certification
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
Source-cited RoleMath page about Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD).
Check if you’re ready ↓Researched by RoleMath Research. Every figure on this page traces to the official source shown next to it.
A recognized step forward — weigh the background the vendor recommends below.
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) maps to Linux Foundation's published exam domains, and Linux Foundation lists a recommended background — check it below before you commit, then use the domains as your study order. RoleMath Difficulty methodology
Who this certification is designed for
The vendor’s stated audience, plus an honest fit for your starting point. No pass rates, no guarantees.
Per Linux Foundation: Experience level: Intermediate Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) — official vendor page
Funding to check: exam and prep costs may be reachable through vouchers, WIOA, Workforce Pell, GI Bill, or employer education assistance — eligibility depends on your location, provider, and status. Compare funding options →
Difficulty profile
A cited estimate of what the exam requires, split into two honest lenses — not one number, not a pass rate. RoleMath Difficulty methodology
These are exam-structure lenses, not a pass rate or anything about you.
Cost & upkeep
Exam fee plus what it takes to keep it — the recurring cost most pages hide.
- Exam voucher (US)
- $445 Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) — official vendor page
- 3-year self-study cost
- $445
- Recertification terms
- Valid 2 years; $445 exam includes one free retake. Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) — official vendor page
No ROI math here — we never compare cost to a salary. training;renewal still needs verification. See the full cost breakdown →
Exam at a glance
How Linux Foundation administers the exam — the logistics only. This is format, not a pass prediction, and it says nothing about how hard the material is for your background.
- Format
- Performance-based
- Duration
- 2 hours
Skills measured
The official objective domains and their exam weight — titles & weights only, straight from the vendor’s exam objectives. Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) — official vendor page
Prerequisites
What's required vs merely recommended — stated plainly.
- Hard requirement
- Yes — see the vendor Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) — official vendor page
Version & change log
Which version is current — so you prepare for the exam that’s live today, not a retired one.
- Current version
- The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.35.
What this proves — and how Linux Foundation says to prepare
Linux Foundation’s own framing of who earns it and what it signals, plus their free official study material. Quoted and cited — never dressed up as a job guarantee.
- Who the vendor built it for
- Best fit for developers who build, configure, and deploy applications on Kubernetes; assumes working knowledge of container runtimes and microservices.
- Where it leads
- No prerequisites.
Job titles the mapped roles report
Reported job titles from the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET for the occupations Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)maps to — the language of the market, not a placement or hiring claim. Titles vary by employer, seniority, and location.
- Infrastructure Engineer
- IT Architect (Information Technology Architect)
- IT Engineer (Information Technology Engineer)
- Network and Infrastructure Engineer
- Solutions Architect
- Systems Application Engineer
- Systems Architect
- Systems Consultant
- Systems Engineer
- Web Architect
- Computer Support Specialist
- Computer Tech (Computer Technician)
Source: O*NET OnLine reported job titles for the mapped SOC occupations.
Pay context for the roles this maps to
Occupation-level government data for a related role — not a salary this certification pays you.
$55,940 to $188,470 · Cloud Engineer (SOC 15-1299) BLS OEWS — Cloud Engineer (15-1299), national
This is what the occupation pays across the whole economy — set by the job, your experience, and location, not by holding this certification. Your actual pay will differ. See the full role page →
Credential credit map
What this counts toward
RoleMath shows cited equivalency, baseline, stacking, and renewal signals as planning context. These are not hiring guarantees or universal transfer credits.
Comparable scope (under review)
Comparable scope — both positioned for the same role at a similar level. NOT an equivalence, transfer, or substitution claim.
- Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Application Developmentcomputed needs review
Same role (Cloud Engineer), entry tier; difficulty 40/40; 4 shared cited domain terms.
- AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associatecomputed needs review
Same role (Cloud Engineer), entry tier; difficulty 40/45; 3 shared cited domain terms.
- AWS Certified Developer - Associatecomputed needs review
Same role (Cloud Engineer), entry tier; difficulty 40/50; 3 shared cited domain terms.
Equivalency, credit, and baseline mappings come from official/authoritative sources and are shown as planning context only. ACE recommendations are accepted at each institution's discretion; DoD baseline status must be confirmed against the current official DoD Cyber Exchange table; 'comparable scope' means similar role positioning, NOT an equivalence or substitution. No certification guarantees a job, salary, or outcome.
Every figure on this page, sourced
The claims above trace to these records — the source, and when it was last checked. If a figure has no row here, we did not publish it.
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCHEMA-CIT-1 | Schema citation | Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) - Linux Foundation - Education | Logged in source packet |
| SCHEMA-CIT-2 | Schema citation | Official Linux Foundation objective-domain source | Logged in source packet |
| SCHEMA-CIT-3 | Schema citation | Candidate Handbook | Logged in source packet |
| SCHEMA-CIT-4 | Schema citation | Official Html And Pdf | Logged in source packet |
| SCHEMA-CIT-5 | Schema citation | CKAD official credential detail page | Logged in source packet |
Ready to see how this fits your background?
Find out if Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) fits your background.