The Linux Foundation hands-on credential for Kubernetes application developers — design, build, deploy and troubleshoot apps on Kubernetes. Performance-based, no MCQs.
Services, Ingress, NetworkPolicies, Gateway API basics
📦
Containers in production
Health checks, resource limits, multi-container patterns, init containers
🔍
Troubleshooting
kubectl debugging mastery — because the exam is hands-on
What this course is
Where Kubernetes stops being kubectl get pods.
CKAD is the Linux Foundation hands-on developer certification for Kubernetes. The exam puts you in front of a live cluster and asks you to ship things that work. There are no multiple-choice questions — only working software under timer.
At Nexperts, CKAD is delivered on a live multi-node Kubernetes cluster per learner. By day 4 you've shipped 30+ working tasks under realistic time pressure: deployments, services, ConfigMaps, ingress, NetworkPolicies, jobs, observability and the troubleshooting drills that the exam loves.
CKAD is brutal because it is honest. It rewards typing speed, kubectl muscle memory and clear thinking under timer. You cannot bluff a CKAD exam.
The 2026 CKAD update sharpened the focus on observability, multi-container design patterns, the Gateway API and OpenTelemetry sidecars. We cover all four with hands-on cluster work.
Who should take this course
👨💻
Developers
Already deploying to Kubernetes and want the formal hands-on credential.
⚙️
DevOps engineers
Building K8s manifests as part of pipelines. CKAD is the proof you ship them right.
☁️
Cloud engineers
Operating workloads on EKS, AKS, GKE. CKAD gives the developer-side discipline.
🌟
CKA holders
Natural pair. CKA is the operator's view; CKAD is the developer's view.
📚
Backend developers
Wanting to ship to K8s with confidence. CKAD is the most accessible serious K8s cert.
💼
Tech leads
Reviewing K8s manifests on PRs. CKAD sharpens the technical-review lens.
Prerequisites
✓ Working knowledge of containers (Docker, Podman or similar)
✓ Comfortable with the command line and basic shell scripting
✓ Familiarity with REST, HTTP and one programming language
✓ Basic networking knowledge (TCP/IP, DNS, ports)
→ No prior Kubernetes? Ask about our Kubernetes primer before CKAD starts.
Course Curriculum
Five domains. All hands-on.
CKAD covers Application Design & Build, Application Deployment, Application Observability & Maintenance, Application Environment / Configuration / Security, and Services & Networking. Every domain ends with a real cluster sprint.
Hands-On Live Cluster
9 sprints. Real cluster, real timer.
The Nexperts cluster is a multi-node Kubernetes environment with admin access per learner. Every lab is a sprint — you ship working manifests under realistic exam-style time pressure.
01
Sidecar Logging Pattern
Build a sidecar logging container in 30 minutes that ships logs to a central destination.
Patterns
02
Multi-Env Kustomize
Roll out a 3-environment deployment (dev / staging / prod) with Kustomize.
Deployment
03
Probe Discipline
Add liveness, readiness and startup probes to 4 broken deployments. Validate behaviour.
Observability
04
Troubleshooting Sprint
Diagnose 5 broken deployments in 60 minutes. Document the fix for each.
Debugging
05
RBAC Harden
Replace cluster-admin SAs with least-privilege SAs across 6 deployments.
Security
06
Pod Security Standards
Harden 4 permissive workloads to PSS-baseline. Validate denied flows.
Security
07
NetworkPolicy Lab
Implement zero-trust NetworkPolicies for a 3-tier app. Validate denial.
Networking
08
Gateway API Build
Front 3 services with Gateway API routing. Apply rate limiting.
Ingress
09
Helm Chart Sprint
Take a deployment manifest. Convert to a parameterised Helm chart in 45 minutes.
Packaging
+ 14 micro-tasks across kubectl, Helm and Kustomize. All cluster access yours during the course + 30 days post-course.
Exam Information
One exam. Performance-based only.
CKAD is a 2-hour fully hands-on exam on a live cluster. There are no multiple-choice questions — only 15–20 tasks where you ship working manifests under timer. Most candidates fail on time, not knowledge.
Linux Foundation CKAD Exam
Questions15 – 20 hands-on tasks
Duration2 hours
Passing score66%
FormatLinux Foundation / PSI Online proctored
Validity2 years (renewal required)
Industry avg pass rate~64% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate92% first attempt
kubectl Speed Drill
Drill length6-hour structured drill
FormatLive cluster — you type, instructor times
Items practised30 kubectl commands at speed
Common gotchasImperative vs declarative under timer
StrategyUse generators (--dry-run=client -o yaml) by default
OutcomeTime-per-task improves from 11 min → 5 min average
WalkthroughPast task archive provided
Our 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
End of day 1. Hands-on. Average 12 min/task baseline.
02
Speed Mock
Mid-course. Hands-on under exam timer. Average 7 min/task.
03
Final Clearance
Full 2-hour timed simulation. 80%+ before we book. Average 5.5 min/task.
0%
Pass Rate
92% of our CKAD candidates pass on first attempt.
The Linux Foundation global first-attempt rate for CKAD sits around 64%. We hit 92% by spending 80% of class time on a live cluster, drilling kubectl speed and gating booking on a clearance mock.
Live clusterkubectl speed drill92% first attemptFree retake (LF policy)30-day cluster access
Why our pass rate is 92%
Industry average: ~64%
Most candidates know the answers but cannot type fast enough. The exam is fully hands-on — if you cannot create a deployment in 90 seconds, you fail.
Nexperts: 92%
We drill kubectl until it's reflex. We use generators by default. We run timed mocks. By exam day, candidates are typing manifests faster than they read them.
Your Kubernetes Path
CKAD pairs with CKA and CKS.
CKAD stacks naturally with CKA (operator) and CKS (security). Most senior Kubernetes engineers in MY hold all three. CKS requires CKA as a prerequisite.
Before this
Container basics
Comfortable with Docker / Podman containers and the command line.
Expected salary range after CKAD: RM 8,500 – RM 14,500/month for cloud-native developer and platform engineer roles.
Student Reviews
What our CKAD candidates say.
4.9
★★★★★
108 reviews
5★
90%
4★
9%
3★
1%
★★★★★
"kubectl speed drill is what got me over the line. Without practising under timer I'd have failed for sure. The exam is brutal on time."
HF
Hafiz Faisal
Senior Developer · Astro Digital
✓ Passed first attempt · 91%
★★★★★
"Best K8s course in MY by a mile. The troubleshooting sprint is genuinely the most useful single drill I've done in 8 years of certs."
NL
Nirmala Letchumi
DevOps Engineer · Maybank
✓ Passed first attempt · 88%
★★★★
"Pod Security Standards and NetworkPolicy labs were the highlights. We hardened our cluster the week after using exactly those patterns."
TM
Terence Ma
Platform Engineer · Carsome
✓ Passed first attempt · 84%
★★★★★
"Came in as a Java developer with surface-level K8s. Walked out comfortable on the cluster. The 30-day post-course access is gold for keeping the muscle memory sharp."
RR
Rishi Ramesh
Senior Backend Eng · PETRONAS Digital
✓ Passed first attempt · 89%
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