Everything about the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam in 2026: the syllabus and domain weights, exam format, rules, and a practical study plan.
Short answer: the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) is a two-hour, online, proctored exam from the Linux Foundation and CNCF in which you solve practical tasks on live Kubernetes clusters from the command line. Troubleshooting carries the most weight. Most people with Linux basics need about 8 to 12 weeks of regular hands-on practice to pass.
What the CKA proves
The CKA shows that you can install, configure, run and fix a Kubernetes cluster. There are no multiple-choice questions: every task is done in a terminal with kubectl, YAML files and Linux commands. That is why employers value it more than most theory-based certificates.
CKA syllabus and domain weights
The curriculum is published by the Linux Foundation and is updated as Kubernetes versions change, so always check the current version before you start. The domains at the time of writing are:
| Domain | Weight | What to practise |
| Troubleshooting | 30% | Broken nodes, failing pods, cluster component and networking problems, logs and events |
| Cluster architecture, installation and configuration | 25% | kubeadm installs and upgrades, RBAC, etcd backup and restore, Helm and Kustomize, extensions such as CRDs |
| Services and networking | 20% | Services, Ingress and the Gateway API, network policies, CoreDNS |
| Workloads and scheduling | 15% | Deployments, rolling updates, ConfigMaps and Secrets, autoscaling, resource limits, node affinity and taints |
| Storage | 10% | Storage classes, PersistentVolumes and claims, access modes, reclaim policies |
Exam format and rules
- Duration: 2 hours, with roughly 15 to 20 practical tasks of different weights.
- Delivery: online from your own computer, watched by a remote proctor. You need a quiet room, a clear desk, a webcam and a stable internet connection.
- Allowed help: the official Kubernetes documentation can be open in the exam browser. Nothing else.
- Passing score: 66% at the time of writing.
- Included with registration: one free retake and access to an exam simulator, which is harder than the real exam and very good practice.
- Validity: two years, after which you renew by passing the exam again.
- Booking and fees: you register and pay directly with the Linux Foundation. Check its website for the current price and discounts.
A 10-week study plan
- Weeks 1–2: Linux command line, vi or nano, containers and YAML. Build images and run them with Docker or Podman.
- Weeks 3–4: pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets and namespaces. Learn to generate YAML with kubectl create ... --dry-run=client -o yaml instead of typing it.
- Weeks 5–6: build a cluster with kubeadm, upgrade it by one version, and back up and restore etcd. Set up RBAC for a user and a service account.
- Week 7: networking: network policies, Ingress, Gateway API and DNS checks from inside a pod.
- Week 8: storage, Helm and Kustomize.
- Weeks 9–10: troubleshooting every day, then full timed practice tests and the simulator.
Exam-day tips
- Every task names the cluster context to use. Switch to it first; working on the wrong cluster is the most common way to lose marks.
- Set a short alias such as k=kubectl and use imperative commands to save time.
- Skip a long task and come back; the weights are shown, so collect the easy marks first.
- Know where things are in the documentation (for example, the network policy and PersistentVolume examples) so you can copy and edit quickly.
- Verify each answer with kubectl get or describe before moving on.
Prepare with a mentor
New to Kubernetes? Start with Kubernetes architecture explained and the free Kubernetes learning path. Our Kubernetes CKA course covers every domain on real clusters, with timed practice tasks in the exam format and a break-and-fix cluster exercise. For interviews after the exam, practise Kubernetes interview questions and mock tests.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CKA exam hard?
It is demanding because it is practical and timed, not because the topics are obscure. Daily practice on real clusters and timed mock tests are what make the difference, and the free retake gives you a second chance.
Should I take KCNA or CKAD before the CKA?
Not required. KCNA is a multiple-choice entry-level exam that suits complete beginners; CKAD focuses on deploying applications. If your goal is DevOps or platform work, you can go straight to the CKA.
How long is the CKA certification valid?
Two years at the time of writing. Check the Linux Foundation's certification policy for the current renewal rules.