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Exam Information
Official specifications published by CNCF
Exam Format
15-20 tasks
66%
Professional
Registration
$445 USD
Online Proctored via PSI or online proctoring
Validity
2 years
Pass the current CKA exam; Pass a higher-level certification (CKS); Complete continuing education (not available for CKA)
CKA Exam Topics and Domains
CKA is organized into 5 weighted domains.
1
Storage
10%
Storage Classes and Dynamic Volume Provisioning
Implement storage classesDynamic volume provisioning
- Understand and implement storage classes for dynamic volume provisioning
- Configure different provisioners for various storage backends
- Troubleshoot dynamic provisioning issues
Volume Configuration
Configure volume typesAccess modes and reclaim policies
- Configure various volume types based on requirements
- Select appropriate access modes for different scenarios
- Implement proper reclaim policies for data persistence
Persistent Volume Management
Manage persistent volumesManage persistent volume claims
- Create and manage persistent volumes and claims
- Troubleshoot PV/PVC binding issues
- Implement storage solutions for stateful applications
2
Workloads & Scheduling
15%
Application Deployments
Deployments and rolling updatesRollback procedures
- Understand and implement various deployment strategies
- Perform rolling updates with zero downtime
- Execute rollback procedures when deployments fail
Application Configuration
ConfigMapsSecrets
- Use ConfigMaps and Secrets to externalize application configuration
- Implement secure secret management practices
- Update application configuration without rebuilding images
Workload Autoscaling
Horizontal Pod AutoscalerVertical Pod Autoscaler
- Configure horizontal pod autoscaling based on metrics
- Implement vertical pod autoscaling for resource optimization
- Troubleshoot autoscaling issues
Self-Healing Applications
Pod health checksReplicaSets and controllers
- Implement health checks for application reliability
- Use appropriate controllers for different workload types
- Design self-healing application architectures
Pod Scheduling
Resource limits and requestsNode affinity and pod affinity
- Configure pod resource requirements and limits
- Implement advanced scheduling with affinity rules
- Use taints and tolerations for node management
3
Services & Networking
20%
Pod Connectivity
Understand connectivity between Pods
- Understand Kubernetes networking model
- Troubleshoot pod-to-pod communication issues
- Implement network debugging techniques
Network Policies
Define and enforce Network Policies
- Design and implement network policies for security
- Test network policy rules
- Troubleshoot network policy issues
Service Types
ClusterIP servicesNodePort servicesLoadBalancer servicesService endpoints
- Select appropriate service types for different use cases
- Configure services for internal and external access
- Troubleshoot service connectivity issues
Ingress Management
Gateway APIIngress controllers and resources
- Implement Gateway API for modern traffic management
- Configure traditional Ingress resources
- Set up TLS termination and routing rules
CoreDNS
Understand and use CoreDNS
- Configure and manage CoreDNS
- Troubleshoot DNS resolution issues
- Implement custom DNS configurations
4
Troubleshooting
30%
Cluster Troubleshooting
Troubleshoot clusters and nodesTroubleshoot cluster components
- Diagnose and resolve node issues
- Troubleshoot control plane component failures
- Analyze cluster logs effectively
Resource Monitoring
Monitor cluster and application resource usage
- Monitor resource usage across the cluster
- Identify performance bottlenecks
- Plan capacity based on metrics
Container Output Management
Manage and evaluate container output streams
- Access and analyze container logs
- Debug application issues using logs
- Implement log management strategies
Service and Network Troubleshooting
Troubleshoot services and networking
- Diagnose service discovery problems
- Troubleshoot network connectivity issues
- Debug DNS resolution failures
5
Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration
25%
RBAC Management
Manage role based access control
- Design and implement RBAC policies
- Create service accounts with appropriate permissions
- Troubleshoot authorization issues
Cluster Installation
Prepare infrastructureCreate clusters using kubeadm
- Prepare infrastructure for Kubernetes installation
- Install Kubernetes clusters using kubeadm
- Add and remove nodes from clusters
Cluster Lifecycle
Manage cluster lifecycle
- Plan and execute cluster upgrades
- Implement backup and recovery procedures
- Manage cluster component lifecycle
High Availability
Implement highly-available control plane
- Design high availability architectures
- Implement multi-master clusters
- Configure load balancing for control plane
Cluster Components
Helm and KustomizeExtension interfaces
- Use Helm and Kustomize for application deployment
- Understand and configure extension interfaces
- Troubleshoot plugin and driver issues
Custom Resources
CRDs and operators
- Understand and implement CRDs
- Install and configure operators
- Manage custom resources effectively
How do I earn this certification?
Passing CKA earns the Certified Kubernetes Administrator certification. It sits in the Kubernetes Administration track.
Current Level Exams
CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
Next Level Options
CKS - Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
Alternative Paths
- CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer Complementary developer-focused skills
- KCSA - Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate Foundation for security specialization
- PCA - Prometheus Certified AssociateMonitoring and observability skills
- ICA - Istio Certified Associate Service mesh and advanced networking
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for CKA is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-07-03
- Announcement date: 2025-02-10
Updates
- Gateway API v1.0+ Now required knowledge, replacing traditional Ingress as primary traffic management • Release date: 2023-10-31
- Dynamic Volume Provisioning More complex storage scenarios in exam
- Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) Understanding and managing operators now tested
- Helm v3 Package management with Helm explicitly mentioned in curriculum
- Kustomize Configuration management without templates
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by System administrators and DevOps engineers.
- Basic Linux command line proficiency
- Understanding of containerization concepts
- 6+ months hands-on Kubernetes experience
- Familiarity with YAML
- Basic networking knowledge