Certified Kubernetes Administrator credential artwork

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Validates practical skills in Kubernetes cluster setup, workloads and scheduling, services and networking, storage, and troubleshooting.

Summary

CKA is the Linux Foundation and CNCF certification for Kubernetes administrators. It is a hands-on exam with no multiple choice, where you solve tasks in live clusters from a terminal, so it proves you can work in real clusters rather than recall definitions.

Good fit if

  • You run Kubernetes or want platform, SRE or DevOps work
  • You want proof you can work fast in live clusters
  • You plan to take CKS later, which requires CKA

Look elsewhere if

  • You deploy applications rather than run clusters: CKAD
  • You are new to Linux: RHCSA or Linux+
  • You mostly use one cloud's managed services: that provider's associate certification

Salary & jobs

Prerequisites

No required prerequisites. Anyone can register for the exam.

Hands-on Linux and Kubernetes experience

Recommended

The Linux Foundation rates CKA an intermediate exam. Every task is done at the command line in a live cluster.

Cost

USD · Standard pricing
$445
The exam fee includes one retake and two Killer.sh sessions. You have 12 months from purchase to take both attempts.

What holders say

Renewal

CKA is valid for 2 years from the day you pass.

Validity
2 years
Renewal requirement
Pass the CKA exam again
Renewal fee
$445 USD
Current exam price

Passing or recertifying CKS also extends your CKA to match the CKS expiry date, even if your CKA has lapsed.

Linux Foundation CARE program update ↗

Alternatives

Red Hat Certified System Administrator credential artwork
RHCSA$500 required · Intermediate

Hands-on Linux administration, the foundation most CKA tasks assume.

Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer credential artwork
ACE$125 required · Intermediate

Google Cloud operations, including GKE, if you work mainly on Google Cloud.

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential artwork
AZ-104$165 required · Intermediate

Azure administration, including AKS, if your clusters run on Azure.

HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate (004) credential artwork
Terraform Associate$70.50 required · Intermediate

Infrastructure as code, a common pairing for platform engineering roles.

FAQ

How many questions are on the CKA exam?

There is no multiple choice. You work through hands-on tasks in live clusters for 2 hours, and tasks carry different weights. The included Killer.sh simulator uses 17 tasks per session.

What is the CKA passing score?

66%.

How much does the CKA exam cost?

$445. That includes one retake and two Killer.sh simulator sessions. Bundles with the LFS258 course cost $645.

Which Kubernetes version is the CKA exam on?

Kubernetes v1.37 as of October 2026. The Linux Foundation updates the exam to the newest minor release within about 4 to 8 weeks of its release.

How long is CKA valid?

2 years. Renew by passing CKA again, or by passing or recertifying CKS, which also extends your CKA.

Last updated October 2026