Certified Kubernetes Application Developer

Prove your skills in managing clusters, workloads, and security within Kubernetes.

The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certification proves you have the skills to design, build, and deploy cloud-native applications on Kubernetes. The exam covers pod and container configuration, multi-container applications, services and ingress, configuration management, persistent storage, observability, and troubleshooting. Designed for practical application, the certification validates that you can develop and manage reliable, scalable, and maintainable applications in a Kubernetes environment.

The Exams and recommended training

The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) training course and exam provide the foundation to advance your career in Kubernetes application development. By earning the CKAD certification, you demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and rigor that organizations recognize and trust to design, build, deploy, and manage cloud-native applications effectively on Kubernetes.

Possible job roles

Junior Kubernetes Application Developer – Supports building, deploying, and managing containerized applications under guidance, focusing on pods, deployments, and basic application configuration in Kubernetes.

Kubernetes Developer (Entry-Level) – Develops and maintains application resources, services, and ingress, with attention to configuration management, persistent storage, and observability.

Junior Cloud/DevOps Analyst (Application Focus) – Assists in application deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting within Kubernetes environments, supporting CI/CD pipelines and application lifecycle management.

Application Operator (Entry-Level) – Manages application-level resources, ensures correct service routing, and performs basic automation for cloud-native applications running on Kubernetes.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) exam. However, it is recommended to have one or more years of experience developing, deploying, or managing applications on Kubernetes before attempting the exam.

Active Status

All Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certifications must be maintained by completing regular updates or recertification activities, typically aligned with new Kubernetes releases, to ensure the certification remains valid and active.

Recertification

Complete the required continuing education, hands-on labs, or version-specific updates to maintain or renew your Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certification.