CKAD
The CKAD is CNCF's hands-on certification that proves you can design, build, and ship cloud-native applications on Kubernetes — not just talk about them. There is no multiple choice: you sit in a live cluster for two hours and solve real kubectl tasks against the clock, with 66% required to pass. For developers and DevOps engineers it's one of the few credentials hiring managers genuinely trust, which is exactly why a failed attempt or a missed deadline can stall a job offer or a promotion. This page breaks down precisely what the exam tests, how it's delivered, and how to get it done right.
Pay Only After You Pass
No upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. We advertise guaranteed results — 100% pass guaranteed or money back.
How the CKAD is built — at a glance
2h
A single 120-minute block with no scheduled breaks. The clock never stops, so time management is part of the test.
~17
Roughly 15-20 weighted, scenario-based tasks across multiple clusters. Each shows its percentage weight so you can triage on the fly.
66%
Score 66% or higher to pass. Results are typically emailed within 24 hours of finishing the exam.
You work from a browser-based Linux terminal connected to live Kubernetes clusters. Tasks ask you to create, modify, scale, and troubleshoot resources with kubectl and YAML. There is no multiple choice — your answer is the actual state of the cluster after you've done the work.
You may keep one extra browser tab open to the official Kubernetes documentation (kubernetes.io/docs, plus the blog). Everything else is off-limits. Knowing where things live in the docs — and using imperative kubectl commands instead of writing YAML by hand — is the difference between finishing and running out of time.
Five official domains — bars show each domain's share of your score
The heaviest domain. ConfigMaps and Secrets, SecurityContexts, ServiceAccounts, resource requests/limits, CRDs and the Operator pattern, and applying authentication/authorization in a cluster.
Defining and building container images, multi-container Pod patterns (sidecar, init containers), and choosing the right workload — Jobs, CronJobs, and persistent/ephemeral volumes.
Deployments and rolling updates/rollbacks, scaling, deployment strategies (blue/green, canary), and using the Helm package manager and common templating tools.
Services (ClusterIP, NodePort), Ingress, and NetworkPolicies to control connectivity — exposing applications and restricting traffic between Pods within the cluster.
Liveness, readiness and startup probes, container logging, monitoring application metrics, debugging in Kubernetes, and understanding the API deprecation/maintenance lifecycle.
Config & Security alone is a quarter of your score, so weak ConfigMap/Secret and SecurityContext work can sink an otherwise strong attempt. With 66% to pass you can afford to lose a few tasks — but only if you bank the high-weight ones first.
Weights reflect the official CNCF curriculum. Because tasks are scored individually and the exam tracks a recent Kubernetes release, the precise mix shifts slightly each version — but the five-domain structure and their relative emphasis stay stable.
How you sit the exam — and what to expect on test day
There is no test-center option — the CKAD is delivered entirely online. You take it from a private, quiet room on your own machine, launching the exam through the PSI Bridge secure browser, which loads the CNCF remote-desktop terminal where you'll do the work.
A live remote proctor from PSI watches your full session through your webcam and screen. Before the exam unlocks you complete a system check, an ID verification, and a 360° scan of your room and desk. The proctor can pause your exam if something looks off.
A valid, unexpired government photo ID with a name matching your Linux Foundation profile. The proctor captures your photo before the terminal opens.
A clear desk, a single monitor, no phone or notes within reach, and no second person in the room. The only permitted resource is one tab to the official Kubernetes docs.
Stay on camera and in frame for the full two hours. There are no scheduled breaks; leaving your seat or losing connection can flag — or pause — the session.
CKAD is built for people who ship apps on Kubernetes
No formal requirements — but real fluency is assumed
Difficulty: CKAD isn't conceptually hard — it's a speed-and-fluency test. Two hours is tight for 15-20 tasks, so candidates who pass have memorized imperative kubectl commands, set up shell aliases and autocompletion instantly, and know the docs by feel. That time pressure under a live proctor is exactly the kind of bottleneck our help is designed to remove.
The CKAD is a fast, hands-on exam where one slow start can cost you the whole attempt. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted Kubernetes specialist and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.
Tell us your Kubernetes experience, your target test date, and where you stand on the five domains. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.
We review your timeline and current skill level and tell you plainly whether the CKAD is realistic for you — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.
Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a Kubernetes specialist who maps the work around the weighted domains, the PSI environment, and the two-hour clock — discreetly and confidentially.
You only pay once your passing result is confirmed on your official report. No verified result, nothing owed.
Tell us about your exam and get an honest, no-pressure feasibility answer first.
Straight answers about the CKAD exam
Book your exam and compare sibling Kubernetes certifications
Pair with a vetted Kubernetes specialist on a results-first arrangement. No upfront fee — settle only after a verified passing result.
Start with your details CKAThe operations-focused sibling: building, configuring, and troubleshooting clusters rather than the apps that run on them.
View exam CKSThe advanced, security-focused credential. CKS requires a current CKA first and goes deep on cluster hardening and supply-chain security.
View examGet expert CKAD help with no upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. Honest feasibility answer first, results-first arrangement always.