(Columbus, OH and Sacramento, CA, USA: September 29, 2012) The Linux Professional Institute (LPI), the world's premier Linux certification organization, announced during Ohio LinuxFest 2012 in Columbus, Ohio (OLF) that LPI's Linux Essentials program measuring foundational knowledge in Linux and Open Source Software is now available in North America. Linux Essentials was initially released as a pilot program in Europe, the Middle East and Africa but due to popular demand has now expanded to North America.