AZ-400 vs CKA: Azure DevOps Engineer vs Kubernetes Administrator
Two of the most popular DevOps certifications — but they solve different problems. AZ-400 validates end-to-end DevOps expertise on Azure. CKA proves you can administer production Kubernetes clusters. Here's how they compare and when to pursue each.
At a Glance
| Criteria | AZ-400 | CKA |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Azure DevOps Engineer Expert | Certified Kubernetes Administrator |
| Issuing Body | Microsoft | CNCF / Linux Foundation |
| Prerequisite | AZ-104 or AZ-204 | None (but experience recommended) |
| Exam Format | Multiple choice + case studies | 100% hands-on (live terminal) |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 66% |
| Cost | $165 USD | $395 USD (includes 1 retake) |
| Renewal | Annual (free online) | Every 2 years |
| Scope | Full DevOps lifecycle on Azure | Kubernetes cluster administration |
| Avg. Salary Impact | $125K–$170K | $130K–$175K |
The Fundamental Difference
AZ-400 is a breadth certification. It covers CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, security scanning, monitoring, release management, and team collaboration — all within the Microsoft/Azure ecosystem.
CKA is a depth certification. It focuses entirely on Kubernetes: cluster setup, networking, storage, security, troubleshooting — and it's completely hands-on. You prove skills by solving real problems in a live terminal.
Skills Tested
AZ-400 Domains
- •Configure processes and communications (10-15%)
- •Design and implement source control (15-20%)
- •Design and implement build and release pipelines (40-45%)
- •Develop a security and compliance plan (10-15%)
- •Implement an instrumentation strategy (10-15%)
CKA Domains
- •Cluster architecture, installation & configuration (25%)
- •Workloads & scheduling (15%)
- •Services & networking (20%)
- •Storage (10%)
- •Troubleshooting (30%)
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose AZ-400 If…
- You're a DevOps engineer working in Azure/Microsoft ecosystems
- You want to validate end-to-end DevOps practices, not just container orchestration
- Your team uses Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions for CI/CD
- You prefer theory + scenario-based exams over hands-on terminal exams
- You already hold AZ-104 or AZ-204 and want to stack certifications
Choose CKA If…
- You work heavily with Kubernetes in production
- You want a platform-agnostic, hands-on credential
- Your role focuses on container orchestration and cluster management
- You prefer proving skills by doing, not answering multiple choice
- You're moving into platform engineering or SRE roles
Better Together
Many senior DevOps engineers hold both. AZ-400 proves you can build and manage the full DevOps pipeline. CKA proves you can administer the Kubernetes infrastructure those pipelines deploy to. Together, they cover the complete modern DevOps stack and command the highest salaries ($160K–$200K+ for dual-certified engineers).
Start Preparing Today
Our AZ-400 bootcamp includes hands-on CI/CD labs, security automation modules, and expert mentorship.