CKAD: CNCF CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)
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Exam Resources
Official learning paths, exam details, skills measured, and community resources to supplement your study.
About the CKAD Exam
Build, deploy, and troubleshoot applications on Kubernetes
Master Kubernetes application development — container images, Deployments, rolling updates, Helm, Kustomize, ConfigMaps, Secrets, probes, Services, Ingress, NetworkPolicies, and security contexts. Original practice questions covering all 5 CKAD domains. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sourced from CNCF or Linux Foundation certification exams.
Who Should Take This Exam?
The CKAD is designed for IT professionals with some hands-on experience. 6-12 months of hands-on experience recommended.
Typical study time: 4-8 weeks of focused study
Exam Quick Facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | CKAD |
| Title | CNCF CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Questions | 15–20 (hands-on) |
| Pass Score | 66% |
| Cost | $395 USD |
| Provider | Linux Foundation / PSI |
| Validity | 2 years |
| Question Types | Performance-based (CLI tasks) |
| Official Page | View on CNCF → |
Exam Domains & Weights
The CKAD exam covers 5 domains. Focus your study time based on the weights below — higher-weighted domains have more exam questions.
| Domain | Weight | Practice Qs |
|---|---|---|
| Application Design and Build | 20% | 40 |
| Application Deployment | 20% | 40 |
| Application Observability and Maintenance | 15% | 30 |
| Application Environment, Configuration, and Security | 25% | 50 |
| Services and Networking | 20% | 40 |
| Total | 100% | 200 |
💡 Study tip: Application Environment, Configuration, and Security carries the most weight (25%) — start there. Application Observability and Maintenance has the least (15%), but don’t skip it — exam questions can come from any domain.
Practice Exam — 200 Questions
Prepare for the CKAD with our 200-question practice exam covering all 5 exam domains. Every question includes detailed explanations and maps to official exam objectives.
What you get:
- ✅ Exam simulation mode with timer
- ✅ Spaced repetition for weak areas
- ✅ Detailed explanations for every question
- ✅ Progress tracking across domains
- ✅ 20 free questions — no account needed
CNCF Certification Path
Start with KCNA (Kubernetes & Cloud Native Associate) for fundamentals, then CKA (admin) or CKAD (developer), then CKS (security) or KCSA (security associate).
Related CNCF Certifications
If you’re studying for the CKAD, you might also be interested in these CNCF certifications:
- CKA: CNCF CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) — 200 practice questions
- KCSA: CNCF KCSA (Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate) — 200 practice questions
- CKS: Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist — 200 practice questions
- KCNA: CNCF Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate — 200 practice questions
Study Tips
- Start with the heaviest domain — focus your time where the exam focuses its questions
- Use our practice exam — try the 20 free questions first to gauge your readiness
- Review explanations — don’t just check if you got it right; read why each answer is correct
- Simulate exam conditions — use the timed exam mode to practice under pressure
- Check the official page — official exam details always have the latest objectives