Certified Kubernetes Application Developer is offered by The Linux Foundation which certifies that the candidate is able to design, build and deploy cloud-native applications for Kubernetes.
Microservices and Kubernetes are the most demanding technologies nowadays. Using containers is the new standard for running applications on any platform. Kubernetes is one of the most used orchestration tools for containers and one of the important skills that companies need now. The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer certification prepares the developer for this task. Anyone who is working with cloud-native applications as a developer, DevOps, or any operational role should take this exam.
The certification covers all the core aspects of working with containers in Kubernetes. A CKAD can create/migrate, configure, expose, and observe scalable applications by defining application resources and utilizing Kubernetes core primitives.
Domains & Competencies
Kubernetes is a very vast technology with many concepts and components. A single exam can’t cover all Kubernetes aspects. These exams are prepared based on different roles, If you are not clear about which exam is best for you check the suitable certification at The kubernetes certification path.
Here are the aspects of Kubernetes you should focus on when preparing for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer exam. You may notice, each section of the CKAD curriculum has a weight (e.g., 20%, 15%). The higher the weight, the higher the chances of questions from that section showing up during the exams and also being a high weight question.
Application Design and Build 20%
Application Deployment 20%
Application Observability and Maintenance 15%
Application Environment, Configuration, and Security 25%
Services and Networking 20%
Exam Detail:
| Name: Certified Kubernetes Application Developer | Code: CKAD |
| Duration: 120 Minutes | Format: Scenario-based |
| Type: Developer | Number of Questions: 15-20 tasks?? |
| Passing Score: 66% or above | Fee: 395 USD |
| Language: English, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese | Validity: 3 years |
| Retake: One free retake | Prerequisite: None |
| Provider: CNCF | Is Proctored: Yes |
| Training: optional | Center: PSI |
Exam Details & Resources
The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer certification is a way for you to show your peers and employers that you are a skilled developer with real hands-on experience working on Kubernetes.
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer exam is completely performance-based so only theory will not help you much to pass the certification. The exam is proctored online and consists of a series of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved via the command line. Candidates get two hours to finish the exam.
In 2 hours during the exam, you debug issues, create Kubernetes resources, and deploy them within the cluster.
Below is the official curriculum provided by CNCF and keep up to date according to the exam and Kubernetes version.
https://github.com/cncf/curriculum
The current exam is built on Kubernetes version 1.25. The CKAD exam environment aligned with the most recent K8s minor version Within 4 to 8 weeks of the K8s release date,
Exam Preparation
You get 2 hours to complete the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer exam, Although 2 hrs is enough to complete the exam still you have to be very quick to solve the questions. Below are some tips which will help you solve CKAD exam questions faster.
- Use the command line as much as you can. Using the command line helps get tasks done quickly and generates a definition template easily. This will save you a great amount of time during the exam.
- Bookmark official Kubernetes documentation. You are only allowed to use this documentation during your exam.
- It’s always a plus if you know basic Linux command like grep, find, and cat, there will be a lot of small tasks you can quickly complete using these commands for example changing the label of a pod.
- Start using vim editor, you may have to create or edit a lot of files this can be done using a graphical interface also but doing it from vim will save a lot of time. vim is a popular editor and you can easily find many resources to learn it.
- Practice! you need to do a lot of practice for the exam you can quickly get some sample questions and start practicing them, During your practice make sure you keep a clock to note down the time for each question and make sure you should be able to finish the practice test less than 2 hours.
On exam Day
Take proper rest before exam day, and don’t stress. Before you start your exam check you have a proper space with no disturbance, a proper internet connection, and electricity backup.
Follow the below tips which will help you pass your Certified Kubernetes Application Developer exam,
- Every question in the exam has a weight, read the questions carefully and start with the higher-weight question first. Some Certified Kubernetes Application Developers also used the opposite technique to start with a lower-weight question first which helps you to build more confidence. this choice is completely yours and you can make your strategy when you do practice tests.
- Keep an eye on the time as well you should flag the difficult questions and can attend to them at the end.
- Read your questions carefully and always verify your answers.
How to register for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer?
You can register and buy the exam voucher from Linux Foundation. You can schedule your exam within one year from the date of purchase. Very unlikely if you could not make it on the first attempt, you get to reappear once without any cost as the exam voucher includes one free retake.
