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Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Exam Guide

Overview​

The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) program is designed to ensure that certificate holders can demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to perform the responsibilities of a Kubernetes Administrator.

Exam Details​

  • Format: Online, proctored, performance-based
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Passing Score: 74% (minimum)
  • Cost: $375 (includes one retake)

Preparation Guidelines​

1. Study Materials​

  • Official Documentation: Master the official Kubernetes documentation
  • CKA Study Guide: Follow the official CNCF study guide
  • Practice Exams: Use platforms like Killer.sh or A Cloud Guru

2. Key Knowledge Domains​

The exam is divided into these main domains:

  1. Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%)

    • Understand Kubernetes components and architecture
    • Know how to install and configure clusters

  2. Workloads & Scheduling (15%)

    • Deploy and manage workloads (Pods, Deployments, etc.)
    • Understand scheduling mechanisms

  3. Networking (10%)

    • Configure networking models
    • Understand service discovery and load balancing

  4. Storage (10%)

    • Implement persistent storage solutions
    • Understand volume types and configurations

  5. Security (20%)

    • Manage authentication and authorization
    • Understand RBAC and security contexts

  6. Cluster Maintenance (10%)

    • Perform upgrades and backups
    • Understand disaster recovery

  7. Troubleshooting (30%)

    • Identify and resolve cluster issues
    • Understand logging and monitoring

3. Hands-On Practice​

  • Kind: Local cluster for testing
  • Minikube: Local development environment
  • Katacoda: Online learning environment

4. Exam Tips​

  • Time management: 2 hours for ~15-20 tasks
  • Read instructions carefully
  • Use kubectl explain for quick help
  • Practice in a real environment

Conclusion​

The CKA exam validates your ability to manage Kubernetes clusters in production environments. Focus on hands-on practice and understanding core concepts rather than just theory. Good luck!