We frequently receive questions at Linux Foundation Training & Certification about which certification is the best fit for a given individual. You may be unsure if a given certification will advance your career, help you break into a new one, or even if you have the skills needed to be successful on the exam. This article aims to provide a primer, giving an overview of each exam, who it is for, what topics are covered, how to prepare and what it demonstrates.
Jump to:
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- Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)
- Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)
- Kubernetes & Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
- Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
- Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
- OpenJS Node.js Application Developer (JSNAD)
- OpenJS Node.js Services Developer (JSNSD)
Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA)
LFCA is the first entry-level IT certification from The Linux Foundation. Unlike most entry-level certifications on the market, it includes elements of modern IT infrastructures such as cloud computing, which is essential in most IT roles today. The 2020 Open Source Jobs Report found that the top three skills sought by employers are Linux, cloud and security, all of which are covered here. Additionally, the most in demand job role is DevOps, skills for which are also tested on the exam, making this certification the ideal way to demonstrate you have the skills to hit the ground running in a new IT career.
About this certification
A Certified IT Associate will confirm early proficiency and aptitude in the IT field. The exam is intended to integrate with other qualifications and provides a stepping stone to more advanced credentials.
Who is it for?
The LFCA is a pre-professional certification intended for those new to the industry or considering starting an IT career as an administrator or engineer. This certification is ideal for users interested in advancing to the professional level through a demonstrated understanding of critical concepts for modern IT systems including cloud computing. This is a beginner-level certification and requires no prior experience.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Technical Support Specialist
- Junior System Administrator
- Junior System Analyst
What does it demonstrate?
LFCA will test candidates’ knowledge of fundamental IT concepts including operating systems, software application installation and management, hardware installation, use of the command line and basic programming, basic networking functions, security best practices, and other related topics to validate their capability and preparedness for an entry-level IT position.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consists of 60 multiple choice questions.
- Candidates have 90 minutes to complete the LFCA exam.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
- Results will be emailed 36 hours from the time that the exam is completed.
Topics covered in the LFCA exam and their weights include:
- Linux Fundamentals – 20%
- System Administration Fundamentals – 20%
- Cloud Computing Fundamentals – 20%
- Security Fundamentals – 16%
- DevOps Fundamentals – 16%
- Supporting Applications and Developers – 8%
View the full LFCA Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
Unlike many Linux Foundation certifications, LFCA does not have a single course to cover all aspects of the exam. This is by design as the exam covers a broad range of topics necessary to be successful as an IT administrator today. Many of the free Linux Foundation Training courses do explore these skills, which means it’s possible to prepare for the exam without paying for a course.
Among the free courses that help prepare you for LFCA are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151)
- Introduction to DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (LFS162)
View our LFCA resources page for a complete list.
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
Outside of Linux Foundation resources, there are many third party training providers offering paid courses to prepare you for the LFCA (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)
LFCS is ideal for candidates looking to validate their Linux system administration skill set. It is an intermediate-level certification, and a good starting point for those wishing to work as a Linux sysadmin. This exam can also be a useful certification to hold if you plan to move into work in cloud administration, as almost all cloud instances run on Linux, and to be effective in such a role you need a strong foundation in Linux.
About this certification
LFCS was developed by The Linux Foundation to help meet the high demand for Linux administration talent. The exam consists of performance-based items that simulate on-the-job tasks and scenarios faced by sysadmins in the real world, conducted in the command line. Candidates can select either Ubuntu 18 or CentOS 7, so it is best to practice with these distributions prior to sitting for the exam.
Who is it for?
LFCS is ideal for candidates early in their Linux system administration or open source career. Candidates should have solid experience with, or have completed training in, Linux system administration before attempting this exam.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- System Administrator
- Linux Administrator
- System Analyst
- Database Administrator
- DevOps Engineer
- IT Technician
- Network Technician
What does it demonstrate?
Certified Linux systems administrators can work proficiently to design, install, configure, and manage a system installation. They will have an understanding of key concepts such as networking, storage, security, maintenance, logging and monitoring, application lifecycle, troubleshooting, API object primitives and the ability to establish basic use-cases for end users.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consists of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved on the command line running Linux.
- The exam consists of 20-25 performance-based tasks.
- The exam is expected to take 2 hours to complete.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
Topics covered in the LFCS exam and their weights include:
- Essential Commands – 25%
- Operation of Running Systems – 20%
- User and Group Management – 10%
- Networking – 12%
- Service Configuration – 20%
- Storage Management – 13%
View the full LFCS Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
The most direct way to prepare for LFCS is to take the Essentials of Linux System Administration (LFS201) training course. This course covers the topics and skills necessary to pass this exam, and also prepares you to be successful in a career as a Linux sysadmin. The course was developed, and is maintained by, the same team that created the exam at The Linux Foundation, so you can be assured it is relevant and up to date.
Some free courses that help prepare you for LFCS are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151)
- Introduction to DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (LFS162)
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
Outside of Linux Foundation resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the LFCS (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
Kubernetes & Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)
The KCNA exam, launched in 2021, has quickly become a respected credential for individuals pursuing an entry-level career in cloud computing. There is a huge need for more individuals with cloud skills to enter the job market, which is creating opportunities at all levels, including for those completely new to the technology field. Those holding a KCNA certification have demonstrated they possess foundational knowledge and skills in Kubernetes and the wider cloud native ecosystem to an extent that they can begin working in the industry.
About this certification
This exam confirms conceptual knowledge of the entire cloud native ecosystem, particularly focusing on Kubernetes. The KCNA exam is intended to prepare candidates to work with cloud native technologies and pursue further CNCF credentials, including CKA, CKAD, and CKS.
Who is it for?
The KCNA is a pre-professional certification designed for candidates interested in advancing to the professional level through a demonstrated understanding of Kubernetes foundational knowledge and skills. This certification is ideal for students learning about or candidates interested in working with cloud native technologies. Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- IT Administrator
- Cloud Administrator
- Kubernetes Administrator
- System Administrator
- Technical Support
- DevOps
What does it demonstrate?
The knowledge of Kubernetes and cloud native technologies demonstrated by passing the KCNA includes how to deploy an application using basic kubectl commands, the architecture of Kubernetes (containers, pods, nodes, clusters), the cloud-native landscape and projects (storage, networking, GitOps, service mesh), and the principles of cloud native security.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consists of multiple choice questions.
- Candidates have 90 minutes to complete the exam.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
- Results will be emailed 36 hours from the time that the exam is completed.
Topics covered in the KCNA exam and their weights include:
- Kubernetes Fundamentals – 46%
- Container Orchestration – 22%
- Cloud Native Architecture – 16%
- Cloud Native Observability – 8%
- Cloud Native Application Delivery – 8%
View the full KCNA Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
As this is an entry-level certification, much of the preparation for this exam can be done independently using widely available resources.
Among the free courses offered by The Linux Foundation that help prepare you for KCNA are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151)
- Introduction to Kubernetes (LFS158)
- Introduction to DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (LFS162)
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
For those looking for more structured preparation, the Kubernetes & Cloud Native Essentials (LFS250) online training course was designed with the KCNA exam in mind, and covers most topics tested.
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
The CKA exam, launched in 2017, has risen extremely rapidly to become one of the most in demand cloud certifications globally. With the rapid adoption of Kubernetes by organizations of all sizes, the need for more cloud administrators and engineers with Kubernetes skills and knowledge has been of paramount importance. In fact, the 2020 Open Source Jobs Report found that knowledge of cloud and containers has the biggest impact on hiring decisions. CKA provides assurance that individuals have the skills, knowledge, and competency to perform the responsibilities of Kubernetes administrators.
About this certification
CKA was 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. The exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires solving multiple tasks from a command line running Kubernetes.
Who is it for?
This certification is for Kubernetes administrators, cloud administrators and other IT professionals who manage Kubernetes instances. This is an intermediate level exam and experience and/or professional training is recommended before pursuing it.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Cloud Administrator
- Kubernetes Administrator
- Kubernetes Engineer
- Cloud Architect
- Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Network Administrator
- Cloud Support Specialist
- Cloud Computing Specialist
- DevOps Engineer
What does it demonstrate?
A certified K8s administrator has demonstrated the ability to do basic installation as well as configuring and managing production-grade Kubernetes clusters. They will have an understanding of key concepts such as Kubernetes networking, storage, security, maintenance, logging and monitoring, application lifecycle, troubleshooting, API object primitives and the ability to establish basic use-cases for end users.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consists of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved on the command line running Linux.
- The exam consists of 15-20 performance-based tasks.
- Candidates have 2 hours to complete the exam.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
- Results will be emailed 36 hours from the time that the exam is completed.
Topics covered in the CKA exam and their weights include:
- Storage – 10%
- Troubleshooting – 30%
- Workloads & Scheduling – 15%
- Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration – 25%
- Services & Networking – 20%
View the full CKA Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
Due to its popularity, there are a wealth of materials available to prepare for the CKA exam. The most directly relevant structured training course is Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258) which was developed by CNCF and The Linux Foundation – the same folks who created the CKA exam – and covers the same subject areas tested on the exam; this course can be purchased as a bundle with the CKA at a discounted rate. Since we develop both the exam and course, we guarantee the latest version of the course is always designed to prepare you for the latest version of the exam. If you are a complete beginner, you may also want to consider the Cloud Engineer Bootcamp which provides foundational Linux and cloud knowledge, culminating with the CKA as a “final exam”.
Among the free courses that help prepare you for CKA are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151)
- Introduction to Kubernetes (LFS158)
- Introduction to Service Mesh with Linkerd (LFS143)
- Introduction to Serverless on Kubernetes (LFS157)
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
Outside of Linux Foundation and CNCF resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the CKA (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
Modern applications today are built as cloud native by default. This requires knowledge of cloud tools including Kubernetes, which is why The Linux Foundation and CNCF developed the CKAD exam which certifies that users can design, build, configure, and expose cloud native applications for Kubernetes.
About this certification
CKAD has been developed by The Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), to help expand the Kubernetes ecosystem through standardized training and certification. This exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that consists of a set of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved in a command line.
Who is it for?
This certification is for Kubernetes engineers, cloud engineers and other IT professionals responsible for building, deploying, and configuring cloud native applications with Kubernetes. This is an intermediate-level certification and experience and/or professional training is recommended before pursuing it.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Kubernetes Engineer
- Kubernetes Developer
- Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Network Engineer
- Cloud Architect
- Cloud Systems Engineer
- Cloud Developer
- Cloud Applications Engineer
- Cloud Applications Developer
- DevOps Cloud Architect
What does it demonstrate?
The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer can design build, configure and expose cloud native applications for Kubernetes. A CKAD can define application resources and use core primitives to build, monitor, and troubleshoot scalable applications & tools in Kubernetes.
The exam assumes knowledge of, but does not test for, container runtimes and microservice architecture.
The successful candidate will be comfortable using:
– An OCI-Compliant Container Runtime, such as Docker or rkt.
– Cloud Native application concepts and architectures.
– A Programming language, such as Python, Node.js, Go, or Java.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consists of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved on the command line running Linux.
- The exam consists of 15-20 performance-based tasks.
- Candidates have 2 hours to complete the exam.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
- Results will be emailed 36 hours from the time that the exam is completed.
Topics covered in the CKAD exam and their weights include:
- Core Concepts – 13%
- Configuration – 18%
- Multi-Container Pods – 10%
- Observability – 18%
- Pod Design – 20%
- Services & Networking – 13%
- State Persistence – 8%
View the full CKA Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
The Linux Foundation and CNCF offer an online training course that helps prepare you for the CKAD exam. Kubernetes for Developers (LFD259) comes directly from the same organizations that created and maintain CKAD, so you can be assured that the training will always cover the topics most relevant to the exam.
If you do not already have experience with developing cloud applications, it is important that you gain foundational knowledge and skills with the cloud before pursuing this certification, or even the related training. We offer a variety of cloud and containers training courses, including many free ones such as Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151) and Introduction to Kubernetes (LFS158) that provide much of this knowledge.
Among the other free courses that help prepare you for CKAD are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Service Mesh with Linkerd (LFS143)
- Introduction to Serverless on Kubernetes (LFS157)
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
Outside of Linux Foundation and CNCF resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the CKAD (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
As production environments become more decoupled and agile, keeping the entire environment secure has become more complex. This challenge will only become more acute as cloud adoption accelerates. Additionally, we saw from the 2020 Open Source Jobs Report that cloud and security skills have the biggest and third biggest impact on hiring decisions respectively, further highlighting the talent gap for these skills.
About this certification
CKS is a performance-based certification exam that tests candidates’ knowledge of Kubernetes and cloud security in a simulated, real world environment. Candidates must have taken and passed the CKA exam prior to attempting the CKS exam.
Who is it for?
Accomplished Kubernetes practitioners (must be CKA certified) who have demonstrated competence on a broad range of best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime are the primary audience for CKS. This is an intermediate-level certification and experience and/or professional training is recommended before pursuing it.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Cloud Security Specialist
- Kubernetes Engineer
- Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Network Administrator
- Cloud Architect
- Cloud Systems Engineer
- Cloud Security Consultant
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Cybersecurity Administrator
- Cybersecurity Engineer
What does it demonstrate?
Obtaining a CKS demonstrates a candidate possesses the requisite abilities to secure container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime, and is qualified to perform these tasks in a professional setting.
What is covered on the exam?
- The exam is delivered online and consist of performance-based tasks (problems) to be solved on the command line running Linux.
- The exam consists of 15-20 performance-based tasks.
- Candidates have 2 hours to complete the CKS exam.
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
- Results will be emailed 36 hours from the time that the exam is completed.
Topics covered in the CKS exam and their weights include:
- Cluster Setup – 10%
- Cluster Hardening – 15%
- System Hardening – 15%
- Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities – 20%
- Supply Chain Security – 20%
- Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security – 20%
View the full CKS Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
The first thing to keep in mind if your goal is to obtain a CKS is that CKA is a prerequisite; you will not be permitted to sit for a CKS exam before first achieving that, so if you have not already done so, you should jump up to the CKA section. Assuming you already have earned a CKA, then you already have the cloud, container and Kubernetes knowledge needed for this exam, but likely will need training around security issues. The Kubernetes Security Essentials (LFS260) course from The Linux Foundation and CNCF provides the knowledge you need to be successful in security cloud native applications, and covers the topics tested in the CKS exam.
Among the free courses that help prepare you for CKS are:
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101)
- Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies (LFS151)
- Introduction to Kubernetes (LFS158)
- Introduction to Service Mesh with Linkerd (LFS143)
- Introduction to Serverless on Kubernetes (LFS157)
- Secure Software Development: Requirements, Design, and Reuse (LFD104)
- Secure Software Development: Implementation (LFD105)
- Secure Software Development: Verification and More Specialized Topics (LFD106)
Note you can audit each of these courses for free for seven weeks, therefore it is recommended to enroll in and complete each one at a time so you do not run out of time on a future course before completing your current one.
Outside of Linux Foundation and CNCF resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the CKS (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
OpenJS Node.js Application Developer (JSNAD)
Node.js is the extremely popular open source JavaScript runtime, used by some of the biggest names in technology, including Bloomberg, LinkedIn, Netflix, NASA, and more. JSNAD tests and verifies candidates’ skills in using Node.js to create web-based applications.
About this certification
The two-hour exam tests your skills from debugging Node.js to managing asynchronous operations to controlling processes. It tests knowledge and skills that an experienced Node.js application developer would be expected to possess. This exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires implementing multiple solutions within a Remote Desktop Linux environment. Visual Studio Code, Vim and Webstorm (kindly sponsored by JetBrains) are included as editors in this environment. The exam includes tasks simulating on-the-job scenarios.
Who is it for?
JSNAD certification is ideal for the Node.js developer with at least two years of experience working with Node.js. It is designed for anyone looking to demonstrate competence with Node.js to create applications of any kind, with a focus on knowledge of Node.js core APIs.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Application Developer
- Developer
- Web Developer
- Web Architect
- Web Engineer
- Node.js Specialist
- Node.js Developer
- Node.js Architect
- Node.js Engineer
- Full Stack Developer
What does it demonstrate?
JSNAD certification demonstrates the ability to perform tasks in real world-type environments, giving employers confidence that the certificant possesses a broad range of skills around JavaScript and related technologies. Passing a performance-based exam demonstrates the candidate’s ability to perform challenging, real world tasks under time constraints.
What is covered on the exam?
- This exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires implementing multiple solutions within a Remote Desktop Linux environment.
- The exam consists of between 20-25 performance-based tasks.
- The exam is expected to take 2 hours to complete
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
Topics covered in the JSNAD exam and their weights include:
- Buffer and Streams – 11%
- Control flow – 12%
- Child Processes – 8%
- Diagnostics – 6%
- Error Handling – 8%
- Node.js CLI – 4%
- Events – 11%
- File System – 8%
- JavaScript Prerequisites – 7%
- Module system – 7%
- Process/Operating System – 6%
- Package.json – 6%
- Unit Testing – 6%
View the full JSNAD Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
The Linux Foundation offers a companion training course, Node.js Application Development (LFW211), which covers a broad set of use cases and using Node.js core APIs with selected ecosystem libraries, this course fully prepares you for the JSNAD. We also encourage those who are new to Node.js to first complete the free Introduction to Node.js (LFW111, launching mid-February 2021) before pursuing further study.
The Node.js community also offers a website with a variety of free learning resources and guides.
Outside of Linux Foundation and OpenJS Foundation resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the JSNAD (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).
OpenJS Node.js Services Developer (JSNSD)
Node.js is the extremely popular open source JavaScript runtime, used by some of the biggest names in technology, including Bloomberg, LinkedIn, Netflix, NASA, and more. JSNSD tests and verifies candidates’ skills in creating RESTful Node.js servers and services (or microservices) with a particular emphasis on security practices.
About this certification
The two-hour exam tests your skills in the areas of services, servers and security. Specific knowledge and skills tested are those an experienced Node.js developer would be expected to have. The exam is performance-based and includes items simulating on-the-job scenarios. It is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires implementing multiple solutions within a Remote Desktop Linux environment. Visual Studio Code, Vim and Webstorm (kindly sponsored by JetBrains) are included as editors in this environment.
Who is it for?
JSNSD is for the Node.js developer with at least two years of experience creating RESTful servers and services with Node.js. It is designed for anyone looking to demonstrate competence in creating RESTful Node.js servers and services (or microservices) with a particular emphasis on security practices.
Job titles for those holding this certification could include:
- Services Developer
- Developer
- Web Developer
- Web Architect
- Web Engineer
- Node.js Specialist
- Node.js Developer
- Node.js Architect
- Node.js Engineer
- Full Stack Developer
What does it demonstrate?
JSNSD certification demonstrates the ability to perform tasks in a real world-type environment, giving employers confidence that the certificant possesses a broad range of skills around JavaScript and related technologies. Passing a performance-based exam demonstrates the candidate’s ability to perform challenging real world tasks under time constraints.
What is covered on the exam?
- This exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires implementing multiple solutions within a Remote Desktop Linux environment.
- The exam consists of between 5-10 performance-based tasks.
- The exam is expected to take 2 hours to complete
- The exam is proctored remotely via streaming audio, video, and screen sharing feeds.
Topics covered in the JSNSD exam and their weights include:
- Servers and Services – 70%
- Security – 30%
View the full JSNSD Domains & Competencies.
How should I prepare?
The Linux Foundation offers a companion training course, Node.js Services Development (LFW212), which provides a deep dive into Node core HTTP clients and servers, web servers, RESTful services and web security essentials, and prepares you for the JSNSD. We also encourage those who are new to Node.js to first complete the free Introduction to Node.js (LFW111, launching mid-February 2021) before pursuing further study. The Node.js community also offers a website with a variety of free learning resources and guides.
Outside of Linux Foundation and OpenJS Foundation resources, there are many third party training providers offering courses to prepare you for the JSNSD (Linux Foundation Training & Certification cannot endorse or verify the validity of information provided in any third-party courses).