> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://devopscube.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to Become a Kubestronaut: Complete Roadmap - URL: https://devopscube.com/kubestronaut-roadmap/ - Published: 2026-09-03T13:08:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-03T13:08:55.000Z - Author: Aman Jaiswal - Tags: Linux Foundation, Kubernetes, #blog I [became a Kubestronaut](https://www.credly.com/users/aman-jaiswall/badges/credly?ref=devopscube.com) in 2026 after passing CKAD, CKA, KCNA, KCSA, and CKS while working full-time. The complete journey took me about one year, and CKS required the most preparation. ![Aman Jaiswal Kubestronaut Badge on Credly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5f/2f/5f2f4d20-2abf-4534-8d40-7aa233aedd43/content/images/2026/09/image-15.png) This Kubestronaut roadmap is based on my learning and experience that led me to become a Kubestronaut. In fact, this is the roadmap I wish I hadwhen I started my journey of becoming a Kubestronaut. Overall, here is what I have covered in this roadmap. - Who is a Kubestronaut? - Is the Kubestronaut title worth the hype? - The order I would follow if I started again - How long each certification took me - The preparation method that worked for me - The mistakes I would avoid - And finally, I will tell you the benefits of becoming a Kubestronaut Let's get started. ## Who is a Kubestronaut? A [Kubestronaut](https://www.cncf.io/training/kubestronaut/?ref=devopscube.com) is someone who has earned all five Kubernetes certifications managed by the [Linux Foundation](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/?ref=devopscube.com) and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). All five certifications must be active at the same time. The five CNCF certifications you need to become a Kubestronaut are: - [Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)](https://devopscube.com/kcna-study-guide/) - [Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)](https://devopscube.com/cka-exam-study-guide/) - [Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)](https://devopscube.com/ckad-exam-study-guide/) - [Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA)](https://devopscube.com/kcsa-exam-study-guide/) - [Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)](https://devopscube.com/cks-exam-guide-tips/) ![Kubestronaut Roadmap](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5f/2f/5f2f4d20-2abf-4534-8d40-7aa233aedd43/content/images/2026/09/image-14.png) KCNA builds conceptual knowledge; CKA and CKAD turn that knowledge into hands-on skills; KCSA introduces security into existing infrastructure; and CKS focuses on applying security configurations in a hands-on environment. 💡 Overall, Kubestronaut focuses on five certifications. Two multiple-choice exams and three online, performance-based exams. CKS is the toughest in the list. ## Is Becoming a Kubestronaut Worth It? At first, becoming a Kubestronaut looked like a certification challenge. In practice, it became something much more valuable for me. And trust me on this. I learned a lot from this journey. So, yes! **It was worth it for me**. Not simply because of the title. If the goal is only to add five badges to a profile, the journey can become expensive and exhausting. The actual return comes when you use the exams as a pathway to build connected skills. Here is the process that helped me: - It helped me learn a lot about the Kubernetes landscape. - Got a clear understanding of how [Kubernetes architecture](https://devopscube.com/kubernetes-architecture-explained/) connects to day-to-day operations - Became faster and more comfortable with `kubectl` commands. - I have gotten better at troubleshooting; instead of guessing, I know where to get a clear picture of the issue. - Learned many security concepts practically that are not part of my regular job. - Built a habit of learning through practice. The key thing to understand is that **certifications do not automatically make anyone an expert.** Real Kubernetes working experience matters a lot. However, a certification preparation path can force you to learn new concepts, stay disciplined, and practice regularly. These three things we often skip when we work on familiar daily tasks. The downside is that preparing for five exams requires a significant investment. However, the support from my organization through reimbursement helped me keep going. 💡 If you are working in an organization and considering the Kubestronaut path, check with your manager or learning and development team before paying for everything yourself. Your company may already offer an annual learning budget, exam reimbursement, certification vouchers, training subscriptions, or time for preparation. ## Kubestronaut Certifications Cost, Format, and Validity This table summarizes the certifications required to become a Kubestronaut, along with key details. | Certification | Exam Format | Duration | Passing Score | Cost | Validity | | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | ------------- | ---- | -------- | | KCNA | Multiple choice | 90 minutes | 75% | $250 | 3 years | | CKAD | Hands-on, performance-based | 2 hours | 66% | $445 | 2 years | | CKA | Hands-on, performance-based | 2 hours | 66% | $445 | 2 years | | KCSA | Multiple choice | 90 minutes | 75% | $250 | 3 years | | CKS | Hands-on, performance-based (requires CKA certification) | 2 hours | 67% | $445 | 2 years | 📌 ****Important Note:** If you are paying for the certifications yourself, you do not always have to pay the full exam price. If you purchase five exams separately, it will cost $1,835\. CNCF also provides a Kubestronaut bundle with all these certificates at a proximate ****cost of $1645**. It is a $190 difference before temporary discounts and taxes. The Linux Foundation regularly offers discounts of up to 50% and promotions on Kubernetes certifications and bundles. Check the [Linux Foundation coupon](https://devopscube.com/linux-foundation-coupon/) page before purchasing the exam. ## What Is the Best Kubestronaut Certification Order? My Kubestronaut journey took 1 year. If I were starting again, my path would be: ****CKAD → CKA → KCNA → KCSA → CKS** However, if you are new to Kubernetes, I would recommend, ****KCNA → CKAD → CKA → KCSA → CKS** Assuming you know the Kubernetes fundamentals, here is a detailed order of certification-preparation tips. ### 1\. Start with CKAD I began with CKAD, which focuses on designing, configuring, deploying, and troubleshooting applications on [Kubernetes](https://devopscube.com/kubernetes-tutorials-beginners/). It gave me strong command-line skills and hands-on familiarity with Pods, [Deployments](https://devopscube.com/kubernetes-deployment-tutorial/), Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets, [Jobs](https://devopscube.com/create-kubernetes-jobs-cron-jobs/), and other resources. Starting with the application layer worked well for me. It let me understand Kubernetes from the perspective of the workloads it is designed to run before I moved deeper into cluster administration. ### 2\. Next, take CKA After CKAD, I started preparing for [CKA](https://devopscube.com/cka-exam-study-guide/). In CKA, the scope became broader, like cluster architecture, installation and configuration, scheduling, services, networking, storage, and [troubleshooting](https://devopscube.com/troubleshoot-kubernetes-pods/). I learned to investigate failures, read events and logs, inspect node and workload state, and trace problems across multiple layers. CKA felt a little easy as I had already completed CKAD and had a good knowledge of the [objects](https://devopscube.com/kubernetes-objects-resources/) and configurations. ****Note:** CKA is a pre-requisite to appear for CKS exam. ### 3\. Then KCNA I took KCNA after the two practical exams. Although KCNA is positioned as a foundational certification, taking it at this point helped me organize concepts I had already used hands-on and connect Kubernetes to the wider cloud-native ecosystem. It reinforced Kubernetes architecture and core concepts while also covering areas such as [container orchestration](https://devopscube.com/docker-container-clustering-tools/), GitOps, [observability](https://devopscube.com/what-is-observability/), [service meshes](https://devopscube.com/service-mesh-tools/), and cloud native application delivery. After CKAD and CKA, many topics felt familiar and so easy, but KCNA gave me a clearer conceptual map around them. ### 4\. Next: KCSA KCSA is a conceptual security exam. Use it to understand threat models, identity and access, cluster component security, platform security, compliance, and the shared responsibility model. Taking it before CKS will be useful because you first learn how the security ideas fit together, then practice implementing and verifying them. 💡 KCSA gives useful context for CKS. Prepare for these exams one after the other, so that you reuse knowledge instead of relearning it. ### 5\. Finally, CKS CKS is the last exam to become a Kubestronaut because it builds administration and security skills. For the CKS exam, you need to focus on the complete lifecycle from [Kubernetes cluster](https://devopscube.com/production-ready-kubernetes-cluster/) setup to securing it. Most people assume that passing CKA and CKAD automatically makes them ready for CKS. It's not true. **Give yourself more time to prepare for CKS. It is the hardest of all Kubernetes certifications.** I felt the pressure during preparation and even more during the exam. You will learn many security concepts, such as [SBOM](https://devopscube.com/container-image-signing-kubernetes/), [AppArmor](https://devopscube.com/linux-apparmor/), [seccomp](https://devopscube.com/seccomp-in-kubernetes/), [CIS Benchmarking](https://devopscube.com/kube-bench-guide/), and Pod Security Standards. Also, you will learn tools such as Cilium, Trivy, and Falco. 💡 This certification order worked well for me because it built my practical skills first, then moved into administration, then broader cloud-native concepts, and finally into security theory and hands-on security. ## How Long Does It Take to Become a Kubestronaut? Well, it depends. For me, it took a whole year to complete the certifications. But the time may vary for you based on how much time you spend preparing each day and how quickly you understand. It took me a year because I was studying for the exams while working full-time. And the table below shows the approximate time I took for each certification. | Certification | Preparation Time | | ------------- | ---------------- | | CKAD | 1–2 months | | CKA | 2 months | | KCNA | 2 weeks | | KCSA | 2 weeks | | CKS | 3–4 months | Depending on the nature of your work and your preparation method, this time could be less than a year or more than a year. There are stories in the community of people who have achieved Kubestronaut status in three months. ## My Preparation Strategy My preparation was a little different for each exam, but one thing stayed the same. I looked at each topic in detail, not just to pass the certification. From a certification standpoint, I learned much more in the terminal. In the beginning, I measured my exam preparation progress by the number of videos or course sections I had completed. That was not the right approach. The problem is, Kubernetes often looks so easy when someone else is typing the commands. It feels very different when you open the terminal. Something isn't working, and there is no instructor to show you the next step. Here is what I followed for each certification. ### I Used Official Curriculum to Keep Me on Track Before preparing for an exam, I review the official curriculum and make a simple checklist. I did not create any complicated tracking system. I just marked the topics I was comfortable with and the ones that needed more practice. This also helped me notice topics that a course covered quickly, but that carried significant weight in the exam. ### I Stopped Jumping Between Courses At one point, I had several courses, videos, GitHub repositories, and study guides open at the same time. It felt like I had collected everything I needed, but I was mostly seeing the same topics explained in slightly different ways. So, I chose one course to prepare for the information that is needed for the exam. I used the official curriculum as a checklist and referred to the [Kubernetes documentation](https://kubernetes.io/docs/home/?ref=devopscube.com) whenever I needed more detail on a concept. The course showed me what to study, and the labs allowed me to test my skills in real test environments. 💡 Along the way, I also revised [Linux](https://devopscube.com/list-of-linux-commands-every-developer-should-know/), networking, [certificates](https://devopscube.com/configure-ingress-tls-kubernetes/), containers, [YAML](https://devopscube.com/create-kubernetes-yaml/), and JSONPath. Many Kubernetes issues are easier to understand when those basics are clear. ### Most of My Learning Happened in Labs I built my own [Kubernetes lab setup.](https://devopscube.com/setup-kubernetes-cluster-kubeadm/) I broke and recreated the cluster many times. After watching or reading a lesson, I tried to reproduce the task without looking at the solution. Sometimes I could do it immediately. Quite often, I realized that I had understood the explanation but could not remember the steps on my own. For example, for Deployment, I would create it, inspect the generated YAML, expose it via a Service, and then add ConfigMaps, Secrets, probes, and resource limits. Once it was working, I would intentionally change a selector, port, image name, or permission, and try to figure out why it failed. Broken configs taught me more than the working manifests. They made me use events, logs, resource descriptions, and check the actual state of the Kubernetes cluster. ### I Became More Comfortable in the Terminal For the practical exams, knowing the topic was only part of the challenge, but we also needed to complete tasks without wasting time. I practiced generating a basic manifest, editing it, finding the relevant documentation, and checking the result after every change. I did not try to memorize every command. I focused on the commands I used often and on knowing how to find everything else quickly. Also, CKA and CKAD share many of the same kubectl commands. So if you prepare well for CKAD or CKA, the other one becomes easier. 💡 Apart from your own cluster setup, use Killercoda or killer.sh labs for practice. It mimics the real certification environment. ### Mock Exams Helped Me Track Time When you register for CKA, CKAD, and CKS, you get two [killer.sh simulator ](https://killer.sh/?ref=devopscube.com)sessions for each certification. These mock exams are tougher than the actual exams. My first few timed mocks were uncomfortable, but they were useful. The score itself was not the most important part. I wanted to know why I had lost time or missed a task. Sometimes I did not understand the concept. Sometimes I knew what to do but could not remember the syntax. Other times, I simply rushed and missed a namespace or resource name. 💡 Ensure you make use of the free mock exams from killer.sh. They help you learn to manage your time in the exam. Also, they help you find your weaknesses and make the real exam more comfortable. ## Mistakes I Would Avoid Next Time After going through the certification preparation myself, here are mistakes I recommend avoiding. - **Ignoring Kubernetes fundamentals:** Don't ignore fundamentals like operating systems, Linux processes, containers, TLS certificates, DNS, IP addresses, and basic networking. If you are weak in the fundamentals, Kubernetes troubleshooting becomes harder. - **Memorizing manifests instead of understanding the structure:** Understand the manifest structure and learn how to generate manifests from day one. Learn to find the correct fields in the Kubernetes documentation, edit confidently, and validate the result. - **Watching videos or reading without trying it out:** Videos and just reading can make difficult tasks look easy because the instructor or author already knows the path. The moment you finish the lesson, perform the practical immediately in the terminal. - **Not going through Kubernetes official documentation:** The official documentation is the lifeline for CKA, CKAD, and CKS certifications. Learn how the documentation is structured, where to find key topics, and how to quickly locate the information you need. It is a key skill you should have. If you can do all of the above, you don't have anything to worry about. You will ace all the exams. ## Resources I Recommend Below are the resources I used to learn and practice for each certification. 1. [KodeKloud's Kubestronaut Learning Path](https://learn.kodekloud.com/learn/learning-paths/kubestronaut?ref=devopscube.com) 2. [Official Kubernetes Documentation](https://kubernetes.io/docs/home/?ref=devopscube.com) 3. [Killercoda CKA Play Ground](https://killercoda.com/devopscube-kubernetes/?ref=devopscube.com) ****Note:** Based on my learning and experience, I co-authored the [DevOpsCube CKA Course](https://courses.devopscube.com/courses/enrolled/2554258?ref=devopscube.com). If you want to dive deep into Kubernetes and prepare for the certification, this course would help. ## Benefits After Becoming a Kubestronaut The biggest benefit for me was having a structured way to validate what I had learned across Kubernetes development, administration, and security. I had worked across fundamentals, development, administration, and security, not just the part of Kubernetes that appeared most often in my daily work. There are also official program benefits. At the time of writing, CNCF lists an exclusive blue jacket, a Credly badge, access to a private Slack channel and mailing list, five annual [50% off certification coupons](https://devopscube.com/kubernetes-certification-coupon/), and discounts for selected CNCF events. These details may change, so confirm them on the current [Kubestronaut program page](https://www.cncf.io/training/kubestronaut/?ref=devopscube.com). But getting the title is not the final part. Kubernetes keeps evolving, certifications expire, and real systems will always give problems that no exam can reproduce. Once you get the title, keep learning, help other people, participate in the community, and apply the knowledge you get in real projects. ## Kubestronaut Vs Golden Kubestronaut I am now preparing to become a Golden Kubestronaut. To become a Golden Kubestronaut, on top of the five Kubestronaut certifications, you must obtain the [PCA](https://devopscube.com/prometheus-certified-associate/), [ICA](https://devopscube.com/istio-certified-associate-study-guide/), [CCA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#cca), [CAPA](https://devopscube.com/certified-argo-project-associate/), [CGOA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#CGOA), [CBA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#cba), [OTCA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#otca), [KCA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#kca), [CNPA](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#cnpa), [CNPE](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/?ref=devopscube.com#cnpe), and [LFC](https://training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/linux-foundation-certified-sysadmin-lfcs/?ref=devopscube.com) certifications. A good thing about Golden Kubestronaut is that you keep the title for life, along with additional benefits such as a 60% discount on [Linux Foundation certifications.](https://devopscube.com/linux-foundation-certification/) I will share my detailed Golden Kubestronaut learning path in a separate blog post. ## Kubestronaut FAQ's ### Should I renew all five certifications to keep Kubestronaut status? No. Under the Linux Foundation [CARE program](https://training.linuxfoundation.org/care-program/?ref=devopscube.com), you don't need to renew all five certifications. When you renew your CKS certification, it automatically renews KCSA, CKA, and KCNA, provided you have previously earned them. However, CKAD is not renewed by CKS. So you need to renew CKAD separately to keep all five certifications active and maintain your Kubestronaut status. In short, you just need to renew CKS and CKAD. ### Is there any discount for the Kubestronaut bundle? Yes! You can use code **DCUBE30** to get a flat 30% discount on the Kubestronaut bundle. This discount applies in addition to the default $160 bundle discount. ### How many Kubestronauts are there worldwide? There are more than **4300+ Kubestronauts** worldwide. You can check the live numbers on the [official Kubestronaut page ](https://www.cncf.io/training/kubestronaut/?ref=devopscube.com) ## Conclusion Becoming a Kubestronaut is something I will be proud of for a long time. Seeing all five certifications together felt great, but the part I value most is the **learning that happened along the way.** I want to repeat that. *You will learn a lot on your Kubestronaut journey* if you prepare properly. If you are considering this path, my advice is to avoid planning all five exams at once. Pick the next one, **set aside regular time to prepare**, and work from there. Some weeks will go well. In others, you may feel as if you have forgotten everything you learned. That is normal. I still do not know everything about Kubernetes. With every release, new updates and features are added to the platform. However, what changed is that I am more comfortable working through Kubernetes problems and finding the right information. Also, for me, **growth matters more than the badge** or the jacket. My advice is to take it one exam at a time, keep practicing, and enjoy the process. Over to you! Are you planning for Kubestronaut? Do you need any tips from me? Either way, drop a comment below, and I will be happy to answer your questions.