Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$395
Provider
CNCF
Validity
3 years
Available
Global
Education
No formal education requirement
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- There are no formal prerequisites. The Linux Foundation states that its certification exams have no prerequisites, with the single exception of the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist, which requires a passed CKA first.
- No degree, training course, or work experience is required to register, and no application or approval step exists before purchase.
- Practical Linux command-line fluency is assumed: systemctl, journalctl, editing files under /etc, and moving around a filesystem without a graphical interface.
- Comfort with vim or another terminal editor, since exam YAML is written inside the exam terminal.
- Working knowledge of containers and container runtimes, because the curriculum assumes you know what an image and a container are before it asks you to schedule one.
- Networking fundamentals: TCP and UDP ports, DNS resolution, and what a load balancer does.
- Candidates aged 16 to 18 need a Parental Release for Testing of Minors form submitted at least two weeks before the exam date, plus a student identification card and a guardian present with identification at check-in.
- Persons subject to United States sanctions prohibitions may not participate in Linux Foundation Education programs.
Number of Questions
Not published by the Linux Foundation. Each included Killer.sh simulator session contains 17 tasks, and live exam items carry different point values depending on difficulty and how many parts they have.
Duration
2 hours
Question Format
Performance-based tasks solved on live multi-node Kubernetes clusters, kubectl command-line operations against a named cluster context, Writing and applying YAML manifests inside the exam terminal, Diagnosing and repairing broken clusters, nodes, workloads, services, and DNS, Cluster lifecycle work such as kubeadm installation, upgrade, and etcd snapshot and restore
Passing Requirement
66 percent or above passes
How It Is Delivered
Online proctored by PSI on the Bridge platform using the PSI Secure Browser, on your own computer, with one monitor only and a live proctor viewing webcam, microphone, and screen share
Languages Offered
English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
Purchase the exam at training.linuxfoundation.org
You'll receive access to killer.sh simulator (2 sessions)
Schedule your exam through the portal
Exam is online proctored via PSI
Score Scale
Percentage of total available points, 0 to 100 percent
Score You Need
66 percent or above passes
How It Is Calculated
Tasks are graded automatically on the end state of the exam clusters, not on the commands you typed, so any correct path to the required result scores. Items carry different point values: multi-part tasks and tasks demanding more difficult or time-consuming skills are weighted above simple ones, and partial credit is available within a task. Scoring is compensatory across the five domains, with no per-domain minimum, and there is no penalty for wrong attempts beyond the time they consume.
When You Get Results
No on-screen result at the end. Grading is automated and a score report reaches you by email, and appears in My Portal, within 24 hours of completing the exam.
- Government-issued photo ID
- Chrome or Chromium browser with PSI Secure Browser extension
- Stable internet, webcam, microphone
- Clean desk, no notes, books, or second monitors
What are the prerequisites for the Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)?
There are no formal prerequisites. The Linux Foundation states that its certification exams have no prerequisites, with the single exception of the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist, which requires a passed CKA first.. No degree, training course, or work experience is required to register, and no application or approval step exists before purchase.. Practical Linux command-line fluency is assumed: systemctl, journalctl, editing files under /etc, and moving around a filesystem without a graphical interface.. Comfort with vim or another terminal editor, since exam YAML is written inside the exam terminal.. Working knowledge of containers and container runtimes, because the curriculum assumes you know what an image and a container are before it asks you to schedule one.. Networking fundamentals: TCP and UDP ports, DNS resolution, and what a load balancer does.. Candidates aged 16 to 18 need a Parental Release for Testing of Minors form submitted at least two weeks before the exam date, plus a student identification card and a guardian present with identification at check-in.. Persons subject to United States sanctions prohibitions may not participate in Linux Foundation Education programs..
How much does the Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) cost?
The Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam costs $395. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)?
Purchase the exam at training.linuxfoundation.org → You'll receive access to killer.sh simulator (2 sessions) → Schedule your exam through the portal → Exam is online proctored via PSI
What should I bring to the Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)?
Government-issued photo ID. Chrome or Chromium browser with PSI Secure Browser extension. Stable internet, webcam, microphone. Clean desk, no notes, books, or second monitors.
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