› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Cloud Native Computing Foundation · associate
CKACloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Administrator
Official pageCloud Native Computing Foundation · associate
CKSCloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
Official pageComparing
Cloud Native Computing FoundationCKA
Cloud Native Computing FoundationCKS
› Cost
Exam fee
CKA$395
CKS$395
Exam fee
$395
$395
Annual maintenance fee
CKA—
CKS—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
CKA$395
CKS$395
3-year cost of ownership
$395
$395
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
CKA—
CKS—
Pass mark
—
—
Retake policy
CKA—
CKS—
Retake policy
—
—
Study time
CKA—
CKS—
Study time
—
—
Validity
CKA—
CKS—
Validity
—
—
CPE / yr
CKA—
CKS—
CPE / yr
—
—
Delivery
CKA—
CKS—
Delivery
—
—
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
CKA—
CKS—
Range
—
—
Median
CKA—
CKS—
Median
—
—
Premium %
CKA—
CKS—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
CKA—
CKS—
Role context
—
—
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
CKA9.0
CKS9.0
Schema quality
9.0
9.0
Practice evidence
CKA9.5
CKS9.5
Practice evidence
9.5
9.5
Maintenance
CKA9.0
CKS9.0
Maintenance
9.0
9.0
Market recognition
CKA9.0
CKS8.5
Market recognition
9.0
8.5
Average
CKA9.1
CKS9.0
Average
9.1
9.0
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
CKAGlobal
CKSGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
CKA—
CKS—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
CKA—
CKS—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
CKA—
CKS—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
CKA—
CKS—
Current version
—
—
› Domain coverage
A5Cloud Security
CKA● core
CKS● core
A5Cloud Security
● core
● core
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