CertLabProCNCF Certified Kubernetes Application Developer
265問の練習問題
最終確認：April 2026
学習のための個人ノートとリソースリンク
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The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) is the hands-on credential for engineers who build and ship applications on Kubernetes — the developer-side complement to CKA (cluster operator), CKS (security specialist, requires active CKA), and CNPE (platform engineer). Unlike the multiple-choice KCNA / KCSA / CNPA exams, CKAD puts you in front of real clusters via kubectl and a browser-based terminal, with two hours to design pods, configure deployments, expose services, and debug failing applications. CKAD does not test cluster bootstrapping or node troubleshooting — that is CKA territory. It is part of the Kubestronaut bundle (KCNA + KCSA + CKA + CKAD + CKS) and is widely recognized as the reference credential for backend and cloud-native application developers.
The largest domain at 25%. ConfigMaps, Secrets, ServiceAccounts, SecurityContexts, resource limits, and Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs). Expect tasks that require choosing the right primitive for an application configuration problem.
Container image design, multi-container pods (sidecars, init containers, ambassadors), Jobs, CronJobs, and persistent volumes for stateful workloads. 20% of the exam.
Deployments, rolling updates, rollbacks, blue/green and canary patterns, and Helm basics. 20% of the exam.
Services (ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer), Ingress, and NetworkPolicies from an application-developer perspective. 20% of the exam — overlap with CKA but framed around app reachability rather than cluster networking internals.
Liveness / readiness / startup probes, logging, monitoring hooks, and debugging crash-looping pods. 15% of the exam. Heavy use of `kubectl logs`, `kubectl describe`, and `kubectl exec`.
$110k–$155k–$220k USD annual
Range reflects US-based mid-to-senior backend / cloud-native developer roles where Kubernetes proficiency is required. Senior backend roles at FAANG and unicorns trend significantly higher (often $280k+ TC). CKAD on its own does not unlock these salaries — it complements demonstrated production experience shipping containerized services.
Source: levels.fyi 2025–2026 (cloud-native / backend developer roles), U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 (15-1252 software developers). Figures are approximate; actual compensation depends on role, region, and experience.
Kubernetes-native application development is now the default rather than the exception for new backend systems at most cloud-forward enterprises, and CKAD is the most-cited developer-facing Kubernetes credential in 2024–2026 hiring data. CKAD functions as a credible signal that a developer can work fluently with kubectl, design multi-container pods, and debug applications in a Kubernetes context — a skillset increasingly assumed for senior backend and microservices roles. The Kubestronaut bundle (KCNA + KCSA + CKA + CKAD + CKS) is a meaningful flex in the CNCF community. For developer-track candidates, the typical pairing is CKAD with a cloud-provider associate cert (AWS Developer Associate, Azure Developer Associate, or GCP Cloud Developer).
There are no formal prerequisites for CKAD, but the exam is hands-on and assumes solid Linux command-line fluency, Docker / container literacy, and YAML comfort. CNCF recommends prior KCNA-level conceptual knowledge, and most candidates benefit from at least a few months of practical kubectl experience before sitting the exam.
The sensible CNCF progression for developer-track candidates is KCNA → CKAD, optionally followed by CKA if you want broader operational credibility. CKAD does not require any prior cert and does not satisfy any prerequisite for CKS (CKS requires CKA, not CKAD). If your goal is the Kubestronaut bundle, the standard order is KCNA + KCSA → CKA → CKAD → CKS — with CKA before CKS being the only hard requirement. Many candidates sit CKAD before CKA because the developer-side scope is narrower and the exam is slightly less time-pressured.
CKAD is hands-on and demanding, but somewhat less broad than CKA — there is no cluster bootstrapping or node troubleshooting. Expect 60–120 hours of study over 6–12 weeks if you have prior Linux and Docker fluency; 120+ hours if you are new to containers entirely. The exam is 15–20 performance-based tasks against real clusters in a browser-based terminal, two hours, with access only to the official Kubernetes documentation in a single browser tab. Pass mark is 66%.
The most common stumbling block is time management — most candidates know how to solve the tasks but cannot solve them quickly enough. kubectl efficiency (aliases, `--dry-run=client -o yaml` workflows, fast vim or nano editing) and bash / jq fluency are decisive. Probe configuration and multi-container pod patterns (sidecars, init containers) are the second-most-common gap. Mock exams from killer.sh (two free attempts bundled) are widely considered required preparation.
Validity period reduced from 3 years to 2 years effective April 1, 2024 (applies to all CKA / CKAD certifications issued on or after that date). Curriculum tracks recent Kubernetes releases; minor task updates each year.
Original release — the developer-track companion to CKA. Validity was 3 years until the April 2024 change.
CKAD (CNCF Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) is a a challenging, scenario-heavy exam that requires deep hands-on experience and the ability to make architectural trade-off decisions Professional-level exam. Most candidates need 150–300 hours of study spread over 3–6 months for professional and expert-level exams. These exams typically expect prior associate-level proficiency. Most candidates who score consistently above the passing threshold on practice exams pass on their first attempt.