Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Run and repair a cluster under time pressure.
2 hours · 8 to 12 weeks of preparation
Certifications
Six exams, three different kinds of difficulty.
The Kubernetes exams are hands-on and time-starved. The AWS and Azure exams are scenario-based and reward reading comprehension. Terraform is short and precise. Preparing for them the same way is the most common mistake we see.
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
Ship applications onto Kubernetes, quickly and correctly.
2 hours · 6 to 10 weeks of preparation
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
Harden a cluster, and prove the hardening holds.
2 hours · 8 to 12 weeks of preparation
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
Choose the right service, for the right reason, at the right cost.
130 minutes · 8 to 12 weeks of preparation
Microsoft Azure Administrator
Operate an Azure estate: identity, network, compute, storage, monitoring.
Around 120 minutes · 6 to 10 weeks of preparation
HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
The fastest credible win on this list, if you already write HCL.
1 hour · 2 to 4 weeks of preparation
At a glance
| Exam | Format | Duration | Pass mark | Valid for | Typical prep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKA | Performance-based, live clusters, remote proctored | 2 hours | 66% | 2 years | 8 to 12 weeks |
| CKAD | Performance-based, live clusters, remote proctored | 2 hours | 66% | 2 years | 6 to 10 weeks |
| CKS | Performance-based, live clusters, remote proctored | 2 hours | 67% | 2 years | 8 to 12 weeks |
| SAA-C03 | 65 multiple choice and multiple response questions | 130 minutes | 720 out of 1000, scaled | 3 years | 8 to 12 weeks |
| AZ-104 | 40 to 60 questions, case studies, sometimes a hands-on lab | Around 120 minutes | 700 out of 1000, scaled | 1 year, renewed free online | 6 to 10 weeks |
| 003 | Around 57 multiple choice and true/false questions | 1 hour | Not published by HashiCorp | 2 years | 2 to 4 weeks |
Exam details change. Always confirm on the official page linked from each certification before you book.