Docker Certified Associate
Mirantis (formerly Docker)
Complete guide to passing the Docker Certified Associate exam on your first attempt.
$195
~65%
2 years
Global
Mirantis (formerly Docker)
$95k-$140k
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Complete Overview
The Docker Certified Associate (DCA) is a 90-minute, remotely proctored exam of 55 questions that tests working knowledge of Docker Engine, image and registry management, Swarm orchestration, container networking, security and storage. Mirantis owns and sells the exam after acquiring the Docker Enterprise platform business in November 2019, and charges USD 199 or EUR 200 for a single attempt. The people who sit it are system administrators, DevOps engineers, platform engineers and developers who already run containers day to day. The Mirantis study guide targets candidates with six months to one year of Docker experience, plus exposure to container security, at least one cloud provider, a configuration management tool, and Linux or Windows Server. The current blueprint is Docker Certified Associate Study Guide version 1.5, dated January 2025. It splits the exam into six domains: Orchestration at 25 percent, Image Creation, Management, and Registry at 20 percent, Installation and Configuration at 15 percent, Networking at 15 percent, Security at 15 percent, and Storage and Volumes at 10 percent. Those six weights sum to 100. Two structural facts shape how you prepare. Only 13 of the 55 items are ordinary multiple choice. The other 42 use Discrete Option Multiple Choice, a format patented by Caveon in which the options belonging to one question appear one at a time and you answer YES or NO to each. Caveon's own description says the item ends as soon as it has been answered correctly or incorrectly, so one careless YES on a distractor closes that question against you and the remaining options are never shown. The second fact is the cut score. The Mirantis FAQ says passing scores are not published because questions and passing scores change without notice, so any site quoting a fixed 65 percent is guessing. The blueprint still names Docker Enterprise components that have since been renamed. Universal Control Plane (UCP) and Docker Trusted Registry (DTR), sold today as Mirantis Kubernetes Engine and Mirantis Secure Registry, appear across four of the six domains: highly available installation on AWS and on-premises, backup configuration, RBAC, LDAP and Active Directory integration, external certificates, and client bundles. Kubernetes objectives sit in the blueprint too, covering pods and deployments, configMaps and secrets, ClusterIP and NodePort services, persistentVolumes, and the relationship between CSI drivers, storageClass and persistentVolumeClaim. Anyone who prepares only with modern Docker Desktop and Compose misses a large slice of the test. Delivery is remote only, from a Windows or macOS machine. Mirantis states Linux is not supported. You need the Zoom desktop client, Chrome with a proctoring extension, a webcam accessible to Chrome, and 2 Mbps upload and download. Results appear on the testing screen immediately and certificate credentials arrive within 48 business hours to the email attached to your Docker ID. The credential lasts two years, and Mirantis publishes no continuing-education route, so renewal means sitting the exam again and paying again.
Why Get Docker Certified Associate Certified?
One 90-minute sitting costs USD 199 or EUR 200, against USD 445 for the CKA sold through the same Mirantis certification catalogue.
Orchestration carries 25 percent of the blueprint, which is roughly 14 of the 55 items on Swarm services, stacks, quorum, replicas and node placement.
Mirantis writes the exam for candidates with six to twelve months of Docker experience, so it is reachable without years of production tenure.
Results are delivered on the testing screen the moment you finish, and certificate credentials arrive within 48 business hours.
The credential is valid for two years from the pass date, a shorter cycle than most vendor certifications, which keeps it current on a resume.
Mirantis discounts multi-packs of 10, 25, 50 or 100 exams, which is how employers certify a whole platform team at once.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics put the May 2024 median annual wage at 96,800 dollars for network and computer systems administrators and 130,390 dollars for computer network architects, the two occupations closest to the container operations work this exam covers.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
90 minutes
Questions
55 questions
Passing Score
Not published. The Mirantis FAQ says Docker does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice.
Question Types
- Multiple choice, 13 items, at least four response options with one or more correct
- Discrete Option Multiple Choice (DOMC), 42 items, options shown one at a time with a YES or NO decision on each
Delivery Method
Remotely proctored on your own Windows or macOS computer. Requires the Zoom desktop client, Google Chrome with a proctoring extension, a webcam Chrome can access, and 2 Mbps upload and download. Mirantis states Linux is not supported. Mirantis directs system-check questions to [email protected].
- Mirantis previously delivered the exam on-site at events such as DockerCon, where equipment was provided. The routine path today is remote proctoring booked through store.mirantis.com.
How scoring works
Score scale
Not published. Mirantis does not release a score scale, a scaled-score range or a per-domain score breakdown for the DCA. The candidate receives a score report on the testing screen at the end of the session.
Score needed to pass
Not published. The Mirantis FAQ states that Docker does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice.
When results arrive
Immediately on the testing screen, with the option to request the score report by email to the address on your Docker ID. Certificate access arrives within 48 business hours to that same address.
How the scale is built
The exam mixes 13 standard multiple choice items with 42 Discrete Option Multiple Choice items. Caveon, which patented DOMC, describes an item as ending once it has been answered correctly or incorrectly, so the number of options you actually see varies by candidate and by the random order they arrive in. Mirantis does not publish whether the six domains are compensatory, whether items carry equal weight, or whether a wrong response costs more than a zero.
Pacing and time budget
55 questions in 90 minutes gives you 1 minute 38 seconds per question.
15
10 of 55
30
20 of 55
50
33 of 55
70
46 of 55
85
all 55, with five minutes unused
| At this point | You should have answered |
|---|---|
| 15 | 10 of 55 |
| 30 | 20 of 55 |
| 50 | 33 of 55 |
| 70 | 46 of 55 |
| 85 | all 55, with five minutes unused |
- The 98-second average is misleading. DOMC items often close after two or three options, so many of the 42 finish in well under a minute. Spend the surplus on the 13 standard multiple choice items, which show every option at once and take longer to read.
- Because a DOMC item ends as soon as your answer settles it, there is nothing to gain from lingering over an option you have already judged. Commit and move on.
- Orchestration is 25 percent, about 14 items. If you are half an hour in and still working through swarm scenarios, you are reading too slowly for the remaining 41 questions.
- Mirantis forbids leaving the room during the examination, so the 90 minutes run unbroken. Treat the whole session as one block and do not plan a mid-exam reset.
- Items that quote docker inspect output or a compose file cost noticeably more reading time than definitional items. Recognise them early and accept that they will run over the average.
Where the marks are
Swarm orchestration: services, stacks, quorum, placement
25%
The largest domain, about 14 items. Expect quorum arithmetic, replicated versus global services, node labels and constraints, stack deployment from a compose file, and diagnosing a service that will not start.
Image creation, management and registry operations
20%
About 11 items on Dockerfile instructions, efficient image construction, layer inspection with history and inspect, tagging, and the full registry cycle of deploy, login, search, push, sign, pull and delete.
Installation and configuration of engine and control plane
15%
About eight items on repo setup, storage driver selection, daemon configuration and boot behaviour, logging drivers such as splunk and journald, certificate-based daemon authentication, and HA UCP and DTR deployment with backups.
Container networking and publishing modes
15%
About eight items on the Container Network Model, choosing between built-in drivers, host versus ingress publishing, external DNS, layer 7 load balancing, overlay service deployment, and Kubernetes ClusterIP and NodePort routing.
Security: content trust, mutual TLS, RBAC and directory integration
15%
About eight items on signing and scanning images, default engine and swarm security posture, mutual TLS between nodes, identity roles, external certificates, client bundles and LDAP or Active Directory integration.
Storage, volumes and graph drivers
10%
About six items, the smallest domain. Covers graph driver choice per operating system, devicemapper configuration, object versus block storage, layer location on the filesystem, cross-node storage, and Kubernetes persistent volume objects.
| Topic | Weight | Why it scores |
|---|---|---|
| Swarm orchestration: services, stacks, quorum, placement | 25% | The largest domain, about 14 items. Expect quorum arithmetic, replicated versus global services, node labels and constraints, stack deployment from a compose file, and diagnosing a service that will not start. |
| Image creation, management and registry operations | 20% | About 11 items on Dockerfile instructions, efficient image construction, layer inspection with history and inspect, tagging, and the full registry cycle of deploy, login, search, push, sign, pull and delete. |
| Installation and configuration of engine and control plane | 15% | About eight items on repo setup, storage driver selection, daemon configuration and boot behaviour, logging drivers such as splunk and journald, certificate-based daemon authentication, and HA UCP and DTR deployment with backups. |
| Container networking and publishing modes | 15% | About eight items on the Container Network Model, choosing between built-in drivers, host versus ingress publishing, external DNS, layer 7 load balancing, overlay service deployment, and Kubernetes ClusterIP and NodePort routing. |
| Security: content trust, mutual TLS, RBAC and directory integration | 15% | About eight items on signing and scanning images, default engine and swarm security posture, mutual TLS between nodes, identity roles, external certificates, client bundles and LDAP or Active Directory integration. |
| Storage, volumes and graph drivers | 10% | About six items, the smallest domain. Covers graph driver choice per operating system, devicemapper configuration, object versus block storage, layer location on the filesystem, cross-node storage, and Kubernetes persistent volume objects. |
The numbers
USD 199 or EUR 200 per attempt
Exam fee
Source: Mirantis certification catalogue and DCA exam page, training.mirantis.com/certification/
55 items: 13 multiple choice and 42 Discrete Option Multiple Choice
Question mix
Source: Docker Certified Associate Study Guide version 1.5, January 2025, Mirantis
90 minutes
Time limit
Source: Mirantis DCA certification page, exam details section
Orchestration 25, Image and registry 20, Installation 15, Networking 15, Security 15, Storage 10
Domain weights
Source: Docker Certified Associate Study Guide version 1.5, January 2025, Mirantis
14 days from the day you fail, at full price for each attempt
Retake wait
Source: Mirantis DCA FAQ, training.mirantis.com/certification/dca-certification-exam/
2 years, with no published continuing-education alternative to re-examination
Credential validity
Source: Mirantis DCA FAQ, training.mirantis.com/certification/dca-certification-exam/
If you fail
Wait before retaking
14 days from the day you fail before you may sit the exam again, per the Mirantis DCA FAQ.
Attempt limit
Mirantis publishes no lifetime attempt cap. The only stated conditions are the 14-day wait and payment for each attempt.
Retake fee
Full price every time: USD 199 or EUR 200. Mirantis states that payment is good for one exam attempt. Multi-packs of 10, 25, 50 or 100 exams are discounted, arranged by contacting Mirantis.
There are two separate ways to lose a fee without answering a single question. Cancelling or rescheduling inside 48 hours of the appointment forfeits the fee, and failing to start within 15 minutes of your slot marks you a no-show. Arriving without every required form of identification also counts as a missed appointment and forfeits the fee. If your connection falls below the 2 Mbps requirement, Mirantis warns the attempt may be forfeited, so run the speed test in advance and email [email protected] if the numbers look marginal.
Exam Domains & Topics
Building and operating a Swarm mode cluster, converting containers into services and stacks, and troubleshooting deployments that do not come up. The blueprint also puts Kubernetes workload objectives here.
Key Topics to Master:
- Complete the setup of a swarm mode cluster with manager and worker nodes
- Quorum in a swarm cluster and why an even manager count is a liability
- The difference between running a container and running a service
- Interpreting the output of docker inspect
- Converting a deployment into a stack file and using docker stack deploy with a YAML compose file
- Manipulating a running stack, increasing replicas, adding networks, publishing ports, mounting volumes
- Replicated versus global services
- Node labels and placement of tasks
- Templates with docker service create
- Troubleshooting a service that will not deploy
- How a Dockerized application talks to legacy systems
- Deploying containerized workloads as Kubernetes pods and deployments
- Providing configuration to Kubernetes pods with configMaps and secrets
Writing and reading Dockerfiles, shrinking images, and every registry operation from login through signing to deletion.
Key Topics to Master:
- The use of Dockerfile and options such as ADD, COPY, VOLUME, EXPOSE and ENTRYPOINT
- Identifying and displaying the main parts of a Dockerfile
- Creating an efficient image via a Dockerfile
- CLI image management: list, delete, prune, rmi
- Inspecting images and reporting specific attributes using filter and format
- Tagging an image
- Applying a file to create a Docker image
- Displaying the layers of an image
- Flattening an image to a single layer
- Deploying a registry, logging in, searching, pushing, signing, pulling and deleting
Sizing, installing and configuring the engine across platforms, then standing up the Docker Enterprise control plane in a highly available configuration and backing it up.
Key Topics to Master:
- Sizing requirements for installation
- Repo setup, storage driver selection and engine installation on multiple platforms
- Logging driver configuration including splunk and journald
- Swarm setup, manager configuration, adding nodes and backup scheduling
- Creating and managing users and teams
- Configuring the Docker daemon to start on boot
- Certificate-based client-server authentication so a daemon can reach images on a registry
- Namespaces, cgroups and certificate configuration
- Interpreting errors to troubleshoot installation issues unaided
- Deploying engine, UCP and DTR on AWS and on-premises in an HA configuration
- Configuring backups for UCP and DTR
The Container Network Model, the built-in drivers and when each applies, publishing modes, DNS, load balancing, and the Kubernetes service types the blueprint adds on top.
Key Topics to Master:
- The Container Network Model and how it meets the engine, network drivers and IPAM drivers
- Types and use cases for the built-in network drivers
- Traffic that flows between the Docker engine, registry and UCP controllers
- Creating a bridge network for developer containers
- Publishing a port so an application is reachable externally, and identifying which IP and port
- Comparing host and ingress publishing modes
- Configuring Docker to use external DNS
- Layer 7 load balancing of HTTP and HTTPS traffic with Docker EE
- Deploying a service on an overlay network
- Troubleshooting container and engine logs to resolve connectivity issues
- Routing traffic to Kubernetes pods using ClusterIP and NodePort services
- The Kubernetes container network model
Default engine and swarm security posture, image signing and scanning, mutual TLS, and the identity and access model of the Docker Enterprise control plane.
Key Topics to Master:
- Security administration tasks and identity roles
- The process of signing an image and enabling Docker Content Trust
- Default engine security and default swarm security
- Mutual TLS between swarm nodes
- Comparing UCP workers and managers
- Using external certificates with UCP and DTR
- Demonstrating that an image passes a security scan
- Configuring RBAC with UCP
- Integrating UCP with LDAP and Active Directory
- Creating UCP client bundles
Graph drivers per operating system, the layered filesystem, persistent volumes, cluster-wide storage, and the Kubernetes persistent storage objects.
Key Topics to Master:
- Identifying the correct graph drivers for various operating systems
- Configuring devicemapper
- Comparing object and block storage and when each applies
- How an application is composed of layers and where those layers live on the filesystem
- Volumes for persistent storage
- Cleaning up unused images on a filesystem and in DTR
- Using storage across cluster nodes
- Provisioning persistent storage to a Kubernetes pod with persistentVolumes
- The relationship between CSI drivers, storageClass, persistentVolumeClaim and volume objects
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Download Docker Certified Associate Study Guide version 1.5 from the Mirantis certification page and read all six domain content-limit lists end to end
- 2Build a three-node lab: three Linux VMs or three instances in labs.play-with-docker.com so you can form a real swarm rather than a single-node one
- 3Install Docker Engine from the repository by hand on at least one VM, following docs.docker.com, so you have seen the repo setup and daemon.json steps the Installation domain asks about
- 4Work through the DOMC sample test linked from the study guide so the YES or NO rhythm is familiar before it costs you marks
- 5Write out the six domain weights and convert them into item counts: roughly 14, 11, 8, 8, 8 and 6 items out of 55
- 1Write Dockerfiles that use ADD, COPY, VOLUME, EXPOSE and ENTRYPOINT and be able to say what each does differently from its neighbour
- 2Read the Dockerfile reference and the image-building best practices pages on docs.docker.com
- 3Practise docker image ls, docker image prune, docker rmi and docker system prune until you know exactly what each one removes
- 4Use docker image inspect with --format and Go template syntax to pull out single attributes, since the blueprint names filter and format explicitly
- 5Run docker history on a multi-stage build and a naive build of the same application and compare layer counts and sizes
- 1Run a local registry container, tag an image for it, then push, search, pull and delete
- 2Enable Docker Content Trust with DOCKER_CONTENT_TRUST=1, sign an image and watch an unsigned pull fail
- 3Read the Mirantis Secure Registry documentation to see what DTR features became, since the blueprint still uses the DTR name
- 4Practise flattening an image to a single layer with docker export and docker import and know why you would do it
- 5Clean up unused images on a filesystem and note the difference between dangling and unreferenced images
- 1Initialise a swarm, join workers and managers, and read the join tokens with docker swarm join-token
- 2Work out quorum for 1, 3, 5 and 7 managers and be able to say how many failures each configuration tolerates
- 3Create replicated and global services, scale replicas up and down, and watch tasks reschedule when you drain a node
- 4Apply node labels and use placement constraints so services land where you intend
- 5Use templates with docker service create, for example a hostname built from the task slot
- 1Convert a multi-container application into a compose file and deploy it with docker stack deploy
- 2Learn which compose keys swarm honours under the deploy section, including replicas, placement, update_config, restart_policy and resources, and which keys it ignores
- 3Break a service on purpose, then find the cause with docker service ps --no-trunc, docker service logs and docker service inspect
- 4Perform a rolling update and then a rollback on a running service
- 5Read the docker inspect output of a container, a service and a network and answer questions about the fields from memory
- 1Create bridge, overlay, host, macvlan and none networks and describe when each fits
- 2Deploy a service across an overlay network on two nodes and confirm service discovery by container name
- 3Compare host mode and ingress mode publishing by publishing the same service both ways and observing the routing mesh
- 4Configure a container to use an external DNS server with --dns and check /etc/resolv.conf inside the container
- 5Read the Container Network Model description on docs.docker.com and be able to name the sandbox, endpoint and network objects
- 1Read the Mirantis Kubernetes Engine documentation on RBAC, grants, collections and client bundles, and map each back to the UCP names in the study guide
- 2Study mutual TLS in swarm: how manager and worker certificates are issued and rotated
- 3Set up LDAP or Active Directory integration on paper, listing every field the control plane asks for
- 4Practise creating Docker secrets and configs, attaching them to services, and confirming they appear under /run/secrets
- 5Review image security scanning: what a scan reports, and what it does not catch
- 1Create named volumes, bind mounts and tmpfs mounts and be able to state which survives a container restart and which survives a host restart
- 2Read the storage driver documentation on docs.docker.com covering overlay2, devicemapper and the Windows drivers, since the blueprint names graph drivers per operating system
- 3Deploy a Kubernetes pod with a persistentVolumeClaim in kind or minikube and trace the chain from CSI driver to storageClass to claim to volume
- 4Create a Kubernetes configMap and a secret and mount both into a pod
- 5Expose a pod with a ClusterIP service and then a NodePort service and compare what each one reaches
- 1Score yourself domain by domain against the study guide bullet lists and mark every bullet you cannot demonstrate at a keyboard
- 2Spend the whole week only on marked bullets, weighting your time by the 25, 20, 15, 15, 15 and 10 percent split
- 3Rebuild the swarm lab from scratch without notes, timing yourself
- 4Rewrite the trickiest Dockerfile from week 2 as a multi-stage build with a distroless or scratch final stage
- 5Re-read every study guide bullet that begins with the word Describe, since those map to definitional items you can answer without a terminal
- 1Take the DOMC sample items again under time pressure and practise deciding each option in under 20 seconds
- 2Run the equipment check: Zoom desktop client installed, Chrome with the proctoring extension, webcam visible to Chrome, and a speedtest.net result above 2 Mbps both ways
- 3Confirm you are testing from Windows 7 or later, or macOS 10.8 or later, and arrange a supported machine if you only own a Linux box
- 4Book the exam at store.mirantis.com and note that cancelling or rescheduling requires 48 hours notice
- 5Do a final pass over the nine sample questions and answer key printed in the study guide
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Best Study Resources
Docker Certified Associate Study Guide version 1.5, January 2025
Official blueprint PDFThe only authoritative source for domain weights, the 13 plus 42 question split and the content-limit bullets. Linked from the Mirantis DCA certification page. Includes nine sample questions with an answer key.
Free
Mirantis DCA certification page, training.mirantis.com/certification/dca-certification-exam
Official exam policy pageCarries the price, the 90-minute limit, the equipment requirements, the identification rules, the 14-day retake wait, the 48-hour cancellation window and the two-year validity. Read it before booking.
Free
Docker documentation, docs.docker.com
Vendor documentationThe Dockerfile reference, the storage drivers section, the network drivers section and the swarm mode section between them cover most of the non-enterprise blueprint bullets.
Free
Caveon DOMC sample tests, domc.caveon.com/tests
Format practiceCaveon owns the DOMC patent and hosts sample items in the same format as 42 of your 55 questions. Practising here teaches you that the item closes the moment you answer correctly or incorrectly.
Free
Play with Docker, labs.play-with-docker.com
Browser labSpins up several throwaway Docker hosts in a browser, which is the fastest way to build a real multi-node swarm and test overlay networking without provisioning VMs.
Free
Mirantis Cloud Native Platform Bootcamp, course CN253
Instructor-led prep courseThe bootcamp Mirantis points DCA candidates toward from the certification page. Useful mainly for the Docker Enterprise control plane material that is hard to lab at home.
Priced on training.mirantis.com, also sold as an on-demand version
Mirantis Kubernetes Engine and Mirantis Secure Registry product documentation
Vendor documentationThese are the current products behind the UCP and DTR names in the study guide. Their pages on RBAC, grants, client bundles, backups and external certificates fill the enterprise gaps left by docs.docker.com.
Free
Docker Deep Dive by Nigel Poulton
BookCovers swarm, overlay networking, volumes, content trust and security in more narrative depth than the documentation. Check the edition date against the study guide before relying on version-specific details.
Price varies by edition and retailer
Docker Mastery by Bret Fisher, on Udemy
Video courseA long-running hands-on Docker and Swarm course with a section aimed at DCA topics. Treat it as lab practice rather than a blueprint substitute, since it does not track the Mirantis study guide bullet for bullet.
Price varies with Udemy promotions
evalle.github.io/DCA community preparation guide
Open community notesA public GitHub Pages repository that walks the study guide bullets one at a time with commands and links. Cross-check anything it says against the current study guide, since community notes lag blueprint revisions.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Preparing as though the DCA were a hands-on lab exam like the CKA
There is no terminal. All 55 items are questions: 13 standard multiple choice and 42 DOMC. Lab work matters because it makes you fast at recognising correct command syntax and inspect output, so rehearse recognition rather than typing speed.
Answering DOMC items the way you answer normal multiple choice, by scanning for the best-looking option
Caveon states the item closes as soon as it has been answered correctly or incorrectly. You never see the full option set, so a hasty YES on a plausible distractor ends the question wrong. Judge each option strictly on its own truth value.
Skipping UCP and DTR because those products were renamed years ago
Study guide version 1.5 from January 2025 still names UCP and DTR in the Installation, Networking, Security and Storage domains. Client bundles, RBAC grants, LDAP integration, external certificates, HA installs on AWS and backup procedures are all live objectives.
Assuming the exam avoids Kubernetes because Docker sells Swarm
The blueprint puts Kubernetes objectives in four domains: pods and deployments, configMaps and secrets, ClusterIP and NodePort services, persistentVolumes, and the CSI driver to storageClass to persistentVolumeClaim chain. Build a kind or minikube cluster and cover them.
Pacing against a 65 percent cut score found on a third-party site
Mirantis states it does not publish passing scores because questions and passing scores change without notice. Aim to answer everything correctly rather than budgeting a number of misses you believe you are allowed.
Practising with docker compose up and never with docker stack deploy
Orchestration is 25 percent of the exam and it tests stacks. Learn which compose keys swarm honours under the deploy section and which it silently ignores, because those distinctions make good exam questions.
Dismissing devicemapper and the older graph drivers as obsolete
Domain 6 names configuring devicemapper and identifying the correct graph driver per operating system. The blueprint is older than your production stack, so learn the drivers it names, not only overlay2.
Never reading docker inspect output carefully
The Orchestration domain lists interpreting the output of docker inspect as an objective in its own right. Run it against a container, a service, a network and a volume and learn where mounts, networks, state and labels appear in the JSON.
Planning to test from a Linux workstation
Mirantis states Linux is not supported for the remotely proctored exam. You need Windows 7 or later or macOS 10.8 or later, plus the Zoom desktop client and Chrome with a proctoring extension. Sort the machine out before you book.
Booking a slot with no margin and losing the fee
You must start within 15 minutes of the appointment time or the system marks you a no-show, and cancelling or rescheduling requires 48 hours notice. Both failures forfeit the fee, which means paying the full USD 199 again.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Install the Zoom desktop client and the Chrome proctoring extension the day before, not on the morning of the exam. Mirantis directs system-check questions to [email protected], and arranging that check takes time.
- 2
Run speedtest.net and confirm at least 2 Mbps upload and download. Mirantis warns that if your internet speed does not meet requirements your exam attempt may be forfeited, and it advises against hotspots.
- 3
Sit the exam on Windows 7 or later or macOS 10.8 or later. Linux is not supported, so if that is your only machine, borrow one or set up a supported operating system before test day.
- 4
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID carrying your signature, full legal name and photograph, and have a second ID with your signature and full legal name ready in case it is requested. The names must match your registration exactly.
- 5
You may start up to 15 minutes early and no later than 15 minutes after your slot. Log in at the earliest moment so a failed extension install does not eat your window.
- 6
Clear the desk completely. Mirantis prohibits notes, books, phones, watches, cameras, bags, purses, food and drink for the whole session, and you may not exit the room during the examination.
- 7
Use the bathroom first. The no-exit rule runs for the full 90 minutes with no scheduled break.
- 8
Budget 1 minute 38 seconds per item on average, but expect the 42 DOMC items to close faster than that and bank the surplus for the 13 standard multiple choice items.
- 9
On a DOMC item, decide each option on its own merits and answer immediately. Hesitating buys you no information, because the remaining options are never revealed.
- 10
Your result appears on the testing screen the moment you finish. Request the emailed score report before you close the window, and expect certificate credentials within 48 business hours at the address on your Docker ID, spam folder included.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Container platform administrator
Runs the swarm or Kubernetes fleet: node lifecycle, upgrades, control plane backups, RBAC grants and certificate rotation. This is the job the DCA blueprint describes most directly, down to the UCP and DTR backup objectives.
96,800 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for network and computer systems administrators
DevOps engineer
Builds the pipeline that turns a commit into a signed image in a registry and then into a running service. The image domain at 20 percent and the orchestration domain at 25 percent map onto this work almost line for line.
133,080 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for software developers, the closest occupation the BLS tracks
Cloud infrastructure architect
Designs the network and storage layout containers land on: overlay topology, ingress versus host publishing, external DNS, layer 7 load balancing and cross-node persistent storage. Networking and Storage together are 25 percent of the exam.
130,390 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for computer network architects
Container security engineer
Owns image signing, content trust, registry scanning, mutual TLS between swarm nodes, secrets handling and directory integration. The Security domain is 15 percent of the exam and is the one most candidates under-prepare.
124,910 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for information security analysts
Release and build engineer
Focuses on the image half of the blueprint: reproducible Dockerfiles, multi-stage builds, layer and cache behaviour, tagging conventions and registry hygiene including pruning unused images.
102,610 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for software quality assurance analysts and testers
Platform engineering manager
Buys the multi-packs of 10, 25, 50 or 100 exams that Mirantis discounts, sets the two-year recertification rhythm for the team, and answers for platform availability rather than writing the compose files.
171,200 dollars median, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 figure for computer and information systems managers
Prerequisites & Requirements
- No formal prerequisite. Mirantis sets no degree, course or prior certification requirement, and anyone can buy an exam seat at store.mirantis.com.
- Mirantis writes the exam for candidates with at least six months to one year of Docker experience, including exposure to Docker Enterprise Edition.
- The study guide also lists container security, experience with at least one cloud provider, configuration management tooling, and Linux or Windows Server as expected background knowledge.
- A Docker ID, because certificate credentials are sent to the email address on that profile.
- A Windows 7 or later or macOS 10.8 or later computer with a webcam, Google Chrome and the Zoom desktop client. Linux is not supported.
- An internet connection of at least 2 Mbps upload and download.
- A valid government-issued photo ID bearing your signature, full legal name and photograph, with a second form of identification available if requested.
- USD 199 or EUR 200 per attempt, purchased online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Docker Certified Associate still available?
Yes, Mirantis still sells and administers it. The DCA appears in the Mirantis certification catalogue at 199 dollars alongside the COA, CKA, CKAD and CKS. Docker Inc. itself no longer runs the programme; the Docker community forums have told candidates the certification is no longer offered by Docker, and Mirantis acquired the Docker Enterprise platform business in November 2019.
What is the passing score?
Mirantis does not publish it. Its FAQ states that Docker does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice. Third-party sites quoting 65 percent or 36 out of 55 are not citing the vendor. Plan to answer all 55 items rather than budgeting a permitted number of errors.
What is the DCA pass rate?
Mirantis does not publish a pass rate for the DCA. No official statistic exists for first-attempt success, so treat any percentage you see on a training site as marketing rather than data.
How much does the exam cost, and does the price change by region?
USD 199 or EUR 200 for one attempt purchased online, per the Mirantis certification page and catalogue. Mirantis publishes only those two currencies rather than a regional price grid. Discounts are available on multi-packs of 10, 25, 50 or 100 exams, arranged by contacting Mirantis directly. Each payment covers one attempt.
What happens if I fail?
You may retake the exam after waiting 14 days from the day you failed, and you pay the exam price again for each attempt. Mirantis states both conditions in its FAQ. There is no partial refund and no discounted retake voucher published.
Is there a limit on how many times I can attempt the DCA?
Mirantis publishes a 14-day wait between attempts and a requirement to pay each time, but it does not publish a lifetime cap on attempts. If you are planning a fourth or fifth sitting, write to [email protected] rather than assuming the policy page covers your case.
How long is the certification valid and how do I renew it?
Two years. Mirantis states your certification will be valid for two years and that you are required to update it every two years. Mirantis publishes no continuing-education credit scheme, no CE unit tally and no maintenance fee for the DCA, so renewal means sitting and paying for the exam again.
What identification do I need on exam day?
One valid government-issued photo ID showing your signature, full legal name and photograph, such as a driver's licence, state ID or passport. A second form of identification carrying your signature and full legal name may be required. Every name must match your registration form and eligibility form. Missing required identification counts as a missed appointment and forfeits your fee.
What are the online proctoring rules?
The exam is remotely proctored on your own machine and the requirements are specific: the Zoom Meeting Desktop Client, a current Windows or macOS release, Google Chrome with the ability to install a Chrome extension, and a webcam Chrome can access. Linux is not supported. You need 2 Mbps up and down, and Mirantis advises against hotspots.
Can I use notes, a browser tab or the Docker documentation during the exam?
No. Mirantis's security procedures prohibit notes and books, bar access to all personal items including phones, watches, cameras, bags and purses, forbid smoking, eating and drinking, and state that you may not exit the room during the examination. Copying or communicating exam content can disqualify your result and lead to legal action.
What is DOMC and why does it matter so much?
Discrete Option Multiple Choice is a Caveon-patented item format used for 42 of the 55 questions. Options belonging to one question are presented one at a time in random order and you answer YES or NO to each. Caveon's own description says that once the question has been answered correctly or incorrectly, no further options appear and the next question loads.
Can I flag a question and come back to it?
Mirantis does not document a review or flagging feature, and the DOMC format works against one by design, because an item ends the moment your YES or NO settles it. Prepare to treat each option as a final decision rather than relying on a second pass at the end.
When do I get my result and my certificate?
Immediately. Mirantis states you receive results via a score report on the testing screen as soon as you finish, with the option to request a copy by email to the address on your Docker ID. Certificate access is sent within 48 business hours to that same address, and Mirantis advises checking your spam folder.
Are accommodations available for a disability?
Yes. Mirantis says it will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate you and asks you to write to [email protected] at least 21 days before your test date to discuss what is available. Because that 21-day window is longer than most booking horizons, raise it before you buy a seat.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes, up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment time. Failing to cancel or reschedule inside that window forfeits the exam fee. Separately, you must start the exam no later than 15 minutes after your appointment time or the system records a no-show.
Does the DCA test Kubernetes?
Yes, more than its reputation suggests. Study guide version 1.5 lists Kubernetes pods and deployments and configMaps and secrets under Orchestration, ClusterIP and NodePort routing plus the Kubernetes container network model under Networking, and persistentVolumes with the CSI driver, storageClass and persistentVolumeClaim relationship under Storage and Volumes.
Do I need a Docker Enterprise licence to prepare?
No, and Mirantis says many topics in the certification also apply to the freely available Community Edition because of its similarity to Enterprise. The gap is the control plane: UCP and DTR objectives such as client bundles, RBAC, LDAP integration and HA installs are best covered by reading the Mirantis Kubernetes Engine and Mirantis Secure Registry documentation.
How does the DCA compare with the CKA?
The CKA is a performance-based Kubernetes exam from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, sold through the same Mirantis catalogue at 445 dollars, and it puts you in a live cluster. The DCA costs 199 dollars, lasts 90 minutes and asks 55 questions with no terminal. They test different things: the DCA covers Docker Engine, images, registries and Swarm, with Kubernetes at the edges.
How much Docker experience should I have before booking?
The study guide is explicit: candidates should have at least six months to one year of experience with Docker including exposure to Docker Enterprise Edition, plus container security knowledge, experience with at least one cloud provider, configuration management tools, and Linux or Windows Server.
Is there a lower-tier or Community Edition version of the certification?
No. Mirantis answers this directly in its FAQ: there is no Community Edition certification. The DCA is described as designed for enterprise practitioners running Docker Enterprise in production, though the FAQ adds that familiarity with Community Edition is a strong asset and contributes toward success on the exam.
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