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Exam Information
Official specifications published by Linux Foundation
Exam Format
90 min
60
75%
Associate
Registration
$250 USD
PSI Online Proctored or online proctoring
English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Portuguese +1 more
One free retake within 12 months of purchase
Validity
3 years
Retake the current version of the exam; Pass a higher-level Kubernetes certification (CKA, CKAD, CKS); Complete continuing education requirements when available
KCNA Exam Topics and Domains
KCNA is organized into 5 weighted domains. Expect to work with Kubernetes API, Argo CD, containerd, CRI-O, and more.
1
Kubernetes Fundamentals
46%
Kubernetes Architecture
Control Plane ComponentsWorker Node Components
- Understand the architecture of Kubernetes clusters
- Identify the role of each control plane component
- Describe how nodes communicate with the control plane
Kubernetes Resources
Core Workload ResourcesConfiguration ResourcesNetworking Resources
- Deploy applications using basic kubectl commands
- Understand different workload resource types
- Configure application settings using ConfigMaps and Secrets
Containers and Images
Container FundamentalsContainer Runtimes
- Understand container technology fundamentals
- Identify container runtime options
- Work with container registries
Namespaces and Multi-tenancy
Namespace Management
- Implement namespace-based resource isolation
- Configure resource quotas and limits
Pod Scheduling
Scheduling Basics
- Understand how the scheduler places pods
- Configure pod placement preferences
2
Container Orchestration
22%
Container Orchestration Fundamentals
Orchestration Concepts
- Understand why container orchestration is needed
- Compare different orchestration platforms
Kubernetes Security
RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)Security Policies
- Configure RBAC for secure access
- Implement network policies
- Apply security contexts to pods
Storage
Persistent Storage
- Configure persistent storage for applications
- Understand storage classes and provisioning
Networking
Cluster Networking
- Understand Kubernetes networking model
- Configure network policies
- Work with Ingress resources
Service Mesh
Service Mesh Concepts
- Understand service mesh architecture
- Identify use cases for service mesh
3
Cloud Native Architecture
16%
Cloud Native Principles
CNCF Definition and PrinciplesMicroservices Architecture
- Understand cloud native principles
- Design microservices architectures
- Apply 12-factor app methodology
Autoscaling
Kubernetes Autoscaling
- Configure horizontal pod autoscaling
- Understand cluster autoscaling
- Optimize resource utilization
Serverless
Serverless Computing
- Understand serverless concepts
- Identify appropriate serverless use cases
Community and Governance
CNCF Governance
- Understand CNCF project structure
- Know project maturity levels
Open Standards
Industry Standards
- Understand open standards in cloud native
- Know major interface specifications
4
Cloud Native Observability
8%
Telemetry & Observability
Observability Pillars
- Understand the three pillars of observability
- Implement basic observability practices
Prometheus
Prometheus Monitoring
- Configure Prometheus for monitoring
- Write basic PromQL queries
- Set up alerting rules
Cost Management
Cloud Cost Optimization
- Understand cloud cost factors
- Implement cost optimization strategies
5
Cloud Native Application Delivery
8%
Application Delivery Fundamentals
Delivery Strategies
- Understand different deployment strategies
- Choose appropriate delivery methods
GitOps
GitOps Principles
- Implement GitOps workflows
- Use Git as single source of truth
CI/CD
Continuous IntegrationContinuous Delivery/Deployment
- Build CI/CD pipelines
- Automate application deployment
- Implement continuous delivery practices
How do I earn this certification?
Passing KCNA earns the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate certification. It sits in the Cloud Native / Kubernetes track.
Current Level Exams
KCSA - Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate
Next Level Options
- CKA - Certified Kubernetes Administrator
- CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
- CKS - Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
Alternative Paths
- KCSA - Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate Security-focused associate certification
- PCA - Prometheus Certified AssociateMonitoring and observability specialization
- CGOA - Certified GitOps Associate GitOps and continuous delivery focus
- ICA - Istio Certified Associate Service mesh specialization
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 KCNA 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: 2024-09-24
- Announcement date: 2024-01-15
Updates
- WebAssembly (WASM) Experimental May appear in future curriculum updates • Release date: 2024-03-01
- Service Mesh Interface (SMI) v0.6.0 Standard interface knowledge expected • Release date: 2024-02-15
- OpenTelemetry 1.33.0 Increasing focus on observability standards • Release date: 2024-08-01
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Cloud administrators and DevOps engineers starting with Kubernetes.
- Basic understanding of Linux command line
- Familiarity with containerization concepts
- Basic knowledge of application deployment
- Understanding of basic networking concepts
- 6 months of experience with cloud technologies