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Kubernetes & Cloud Native Track

CertReview-curated Kubernetes track. CNCF documents that CKA is the recommended foundation for CKS (their "intended progression"). KCNA as an entry point and Prometheus PCA as observability specialization are CertReview's additions framing the broader cloud-native journey.

DevOps
Kubernetes
Cloud Native
CNCF
CertReview Curated

CertReview-curated roadmap. Most issuers don't publish a single "do these certs in this order" diagram. We built this sequence based on issuer documentation, exam prerequisites, and community practice. Steps marked "optional" reflect our judgment, not issuer policy.

Issuer's certification page
  1. 1

    Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)

    optional

    Cloud Native Computing Foundation / Linux Foundation

    Optional MCQ entry point. Skip if you already work with K8s.

  2. 2

    Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

    Cloud Native Computing Foundation / Linux Foundation

    Core admin cert — performance-based on real clusters.

  3. 3

    Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

    optional

    Cloud Native Computing Foundation / Linux Foundation

    Sibling to CKA focused on workload deployment. Pick CKA, CKAD, or both.

  4. 4

    Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)

    Cloud Native Computing Foundation / Linux Foundation

    Security capstone. Requires CKA as a prerequisite (CNCF rule).

  5. 5

    Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA)

    optional

    Cloud Native Computing Foundation / Linux Foundation

    Optional observability specialization. Adjacent skill set commonly paired with K8s.

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