CKA (Other exams)
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) is a vendor-neutral, proctored, performance-based certification created by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation in collaboration with The Linux Foundation. It is aimed at engineers who administer Kubernetes clusters day to day - platform, DevOps and SRE practitioners who need to prove they can operate a cluster rather than just describe one. There are no prerequisites, and the exam is delivered entirely from a command line: candidates solve a set of performance-based tasks in a live Kubernetes environment within 2 hours, with the official documentation available. The published domain weights are Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%), Workloads & Scheduling (15%), Services & Networking (20%), Storage (10%) and Troubleshooting (30%), so troubleshooting and cluster lifecycle work dominate. The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.37, and quarterly updates are planned to track Kubernetes releases. Preparation should be hands-on: build and upgrade clusters with kubeadm, practise RBAC, NetworkPolicy, storage provisioning and Ingress/Gateway API tasks, and rehearse breaking and fixing cluster components under time pressure. Enrolment includes an exam simulator with two attempts, each session containing 17 questions, plus 12 months to schedule and sit the exam. The fee is $445 and includes one free retake; the certification is valid for 2 years.
What you'll study
About CKA preparation
What is the exam format, and is anything multiple choice?
It is an online, proctored, performance-based test: you solve multiple tasks from a command line running Kubernetes. There are no multiple-choice sections. You have 2 hours to complete the tasks, and the exam is based on Kubernetes v1.37. Official documentation is available in the exam environment, so focus on speed and accuracy rather than memorisation.
How hard is the CKA, and how long should I prepare?
It is rated at intermediate experience level and rewards real cluster time. Candidates consistently describe it as challenging but fair, with realistic scenarios. Because 30% of the weight is Troubleshooting and 25% is Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration, weak spots there cost the most. Plan several weeks of hands-on practice building, upgrading and repairing clusters rather than reading alone.
What does the $445 fee include, and what happens if I fail?
The cost is $445 and includes one free retake. Enrolment also gives you 12 months to schedule and take the exam, access to an exam simulator with two simulation attempts, and a PDF certificate and digital badge on passing. The certification itself is valid for 2 years.
How does the exam simulator work?
Once enrolled you receive access to an exam simulator provided by Killer.sh, with two simulation attempts. You get 36 hours of access for each attempt from the start of activation. Each CKA simulator session has 17 questions, and you will receive a different set of questions (17 total) in each attempt. The simulation provides graded results.
Which Kubernetes version is the exam on, and how often does it change?
The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.37. Quarterly exam updates are planned to match Kubernetes releases, and the CKA exam environment will be aligned with the most recent K8s minor version within approximately 4 to 8 weeks of the K8s release date. Check the current environment version before booking if you are close to a release.
What should I study first, given the domain weights?
Start with Troubleshooting (30%) and Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%), since together they are more than half the exam. Then cover Services & Networking (20%), Workloads & Scheduling (15%) and Storage (10%). Practise kubeadm cluster creation and upgrades, RBAC, NetworkPolicy, service types, Ingress and Gateway API, and persistent volume provisioning in a live cluster.
What are the most common ways candidates run out of time?
Losing minutes hunting through documentation instead of knowing where a manifest lives, hand-typing YAML instead of generating it with imperative commands and dry runs, and getting stuck on one broken task. Set context and namespace correctly at the start of every task, verify each change actually took effect, and move on from a blocker rather than burning the clock on it.
Do I need a KCSP employer or any prerequisites to sit the exam?
There are no pre-requisites for this exam, and you can become a CKA without any involvement with the Kubernetes Certified Service Provider program. The two are separate: a company needs at least three CKAs to become a KCSP, but that requirement does not apply to you as an individual candidate.
How long is the certification valid, and how do I keep it?
The certification is valid for 2 years. CKA is part of the CARE program, which is intended to simplify certification maintenance. Recertification means meeting the CARE requirements or retaking the current exam, so plan ahead rather than letting the credential lapse while you are between roles.