Certified Kubernetes Administrator
A hands-on Kubernetes administration credential focused on cluster architecture, workloads, services, storage, troubleshooting, maintenance, and core operational tasks.
Last verified: 2026-09-01
Overview
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), developed by the Linux Foundation and CNCF, validates hands-on skills for administering Kubernetes clusters. The performance-based exam requires candidates to complete real Kubernetes tasks involving cluster architecture, installation and configuration, workloads and scheduling, services and networking, storage, and troubleshooting. It is designed for Kubernetes administrators, cloud administrators, and engineers responsible for production Kubernetes environments.
- Recommended experience
- There are no formal prerequisites. Candidates should be comfortable administering Kubernetes from the command line and should practice cluster installation, configuration, workloads, networking, storage, and troubleshooting in realistic lab environments.
- Estimated study time
- 100–160 hours
- Target job roles
- Kubernetes AdministratorCloud AdministratorPlatform EngineerDevOps EngineerSite Reliability Engineer
Exam Details
Certified Kubernetes Administrator Exam
- Exam code
- CKA
- Number of exams
- 1
- Duration
- 120 minutes
- Question count
- Performance-based tasks; Linux Foundation does not publish a fixed task count
- Delivery method
- Online proctored, performance-based command-line exam
- Price
- $445 USD exam-only price
Skills and Domains
Storage
10%Manage storage classes, persistent volumes, persistent volume claims, access modes, and reclaim policies.
Troubleshooting
30%Troubleshoot clusters, nodes, components, workloads, services, networking, and resource usage.
Workloads & Scheduling
15%Manage deployments, rollouts, configuration, autoscaling, admission, scheduling, and self-healing workloads.
Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration
25%Install and manage Kubernetes clusters, RBAC, lifecycle operations, high availability, Helm, Kustomize, interfaces, CRDs, and operators.
Services & Networking
20%Configure pod connectivity, services, network policies, Gateway API, Ingress, and CoreDNS.
Study Resources
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Official resourceDocumentation · Free
Official Linux Foundation CKA certification page, domains, pricing, and exam information.
View resourceLinux Foundation CARE Program
Official resourceDocumentation · Free
Official certification advancement and recertification information, including CKA renewal through CKS when eligible.
View resourceLinux Foundation Certification FAQ
Official resourceDocumentation · Free
Official certification scheduling, eligibility, and policy FAQ.
View resourceRenewal
- Validity period
- 2 years
- Renewal method
- Recertify through the current CKA pathway; under the Linux Foundation CARE program, earning or recertifying CKS on or after June 18, 2026 can also renew or reinstate a previously earned CKA.
- Notes
- CKA is currently valid for two years. The CARE program can automatically align a previously earned CKA with a newly earned or recertified CKS when program eligibility rules are met.
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Specializations
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