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Kubernetes Certifications

The Kubestronaut Path — All 5 certifications required for Kubestronaut status.

Overview

Section titled “Overview”
                        KUBESTRONAUT PATH
    ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════


    ENTRY LEVEL (multiple choice, 90 min)
    ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
    │  KCNA   Kubernetes & Cloud Native Associate          │
    │         └── Conceptual understanding of K8s & CNCF   │
    │                                                      │
    │  KCSA   Kubernetes & Cloud Native Security Associate │
    │         └── Security concepts and threat modeling    │
    └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                             │
                             ▼
    PRACTITIONER LEVEL (hands-on lab, 2 hours)
    ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
    │  CKAD   Certified Kubernetes Application Developer   │
    │         └── Build and deploy applications            │
    │                                                      │
    │  CKA    Certified Kubernetes Administrator           │
    │         └── Install, configure, manage clusters      │
    │                                                      │
    │  CKS    Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist     │
    │         └── Secure clusters end-to-end (requires CKA)│
    └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


    ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Certifications

Section titled “Certifications”
CertNameTypeModulesCurriculum
KCNAKubernetes & Cloud Native AssociateMultiple choice28Details
KCSAKubernetes & Cloud Native Security AssociateMultiple choice26Details
CKADCertified Kubernetes Application DeveloperHands-on lab30Details
CKACertified Kubernetes AdministratorHands-on lab47Details
CKSCertified Kubernetes Security SpecialistHands-on lab30Details
Total161

Suggested Order

Section titled “Suggested Order”

Option 1: Breadth First (understand the landscape)

KCNA → KCSA → CKAD → CKA → CKS

Option 2: Depth First (production admin focus)

CKA → CKAD → CKS → KCNA → KCSA

Option 3: Developer Path

KCNA → CKAD → (stop here or continue to CKA)

Option 4: Security Path

CKA → CKS → KCSA

Tool & Specialist Certifications

Section titled “Tool & Specialist Certifications”

Beyond Kubestronaut, CNCF offers tool-specific certifications. KubeDojo maps existing modules as learning paths for each:

CertNameLearning Path
PCAPrometheus Certified AssociatePrometheus, PromQL, alerting
ICAIstio Certified AssociateService mesh, traffic management
CCACilium Certified AssociateeBPF networking, policies
CGOACertified GitOps AssociateArgoCD, Flux, GitOps principles
CBACertified Backstage AssociateIDPs, developer portals
OTCAOpenTelemetry Certified AssociateObservability, tracing
KCAKyverno Certified AssociatePolicy as code
CAPACertified Argo Project AssociateArgo Workflows, Rollouts
CNPECloud Native Platform EngineerCross-track learning path
CNPACloud Native Platform AssociatePlatform fundamentals
FinOpsFinOps PractitionerCloud cost optimization

Extending Kubernetes

Section titled “Extending Kubernetes”
SectionModulesDescription
Extending K8s8Controllers, operators, webhooks, API aggregation, CRDs

Exam Tips

Section titled “Exam Tips”

All exams share these characteristics:

  • PSI Bridge proctoring — Strict environment, webcam required
  • kubernetes.io allowed — Official docs are your friend
  • Time pressure — Speed matters as much as knowledge

For hands-on exams (CKAD, CKA, CKS):

  • Practice with kubectl until it’s muscle memory
  • Master vim/nano for YAML editing
  • Use kubectl explain and --dry-run=client -o yaml
  • killer.sh included with exam purchase — use it

Curriculum Sources

Section titled “Curriculum Sources”

We track official CNCF curricula: