CNCF / Linux Foundation · Professional Certification · Professional
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
Crydd Score 63
Demand High
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
CKAD at a glance
- Provider
- CNCF / Linux Foundation
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- DevOps & Platform
- Level
- Professional
- Cost
- $395
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time to earn
- 2–3 months
- Validity
- 2 years
- Format
- Performance-based (hands-on tasks in live clusters), 2 hours
- Prerequisites
- None
Rated, not yet reviewed
The facts on this page are verified against provider information, and the Crydd Score is computed from them and Crydd’s demand, value, and recognition ratings. The long-form written verdict is part of a deeper editorial pass — never filled with invented data. Anything we couldn’t verify says “See official page.”
Skills it covers
- Kubernetes for developers
- Pod design
- Observability
- Application deployment
Where CKAD takes you
- DevOps Engineer
- Backend Developer
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to CKAD, so you know why it’s here.
Careers CKAD leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where CKAD sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Build the foundation first
Earlier steps on the same path
