Kubernetes Certification Promotions [Updated 2024 Dec]

Get up to 35% OFF on CKA, CKAD, CKS, KCSA and KCNA certification exams, courses, bundles or boot camps.

Here’s the deal:

Here’s how to save:

• Use code: HOLIDAY24 to Save 35% site-wide at the Linux Foundation!

Did you miss the promotions? Get 30% off on CKA, CKAD, CKS, KCSA and KCNA exams using code TECHBEATLY30!

Choose Your Track for Certification

Selecting the right Kubernetes certification track depends on your goals, existing knowledge, and desired level of expertise. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) offers the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS), Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) and Kubernetes and Cloud Security Associate (KCSA) certifications. Here’s how to choose the right track:

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

If you are an Infra guy like Linux Engineer or Systems Engineer, then you can go for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) track, as you will learn end-to-end Kubernetes architecture and operations.

• Target Audience: If you are an operations-focused professional responsible for designing, deploying, and managing Kubernetes clusters, this certification is for you.
• Skills Measured: The CKA exam evaluates your ability to perform tasks like deploying applications, configuring storage and networking, managing cluster resources, troubleshooting, and ensuring security.
• Prerequisites: It’s recommended to have some experience working with Kubernetes in a production environment before attempting the CKA certification.

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Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

Okay, I understand that you are a developer and you are not going to manage the Kubernetes infrastructure or cluster but just deploy and manage your application. Well, then you go for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) track, as it will just cover what you need to deploy and manage applications in a Kubernetes cluster.

• Target Audience: If you are a developer who works primarily with applications running on Kubernetes and want to showcase your skills in designing and building applications using Kubernetes primitives, CKAD is the right choice.
• Skills Measured: The CKAD exam focuses on tasks like creating and configuring applications, working with pods, services, and deployments, managing application resources, and troubleshooting.
• Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Kubernetes concepts and hands-on experience with Kubernetes is recommended before attempting the CKAD certification.

Use the code HOLIDAY24 at checkout

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)

If you are from the Security track and handling all security-related operations, then the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) exam is the one you have to choose. You will be assessed for security hardening, cluster hardening, vulnerability management and other logging/monitoring-related topics.

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Final thought

Since the tracks and topics are “tightly coupled” or almost the same, it would be great to get multiple certifications (eg: CKA + CKAD or CKA + CKS etc) as it won’t take much effort to get the second one. Yes, only if you are interested and okay to spend money on that; my opinion only.

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)

This is the foundational exam to understand and validate your core knowledge in Kubernetes. This is not a mandatory exam but if you are a person who needs to know Kubernetes and validate the knowledge then you can get this certification rather than going for advanced certifications such as CKA, CKAD or CKS.

Use the code HOLIDAY24 at checkout

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) 

This exam demonstrates a user’s understanding of the baseline security configuration of Kubernetes clusters to meet compliance objectives, including the ability to harden security controls, test and monitor the security, and participate in assessing security threats and vulnerabilities.

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Recommended Courses

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) – KodeKloud – by Mumshad Mannambeth)
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) with Practice Tests – by Mumshad Mannambeth – Udemy

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

• Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) – by Mumshad Mannambeth
• Kubernetes Certified Application Developer (CKAD) with Tests – by Mumshad Mannambeth – Udemy

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)

• Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) – by Mumshad Mannambeth
• Kubernetes CKS 2021 Complete Course – Theory – Practice – by Kim Wüstkamp – Udemy
• Kubernetes CKS Full Course Theory + Practice + Browser Scenarios [FREE] – by Kim Wüstkamp – YouTube

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)

• Kubernetes and Cloud-Native Associate (KCNA) by KodeKloud
• Dive Into Cloud Native – Containers, Kubernetes and the KCNA – James Spurin/ Diveinto

Also, see CKS – Challenges by Kodekloud – This series consists of a set of complex challenges that will assist you in mastering Kubernetes Security concepts and getting ready for the coveted Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist Certification.

Learn Kubernetes from Experts

Just want to learn Kubernetes as beginner? Check this Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners (With Hands-on) from KodeKloud.

CKA/CKS/CKAD Top Resources

• 10 Tips for CKA, CKAD, and CKS Exams
• 5 Mistakes You Should Avoid During Kubernetes Exam
• CKA, CKAD, CKS Learning Path
• OpenShift/Kubernetes CLI Cheatsheet
• kubectl cheatsheet
• Open Source Curriculum for CNCF Certification Courses – Find the latest version of the curriculum for the CKA/CKAD/CKS exams (CNCF)
• CKA & CKAD Exam Tips (Linux Foundation)
• Frequently Asked Questions: CKA and CKAD & CKS (Linux Foundation)
• Candidate Handbook (Linux Foundation)
• Kubernetes Certification Exam Environment Preview (YouTube)
• CKS CKA CKAD Exam Simulator – by Killer.sh
• Exam Compatibility Check Tool – Ensure you have done this before planning or scheduling exams.

Kubernetes Learning Resources

Below are some of the free (most of them) resources to learn Kubernetes from scratch. Some of them will talk in detail about Kubernetes concepts but some will explain using practical sessions.

• Learn Kubernetes by Example (Red Hat): Check Learning Kubernetes basics and this article for more details.
• Free Kubernetes Training – by kasten.io

Practising Kubernetes

You will not be able to learn Kubernetes by just reading the documentation, or watching videos or course materials. You need to practice as much as possible using available labs or your own lab arrangements. Below are some of the lab resources you can refer to practice.

• Configure Kubernetes from scratch on GCP – Kubernetes-the-hard-way
• Configure Kubernetes from scratch on VirtualBox –Kubernetes-the-hard-way
• Kubernetes cluster with Vagrant and Ansible
• Kubernetes cluster with Kubespray
• Installing minikube with Vagrant and Ansible | Video
• Practice free Kubernetes Lab from Katacoda – Learn Kubernetes using Interactive Browser-Based Scenarios (Katacoda has ended public service)
• Kubernetes Playground in Katacoda (Katacoda has ended public service)
• Play with Kubernetes – A simple, interactive and fun playground to learn Kubernetes
• Play with Kubernetes Classroom – Free Kubernetes Hands-on Workshops
• Amazon EKS Workshop – (Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service) In this workshop, you will explore multiple ways to configure VPC, ALB, and EC2 Kubernetes workers, and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service.
• EKS ANYWHERE – EKS Anywhere can be deployed as a simple, unsupported local environment or as a production-quality environment that can become a supported on-premises Kubernetes platform.

Articles on Kubernetes and OpenShift