Module 9 — Certifications & Next Steps
Audience: Engineers planning formal credentials alongside the learning path.
Outcomes: Map each module to relevant public certifications, choose a sensible sequence, and identify deeper specializations.
Checklist — choose your track
- Pick a vendor-neutral track (portable across employers) and/or a Red Hat track (matches our OCP stack)
- GitHub Foundations (after Module 1) — GitHub/PSI, $99, 75Q, no prereq
- Linux base (Red Hat): RH124 → RH134 → RHCSA (EX200)
- Kubernetes (CNCF, vendor-neutral): KCNA (entry) → CKAD or CKA (66%, $445) → CKS (requires CKA)
- OpenShift (Red Hat): DO180 → DO280 → EX280; then DO317 (Virt + EX316 included), DO432 → EX432 (fleet)
- Book one exam with a target date; the rest follow the module sequence below
Certification map
| Certification | Track | After which module(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Foundations | Vendor-neutral | Module 1 | Git + GitHub fundamentals; GitHub/PSI, $99, 75Q, no prereq; study via Microsoft Learn GitHub Fundamentals path |
| RHCSA (EX200) | Red Hat / Linux | Module 0–2 (Linux base) | RH124 → RH134 → EX200; the Linux foundation OCP assumes |
| KCNA — Kubernetes & Cloud Native Associate | CNCF (vendor-neutral) | Module 3 (entry) | Multiple-choice entry credential; good onboarding milestone |
| CKAD — Certified Kubernetes Application Developer | CNCF (vendor-neutral) | Module 3 (app layer) | Performance-based, 66%, $445; for those deploying apps to K8s |
| CKA — Certified Kubernetes Administrator | CNCF (vendor-neutral) | Module 3 depth | Performance-based, 66%, $445; the benchmark admin cert |
| CKS — Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist | CNCF (vendor-neutral) | after CKA | Requires a valid CKA; advanced security |
| EX280 — Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator | Red Hat | Module 3 depth | Core cluster admin; 3hr perf-based, 210/300; prep with DO180 → DO280 |
| EX280 — Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator | Red Hat | Module 3 depth | Core cluster admin; 3hr perf-based, 210/300; prep with DO180 → DO280 |
| EX316 — Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Virtualization | Red Hat | Module 4 depth | Included in DO317 bundle; covers VM management with KubeVirt |
| EX432 — Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Advanced Cluster Management | Red Hat | Module 6 depth | RHACM, policy, fleet governance; prep with DO432; replaces retired EX480. Red Hat lists DO380 (OpenShift Admin III) as a recommended prereq — optional but useful for deeper cluster-scaling context |
| DO180 / DO280 / DO317 / DO432 | Red Hat (courses) | Modules 2 / 3 / 4 / 6 | Formal Red Hat courses aligned to each module; DO317 bundles EX316 exam |
Suggested sequencing
- GitHub Foundations (Module 1) — early, low-cost, universally useful.
- RHCSA (EX200) — if Linux is new to you; the base OCP assumes (RH124 → RH134 → EX200).
- KCNA → CKA/CKAD after Module 3 — vendor-neutral, portable Kubernetes proof.
- EX280 after Module 3 — validates core OCP admin on our stack.
- EX432 after Module 6 — validates fleet governance for platform roles. Red Hat recommends DO280 → DO380 (optional) → DO432 as the prep path; DO380 covers cluster scaling and is useful but not required to attempt the exam.
- Role-specific: DO317 (Virt, includes EX316) for virtualization focus; CKS (after CKA) for security; ZTP/specialist for edge fleets.
Beyond this path
- Contribute to internal runbooks; mentor the next cohort through Modules 0–1.
- Deepen weakest verification checks — they mark real operational gaps.
- Track upstream changes (course renumbers, ZTP tooling, ACM policy API) and update this path.