professional Kubernetes & Cloud Native paid
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
by Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) ↗
Developers and DevOps engineers who design, build, and deploy cloud native applications on Kubernetes.
Exam facts
- Provider
- Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)
- Exam code
- CKAD
- Level
- professional
- Domain
- Kubernetes & Cloud Native
- Exam format
- Performance-based hands-on lab in a live Kubernetes environment, online proctored
- Duration
- 120 minutes
- Cost
- $445 USD
- Renewal
- 2 years
- Prerequisites
- None formally; comfort with containers, YAML, and kubectl is essential.
Recommended preparation
Drill speed with imperative kubectl commands for pods, deployments, jobs, probes, ConfigMaps, and network policies. Practice timed scenarios with the included killer.sh simulator and rely only on kubernetes.io documentation as in the real exam.
Follow the free DevOps 90-Day Learning Path — its final phase (days 76–90) is built for certification preparation.
⚠ Certification details change. Always verify on the official provider website before booking.