Certificationsby GlyphCertified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam price, length, validity and renewal
CNCF · CKA
Exam facts
| Price | $445 per attempt, US list priceExam only; includes one retake and two exam simulator attempts. Bundles with a course or THRIVE-ONE subscription cost more |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 min |
| Questions | 15 to 20 performance-based tasks |
| Format | Performance-based tasks solved on a command line running Kubernetes |
| Passing score | 66% |
| Valid for | 2 years |
| Renewal | Retake and pass the same exam before it expires; the renewed certification is valid 2 years from the new pass date; earning or renewing CKS on or after 2026-06-18 also extends CKA to the CKS expiration date |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Level | Associate (CNCF calls it Intermediate) |
| Delivery | Online proctored (PSI) |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese |
| Status | ActiveExam based on Kubernetes v1.35 |
| Source | training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/certified-kubernetes-administrator-cka/Last checked Nov 6, 2026 |
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Kubernetes and cloud native exams from other vendors
TrackAbout this exam
For Kubernetes administrators who install, configure, troubleshoot and manage production Kubernetes clusters.
What the official page says
- Price: "Certification exam only - $445"
- Duration: "Candidates have 2 hours to complete the tasks."
- Questions: "The exams consist of 15-20 performance-based tasks."
- Validity: "Certification Valid for 2 Years"
Certifications are valid for 2 years and are renewed by retaking and passing the exam before the expiration date, which extends them 2 years from the new pass date.
Each exam purchase includes one free retake, which must be taken within 12 months of the original purchase; SINGLE-attempt purchases and no-shows get no retake.
CNCF policyAlso read: docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/faq-cka-ckad-cks, docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/tips-cka-and-ckad, docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/lf-handbook2/language, docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/exam-terms-of-service, cncf.io/training/certification/