Guaranteed to run
07. – 09. September 2026
09:00 - 16:00 (CET/CEST, German time)
Online🇩🇪German
1.665,00 €
per person · plus 19% VAT
Preparation for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) Exam
In our three-day CKAD workshop, you'll gain hands-on expertise in essential Kubernetes functions: pod design, network services, deployment strategies, and self-healing. Fully prepared to pass the CKAD exam with confidence.
- Workshop levelIntermediate
- Satisfied participants2340+
- Days3
- LanguageGerman & English
- Workshop codeDW5
Workshop Details
What makes this workshop stand out
What you will learn and take away
You prepare intensively for the CKAD exam in 3 days, covering all 5 exam domains: Configuration & Security (25%), Design & Build (20%), Deployment (20%), Networking (20%), Observability (15%).
What you'll learn:
- You create Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets, and NetworkPolicies using imperative kubectl commands (faster than YAML editing)
- You configure Probes (Liveness, Readiness, Startup), SecurityContexts, RBAC (ServiceAccounts, Roles), and PersistentVolumes
- You work with Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs), Helm Charts, and Kustomize Overlays (hybrid approach for prod deployments)
- You practice exam-relevant workflows: efficient time management, productive terminal usage, and strategic task handling
After the workshop:
- You know the most common mistakes in the exam and how to avoid them
- We introduce you to Killer.sh (practice simulator) for your independent exam preparation
Value for your team
Why CKAD for Your Team:
- Industry Standard: CNCF/Linux Foundation certification is vendor-neutral and globally recognized (no cloud provider lock-in)
- Proven Competence: Your employees can demonstrably develop, deploy, and troubleshoot Kubernetes applications
- Fast Time-to-Value: 3-day intensive format instead of weeks of self-study, higher success rate than self-organized online courses
- Practice-Oriented: Exercises under realistic conditions, participants can apply what they learned directly to projects
After the Course: Your developers can independently deploy Kubernetes apps (Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps), configure security (RBAC, NetworkPolicies, SecurityContexts), and troubleshoot (Probes, Logs, Debugging).
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of Kubernetes technologies as well as experience in software development or system administration is required. Familiarity with Linux systems and the command line is also important. Ideally, you're comfortable working with text editors or IDEs and can handle YAML files without issue.
Workshop Agenda
Your Agenda at a Glance
Hands-on and structured. Every participant works in their own cloud environment. The agenda shows you what to expect each day.
Day 1: Kubernetes fundamentals, Pods, and self-healing
7 topics09:00–09:15💭 Questions & Answers
Get a structured overview of the CKAD certification: exam format, task types, and practical learning strategies. Learn how to prepare efficiently for the hands-on exam and what skills the certification demonstrates.
You receive a structured overview of the 5 CKAD Exam Domains: Application Design & Build (20%), Application Deployment (20%), Application Observability & Maintenance (15%), Application Environment, Configuration & Security (25%), and Services & Networking (20%). You learn which skills are tested in each domain and how to optimally prioritize your study time.
Decide when imperative commands are faster than writing YAML files. In the exam, this saves valuable time. Practice YAML generation from the command line and quick pod restarts.
Create Pods, Deployments, and Services using the most important kubectl commands for the CKAD exam. Practice quick namespace switching and efficient resource inspection.
12:00–13:00🥪 Lunch Break
Create single- and multi-container pods and learn the sidecar pattern (common exam task). Debug faulty pods and understand how init containers work.
Configure liveness, readiness, and startup probes so Kubernetes automatically restarts your applications or removes them from load balancing. The cluster detects faulty pods early and prevents outages without any manual intervention.
Debug faulty pods using kubectl tools (logs, describe, exec, port-forward). Analyze resource limits, container crashes, and network issues between services.
15:30–16:30💭 Questions & Answers
Day 2: Services, Deployments, and deployment strategies
6 topics09:00–09:30💭 Questions & Answers
Create ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer, and ExternalName services. Use service discovery and DNS resolution for pod-to-pod communication in Kubernetes.
Configure replicas for high availability. Understand how Kubernetes automatically restarts pods and distributes them across multiple nodes. Foundation for ReplicaSets and Deployments.
Work with ReplicaSets and label selectors for app scaling. Filter resources using labels/selectors and understand how Deployments automatically manage ReplicaSets.
12:00–13:30🥪 Lunch Break
Create Deployments, manage versions, and perform Rollbacks. Deploy zero-downtime rollouts and understand why Deployments are a core control mechanism in Kubernetes.
Deploy Blue/Green updates (parallel versions with instant switch) and Canary releases (gradual rollout with traffic splitting). Implement both strategies using native Kubernetes resources and understand when to use which approach.
Create Jobs for one-time batch processes and CronJobs for recurring tasks. Configure parallelism, restart policies, and completion tracking for production-ready automation.
15:30–16:30💭 Questions & Answers
Day 3: Security, networking, storage, and exam strategies
13 topics09:00–09:30💭 Questions & Answers
Create and manage Namespaces to isolate resources. Practice quick namespace switching (most common exam mistake!) and set ResourceQuotas to limit resource consumption.
Configure Network Policies for pod-to-pod isolation. Create ingress/egress rules, block unwanted traffic, and implement zero-trust networks for sensitive applications.
Understand the role of CRI (Container Runtime), CNI (Networking), and CSI (Storage) in the Kubernetes ecosystem. Configure storage drivers and understand how StorageClasses connect different storage backends: the foundation for PersistentVolumes in the exam.
12:00–13:00🥪 Lunch Break
Create PersistentVolumes, PersistentVolumeClaims, and StorageClasses for stateful applications. Configure dynamic volume provisioning and connect storage backends (exam-relevant for databases and cache systems).
Create ConfigMaps for app configuration and Secrets for sensitive data (passwords, API keys). Mount both as volumes or environment variables and follow the 12-factor app principle (config separation from code).
Create ServiceAccounts for pod identities and bind Roles/ClusterRoles with RBAC. Implement least-privilege access for applications and understand token mounting in pods (exam-relevant for security domain).
Configure SecurityContexts for non-root containers, read-only filesystems, and privilege escalation prevention. Use Linux capabilities (CAP_NET_ADMIN, CAP_SYS_TIME) strategically and harden your pods following security best practices.
Install and configure applications using Helm Charts (without writing your own charts). Practice deploying complex multi-component apps with helm install, upgrade, and rollback: exam-relevant skills for fast application deployment.
Create Kustomize overlays for multi-environment deployments (dev/staging/prod). Combine base manifests with patches (namePrefix, replicas, images): the native Kubernetes approach without external template engines (exam-relevant since CKAD 1.31).
Create Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) to extend Kubernetes. Deploy simple CRD YAML definitions, apply custom resources to the cluster, and use field selectors (Kubernetes 1.32+) for filtering like built-in objects.
Complete a live exam simulation under time pressure. We analyze common mistakes (forgotten namespaces, YAML indentation, copy-paste errors) and introduce Killer.sh for your independent preparation.
Take this opportunity for individual questions, feedback, and additional tips. Together we'll set the foundation for you to pass the CKAD with confidence.
Our Benefits
All from one hand!
With our high-quality trainings and workshops, you can bring yourself and your team up to date. All this with many benefits that you get from us.
- High Practical Content
- 70% hands-on, 30% theory. You work continuously with real scenarios and take working code home with you. No PowerPoint battles, but directly applicable knowledge for your projects.
- Cloud Learning Environment
- DevNinjas Dojo: Your own Kubernetes clusters and VMs for each participant in the browser. No installation, works despite VPN/proxy/firewalls. You work with dedicated resources, not in shared environments.
- Experienced Trainers
- Full-time DevOps engineers and consultants from DevNinjas lead the workshops. Not external trainers, but specialized employees actively working on client projects and sharing real-world experience.
- Small Groups
- Maximum 8 participants per workshop. Everyone gets individual support from the trainer. Your specific questions and use cases get answered, not passed over in anonymous crowds.
- Real-World Scenarios
- No toy examples or hello-world demos. You work with production-grade setups: multi-container applications, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring stacks. Directly transferable to your production environments.
- Certification
- You receive an official certificate of attendance as PDF and a verified LinkedIn badge. Document your professional development for your employer, HR, and recruiters professionally.
Testimonials
How participants experience our trainings
4.6/ 5
28 reviews for this workshop · unfiltered
Trainer
4.9
Content
4.5
Didactics
4.4
Over 253 IT professionals trained in 41 workshops since 2021
DevNinjas overall: over 1,384 participants · 207 companies · 241 workshops
Including BMW, Bundeswehr, Deutsche Bahn and many more.
"The CKAD content is extensive, and the hands-on exercises are helpful and necessary to really learn it. This course struck a good balance between enough practice and sufficient depth. The understanding conveyed over the three days is definitely enough to work through the remaining CKAD topics on your own, because the concepts are taught clearly. The learning environment worked smoothly and reliably."
Peter Menze
"The training exceeded my expectations by far. It was excellently structured, and the trainer's expertise was evident from the very first moment. The topics were presented vividly and with practical examples, and the exercises were pleasantly challenging, exactly right for a course like this. Through targeted questions, the trainer drew me so deeply into the subject that I absolutely wanted to keep working after the session ended. The teaching was outstanding too: topics were explained clearly and the trainer always addressed follow-up questions. I can recommend DevNinjas one hundred percent."
Patrick J.
"The "Docker & Kubernetes Bundle" training provided me with solid, practical knowledge for everyday work and enabled me to handle Docker and Kubernetes professionally. The excellently structured material offers real added value, even beyond the workshop. The combination of technical depth and interactive delivery by the trainer rounded off the whole experience. An experience that continues to help me even after the training."
Swen Strangfeld
@Bundesdruckerei GmbH
"It was fun and I learned a lot that I can actually apply directly in my company. The trainer's approach was very hands-on, and he repeatedly brought in real-world examples."
Felix R.
@Dirk Rossmann GmbH
"The seminar was superbly prepared, the group pleasantly small and the materials first-class. An excellent instructor who knows the subject inside out, takes time for the participants and answers questions in detail. The learning material alternated in a balanced way between theory and hands-on exercises that were timed excellently."
Kevin H.
@Oest Holding GmbH
"I now understand what Kubernetes is and got all the fundamentals I need to use it effectively and troubleshoot problems. The trainer answered every question and delivered a well-structured training. All the defined learning objectives were met."
Lennart D.
@ALDI SÜD
"In the workshop the most important Docker and Kubernetes topics were put together, prepared and explained superbly. The exercises fit precisely and were very well chosen in terms of difficulty. I am very satisfied with how much I learned in the five days and feel well prepared for upcoming tasks at work. Sure, you can teach yourself a lot on your own with AI tools, but without the workshop I would not have gained this overview or worked through so many exercises independently."
Christine L.
"Top support, as always: I am always happy to come back. The seminar met my expectations exactly. Without this course, trying to work your way into containers and Kubernetes on your own is like poking around in the dark. The fundamentals were well summarised, the connections explained, and the exercises made you think along. The complex subject was perfectly prepared for further self-study."
Georgius S.
@IT.NRW
"A great workshop with an excellent instructor. The density of information was high, and I learned a great deal. Thank you!"
Marco M.
@Deutsche Post
"From my perspective, the workshop had the right speed and an appropriate level of challenge. The subject matter was explained clearly by the instructor and practically consolidated with well-distributed exercises. Adjusting the workshop focus to the participants wishes was not a problem. Valuable practical experiences were shared, and even more specific questions were gladly answered. The instructor's professional expertise and extensive practical experience on the subject gave this workshop a special quality."
S. Kaiser
@forcont business technology GmbH
"The workshop gave me a very good insight into Kubernetes and made working with containers much clearer. Nico delivered the content in a practical and well-structured way, so I could quickly find my way around. The hands-on exercises in particular helped me apply what I learned directly. For anyone looking for a solid introduction to Kubernetes, this workshop is definitely recommended."
Daniel Hagen
@DKB Service GmbH
"All expectations met. Good technical expertise."
Manuel Köhn
@Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation
"The trainer was very competent and was able to draw from an extensive wealth of experience."
Thomas Schaper
@OPITZ CONSULTING
"The advanced Kubernetes workshop at DevNinjas really helped me grow professionally. The content was practical and excellently prepared, so even complex topics like RBAC, network policies and Ingress were conveyed in an understandable and directly applicable way. The deep expertise of the trainer was especially impressive and noticeable in every session. I can recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to use Kubernetes in production!"
Marius Büttner
@Siemens AG
"I really enjoyed the Docker & Kubernetes workshop at DevNinjas. Nico explained the complex topics around containers and orchestration in a very understandable and practical way. The mix of theory and hands-on exercises was perfect for being able to apply everything directly. I was able to take a lot away for my everyday work and now feel significantly more confident working with Docker and Kubernetes."
Dominik Kneissl
@Siemens Healthineers
"Overall, I thought the training was very good. The instructor was technically very competent and gave plenty of input on every topic. On a personal level it was very pleasant too, which made it fun. The learning environment was absolutely exemplary in its setup and usability. I will definitely recommend the training and DevNinjas."
Marius B.
@Dataport
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Your Contact
Vincent Sturm
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Looking for the right Kubernetes or DevOps training for your team? Vincent personally advises you on open workshops, certification prep and customized in-house training. He can also connect you with our consulting services. Get in touch with him directly.
Frequently asked questions
Formal Prerequisites: None (the CKAD exam has no official requirements).
Recommended Skills for Optimal Success:
- Container Basics: You should already know Docker or Podman (build images, run containers)
- Linux CLI: Confident use of Bash, text editor (vim or nano), file management
Kubernetes Experience: Not required. This workshop covers all CKAD topics from the ground up, including Kubernetes basics and cloud-native concepts (microservices, 12-factor apps, stateful vs. stateless). If you've never worked with Kubernetes, plan an additional 2-4 weeks of hands-on practice after the workshop for exercises and Killer.sh.
Optional: If you have no container experience yet, we offer Docker Fundamentals (DW1) or Podman Fundamentals (DW8) as preparation.
The CKAD exam is challenging but achievable with proper preparation. You have 2 hours for 15-20 hands-on tasks (no multiple choice), with a 66% passing score.
The Biggest Challenge:
- Time pressure (approx. 6-8 minutes per task)
- You need to work quickly with kubectl
- Track namespaces carefully (most common mistake!)
After This Workshop:
- You know all exam topics (5 domains: Configuration 25%, Design & Build 20%, Deployment 20%, Networking 20%, Observability 15%)
- You practice time management (skip hard questions, return later)
- The CKAD Exam Voucher (available separately from Linux Foundation) includes Killer.sh access (2 sessions, 36 hours each), a harder simulator than the real exam
Candidates with structured preparation (like this 3-day course) typically pass on their first or second attempt.
CKAD (Application Developer) focuses on developing and deploying applications on Kubernetes. You learn: Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets, RBAC for apps.
CKA (Administrator) covers cluster administration: cluster installation, upgrades, backup, etcd, networking, node management, troubleshooting.
Which certification for whom:
- CKAD: Application Developers, DevOps Engineers (CI/CD), SRE (app focus)
- CKA: Platform Engineers, Cluster Administrators, SRE (infrastructure focus)
Typical Learning Path: Many start with CKAD (Application Development), then CKA (Cluster Administration), and finish with CKS (Security Specialist). We offer all three as workshops: CKA Workshop (DW6) and CKS Security Specialist (DW7).
No, the CKAD exam voucher is not included in the workshop price. You purchase it directly from the Linux Foundation after the workshop for USD 445 (as of July 2026). The free retake comes with the voucher, not with the workshop price.
Included in voucher:
- 1x CKAD exam (2 hours, online, proctored)
- 1x free retake (if you don't pass)
- 2x Killer.sh sessions (36 hours of access to the exam simulator each)
The two Killer.sh sessions are intentionally harder than the real exam (tighter time limit, more complex tasks). Use them after the workshop to train time management and speed, so you are fully equipped to succeed.
No, the CKAD exam is not available in German. Exam languages are English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese. The Kubernetes documentation (which you may use during the exam) is in English.
Important: The exam is hands-on, not theoretical. You work entirely in the command line and write YAML files. B2-level English is sufficient to understand the task descriptions.
Our Workshop: Conducted in German (or English, if requested). We also prepare you for the English terminology used in the exam.
CKAD certification is valid for 2 years from exam date (since April 2024).
Recertification: After expiration, you can retake the exam. The renewed certification is valid for another 2 years.
Note: Certifications acquired before April 2024 are still valid for 3 years (grandfathered).
Yes, if you develop or operate applications for Kubernetes (application development, DevOps, SRE). The CKAD is a vendor-neutral exam by the CNCF/Linux Foundation and recognized across the industry, unlike cloud-specific certificates it is not tied to a single provider.
Its biggest value is proving hands-on ability: the exam is entirely practical. Passing it demonstrates you can work with Kubernetes under time pressure. For cluster administration, the CKA is the better fit (see the "CKAD vs. CKA" FAQ).
All practical exercises take place in the DevNinjas Dojo, our browser-based cloud learning environment. Every participant receives dedicated resources: own Kubernetes clusters, VMs, containers (depending on the workshop topic). You work not in a shared environment, but have full control over your own infrastructure.
Benefits:
- Your own clusters & servers: You get dedicated resources for your exercises
- No software installation required: Everything runs in your browser
- Works everywhere: Even in strict enterprise networks with VPN, proxy, and firewalls
- Open protocols: SSH, HTTPS, standardized web terminals (no proprietary client)
- Ready immediately: Login and start with the exercise right away
You only need a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and internet access. The Dojo is available to you throughout the entire workshop.
Yes, upon completion you will receive an official certificate of attendance from DevNinjas as PDF. This confirms your successful participation and the topics covered. The certificate is perfect for conversations with your employer and your personnel file.
Additionally, you will receive a verified digital badge that you can directly embed in your LinkedIn profile (section "Licenses & Certifications"). The badge follows the Open Badges 2.0 standard and is verifiable via QR code at any time. This way you showcase your qualification and position yourself with recruiters.
Yes, all our workshops are also available as corporate training. We tailor content, duration and focus to the needs of your team.
Corporate trainings take place either on-site or remote. Submit your individual request and we will prepare an offer for you.