CKA: does the Kubernetes administrator exam match your work?
One payment of $445 to the Linux Foundation buys the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam, a free retake and two practice-simulator sessions (November 2026). A first attempt costs from $445 to $3,495 with an instructor-led course. CKA is for people who run Kubernetes clusters. With Linux and container experience, we would budget 6 to 10 weeks of hands-on practice.
Key facts
- The CKA exam costs $445, including one retake and two practice-simulator sessions. (Linux Foundation, checked November 5, 2026)
- It is a two-hour, performance-based exam with a passing score of 66%. (Linux Foundation FAQ, checked November 5, 2026)
- The certification is valid for two years. (Linux Foundation, checked November 5, 2026)
Short answers
- How much does the CKA exam cost?
- $445 as of November 2026, including one retake and two simulator sessions.
- What is the CKA passing score?
- 66%.
- How long is CKA valid?
- Two years.
- Is the CKA exam hands-on?
- Yes. It is a two-hour, performance-based exam on live clusters.
Does CKA match your work?
CKA shows that you can install, configure and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters at the command line, under time pressure, on live systems. It is taken by platform, infrastructure and operations engineers who run clusters, and by Linux administrators moving into that work. With troubleshooting worth 30% and cluster setup 25%, it tests the administrator side of Kubernetes rather than application development.
A good fit if
- You run or support Kubernetes clusters at work, or are about to
- You are comfortable at a Linux command line and already work with containers
- You can work quickly at kubectl under time pressure: the two-hour exam is performance-based, on live clusters
Think twice if
- You are new to Linux or containers: start there before you pay for the exam
- You deploy applications to Kubernetes but never administer the clusters themselves
- Your infrastructure work is mostly provisioning cloud resources with code rather than running clusters
Consider instead: HashiCorp Terraform Associate for infrastructure as code, or a cloud administrator credential such as AZ-104 or Google Cloud ACE. If you deploy applications to Kubernetes rather than run clusters, start with the Linux Foundation's CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer).
A hands-on exam
CKA is a two-hour, performance-based exam: you fix and configure real clusters at a command line, based on Kubernetes v1.37. The passing score is 66%. The certification is valid for two years. The Linux Foundation weights it toward troubleshooting:
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 30% |
| Cluster architecture, installation and configuration | 25% |
| Services and networking | 20% |
| Workloads and scheduling | 15% |
| Storage | 10% |
There are no prerequisites for the exam. Linux and container experience is what to have before you start. You have 12 months to schedule and take the exam, so buy the exam or a bundle when you are ready to study, not months ahead.
Choosing a route
Kubernetes skills come from doing, so pick the option that gives you the most lab time for your budget. The Linux Foundation's self-paced bundle ($645) is the official route at a modest premium over the exam alone; the four-day class suits teams that want an instructor and a fixed schedule.
Training and total cost
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam only | Linux Foundation, CKA exam with one retake and two Killer.sh simulator sessions. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $445 exam | $445 |
| Video course (one-year plan) | KodeKloud, CKA certification course with labs, KodeKloud Standard subscription at $180 a year (billed annually); check that your plan tier includes the course. Checked November 5, 2026. | $180 | + $445 exam | $625 |
| Official course with exam | Linux Foundation, LFS258 Kubernetes Fundamentals (self-paced, about 35 hours) bundled with the exam. Checked November 5, 2026. | $645 | Included | $645 |
| Official live class with exam | Linux Foundation, LFS458 Kubernetes Administration, 4 days instructor-led, with the exam, a retake and two simulator sessions. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,495 | Included | $3,495 |
Because the exam includes a retake and two simulator sessions, the main thing training adds is guided practice. KodeKloud sells its courses by subscription; the annual plan works out to $15 a month.
Picking CKA training
- Which Kubernetes version the labs use. The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.37, and the Linux Foundation aligns the exam environment with the newest minor release within about 4 to 8 weeks of its release. Ask how quickly a course updates its labs.
- Whether the exam is included. The Linux Foundation's LFS258 and LFS458 bundles include it; a KodeKloud subscription does not, so add the $445 exam.
Staying certified after two years
CKA is valid for two years. To renew, you retake and pass the exam before your certification expires; the renewed certification stays current for two more years from the date you pass. The Linux Foundation also says that earning or recertifying the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) on or after June 18, 2026 automatically extends your CKA: its expiry date is updated to match the new CKS expiry date.
For platform teams
For a team, the exam's included retake lowers the risk of funding it. Ask the Linux Foundation about group pricing for exam and course bundles.
Next step
Ask for help choosing CKA training
Sources
- Linux Foundation: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (price, inclusions, format, domains, prerequisites, scheduling window, Kubernetes version), checked November 5, 2026
- Linux Foundation: certification FAQ (passing score, validity, renewal, CKS extension, CKAD), checked November 5, 2026
- Linux Foundation: LFS458 Kubernetes Administration, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.