Hello, everyone who loves cloud-native technology!
I’m thrilled to share the exciting news that I’ve successfully renewed my CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer) certification, following my CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator). π
To be honest, I didn’t place much importance on regularly renewing certifications. However, a very special and ambitious goal has emerged: ‘Golden KubeStronaut’! β¨ This is a permanent certification awarded only after acquiring all 15 CNCF-related certifications. Although the remaining 14 exams will be a long and challenging journey, I intend to steadily move forward.
Through this CKAD renewal, I realized that the exam has changed in several ways compared to when I took it in 2021 and now in 2025. Today, I’d like to share my vivid review and the key changes with you.
π₯οΈ 1. Significantly Changed Exam Environment
The first change that caught my eye was the exam environment itself.
- GUI Desktop Environment Provided: The exam environment has shifted from the previous CLI (Command Line Interface)-based remote terminal to providing a remote Ubuntu 20 Desktop (GUI) environment. Thanks to this, I was able to take the exam in a more familiar and comfortable setting.
- PSI Secure Browser: The exam is conducted via the PSI Secure Browser. If you register your ID by taking a photo in advance, the ID verification process on the exam day becomes much simpler, so I strongly recommend registering in advance! π
- kubectl Autocompletion Enabled by Default: Previously, it was cumbersome to manually add autocompletion scripts to the .bashrc file. Now, kubectl autocompletion is enabled by default, allowing you to focus on solving problems right from the start of the exam. It’s truly convenient! π
π οΈ 2. More Practical Exam Content and Question Types
The content and question types of the exam were also quite different from before.
- Ingress Controller – Traefik Appears: In this exam, Traefik appeared as an Ingress Controller. Fortunately, it didn’t require complex configurations. However, the key was to accurately check and use the IngressClass name to correctly apply the settings to the given Ingress resource. π¦
- Shift in Problem-Solving Approach: While past exams primarily assessed the ability to ‘create and configure new resources from scratch,’ the 2025 exam was different. Problems mainly involved analyzing already deployed resources, identifying the root cause of issues, and resolving them. This felt similar to scenarios encountered in real-world work, giving the impression that the exam has evolved to demand more practical skills.
π― 3. Results and Impressions
The results I received after completing all processes were very satisfying.
- New Certificate: A minor change, but the background color and signatory of the certificate were also noticeable. π
- Score Increase!: Most importantly, what made me happiest was the score! I was able to enjoy the joy of passing with a higher score, from 89 points in 2021 to 94 points. It was a moment where I felt the reward of consistently working with Kubernetes. π
Now, I’ve taken the first step towards my goal of becoming a ‘Golden KubeStronaut’. I will diligently prepare for the remaining 14 exams and strive to continue sharing good news.
I hope my experience can be of a little help to everyone dreaming of becoming a cloud-native expert. Thank you! πͺ
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