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Category - DevOps & Containers

DevOps and Kubernetes certifications for engineers who own the platform

CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) is the most commercially valuable DevOps certification available. Kubernetes runs the majority of modern cloud-native workloads. This credential is scarce and highly paid.

1
Cert covered
$148k
CKA median salary
71%
Our CKA pass rate
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Readiness Test for
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Certified Kubernetes Administrator ★ Top pick
CNCF
71%
10 w $395 +29% Kubernetes platform & DevOps engineers Check CKA Readiness Explore →
Career path sequences 
DevOps Engineer Platform Architect
Kubernetes is the core of cloud-native platforms. CKA is the entry.
CKA → CKAD → AWS DevOps Pro
⏱ 2–4 year path · $158k+ potential
Salary impact by certification 
Median salary before vs after certification - US market
Certified Kubernetes Administrator
$115k
$148k
+29%
Is this category right for your goals? 
✅ You should pursue CKA if…
You work with or want to work with Kubernetes in a DevOps or platform engineering role
You want one of the highest-paying certifications available for individual contributors
Your organisation is running or migrating workloads to Kubernetes
You have basic Linux and container knowledge and want to formalise it
⚠️ Consider alternatives if…
You have no Linux or containerisation background - build Docker fundamentals first
You're in software development rather than platform engineering - CKAD (developer) is more appropriate
You're in cloud architecture rather than operations - AWS SAP-C02 or AZ-305 are more relevant
Explore our top-rated prep 
Frequently asked questions 
CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) from CNCF/Linux Foundation is a performance-based, practical exam - you configure a live Kubernetes cluster in a terminal over 2 hours. It proves that you can install, configure, manage and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters in a real environment. There are no multiple-choice questions - you must complete tasks. This makes it one of the most credible technical certifications available.
CKA is for Kubernetes cluster administrators - people who manage and maintain the Kubernetes infrastructure. CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) is for developers who deploy and manage applications on Kubernetes. Get CKA if you're in DevOps, platform engineering, or SRE roles. Get CKAD if you're a developer who deploys applications to Kubernetes. Both are practical exams using a live cluster. Many professionals pursue both.
The CKA is considered very challenging - it is a hands-on, time-pressured practical exam (17 tasks in 2 hours). The global pass rate is approximately 66%. Our students achieve a 71% pass rate. The main challenges are: working efficiently in a terminal under time pressure, knowing the kubectl command syntax fluently, and solving problems across multiple Kubernetes clusters simultaneously. Practice in a real cluster environment - not just reading - is essential.

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