CLNP · ● Active · Professional · CompTIA
Stackable Certification: The CLNP is earned by simultaneously holding both CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Linux+. Neither exam is standalone; both certifications must remain current. The stackable badge is issued automatically upon completion.
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Component Exams | Network+ (N10-009) + Linux+ (XK0-006) |
| Cost | $381 USD per exam (varies by region; typical total ~$760) |
| Duration | 90 minutes each exam |
| Questions | Network+: up to 90 questions (multiple choice / PBQ); Linux+: up to 90 questions |
| Passing | Network+: 720/900 scaled; Linux+: 720/900 scaled |
| Format | Multiple choice + Performance-Based Questions (PBQ) |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (in-person or OnVUE remote) |
| Languages | English, Chinese, German, Japanese |
| Valid | 3 years per exam (both must be held simultaneously) |
| Renewal | CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) credits; retake higher-level exam; or renew with CE credits within 3-year window |
| Prerequisites | None formal; CompTIA recommends A+ and 9–12 months experience (Network+); 9–12 months Linux admin experience (Linux+) |
| Released | CLNP stackable designation formalized ~2023; current exams (N10-009, XK0-006) launched 2025–2026 |
| Retiring | N/A — stackable is evergreen; component exams retire on standard 3–5 year cycles |
Vendor source — CompTIA Stackable Certifications ↗
Network+ exam guide — CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) ↗
Linux+ exam guide — CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) ↗
Exam objectives (Linux+) — XK0-006 Objectives ↗
About
The CompTIA Linux Network Professional (CLNP) is a stackable credential combining CompTIA Network+ and Linux+ certifications. It is designed for IT professionals who administer, monitor, and troubleshoot critical Linux systems operating across enterprise networks and cloud platforms. Unlike single-exam credentials, CLNP requires simultaneous active status of both Network+ and Linux+; if either expires, the stackable title becomes inactive. The certification validates hands-on expertise in network architecture, Linux system administration, kernel internals, security hardening, and network troubleshooting—critical for roles spanning infrastructure, DevOps, cloud operations, and systems engineering. Launched formally as a stackable around 2023, CLNP reflects the industry reality that Linux powers ~98% of servers and cloud workloads, and modern infrastructure requires professionals fluent in both operating system and networking fundamentals.
Domain context — Linux + Networking
Combined domain covering Linux system administration, networking protocols, TCP/IP, routing, firewalling, and the intersection of OS-level and network-level operations. This is a cross-domain credential—not pure Linux (Systems/OS domain) and not pure Networking domain, but explicitly the synthesis required for infrastructure roles.
Read full deep dive — CompTIA Certifications →
Topics covered
Network+ (N10-009)
- Network Architecture and Connectivity (25%)
- OSI and TCP/IP models, network topologies, Ethernet, IP addressing, DHCP, DNS, NAT
- Network Operations (23%)
- Device configuration, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, RIP), switching, VLANs, access control
- Network Security (23%)
- Firewalling, authentication, encryption, VPN, intrusion detection, AAA
- Troubleshooting (18%)
- Diagnostic tools (ping, traceroute, netstat, nslookup), packet analysis, log review
- Network Management (11%)
- Monitoring, SNMP, syslog, baselines, performance metrics
Linux+ (XK0-006)
- System Management (32%)
- Package management, user/group administration, permissions, disk partitioning, kernel modules
- Troubleshooting (28%)
- Boot diagnostics, log file analysis, service recovery, performance tuning
- Security (21%)
- SELinux/AppArmor, firewall configuration, SSH hardening, encryption, vulnerability scanning
- Scripting, Containers, and Automation (19%)
- Bash scripting, systemd, cron, container basics (Docker), infrastructure-as-code concepts
Source: CompTIA Official Exam Guides ↗
Common skills at Linux + Networking · Professional
Shared infrastructure and operations competencies at the Professional level—applicable across Linux sysadmins, network engineers, and cloud operations roles.
- Advanced TCP/IP and routing protocol design
- Linux kernel configuration, module management, and performance tuning
- Network security implementation (firewalls, VPN, zero-trust)
- Infrastructure automation with bash, Python, or Ansible
- Cloud networking (VPCs, security groups, load balancing)
- Capacity planning and performance monitoring
- Incident response and root-cause analysis
- Container and microservices networking (overlay networks, service mesh basics)
Recommended courses at Linux + Networking · Professional
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pluralsight | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Path | $299–$499/yr | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) Path | $299–$499/yr | ↗ |
| A Cloud Guru | CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) | $79–$299/yr | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) | $499–$799/yr | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) | $499–$799/yr | ↗ |
| KodeKloud | CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) | $79–$199 | ↗ |
| CompTIA Instructor-Led | CLNP 10-Day Bootcamp | $2,000–$3,000 | Firebrand Training ↗ |
| Udemy | CompTIA Linux+ XK0-006 Complete Course | $9.99–$129 | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Each course must be specifically for the current exam codes (N10-009, XK0-006). Older versions (N10-008, XK0-005) retired in 2025–2026 and are no longer relevant.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boson | CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Practice | $99–$149 | ↗ |
| Boson | CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006) Practice | $99–$149 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | Network+ N10-009 Practice Tests | $49–$99 | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | Linux+ XK0-006 Practice Tests | $49–$99 | ↗ |
| Kaplan | CompTIA Network+ N10-009 | $99–$199 | ↗ |
| MeasureUp | CompTIA Official Practice Test Bundle | $79–$149 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Network+ Study Guide (Exam N10-009) | Todd Lammle | Sybex | 2024 | 978-1119857556 | ↗ |
| CompTIA Linux+ Study Guide (Exam XK0-006) | Christine Bresnahan, Richard Blum | Sybex | 2024 | 978-1119856833 | ↗ |
| Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide (8th Edition) | Mike Meyers | McGraw-Hill | 2024 | 978-1264689683 | ↗ |
| Linux Administration: A Beginner's Guide (7th Edition) | Wale Soyinka | McGraw-Hill | 2023 | 978-1264269372 | ↗ |
| The Linux Command Line (2nd Edition) | William E. Shotts Jr. | No Starch Press | 2019 | 978-1593279509 | ↗ |
Book rule: All titles reference the current exam codes (N10-009, XK0-006); older editions (N10-008, XK0-005) are archived and not recommended for 2026 candidates.
Typical job titles at Linux + Networking · Professional
Linux Network Engineer · Linux Sysadmin (Network-focused) · Network Operations Engineer · Infrastructure Engineer (Linux) · Cloud Network Engineer · DevOps Engineer (with networking focus) · Systems Engineer · Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings requiring or strongly preferring Network+ + Linux+ or equivalent skills.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $113,834–$168,675 | Glassdoor ↗ · ZipRecruiter ↗ · Coursera ↗ |
| GBP | £57,500–£67,810 | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Robert Half UK ↗ |
| ZAR | R404,100–R547,781 | PayScale ZA ↗ · SalaryExpert ZA ↗ |
| EUR | €48,000–€65,000 (DE/NL/FR avg) | Regional job boards; no dedicated Linux Network Engineer survey |
| AUD | A$95,000–A$130,000 | PayScale AU ↗ |
Salary rule: Data aggregated from combined "Network Engineer" and "Linux Engineer" roles; no region publishes specific "Linux Network Engineer" salary surveys, so figures represent the intersection of both specialties. South African data from 2026 surveys; GBP from March 2026 UK job market. Senior positions earn 20–30% higher.
Skills validated
Specific technologies and practices this stackable certification tests.
- TCP/IP networking, routing (BGP, OSPF), switching, VLANs, firewalling
- Linux kernel, package management (dnf, apt), user/group administration, permissions (Unix/Linux model)
- SELinux and AppArmor mandatory access controls
- SSH and cryptographic key management
- systemd service management, cron, boot diagnostics
- Bash scripting, basic automation, container fundamentals (Docker)
- Network troubleshooting tools (ping, traceroute, netstat, tcpdump, nslookup)
- Log file analysis and performance tuning
- DHCP, DNS, NAT configuration and troubleshooting
- VPN and intrusion detection concepts
Related certifications
- Stacks with: CompTIA Network+ ↗ + CompTIA Linux+ ↗ (both required to earn CLNP)
- Prerequisite for: CompTIA Security+ ↗ (recommended stepping stone to security specialization)
- Similar path: Cisco CCNA ↗ (vendor-specific networking equivalent at similar level)
- Cross-vendor equivalent: Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) ↗ (Linux-focused; does not include networking depth)
- Vendor overview: CompTIA Overview ↗
Sources
- CompTIA Stackable Certifications Overview: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/which-certification/stackable-certifications
- CompTIA Network+ (N10-009): https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/network/
- CompTIA Linux+ (XK0-006): https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/linux/
- XK0-006 Exam Objectives: https://d2ds8yldqp7gxv.cloudfront.net/Comptia+Agendas/comptia-linux-xk0-006-Agenda.pdf
- Glassdoor Network Engineer Salaries (USD, 2026): https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/network-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm
- IT Jobs Watch (UK Salaries): https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/network%20engineer.do
- PayScale South Africa: https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Network_Engineer/Salary
- Firebrand Training (CLNP Bootcamp): https://firebrand.training/en/courses/comptia/clnp-certification
- Pluralsight CompTIA Paths: https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/comptia-network-n10-009
- Boson Practice Exams: https://www.boson.com/practice-exam/network-plus-n10-009
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: CompTIA Stackable Certifications
Parent domains: Networking + Systems/Linux
Vendor overview: CompTIA Overview