glossary
What is CKA?
CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) is a performance-based certification from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.
Use the 3-question Fit CheckCKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) is a performance-based certification from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. It validates hands-on Kubernetes administration skills through tasks performed in a live cluster, against CNCF's published, openly licensed curriculum.
What it means
CNCF publishes the CKA domains and weights along with an open-source curriculum (CC BY 4.0), and the Linux Foundation provides a free candidate handbook for exam logistics. CKA is task-based — candidates configure and troubleshoot real Kubernetes clusters covering areas like cluster architecture, workloads, networking, storage, and troubleshooting. The exam itself is paid.
Core source records
This table lists the page’s core content records and when they were checked. Claim-specific citations appear beside the relevant text and may not be repeated here.
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Definition source for What is CKA? | Cloud Native Computing Foundation — CNCF Certification (CKA) + open curriculum | 2026-06-14 |
| CIT-02 | Definition source for What is CKA? | Linux Foundation — LF Certification Exam Candidate Handbook | 2026-06-14 |
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