8/6/2003 -- The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) announced late today that is planning to launch a desktop certification.

"We are taking a community lead by calling for volunteers and others to step forward to help develop a Linux desktop certification program," LPI's president Evan Leibovitch said in a prepared statement announcing the new title. "The desktop is ready for primetime even in professional environments. It's not just a hacker's toy anymore. Companies and users are ready to teach and use it and we believe a certification program targeted to the desktop is going to help."

The organization did not put a time frame on the project. It is seeking support from the community as well as prospective partnerships to develop the title.

LPI currently offers a two-tiered Linux networking certification program, LPIC Level One and LPIC Level Two. Each consists of two proctored exams.

More information on LPI's certification program can be found at http://www.lpi.org/. -Becky Nagel