Last year, I bought a KCNA + CKA certification voucher while there was a Black Friday event. But I only dared to take the KCNA exam in the middle of this year. I'm the type of person who is well-prepared and wants to understand things thoroughly from the basics (a bit of a perfectionist, too). I finally dared to schedule the exam after I was about 90% confident in what I had studied. Here, I'll share my journey to passing the certification.

What is KCNA certification?

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) certification is an entry-level credential designed to validate foundational knowledge of Kubernetes, containers, and the broader cloud native ecosystem. It’s ideal for beginners, offering a solid introduction to core concepts like pods, deployments, container runtimes, and CNCF projects.

People generally take this certification after completing the CKAD or CKA certifications because they already understand the basics, making it easier to pass the KCNA. Or, for those new to Kubernetes, this certification can be a starting point for learning Kubernetes and Cloud Native.

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. You will pass if you achieve a score above 75. One retake is included, so don’t worry if you fail once.

My background

Maybe you need to know about me first because the tips I share may not be suitable for you. I've worked in IT for the past 7 years. I've worked as a Linux Sysadmin, Network Engineer, SRE, and DevOps. So, I'm quite familiar with the cloud and DevOps worlds. I interact with cloud services like AWS and GCP every day. I use Docker every day and often use Kubernetes, but I don't mess with it much. That way, it didn't take me too long to prepare for this exam.

What to learn?

You can start by studying the KCNA curriculum, which can be read at this link. I prioritized these three chapters as essential to study because they account for the largest percentage of the learning:

1. Kubernetes Fundamentals - 46% (The most important and the longest I studied).

2. Container Orchestration - 22% (Kubernetes complementary components).

3. Cloud Native Architecture - 16% (Mostly related to standards in Cloud Native and getting to know the CNCF organization).

Where to learn?

I generally use these study materials:

1. KCNA certification + Hands-on Lab + Practice Exam, Udemy course by James Spurin. I found the explanations very easy to understand, clear, and concise. There is a quiz after each chapter, so what you have learned doesn’t evaporate quickly. There's a hands-on section to get a better feel for using Kubernetes. Two practice exams and many more quizzes, which I found to be very similar to the actual exam environment. See it by yourself.

2. Becoming KCNA Certified book by Dmitry Galkin. If you prefer reading books to watching videos.

3. KCNA-training repository by edithturn.

4. Of course, the Kubernetes official documentation.

5. The CNCF website and CNCF Landscape.

Scheduling the exam

Scheduling an exam is quite straightforward. Be sure to read the System Requirements and Testing Environment Requirements. Failure to meet either of these requirements could prevent you from starting the exam or even result in disqualification.

The links above or the exam rules may become outdated in the future. Make sure to follow the instructions on the registration page. Here are some requirements I pay special attention to:

1. Prepare a quiet place where no other people are coming in and out.

2. The table and its surroundings must be clean of paper, stationery, and other electronic devices such as smartphones.

3. There must be an active webcam and mic during the exam process.

4. I recommend using Windows 11 for an easier setup. Use a laptop and have a data plan ready in case of a power outage.

5. The PSI browser download link will be available after scheduling the exam.

6. Take the exam simulation at least once to familiarize yourself with the exam conditions.

7. Be sure to check the exam rescheduling policy.

Taking the exam

I took the exam at midnight (11.30 PM UTC+7). The exam link will be available 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Be sure to start the exam as soon as possible because there will be a data verification process that may take a long time. Make sure your ID card (such as Indonesian KTP) is within reach. I joined the exam 15 minutes before it started yesterday (11.17 PM UTC+7). It turned out I only managed to complete it 30 minutes after the scheduled time (00.01 AM UTC +7). This is my setup during the exam:

Pay special attention to these rules:

1. I’m allowed to bring a bottle of water to drink. The bottle must be clear of labels or writings.

2. You communicate with the proctor or support via chat in English.

3. I can ask for a short break, but you must stay in your seat.

4. I'm not allowed to wear headphones or other accessories like hats.

5. Avoid covering your mouth, mumbling, or reading the question aloud when working on questions.

6. Avoid looking away from the screen.

General tips

These are tips that work for me. I believe these tips also work for other certification exams:

1. Ask for prayers from your mother or wife (if married). Treat them well.

2. Study 50% - 60% of the material that will help you understand the whole material.

3. Do hands-on exercises to make it easier to understand Kubernetes. Create a small project like deploying Wordpress on Kubernetes.

4. The closer to the exam date, the more I focus on practicing questions.

5. Don't spend too much time on a single question. Limit it to a maximum of 5 minutes. If you're unsure, you can mark the question and review it later.

6. Use a mnemonic (“jembatan keledai” in Indonesia) to help remember information.

7. Don't just read and listen to the material. You can explain (verbally or in writing) what you've learned so you don't forget it quickly.

8. Use multiple resources. Avoid believing solely in AI. Always verify information.

9. Don't fear mistakes. Learn from them. There is one question that often bamboozled me. I chose the right answer multiple times when practicing the questions, and I still second-guessed myself during the exam and chose the wrong answer. Yes, I’m still mad about it. But making mistakes is the most effective way to actually learn because it annoys the hell out of you.

10. The score you get won’t matter, and won't appear on your certificate. What matters is that you passed the exam. I'm saying this so you don't focus too much on getting a perfect score.

Final Thoughts

KCNA is one of the great ways to get started with the cloud, the Cloud Native, and the Kubernetes world, especially if you want to work in the DevOps field. I’m sure it’s not the hardest exam, but it’s a step toward becoming a more confident and capable engineer who understands Kubernetes fundamentals. This exam isn’t about becoming a Kubernetes guru; it’s about proving you understand the ecosystem, the tools, the culture, and the direction the cloud-native movement is heading.

And don’t think too much about a perfect score. ChatGPT told me this after I made a trivial mistake:

Don't chase a perfect score too much. A perfect score is sweet, but the real flex is knowing your stuff so well that one tiny misstep doesn’t shake your confidence.