Certificationsby GlyphCNCF certifications every exam, price and renewal rule
Cloud Native Computing Foundation · cncf.io/training/certification
Exams
21
current
Renew every
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.
Price per attempt
$250 to $445
$0$1600
Level mix
4 levels
Foundational13Associate5Professional1Specialty2
DevOps and infrastructure as code 8
Certified Argo Project Associate (CAPA)A foundational exam on automation, delivery and infrastructure as code.CAPA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Backstage Associate (CBA)A foundational exam on automation, delivery and infrastructure as code.CBA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Cloud Native Platform Engineering Associate (CNPA)For platform engineers, DevOps practitioners, SREs, cloud native developers, infrastructure architects and IT professionals validating foundational platform engineering skills.CNPA · Foundational · 120 min · valid 2 yearsCertified GitOps Associate (CGOA)For DevOps engineers, platform and software engineers, CI/CD practitioners and other team members who build internal developer platforms with GitOps built in.CGOA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsOpenTelemetry Certified Associate (OTCA)A foundational exam on automation, delivery and infrastructure as code.OTCA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsPrometheus Certified Associate (PCA)A foundational exam on automation, delivery and infrastructure as code.PCA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsLinux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)For Linux system administrators proving distribution-independent administration skills in a performance-based exam that simulates on-the-job tasks.LFCS · Associate · 120 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Cloud Native Platform Engineer (CNPE)For experienced platform engineers, senior DevOps and SRE practitioners, platform architects and infrastructure engineers who design and evolve production-grade platforms.CNPE · Professional · 120 min · valid 2 years
Kubernetes and cloud native 7
Cilium Certified Associate (CCA)A foundational exam on running and building on Kubernetes.CCA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsKubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)For beginners showing foundational knowledge of Kubernetes and the wider cloud native ecosystem.KCNA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsKyverno Certified Associate (KCA)A foundational exam on running and building on Kubernetes.KCA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsIstio Certified Associate (ICA)An associate exam on running and building on Kubernetes.ICA · Associate · 120 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)For Kubernetes administrators who install, configure, troubleshoot and manage production Kubernetes clusters.CKA · Associate · 120 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)For developers who design, build and deploy cloud native applications on Kubernetes.CKAD · Associate · 120 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Kubernetes Network Engineer (CKNE)Validates hands-on skill in Kubernetes networking, security and troubleshooting for platform engineers, network engineers and SREs.CKNE · Specialty · 120 min · valid 2 years
AI and machine learning 2
Model Context Protocol Associate (MCPA)For practitioners proving foundational knowledge of Model Context Protocol concepts, use cases and implementation considerations for agentic AI systems.MCPA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsPyTorch Certified Associate (PTCA)For early-stage practitioners with some Python and machine learning experience who are beginning to use PyTorch.PTCA · Foundational · 120 min · valid 2 years
Cloud fundamentals and operations 2
Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)A pre-professional certification for people new to IT or starting a career as an administrator or engineer, covering fundamentals including cloud computing.LFCA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsPTCA Certification PathwayAn associate exam on cloud concepts, administration and day-to-day operations.Associate · 120 min
Cloud security 2
Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA)Pre-professional exam for people starting in cloud native security who want to show foundational security knowledge.KCSA · Foundational · 90 min · valid 2 yearsCertified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)For Kubernetes practitioners who hold the CKA and secure container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime.CKS · Specialty · 120 min · valid 2 years
Changes
16 exams added to this tracker, latest Oct 30, 2026; each exam page has its own history.
About CNCF certification
Renewal
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.
Retakes
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.
Across Glyph
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