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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The July 2023 KCNA curriculum path describes the earlier five-domain exam outline, not the current weighting shown on the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) certification page. Use it as a dated study guide, and check CNCF’s live exam outline before registering. The sources establish the five-domain curriculum, but do not verify that a particular PDF revision was published in July 2023.
What the July 2023 KCNA path covers
The earlier CNCF outline groups foundational Kubernetes and cloud-native knowledge into five weighted domains. These percentages describe that earlier outline; they are not the current exam weights.
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| Earlier domain | Weight | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes Fundamentals | 46% | Resources, architecture, API, containers, and scheduling. |
| Container Orchestration | 22% | Orchestration fundamentals, runtime, security, networking, service mesh, and storage. |
| Cloud Native Architecture | 16% | Architecture fundamentals, autoscaling, serverless, community and governance, personas, and open standards. |
| Cloud Native Observability | 8% | Telemetry and observability, Prometheus, and cost management. |
| Cloud Native Application Delivery | 8% | Application delivery fundamentals, GitOps, and CI/CD. |
The five weights and topic groupings are from CNCF’s earlier curriculum materials and its November 2021 KCNA announcement; the CNCF curriculum PDF is the primary outline reference.
How the current exam outline differs
CNCF’s current KCNA page lists four domains with revised weights. Observability is no longer a separate weighted domain, while Kubernetes Fundamentals, Container Orchestration, and Application Delivery have different shares than in the earlier outline.
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| Current domain | Current weight | Earlier weight |
|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes Fundamentals | 44% | 46% |
| Container Orchestration | 28% | 22% |
| Cloud Native Application Delivery | 16% | 8% |
| Cloud Native Architecture | 12% | 16% |
| Cloud Native Observability | Not listed as a separate weighted domain on the current page | 8% |
For current weights and exam details, use the official KCNA certification page and the CNCF curriculum materials. The current curriculum README also lists suggested learning resources. Exam outlines and registration terms can change, so check the official page when you are ready to book.
How to organize study
If you are following the historical five-domain path, a reasonable sequence is to begin with the largest domain and then cover the remaining topic groups. This order is a study recommendation inferred from the published weights, not an official CNCF schedule.
- Build Kubernetes fundamentals. Study core resources, cluster architecture, the Kubernetes API, containers, and scheduling.
- Learn orchestration concepts. Review runtimes, networking, storage, service meshes, and security at a foundational level.
- Connect the cloud-native architecture concepts. Cover autoscaling, serverless, personas, governance, community, and open standards.
- Review observability and delivery. For the earlier outline, include telemetry, Prometheus, cost management, GitOps, and CI/CD. For a current-exam plan, map each topic to the live official curriculum instead of assuming the old domain weights still apply.
CNCF describes KCNA as a foundational credential for learners and people interested in cloud-native technologies, and positions it as an onramp toward certifications such as CKA, CKAD, and CKS. Treat its scope as conceptual and entry-level: it is not a substitute for a practical administrator qualification. The current exam outline includes Kubernetes architecture and core resources, basic kubectl deployment, cloud-native projects, networking, storage, GitOps, service mesh, and security principles.
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Exam format and registration details
CNCF describes KCNA as an online, proctored, multiple-choice exam. As listed on the official page accessed September 28, 2026, the fee is $250 and the offer includes one free retake. These terms and the price are time-sensitive; confirm them on the official KCNA page before registering.
The credential is designed as an introduction to cloud-native concepts rather than proof of extensive hands-on operational experience. Linux Foundation training and certification SVP and general manager Clyde Seepersad described KCNA as “a clear onramp” for people considering work with cloud technology in the 2021 launch announcement.
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