Five real Certified Kubernetes Administrator projects mapped directly to CKA exam objectives. Mark a step complete and HandsOnCert commits the evidence — YAML manifests, kubectl output, troubleshooting logs — straight to your own GitHub repo. The portfolio employers actually click into.
$79 one-time · Project 1 free · No subscription
Every project maps to an official CKA exam domain. Each one ends with evidence committed to your GitHub repo automatically.
Install a Kubernetes cluster using kubeadm, configure the control plane and worker nodes, and verify cluster health. Commit your kubeadm configuration and cluster verification output.
Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration — 25%Deploy applications using Deployments, DaemonSets, and Jobs, configure resource requests/limits, and use node affinity to control pod placement. Commit your workload manifests and scheduling configuration.
Workloads & Scheduling — 15%Configure Services (ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer), set up Ingress for HTTP routing, and create NetworkPolicies to control pod traffic. Commit your service and ingress manifests with NetworkPolicy definitions.
Services & Networking — 20%Configure PersistentVolumes and PersistentVolumeClaims, create a StorageClass for dynamic provisioning, and use volume modes appropriately for a stateful workload. Commit your storage manifests and provisioning evidence.
Storage — 10%Diagnose and fix a broken pod (image pull error, misconfigured probe), troubleshoot a node in NotReady state, and use kubectl logs and describe to debug a failing application. Commit your troubleshooting steps and resolution evidence.
Troubleshooting — 30%Every completed step auto-commits evidence to your own repo. No fake portfolio templates — real configs, real screenshots, real history.
No simulators. You work in the actual CNCF console and tools, the same ones you'll use on the job and in the CKA exam.
Stuck on a step or an exam concept? Cert Buddy is trained on CKA objectives and helps you debug and understand — not just copy-paste.
Every chargeable resource has a clear alert telling you exactly when to stop, deallocate, or delete — so a lab break doesn't become a surprise bill.
Get the full CKA lab guide as a PDF — step-by-step instructions, screenshots to capture, and an exam quick-reference section.
$79 once. No subscription, no recurring charges. Or get All-Access to all 21 cert paths for $199.
Are the CKA hands-on labs free?
Project 1 (Cluster Setup) is completely free, including unlimited access to Cert Buddy for that project and the manual GitHub commit workflow. The remaining 4 projects unlock for a one-time payment of $79.
What environment do CKA labs use?
HandsOnCert's CKA labs primarily use kind (Kubernetes in Docker) for fast cluster creation, with an optional kubeadm-on-EC2 setup for Project 1's cluster installation domain — matching the realistic environment of the actual exam.
How does the GitHub portfolio work for CKA labs?
When you complete a lab step, HandsOnCert commits your actual YAML manifests, kubectl command output, and troubleshooting evidence to your own GitHub repository — giving you real working Kubernetes configurations in your portfolio.
How long does the CKA path take to complete?
The 5 projects take approximately 12 hours total, covering cluster architecture/installation, workloads/scheduling, services/networking, storage, and troubleshooting — the same domains tested on the CKA exam.
Is the CKA exam hands-on?
Yes, CKA is a performance-based exam — you work in live terminal environments connected to real Kubernetes clusters, completing tasks under time pressure, not multiple-choice questions. HandsOnCert's labs use the same kubectl-based format to build exam-day speed.
Should I take CKA or CKAD first?
CKA focuses on cluster operations (installation, networking, storage, troubleshooting), while CKAD focuses on application development on Kubernetes. Choose based on your role — operations/platform engineers typically take CKA first, while developers often start with CKAD. Both are valid independent starting points.
Start Project 1 free — no credit card required. See exactly how the GitHub auto-commit works before you pay anything.
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