The world of cloud native technology just got a bit more exciting!
At the recent KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America in Salt Lake City, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) announced a whole new set of certifications, expanding its focus to platform engineering and more.
Let's dive into what's new and how these certifications might be just what you need to boost your career.
Expanding to Platform Engineering
CNCF introduced two new certifications targeted at platform engineering:
- Certified Cloud Native Platform Associate (a multiple-choice exam)
- Certified Cloud Native Platform Engineer (a hands-on exam).
These certifications aim to validate knowledge in areas like CI/CD, observability, developer experience, and automation. With platform engineering becoming one of the hottest topics in cloud native, these certifications will help you prove your expertise and get recognition in a growing field.
As Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of CNCF, mentioned, platform engineering has gained a lot of attention, and these new certifications reflect the shift towards roles that focus on building efficient and standardized developer platforms.
New Project-Specific Certifications
Alongside platform engineering, CNCF announced three new project-specific certifications:
- Certified Backstage Associate (CBA) – Focuses on internal development platforms that streamline developer onboarding, cross-team collaboration, and innovation. The CBA exam will help you demonstrate that you can work with Backstage to create standardized developer platforms.
- OpenTelemetry Certified Associate (OTCA) – As cloud environments grow more complex, observability skills are in high demand. OTCA helps you prove that you understand the fundamentals of observability, including using OpenTelemetry for metrics, tracing, and logs. This certification will be available for scheduling starting in January 2025.
- Kyverno Certified Associate (KCA) – Kyverno is a powerful tool for managing security in Kubernetes environments. The KCA certification is for those who want to focus on cloud security, showcasing skills in applying policies, securing Kubernetes workloads, and writing custom security rules. The exam will also be available for scheduling from January 2025.
Why Do These Certifications Matter?
These certifications can be great for anyone looking to further their cloud native career.
Whether you're aiming to become a platform engineer, a specialist in developer platforms, or a Kubernetes security expert, there's something here for you.
They not only prove that you have practical skills in specific tools and practices but also position you as an asset to any cloud-focused team.
CNCF continues to build on its mission to offer vendor-neutral certifications that give you the skills to work across different cloud providers and tools. These new additions reflect the evolving needs of cloud native technology and the growing focus on areas like platform engineering and observability.
Resources to Get Started
Not sure if you're ready?
CNCF provides plenty of resources to help you prepare, like free courses on cloud and containers, unlimited access to all e-learning courses, and a career roadmap for cloud professionals.
If you’re interested in a deeper dive into the fundamentals of Backstage, OpenTelemetry, or Kyverno, CNCF has training courses and exam guides to support your journey.
CNCF’s expanded certification offerings give you the chance to validate skills that are in high demand. So if you’re looking to enhance your cloud native toolkit, take the leap and explore these new certifications. Who knows, your next big opportunity could be just a certification away!
Also, if you are looking for certification coupons, check out the Linux Foundation Coupon page, where you can find discounts for all Linux Foundation certifications.