Training & Certification

CNCF certifications have four levels – Associate, Developer, Administrator, and Specialists. Some Specialist certifications have a prerequisite of Administrator certification.

• Associate level: foundational skills and knowledge and is generally pre-professional. 
• Developer level: hands-on applied skills and knowledge for demonstrating specific competencies.
• Administrator: Focused on demonstrating competencies of a Kubernetes Administrator. Online, proctored exams, performance-based exams.
• Specialist: performance-based exams focused on a specific set of skills, for example, security.

Kubernetes and cloud native certification pathways begin with a foundation of KCNA and then progress to either a Security Administrator (CKS) or Developer (CKAD).

Security Administrator pathway: KCNA → CKA → CKS

Developer pathway: KCNA → CKAD

Complimentary certifications

Vendor-neutral certifications are a great complement to the primary cloud native pathway and provide flexibility to add focus areas for practitioners.

For example, ideal candidates may have achieved Kubernetes certifications such as KCNA, CKA, or CKAD and have completed Prometheus-specific training or cloud engineer bootcamps.

Complimentary pathway: KCNA → CKA → CKS → PCA

CNCF offers over a dozen self-paced digital training courses built by cloud native experts. Courses cover both foundational skills and knowledge as well as more advanced skills. Check out the CNCF training courses or head to the Linux Foundation for the entire training catalog.   

Our hugely popular online course Introduction to Kubernetes is 100% free and grants you an overview of basic concepts, architecture, and the problems Kubernetes solves in containerized deployments and scaling. It’s a solid stepping stone, offering practical know-how on deploying stand-alone and multi-tier applications. By the end, you’ll be primed to embark on your cloud native journey.

The cloud native ecosystem moves fast, and the professionals building it move even faster. To support this continuous growth, CNCF has introduced the CARE (Certification Advancement & Recertification Experience) program.

This program simplifies how you maintain your credentials by recognizing that earning an advanced certification naturally validates the knowledge gained during previous foundational steps.

Why the CARE Program?

Until now, maintaining multiple certifications often meant renewing each credential independently. With the CARE program, CNCF rewards your progression: as you deepen your expertise in Kubernetes and cloud native technologies, you automatically extend the validity of your associated foundational (Associate) certifications.

How Recertification Works

The CARE program allows a higher-level certification to act as an extension for corresponding entry-level certifications.

This policy acknowledges that successfully passing a more complex exam demonstrates mastery of the foundational concepts already acquired.

There are currently two paths in this program:

• If you have previously earned a KCNA certification and then subsequently earn or recertify a CKA or CKAD certification, after Jan 1, 2026, then your KCNA certification status automatically updates to current and expiration dates will match.
• If you have previously earned a KCSA certification and then subsequently earn or recertify a CKS certification, after Jan 1, 2026, then your KCSA certification status automatically updates to current and expiration dates will match.

Key Dates and Eligibility

• Effective Date: The program is retroactive to January 1, 2026.
• Full Implementation: The system will be fully deployed by June 2026.
• Grandfathering Rule: Anyone who earned or recertified a qualifying certification between January 1, 2026, and the implementation date will have their foundational certifications automatically extended, provided they were earned previously.