IT & Cloud
CKA (CNCF)
Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Free CKA practice questions 30 questions with full answer explanations. No sign-up. Start practice →Overview
The CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) is the leading hands-on certification for running Kubernetes. Unlike most cloud exams, it is entirely performance-based: you complete real tasks in a live cluster from the command line, not multiple-choice questions. It proves you can install, configure, operate and troubleshoot a Kubernetes cluster.
The exam is open-book in a narrow sense - you may use the official Kubernetes documentation during it - but it is strictly timed, so speed with kubectl and a strong mental model of the cluster matter more than memorisation. It pairs naturally with cloud and DevOps roles.
✓ Who it is for
- Administrators responsible for installing and maintaining production Kubernetes clusters
- DevOps and SRE engineers who manage cluster upgrades, etcd backups and node health
- Platform engineers building internal Kubernetes platforms for their teams
- Cloud engineers who already run managed clusters (EKS, GKE, AKS) and want to prove cluster-level skills
- Linux sysadmins moving into container orchestration and on-call cluster operations
✕ Who it is not for
- Complete beginners to Linux and containers - build those foundations first.
- Developers who only build apps on Kubernetes - the CKAD fits better.
- People wanting a multiple-choice exam - the CKA is hands-on.
Exam structure
| Troubleshooting | 30% - cluster and node troubleshooting, monitoring and logs, diagnosing application and networking failures (the heaviest domain). |
|---|---|
| Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration | 25% - RBAC, installing a cluster with kubeadm, managing highly available clusters, and etcd backup and restore. |
| Services & Networking | 20% - pod connectivity, Services and endpoints, Ingress, NetworkPolicies and CoreDNS. |
| Workloads & Scheduling | 15% - Deployments and rolling updates, ConfigMaps and Secrets, scaling, scheduling and resource limits. |
| Storage | 10% - storage classes, persistent volumes and claims, volume modes and reclaim policies. |
How the exam is weighted
- Troubleshooting 30%
- Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration 25%
- Services & Networking 20%
- Workloads & Scheduling 15%
- Storage 10%
What each domain covers
- Troubleshooting
- Cluster and node troubleshooting · Monitoring and logs · Application failure · Networking issues
- Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration
- RBAC · Installing a cluster (kubeadm) · Managing a highly available cluster · etcd backup and restore
- Services & Networking
- Connectivity between pods · Services and endpoints · Ingress · Network policies · CoreDNS
- Workloads & Scheduling
- Deployments and rolling updates · ConfigMaps and Secrets · Scaling · Scheduling and resource limits
- Storage
- Storage classes · Persistent volumes and claims · Volume modes and reclaim policies
Realistic study time
- With Kubernetes experience A few weeks of hands-on practice
- Newer to Kubernetes Several weeks, building Linux and K8s fundamentals first
Bars show relative effort, not a guarantee. Your time depends on background and study method.
Turn this into a week-by-week schedule with the Study Plan Generator.
What it really costs
Fees change and vary by region. Confirm the current amount on the official site before you register.
Want your full out-of-pocket figure? Try the Cost Calculator.
Salary & career value
Indicative ranges for orientation only - not surveyed data, and not financial or career advice. Sources and date below.
US Kubernetes administrators and platform/DevOps engineers commonly report indicative pay around ~$110k-160k, with senior roles higher. Kubernetes skills consistently command a premium within platform engineering.
Pass rate: Not published. The CNCF and the Linux Foundation do not release official pass rates for the CKA. The exam is reported as pass or fail against a published 66% score; you may retake it once within the exam eligibility period if you do not pass.
Indicative annual pay (USD), each role's typical band on a shared scale.
Other markets (indicative)
| United Kingdom | ~£55k-110k |
|---|---|
| Germany | ~€60k-90k |
Jobs that often ask for it:
- Kubernetes Administrator
- DevOps Engineer
- Platform Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer
- Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
Is it worth it?
Worth it for engineers who operate Kubernetes, where it is the recognised hands-on credential and signals real operational skill rather than recall. It is less relevant if you only build apps on Kubernetes (consider the CKAD) or have no container experience yet.
Not sure this is the right exam for you? Compare your options with the Exam Finder.
Compare CKA with other exams
Independent, like-for-like comparisons to help you choose the right one.
Career paths featuring CKA
What to do next
After the CKA, the CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist) adds security depth, and the CKAD covers the developer side. It pairs well with a cloud certification such as the AWS Solutions Architect Associate.
On exam day
Online-proctored, two hours, in a live terminal. You complete hands-on tasks across multiple clusters and may consult the official Kubernetes documentation. Speed with kubectl is decisive.
Keeping your certification
Valid for two years; renew through the Linux Foundation to keep the certification current.
FAQ
- Is the CKA multiple choice?
- No. The CKA is entirely performance-based: you complete real tasks in a live Kubernetes cluster from the command line within two hours. There are no multiple-choice questions.
- How hard is the CKA?
- Demanding, mainly because it is hands-on and strictly timed. The challenge is speed and accuracy with kubectl under pressure, plus troubleshooting, which is the heaviest domain at 30%.
- Can I use the Kubernetes docs during the CKA?
- Yes. You may use the official kubernetes.io documentation during the exam, but time is tight, so you should know where things are and rely on the docs only for details.
- CKA or CKAD?
- The CKA is for administrators who operate clusters; the CKAD is for developers who deploy applications on Kubernetes. Choose by your role; both are hands-on and share some material.
- How long does it take to study for the CKA?
- With Kubernetes experience, often a few weeks of focused hands-on practice. Beginners should budget longer to build Linux and Kubernetes fundamentals first.
- Does the CKA expire?
- It is valid for two years, after which you renew to keep it current.
Related exams
- CKAD (CNCF) - CNCF (Cloud Native Computing Foundation)
- AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) - Microsoft