in environments that mirror the workplace. New qualification tracks are also in development to broaden the exam portfolio. 

“Canonical Academy grounds its qualifications in realistic professional applications. Current, technical professional needs are the foundation of  our development process, from the earliest identification of critical job skills for the target occupation, to the design of realistic custom cloud exam environments, to the industry expert code review of every hands-on item.”

– Adrianna Frick, Academy Team Lead, Canonical

Modular and self-driven learning

Canonical Academy is designed to fit the needs of modern learners. Each exam is modular, meaning professionals can progress at their own pace while building towards an overarching qualification badge.  The system allows individuals to focus on the skills they need most, while enterprises can map training to specific roles.

Badges indicate the year of the Ubuntu LTS release the exam is based on. All current exams are aligned with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Updated exams for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS are expected in September 2026. 

Each exam is supported by a study guide based on the official exam content, helping test takers prepare effectively through guided, self-paced learning.

“The ‘Using Linux Terminal’ qualification provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the Ubuntu ecosystem. I’m enthusiastic about bringing this program to Indonesia to empower local talent with the open source skills that are increasingly in demand across the industry.“

– Safira Zahira, Product Manager, Sivali Cloud Technology

Proof of skill that employers can trust

With Canonical Academy, successful candidates receive verifiable digital badges that demonstrate open source competence. Backed by Canonical, these credentials provide credible evidence of technical ability in a competitive job market.

“The test and the entire in-web-browser desktop environment was super cozy. I think the exam is incredibly valuable and will be a fantastic resource to a lot of aspiring and experienced Ubuntu users worldwide. Frankly, I thought I’d nail the Using Linux Terminal exam in 30 minutes.  But instead I was sweating.”

– Nathan Haines, Community Council Member, Ubuntu

Get started today

The Using Linux Terminal exam is open to everyone today. 

If you are looking to contribute to Canonical Academy, you can sign up to be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) or a beta tester. As a subject matter expert, you’ll help define topics, advise on future content, and guide the direction of open source skills assessments. As a tester, you’ll preview and critique exams in development, shape the user experience, and access full exams at discounted rates.

About Canonical

Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu, provides open source security, support and services. Our portfolio covers critical systems, from the smallest devices to the largest clouds, from the kernel to containers, from databases to AI. With customers that include top tech brands, emerging startups, governments and home users, Canonical delivers trusted open source for everyone. 

Learn more at https://canonical.com/