The CNCF Curriculum is an open source reference guide that defines the knowledge domains and topics covered by CNCF certification exams.
The curriculum addresses the need for standardized, transparent preparation materials for cloud native certifications. Rather than keeping exam content proprietary, the CNCF publishes the curriculum openly so candidates know exactly what to study. The approach works by documenting the specific knowledge areas, skills, and concepts that each certification exam tests, allowing individuals and training organizations to align their preparation efforts with official requirements.
Organizations offering CNCF training should adopt this curriculum as the authoritative source for structuring their courses. It suits anyone preparing for CNCF certifications, from individual candidates studying independently to training companies designing formal programs. The curriculum covers fifteen distinct certifications spanning Kubernetes administration, application development, security, GitOps, and specialized tools like Cilium, Istio, Kyverno, and Prometheus. Training partners can use the curriculum to ensure their offerings meet CNCF standards and gain access to exam coupon programs. The curriculum versions align with Kubernetes releases, with major and minor version numbers matching Kubernetes versions and patch versions tracking documentation updates for each Kubernetes release. Previous versions remain accessible for those preparing with earlier Kubernetes editions.
The project maintains active issue tracking for curriculum errors and improvements. Documentation updates occur regularly enough to stay synchronized with Kubernetes release cycles. The repository preserves historical curriculum versions rather than replacing them, supporting candidates preparing with different Kubernetes versions.
