Tips for passing CKAD exam at 1st attempt (2026 Edition)

#kubernetes #certification #ckad #devops

How it all started

Last year we got news: our new client would be using Kubernetes extensively. I was both excited and scared, as I had only limited exposure to Docker in a professional setting, and K8s is the next level.

After doing some research, I had a chat with my boss which resulted in funding for both the KodeKloud platform and two attempts at the CKAD exam (we lucked out by buying the exam at half price during Cyber Week). That started the long process of learning Kubernetes from scratch under the guidance of Mumshad Mannambeth and his excellent CKAD course.

CKAD Exam Structure

The exam consists of ~20 practical tasks that you need to solve in 120 minutes. You are supervised by a proctor throughout the process.

As of 2026, you are required to use the PSI Secure Browser. This app monitors your system, kills unauthorized processes, and requires full access to your camera and microphone.

Important changes compared to previous years:

Copy-Paste: Past exams used a browser extension that made copy-pasting clunky. Now, it's seamless using either Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V or Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V.

Context Switching: While KodeKloud tests still use a simple context switch, both Killer.sh and the actual exam often require you to ssh into different nodes.

Aliases: In the past, people recommended setting up complex aliases like export do="--dry-run=client -o yaml". Now, because you frequently switch sessions via SSH, these aliases don't persist unless you re-apply them. The only pre-configured alias is k for kubectl.

Passing the exam results in a PDF certificate that verifies your skills. You can also showcase your achievement with a digital badge on Credly:

Navigating the Documentation

During the exam, you are allowed to use the official Kubernetes documentation, API docs, and discussion threads. This is crucial for copying YAML snippets that cannot be easily generated via imperative commands.

Resource	Strategy
Network Policy	Copy YAML (hard to memorize)
Persistent Volumes	Copy YAML (use `Ctrl+F` for "kind: PersistentVolume")
Probes	Memorize syntax or quick copy
Env Vars (Secrets/CM)	Memorize `env`, `envFrom`, `valueFrom` to save time
Ingress	Copy YAML
Resources/Limits	Memorize (simple syntax)
Init & Sidecars	Memorize (note: Native Sidecars use `restartPolicy: Always`)
SecurityContext	Better to memorize (can be tricky to find quickly)
CronJob	Use docs if you forget the cron schedule format

TIP: Before the exam, click through each resource in the docs to familiarize yourself with their location. Scrolling in the PSI browser can be painfully slow, so get used to using Ctrl+F.

The Learning Curve

The start of the course was the hardest part—grasping the depth of the Kubernetes ecosystem. Understanding the theory behind cluster components and dependencies was time-consuming but essential for context.

The Middle Section (Core Concepts to Kustomize) was the most useful.

Go Imperative: From day one, study imperative commands. You need to create pods, deployments, and services as fast as possible. k run, k create, and k expose are your best friends.
YAML Mastery: Learn to tweak resources quickly using k apply -f <filename>.
The Details: Remember the subtle differences, like port vs. targetPort vs. nodePort, or how Native Sidecars are now handled within the initContainers field.

The Final Stretch:
Don't skip the mock exams. I highly recommend the KodeKloud Mock Exam Series. They can be frustrating because a minor typo results in a zero score, but they keep you humble and precise. After these, I tackled Killer.sh, scoring 66/113 on my first try without rushing. It gave me the confidence I needed.

How long does it take?

I started with zero K8s knowledge in November 2025 and passed on April 24th, 2026. This included a 2-month break, followed by a final month of "crunching" the material.

Prepare yourself for around 4 months of learning at a steady pace, or faster if you are already familiar with some Kubernetes concepts.

My take? Don't over-test yourself. I was ready sooner than I thought. At some point, doing too many mock tests with rigid grading can actually degrade your confidence. If you find yourself stuck on minor caveats, step back, review the fundamentals, and then hit a Killer.sh session. If you can handle that environment, you are ready for the real thing.