CKA vs CKAD
Compare CKA and CKAD Kubernetes certifications. Administrator vs Developer - which CNCF certification should you get?
CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)
CNCF/Linux Foundation
CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)
CNCF/Linux Foundation
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Compare all aspects of these certifications side by side
| Feature | CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) | CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | CNCF/Linux Foundation | CNCF/Linux Foundation |
| Difficulty Level | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Exam Cost | $395 USD | $395 USD |
| Exam Format | Performance-based (hands-on labs) | Performance-based (hands-on labs) |
| Prerequisites | None (experience recommended) | None (experience recommended) |
| Validity Period | 3 years | 3 years |
| Ideal For | DevOps engineers, platform engineers, K8s admins | Developers deploying apps on Kubernetes |
| Salary Range | $120,000 - $170,000 | $110,000 - $160,000 |
What Each Certification Covers
Key topics and domains covered in each exam
CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) Focus Areas
- Cluster Architecture
- Workloads
- Services
- Storage
- Troubleshooting
CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) Focus Areas
- Application Design
- Deployment
- Configuration
- Observability
- Services
Our Recommendation
CKA focuses on cluster administration, CKAD on application development. Both are hands-on.
Choose CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)
Choose CKA if you manage Kubernetes clusters and infrastructure.
Choose CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)
Choose CKAD if you deploy and manage applications on Kubernetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) or CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)?
CKA focuses on cluster administration, CKAD on application development. Both are hands-on.
What are the salary differences between CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)?
CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) typically offers salaries around $120,000 - $170,000, while CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) offers $110,000 - $160,000.
Which certification should I get first?
Choose CKA if you manage Kubernetes clusters and infrastructure. Choose CKAD if you deploy and manage applications on Kubernetes.
How long does it take to prepare for these certifications?
Preparation time varies based on experience. Most candidates spend 4-12 weeks studying, depending on their background and the certification difficulty level.
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