Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Exam Guide
At a glance
- Time limit
- 2h
- Exam fee
- $445
The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) validates hands-on expertise in deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Kubernetes clusters in production. It's designed for DevOps engineers, site reliability engineers, and systems administrators who need to demonstrate command-line proficiency with Kubernetes. The certification is globally recognized and valued by employers as proof of practical cluster administration skills.
The exam covers 5 competency domains: Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%); Workloads & Scheduling (15%); Services & Networking (20%); Storage (10%); and Troubleshooting (30%). The bulk of the exam focuses on diagnosing and resolving cluster issues, with significant weight on cluster setup and networking. All tasks are performance-based, tested against a live Kubernetes v1.35 environment.
The exam costs $445 and includes one free retake. This price covers access to the proctored testing environment and official score reporting. No additional study materials are bundled with the exam fee.
Candidates solve 15–20 performance-based tasks via command line in 2 hours (120 minutes). The exam is remotely proctored through PSI's Bridge platform using the PSI Secure Browser, with audio, video, and screen-sharing monitoring. A score of 66% or above is required to pass. Score reports are emailed within 24 hours of completion. The certification is valid for 2 years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CKA exam format and how long do I get?
The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires solving multiple issues from a command line running Kubernetes — there are no multiple-choice questions. You'll work through 15-20 hands-on tasks and have 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete them. The exam is remotely proctored through PSI's Bridge platform using the PSI Secure Browser, with your audio, video, and screen shared throughout. Because it's entirely hands-on, practice actually operating a cluster with kubectl rather than memorizing facts.
What score do I need to pass the CKA, and when will I get my results?
You need to earn a score of 66% or above to pass the CKA. Your score report is sent via email within 24 hours of completing the exam. Because roughly a third of the exam weight is a single domain — Troubleshooting, at 30% — a strong performance there can meaningfully move you toward that 66% threshold, so it's worth prioritizing in your prep.
How much does the CKA cost, and what happens if I don't pass?
The CKA exam costs $445, and that fee includes one free retake. So if you don't pass on your first attempt, you can sit the exam again at no additional cost — a built-in safety net that lowers the pressure on your first try. Once you do pass, the CKA certification is valid for 2 years.
What topics does the CKA cover, and which Kubernetes version should I study?
The CKA curriculum is organized into 5 domains: Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%); Workloads & Scheduling (15%); Services & Networking (20%); Storage (10%); and Troubleshooting (30%). The exam environment currently runs Kubernetes v1.35, and the published curriculum aligns with that version, so you should practice on v1.35 to match what you'll see on exam day. Given the weightings, prioritize Troubleshooting (30%) and Cluster Architecture (25%) — together they make up more than half the exam.