CNCF Launches Certified Kubernetes Network Engineer (CKNE) Certification
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) announced at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2026 the global availability of the Certified Kubernetes Network Engineer (CKNE) certification. Developed with Linux Foundation Education, the vendor-neutral exam validates hands-on expertise in designing, securing and troubleshooting networking across production Kubernetes…
The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) has launched the Certified Kubernetes Network Engineer (CKNE) certification, available globally starting February 15, 2027. Developed in collaboration with the Linux Foundation Education, this vendor-neutral exam assesses professionals' practical skills in designing, securing, and troubleshooting networking within production Kubernetes environments.
The 120-minute performance-based exam covers five key domains: Core Infrastructure and CNI (15%), Service Networking and DNS (25%), Advanced Traffic Management (20%), Network Security and Policy (25%), and Observability (15%). Candidates do not need prior certifications but should possess Kubernetes administration knowledge equivalent to the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA).
The certification is part of the CKNE Certification Pathway, which includes five training modules covering various networking aspects. CNCF plans to introduce two additional AI-focused credentials, Kubernetes AI Associate (KAIA) and Certified Kubernetes Inference Engineer (CKIE), in 2027. The certification is a prerequisite for earning Kubestronaut status.
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