---
exam:
  name: Cilium Certified Associate
  abbreviation: CCA
  provider: Linux Foundation / CNCF
  developed_with: Isovalent
  official_page: https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/cca/
  registration_page: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/certification/cilium-certified-associate-cca/
  curriculum: https://github.com/cncf/curriculum/blob/master/cca/CCA_Curriculum.pdf
  announcement: https://training.linuxfoundation.org/blog/cilium-certified-associate-cca-launches/
  level: entry-level associate
  description: >
    Confirms a candidate's knowledge of connecting, securing, and observing
    Kubernetes clusters using Cilium.
  target_audience:
    - Platform engineers
    - Cloud engineers
    - Anyone interested in Kubernetes networking, security, and observability
  recommended_background:
    - Foundational knowledge of Kubernetes
    - Basic networking concepts (TCP/UDP, DNS, HTTP)
    - KCNA, CKA, or CKAD certification is a good complement (not required)
  prerequisites: none

format:
  delivery: online, proctored
  question_type: multiple-choice
  question_count: 60
  duration_minutes: 90
  passing_score_percent: 75
  language: English (Chinese option also available)

cost:
  exam_only_usd: 250
  bundle_usd: 495
  bundle_includes: THRIVE-ONE Annual Subscription (100+ educational products)
  includes_free_retake: true
  money_back_guarantee: true

policy:
  validity_years: 2
  eligibility_window_months: 12
  retakes_included: 1

domains:
  - name: Architecture
    weight_percent: 20
  - name: Network Policy
    weight_percent: 18
  - name: Service Mesh
    weight_percent: 16
  - name: Network Observability
    weight_percent: 10
  - name: Installation and Configuration
    weight_percent: 10
  - name: Cluster Mesh
    weight_percent: 10
  - name: eBPF
    weight_percent: 10
  - name: BGP and External Networking
    weight_percent: 6

preparation:
  study_resources:
    - name: Cilium Documentation
      url: https://docs.cilium.io/en/stable/
    - name: Isovalent CCA Study Guide (GitHub)
      url: https://github.com/isovalent/CCA-Study-Guide
    - name: CNCF CCA Curriculum (PDF)
      url: https://github.com/cncf/curriculum/blob/master/cca/CCA_Curriculum.pdf
    - name: Cilium Getting Started / Labs
      url: https://cilium.io/get-started/
    - name: eBPF and XDP Reference Guide
      url: https://docs.cilium.io/en/stable/bpf/
  practice:
    - name: Cilium Certified Associate (CCA) Practice Exams (Udemy)
      url: https://www.udemy.com/course/cilium-certified-associate-cca-practice-exams/
  labs:
    - Deploy Cilium as a CNI on a local kind/minikube cluster
    - Author and test CiliumNetworkPolicy and CiliumClusterwideNetworkPolicy resources
    - Enable and explore Hubble for network observability
    - Configure Cilium Service Mesh (Ingress/Gateway API) without a sidecar proxy
    - Set up Cluster Mesh across two clusters
    - Configure BGP peering with Cilium's BGP Control Plane
    - Inspect eBPF programs/maps with cilium-dbg / bpftool