KCNA & CKA were created by The Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) as a part of their ongoing effort to help develop the Kubernetes ecosystem. KCNA is a multiple choice exam and confirms conceptual knowledge of the cloud native ecosystem. The CKA exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires solving multiple tasks from a command line running Kubernetes.
KCNA is an associate-level certification designed for candidates interested in advancing their work with cloud native technologies. The CKA certification is for Kubernetes administrators, cloud administrators and other IT professionals who manage Kubernetes instances.
The key to a successful open technology project is to ensure a neutral playing field for all developers, technologists, and companies to collectively contribute to project evolution and growth. The Linux Foundation was built on the idea of the democratization of code and scaling adoption, for all projects equally. Expert legal and governance support programs ensure everyone is on the same playing field.