CKA exam facts, domains and practice
The CKA is a performance-based exam: two hours inside real clusters solving weighted admin tasks across installation, networking, storage, and above all troubleshooting. Documentation access follows the Linux Foundation’s published allowed-resource rules. It was substantially revised in Feb 2025 and now tracks recent Kubernetes releases.
Who this exam is for
Platform engineers, SREs, and DevOps engineers who run clusters. The industry's reference hands-on Kubernetes credential, and the prerequisite for CKS.
Exam facts
| Body | CNCF / The Linux Foundation |
|---|---|
| Format | Performance-based · 15-20 live tasks |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 66% |
| Exam cost | $445 · 1 free retake |
| Validity | 2 years |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Allowed resources | See the Linux Foundation allowed-resource rules |
| Delivery | Online · PSI proctored |
| Extras | 2 killer.sh simulator sessions included |
Curriculum domains
| Troubleshooting | 30% |
|---|---|
| Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration | 25% |
| Services & Networking | 20% |
| Workloads & Scheduling | 15% |
| Storage | 10% |
Practice coverage
| environment | live cluster |
|---|---|
| tasks per attempt | 17 |
| practice tasks | 29 |
| fixed exam mocks | 5 |
| alternate scenarios | 46 |
| clock | same 2-hour clock |
| scoring bar | official 66% |
| access | 30 days · 5 full-sim attempts |
CKA access, clearly explained
$39 USD · 30 days · one payment. 29 graded tasks, 5 attempts at the full exam simulation and unlimited single-task practice during the access window. AI Lab Coach helps diagnose attempts in single-task labs. The clock starts when you activate.
Choose from six fixed free labs, with five sessions each week, grading, hints, solutions and saved progress. Explore the six free labs with AI Lab Coach →
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Official exam facts last reviewed Aug 19, 2026. Product access reviewed 2026-10-06. Check the exam source. Prepium is an independent practice platform.