The CNCF Curriculum is an open-source repository that organizes exam domains and learning paths for CNCF certification courses covering Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies. It structures certification content into weighted domains that reflect exam question distribution, providing a structured study guide for candidates preparing for CNCF certifications.
The curriculum is organized around multiple cloud-native domains including networking, security, GitOps, platform engineering, and certification preparation. It teaches cloud-native concepts through the lens of building and operating internal developer platforms, and structures learning content around declarative configuration and version-controlled deployment workflows. The material introduces Istio and Cilium networking concepts in a layered progression from basics to advanced traffic control, and weaves Kyverno policy management into Kubernetes security and compliance learning tracks.
The repository covers application development and deployment on Kubernetes, including designing cloud-native applications using core Kubernetes resources and multi-container patterns. It addresses cluster management, networking and connectivity, security and access control, monitoring and observability, storage management, and workload orchestration. The curriculum also includes modules on GitOps workflows, platform engineering, and hands-on exercises across tools like Cilium, Istio, Kyverno, and Argo in a progressive skill path.
The documentation provides exam preparation material that organizes weighted domains and knowledge areas for CNCF certification exams in Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies, with course modules aligned to the official CNCF certification exam blueprints and tool landscape.