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Linux Foundation · DevOps & Automation · Professional

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) exam guide

Exam CKAD (Kubernetes v1.37)

The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) validates that you can design, build, configure, deploy and observe cloud-native applications on Kubernetes. It is the hands-on Kubernetes credential for developers.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit120 minutes
Passing score66%
Exam fee$445 USD
Valid for2 years
DeliveryOnline proctored (remote, PSI)

Format: Performance-based: solve tasks on live clusters from a command line. Fee note: Includes one free retake and simulator sessions; bundles $625 with THRIVE-ONE or $645 with LFD259 course.

Who it's for

Developers and DevOps engineers who package and deploy applications to Kubernetes.

What the exam covers

Application Design and Build20%
Application Deployment20%
Application Observability and Maintenance15%
Application Environment, Configuration and Security25%
Services and Networking20%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: Container and application development experience with basic Kubernetes usage.

Keeping it active

Valid 2 years. Recertify by passing the exam again before expiry.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Building container images and multi-container pods
  • Deployments, rolling updates and rollbacks
  • Helm and Kustomize
  • ConfigMaps, Secrets, SecurityContexts and ServiceAccounts
  • Probes, logging and debugging
  • Services, Ingress and NetworkPolicies
  • Jobs and CronJobs

Job roles

Cloud Native DeveloperSoftware EngineerDevOps EngineerPlatform EngineerBackend Developer

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: kubectl fluency - imperative creation of pods, deployments, services
  2. Week 2: Configuration and security (25%) - ConfigMaps, Secrets, SecurityContext, resource requests, ServiceAccounts
  3. Week 3: Design and deployment - multi-container patterns, Jobs, Helm, Kustomize, rollout strategies
  4. Week 4: Observability and networking - probes, logs, debugging, Services, Ingress, NetworkPolicy
  5. Week 5: Simulator sessions and speed drills

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Speed is everything - generate YAML with kubectl run/create --dry-run=client -o yaml
  • Configuration and security is the largest domain (25%)
  • Always check the namespace and context for each task
  • Use kubectl explain for field names instead of searching docs

Key terms for this exam

All 67 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much is CKAD?

$445 USD including one free retake.

What is the CKAD passing score?

66%.

How long is CKAD valid?

Two years.

Should developers take CKAD or CKA?

CKAD for developers; CKA if you run clusters. Many take both.

How hard is CKAD?

It is time-pressured but narrower than CKA; 3-6 weeks of practice is typical.

Official page: training.linuxfoundation.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.