Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation: retired, and what replaced it
Red Hat has retired the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation: its page now states that the credential is no longer available and that the skills it tested are part of the updated Red Hat Certified Engineer requirements. Today the core Ansible exam is EX294, which makes you a Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible and, with RHCSA, a Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible.
- Credential
- Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible AutomationRed Hat certification page, checked 14 October 2026
- Status
- Retired — “This credential is no longer available.”Red Hat certification page, checked 14 October 2026
- Where the skills went
- Into the updated Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) requirementsRed Hat certification page, checked 14 October 2026
- Current core Ansible exam
- EX294 — Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in AnsibleRed Hat EX294 exam page, checked 14 October 2026
- Engineer credential
- Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible: RHCSA (EX200) plus EX294Red Hat certifications overview, checked 14 October 2026
- Exam format (EX294)
- Hands-on, practical; tasks with Ansible Automation Platform playbooks on RHEL 9Red Hat EX294 exam page, checked 14 October 2026
- Other Ansible specialist exams
- EX374 (Developing Automation, 4 hours, AAP 2.5) and EX467 (Managing Automation)Red Hat EX374 and EX467 exam pages, checked 14 October 2026
- Exam fees
- Shown by Red Hat only after choosing a location — no figure on the public exam pagesRed Hat exam pages, checked 14 October 2026
- Currency
- Red Hat certifications are current for 3 yearsRed Hat Certification Renewal page, checked 14 October 2026
Get notified when the Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist question bank launches →
Know if you're ready for Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist — before you book.
Certsqill measures your Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist readiness across every official exam domain — one 0–100 score from coverage, accuracy and consistency that tells you whether to book, keep studying, or sit.
Why people switch to Certsqill
Everything you need to walk in ready
Know where you stand, understand every mistake, and study in your language — one payment, no subscription.
Your Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist Readiness Score, not a guess
One number from three signals — coverage, accuracy, and consistency — tells you whether to book the exam or keep studying.
Understand every Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist mistake
When you miss a question, it explains why — using your own answer history to catch the patterns you keep repeating. Included, no subscription.
Explanations in your language, questions stay exam-accurate
Get every explanation in your language while the questions stay in exam-accurate English. Technical terms stay in English — the way the exam writes them.
Everything you need to pass
Why you can trust these Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist questions
Is the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation retired?
Yes. Red Hat’s page for the credential is now titled “Retired - Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation” and states plainly that the credential is no longer available. You cannot book an exam for it or earn it today.
Red Hat also says where the content went: the proficiencies tested in this certification are now included within its updated Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) requirements. The retirement page does not give a retirement date, and it does not say how the credential is treated for people who earned it before.
If you were searching for this exam to plan your next certification, the useful question is which current Red Hat exam covers the same ground. That is EX294.
Source: Red Hat — Retired: Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation. Checked 14 October 2026.
What was the Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist certification?
It was a Red Hat specialist credential showing that an IT professional could use Ansible to automate the management and deployment of systems in an enterprise environment.
In 2019 Red Hat announced that it was shifting the RHCE’s focus to automating Linux system administration tasks with Ansible. With Ansible at the centre of the engineer path, the separate specialist credential was folded into it.
Source: Red Hat — Retired: Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation. Checked 14 October 2026.
Which Red Hat Ansible exam replaced it?
The exam that now carries the core Ansible skills is EX294. Red Hat states that by passing it you become a Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible, and that it counts towards the Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible and the Red Hat Certified Architect in Ansible.
To become a Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible, Red Hat’s certification overview requires both the foundational credential and its corresponding advanced credential: RHCSA (exam EX200) and EX294. Without RHCSA, Red Hat directs you to earn it first.
Source: Red Hat — Explore Red Hat certifications. Checked 14 October 2026.
EX294 exam format
EX294 is a hands-on, practical exam. Red Hat states that it requires you to use Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform playbooks to perform real-world tasks, and it tests system administration skills for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. Internet access is not provided and you may not bring documentation, although the product documentation that ships with the software is usually available.
Red Hat reports scores usually within three U.S. business days, as a total score. The EX294 page checked for this article does not state the exam’s length or its passing score, so this page gives neither.
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam (EX294). Checked 14 October 2026.
What is on the EX294 exam?
Red Hat publishes the EX294 objectives on the exam page. They start with the expectation that you can perform all tasks of a Red Hat Certified System Administrator, then move into Ansible itself. Main objective areas include:
- Understand core components of Ansible and configure Ansible
- Configure Ansible managed nodes, SSH keys and privilege escalation
- Run playbooks and create Ansible plays and playbooks
- Use roles and Ansible Content Collections
- Perform basic source control operations using Git
- Automate standard RHCSA tasks using Ansible modules
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam (EX294). Checked 14 October 2026.
Other current Red Hat Ansible specialist exams
Red Hat still offers Ansible specialist credentials, just not under the old name. EX374 makes you a Red Hat Certified Specialist in Developing Automation with Ansible Automation Platform; Red Hat states it is a single four-hour section based on Ansible Automation Platform 2.5, and it counts towards the Red Hat Certified Architect.
EX467 makes you a Red Hat Certified Specialist in Managing Automation with Ansible Automation Platform, also a hands-on practical exam. Red Hat recommends EX374 and its course before moving on to EX467, so the two are best read as consecutive steps beyond EX294.
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certified Specialist in Developing Automation with Ansible Automation Platform exam (EX374). Checked 14 October 2026.
How much do Red Hat Ansible exams cost?
Red Hat’s exam pages ask you to choose a location before showing a price, and the public pages checked for this article carry no figure. Prices therefore depend on your country; check the amount on Red Hat’s page for your location before you book.
Red Hat lists its courses as preparation, not as a condition: the exam pages name the recommended course or comparable work experience. If you already work with Ansible daily, the exam alone may be enough.
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible exam (EX294). Checked 14 October 2026.
How long are Red Hat Ansible certifications valid?
Red Hat certifications are current for three years. For RHCSA and RHCE, earning certain other eligible credentials can extend that currency; Red Hat’s RHCE in Ansible page states that earning it automatically extends the currency of other RHCE credentials you hold.
Specialist credentials such as EX374 and EX467 are different: Red Hat states they can only be kept current by taking and passing their respective exams again.
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certification Renewal. Checked 14 October 2026.
Red Hat Ansible exam dumps
Red Hat names brain dumps directly. Its certification program guide tells candidates not to use unauthorised materials, including “brain dump” websites, or any study material derived from actual exam content, and not to share exam tasks, questions or solutions with anyone.
The consequences are severe: Red Hat states it might permanently revoke existing certifications and ban the candidate from all future exams. On a hands-on exam where you configure real systems, a dump would not help much anyway.
Source: Red Hat — Red Hat Certification program guide. Checked 14 October 2026.
Red Hat Ansible Automation practice questions
Because the old specialist exam is retired, practice for it only makes sense as a skills check for EX294 and the current Ansible specialist exams. Use practice questions to test whether you understand playbooks, roles, inventories and privilege escalation before you spend hours in a hands-on lab.
Certsqill’s practice questions are expert-developed, with an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per exam domain, so you see which objective needs more lab time. Every plan comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Red Hat Ansible Automation Specialist questions people ask
Is the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation still available?
No. Red Hat states the credential is no longer available; its skills are now part of the RHCE requirements. Checked 14 October 2026.
What replaced the Red Hat Ansible Automation specialist exam?
EX294, which makes you a Red Hat Certified Advanced System Administrator in Ansible and counts towards the Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible. Checked 14 October 2026.
How do I become a Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible?
Earn RHCSA (EX200) and pass EX294. Source: Red Hat certifications overview, checked 14 October 2026.
Is the EX294 exam hands-on?
Yes. Red Hat states it is a practical exam using Ansible Automation Platform playbooks to perform real-world tasks on RHEL 9. Checked 14 October 2026.
How long is the EX374 exam?
Four hours in a single section, based on Ansible Automation Platform 2.5. Source: Red Hat, checked 14 October 2026.
How much does a Red Hat Ansible exam cost?
Red Hat shows prices only after you choose a location; the public exam pages carry no figure. Checked 14 October 2026.
How long is a Red Hat certification valid?
Three years. Specialist certifications can only be kept current by passing their exams again. Source: Red Hat, checked 14 October 2026.
Are Ansible exam dumps allowed?
No. Red Hat’s program guide prohibits “brain dump” websites and can revoke certifications and ban candidates. Checked 14 October 2026.
When are EX294 results available?
Red Hat states scores are usually reported within three U.S. business days. Checked 14 October 2026.
