CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
How to prepare for CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
A 5-stage plan from your first study session to exam day. Adjust the pace to your own schedule.
Study plan
| Stage | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Familiarize with the CKAD outline Read the official curriculum and candidate handbook to understand the five exam domains and their weightings. | Week 1 |
| 2 | Core Kubernetes concepts Practice creating pods, deployments, and services; work with container images and basic resource definitions. | Week 2‑3 |
| 3 | Configuration, security, and observability Implement ConfigMaps, Secrets, probes, and logging; explore troubleshooting commands and health checks. | Week 4‑5 |
| 4 | Advanced networking and multi‑container patterns Set up Service networking, Ingress, and multi‑container pod patterns; test persistence with volumes. | Week 6‑7 |
| 5 | Full‑scale practice exams Take timed, hands‑on practice exams that mimic the online proctored environment and review weak areas. | Week 8 |
Exam domains
These come from the official exam outline.
- Application Design and Build (20%)
- Application Deployment (20%)
- Application Observability and Maintenance (15%)
- Application Environment, Configuration and Security (25%)
- Services and Networking (20%)
CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer preparation questions
How many steps are in the CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer study plan?
This plan has 5 stages, starting with familiarize with the CKAD outline and ending with full‑scale practice exams.
Do I need prior experience for CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer?
CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer is rated Intermediate. Check the official exam page for any formal requirements before you start.
What should I study for CKAD - Certified Kubernetes Application Developer?
Focus on the official exam domains: Application Design and Build (20%), Application Deployment (20%), Application Observability and Maintenance (15%), Application Environment, Configuration and Security (25%), Services and Networking (20%).
Exam outlines change between versions. Check the official exam page for the current outline before you start.