How I passed KCNA

KCNA Certificate

I took the KCNA exam on 15 November 2025, and I passed it with 97/100 score. I’m going to share with you what KCNA is and how I prepare for it.

What is KCNA

KCNA stands for Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate. It’s a Kubernetes entry-level certification from CNCF.

The exam was introduced in November 2021. Before that, there were CKA, CKAD, and CKS, which are associate-level certifications. Since Kubernetes is a vast tool that touches on all aspects of launching an application, the associate-level has so much to learn for newcomers that it feels too daunting. So, they introduced an entry-level certification that requires less time investment.

What does KCNA cover

The content of KCNA is on a basic getting-started level. The ones you find at the start of the documentation. (Warning, though, that there are quite a lot of topics to cover, so it’ll add up quickly.)

Here is the exam content in my own words. For the official one, please visit the official exam page.

  1. Docker basics
  2. Kubernetes basics
  3. Kubernetes-related tool basics: Helm, Prometheus, Grafana, ArgoCD, etc.
  4. The Linux Foundation and CNCF organization (History, teams, project maturity)

So, it’s everything you need to know to start using Kubernetes and understand what people are talking about.

Exam details

  • This is an online proctored exam using PSI Secure Browser. You will need a webcam, an isolated room, and a smooth internet connection.
  • There are 60 multiple-choice questions.
  • You have 90 minutes.
  • You need 75% or more to pass the exam.
  • You need to take the exam within 1 year after you purchase the exam.
  • You can retake the exam one time if you fail (also within 1 year after purchase).
  • If you pass, the certificate is valid for 2 years.

How did I prepare for KCNA

I did CKA before KCNA, so the exam is quite easy for me. Here are the resources I used.

  1. Jame Spurin’s Udemy Course
    This course covers everything you need to know for KCNA. I like that it comes with easy-to-use hands-on labs with Docker Compose. It also provides some practice exams. I totally recommend this course as a main resource for your KCNA study.
  2. Bryan Krausen’s Udemy Practice Exam
    Jame Spurin’s course should be enough to get you pass the KCNA. If you aren’t confident yet, this practice exam will help you. It comes with 4 sets of exams * 60 questions. I found some of them quite repetitive, but many questions did show up in the real exam.

My exam experience

The online exam went smoothly for me. A few minutes after the exam, they emailed me the exam result, and I passed with 97/100!