A recent Linux Foundation survey revealed that more than 9 in 10 hiring managers are planning to bring Linux talent on board this year, and 50 percent report they will hire more Linux professionals than in 2014.

All of this means that we need bright, talented developers to meet this demand. We need courses for greenhorn developers. And that's exactly what the Linux Foundation is offering.

The non-profit foundation, which runs an entire department dedicated to training and education, is now bringing their Linux Systems Administration (LFS201) course to the edX platform. With 100+ labs, this hands-on course is designed to build the practical skills a Systems Administrator (SysAdmin) needs to begin a career in Information Technology (IT). EdX is a nonprofit online learning platform launched in 2012 by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Jim Zemlin, Executive Director at The Linux Foundation said in a press release announcing the course, "Essentials of Linux Systems Administration will prepare people to join the ranks of the world’s best and to take the Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator exam, providing the perfect entry point for a lucrative career in IT."

This is the second course The Linux Foundation has made available on the edX platform. The first, a free course, was Introduction to Linux (LFS101), which to date has enrolled over 400,000 learners, making it one of the largest courses available on the edX platform.

The new course will be offered for a fee of $499, which includes a Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator exam attempt, a $300 value which includes one free retake if not passed on the first attempt.

Why do such certifications matter? As the Linux space becomes more and more competitive, these certifications makes a candidate more attractive to potential employers.

The recent jobs report also found that 54% of hiring managers expect a certification or evidence of formal training from applicants, so certified professionals will have a leg up on the competition.

LFS201 enrollment is open now on edx.org, and students will be able to begin taking the course on August 3, 2015. The exam is offered online and can be taken anytime, from anywhere, making it a convenient option for individuals around the globe.