The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) is an entry-level certification that demonstrates a learner's understanding of Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies. This certification validates knowledge of cloud-native fundamentals, including container orchestration with Kubernetes, cloud-native architecture, and the CNCF ecosystem.
Who Should Take KCNA:
- Beginners entering the cloud-native field
- Professionals seeking foundational Kubernetes knowledge
- Anyone preparing for more advanced CNCF certifications (CKAD, CKA)
About This Guide: This repository is a personal effort to create organized, easily accessible content to support KCNA exam preparation. It consolidates information from official documentation, community resources, and hands-on practice into a structured learning path.
- KCNA_CHEATSHEET.md: Comprehensive study guide consolidating all domain and lab content
- domains: Exam domains with detailed theoretical content organized by topic
- labs: Hands-on practical exercises with YAML manifests and kubectl commands
- mock-questions: Sample questions to simulate the exam experience
Kubernetes Fundamentals (44%)
Container Orchestration (28%)
- Official KCNA exam page - Exam details and registration
- Official KCNA Curriculum - CNCF's official exam curriculum
- Kubernetes Documentation - Official K8s docs
- Orientation: Read this README to understand the guide structure
- Review Topics: Browse the Topics Covered section to see all exam domains
- Study Theory: Start with domains/ - read topic markdown files for theoretical knowledge
- Hands-On Practice: Complete corresponding labs/ for each topic you study
- Quick Reference: Use KCNA_CHEATSHEET.md for consolidated review
- Track Progress: Check off completed topics and labs as you go
Week 1-2: Kubernetes Fundamentals (44% of exam)
- Study Kubernetes Fundamentals domain
- Complete all 4 labs in labs/01-Kubernetes-fundamentals/
- Focus: Core concepts, administration, scheduling, containerization
Week 3: Container Orchestration (28% of exam)
- Study Container Orchestration domain
- Complete all 4 labs in labs/02-container-orchestration/
- Focus: Networking, security, troubleshooting, storage
Week 4: Application Delivery & Architecture (28% of exam)
- Study Cloud Native Application Delivery domain
- Study Cloud Native Architecture domain
- Complete remaining 5 labs
- Focus: Deployment strategies, debugging, observability, CNCF ecosystem
Week 5: Review & Practice
- Review KCNA_CHEATSHEET.md
- Revisit challenging topics
- Practice mock questions if available
- Review official CNCF KCNA Curriculum
- Official KCNA Exam Page - Exam details and registration
- Official KCNA Curriculum - CNCF's official exam curriculum
- Kubernetes Documentation - Official K8s docs
- CNCF Landscape - Overview of cloud-native projects