2/22/2005 -- The non-profit Linux Professional Institute (LPI) recently announced that 75,000 of its vendor-neutral Linux certification exams have been taken worldwide.

LPI certification, which launched in 2000, currently offers two titles: LPIC Level 1 and LPIC Level 2. Both require passing two exams.

The organization did not say how many certifications have been awarded so far.

"We are proud to say that our numbers are climbing, at a time when other, vendor-specific, certification exam numbers seem to be dropping," Evan Leibovitch, president of LPI, commented on the milestone in a printed statement. "This is an indication that there is increasing recognition for the value of the community-driven, vendor-independent and vendor-neutral, certification process offered to Linux professionals through LPI."

LPI exams cost $100 (U.S) at Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide, but are frequently discounted at Linux-related conferences and specially held international testing events.

For more information on LPI certification, go here. -Becky Nagel