Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA): exam, cost and domains
The Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA) is a beginner-level Linux Foundation and CNCF certification in observability with Prometheus. The exam is a 90-minute, online proctored, multiple-choice test that costs $250 including one free retake, has no prerequisites, and is valid for 2 years. PromQL is the largest domain at 28%.
- Certification
- Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA), from the Linux Foundation and CNCFLinux Foundation Education and CNCF, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam cost
- $250, including one free retakeCNCF PCA page, checked 10 October 2026
- Format
- Online, proctored, multiple-choiceLinux Foundation Education, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 90 minutesLinux Foundation Education, checked 10 October 2026
- Number of questions
- Not published by the Linux Foundation or CNCFLinux Foundation Education and CNCF, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 75% — the Linux Foundation’s pass mark for its multiple-choice examsLinux Foundation FAQ for multiple-choice exams, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisites
- NoneLinux Foundation Education, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam eligibility
- 12 months from purchaseLinux Foundation Education, checked 10 October 2026
- Validity
- 2 years; renew by passing the exam againLinux Foundation FAQ for multiple-choice exams, checked 10 October 2026
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Why you can trust these PCA questions
What is the Prometheus Certified Associate?
The Prometheus Certified Associate, or PCA, is an entry-level certification offered by the Linux Foundation together with the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). According to the Linux Foundation, it demonstrates an engineer’s foundational knowledge of observability and skills using Prometheus, the open source monitoring and alerting toolkit.
The Linux Foundation rates it at beginner level and sets no prerequisites. CNCF describes ideal candidates as people who may already hold Kubernetes certifications such as KCNA, CKA or CKAD, or who have completed Prometheus-specific training — useful context, but not a requirement.
The PCA is a multiple-choice exam, not a lab exam. Its five domains run from observability concepts and Prometheus fundamentals through PromQL to instrumentation, exporters, alerting and dashboarding.
Source: Linux Foundation Education — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the Prometheus Certified Associate exam cost?
The exam on its own costs $250. CNCF states that the price includes one free retake, so a failed first attempt does not mean paying again.
The Linux Foundation also sells two bundles: the exam plus the Monitoring Systems and Services with Prometheus (LFS241) course for $299, and the exam plus a THRIVE-ONE annual subscription, which covers the Linux Foundation’s e-learning catalogue, for $495.
Once purchased, you have 12 months of exam eligibility to schedule and sit the exam, including the retake.
Source: Linux Foundation Education — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
PCA exam format
The PCA is an online, proctored, multiple-choice exam with a duration of 90 minutes. There is no test-center option listed; you take it remotely.
The Linux Foundation’s FAQ for its multiple-choice exams states that the online proctored exam runs on PSI’s proctoring platform, Bridge, using the PSI Secure Browser. Exams are scored automatically, and a score report is emailed within 24 hours of completion.
Neither the Linux Foundation nor CNCF publishes the number of questions on the PCA, so plan your pacing during practice rather than relying on a per-question time budget from elsewhere.
Source: Linux Foundation — FAQ for multiple-choice exams. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is the PCA passing score?
The PCA page itself does not print a passing score, but it links to the Linux Foundation’s FAQ for multiple-choice exams, which states that a score of 75% or above must be earned to pass the multiple-choice exam.
Three in four correct is a fairly high bar for a beginner-level exam. With PromQL worth 28% on its own, weak query skills can easily cost the margin you need.
Source: Linux Foundation — FAQ for multiple-choice exams. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the Prometheus Certified Associate exam?
The Linux Foundation and CNCF publish the same five domains with fixed weights. PromQL is the single biggest block, and together with Prometheus fundamentals it makes up almost half the exam.
Read the weights as a study plan. Observability concepts and alerting and dashboarding carry 18% each, Prometheus fundamentals 20%, and instrumentation and exporters 16%. No domain is small enough to skip, but PromQL deserves the most practice time.
CNCF has open-sourced the curriculum the exam was built around to guide candidates’ preparation, so you can check every topic against the official list.
- Observability Concepts — 18%
- Prometheus Fundamentals — 20%
- PromQL — 28%
- Instrumentation and Exporters — 16%
- Alerting & Dashboarding — 18%
Source: CNCF — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
Prometheus certification prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for the PCA. You do not need another Linux Foundation or CNCF certification first, and there is no experience requirement to register.
What helps in practice is running Prometheus yourself: scraping a few targets, writing PromQL queries with rate and aggregation operators, adding an exporter and firing a test alert. The exam is multiple choice, but every domain is about how these pieces behave in practice.
Source: Linux Foundation Education — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the PCA certification valid?
The PCA is valid for 2 years. The Linux Foundation’s FAQ states that candidates can retake and pass the exam to renew, that renewal must be completed before the expiration date, and that the renewed certification stays current for a further 2 years from the date you pass.
There is no continuing-education route mentioned; renewal means sitting the exam again.
Source: Linux Foundation — FAQ for multiple-choice exams. Checked 10 October 2026.
Official PCA training
The Linux Foundation’s own course for this exam is Monitoring Systems and Services with Prometheus (LFS241), sold together with the exam for $299. The THRIVE-ONE subscription bundle includes access to the Linux Foundation’s full e-learning catalogue.
The open-sourced CNCF curriculum is the free reference for scope, and the official Prometheus documentation covers every component the domains mention.
Source: Linux Foundation Education — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
PCA vs KCNA and CKA
All three are Linux Foundation and CNCF certifications, but they cover different ground. The PCA focuses narrowly on observability with Prometheus, while KCNA and CKA are Kubernetes certifications.
CNCF names KCNA, CKA and CKAD as certifications that ideal PCA candidates may already hold, which reflects how Prometheus is usually run: alongside Kubernetes. If you operate Kubernetes workloads, the PCA is a natural add-on; if you are new to both, it is a reasonable first certification in its own right because it has no prerequisites.
Source: CNCF — Prometheus Certified Associate (PCA). Checked 10 October 2026.
Prometheus Certified Associate practice questions
Certsqill’s PCA practice questions come with an explanation for each answer option, and your readiness score is broken down by the five domains so you can see whether PromQL — the 28% domain — is holding you back.
PCA questions people ask
What is the Prometheus Certified Associate?
A beginner-level Linux Foundation and CNCF certification that demonstrates foundational knowledge of observability and skills using Prometheus. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the PCA exam cost?
$250, including one free retake. Bundles with the LFS241 course ($299) or a THRIVE-ONE subscription ($495) are also offered. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the PCA exam?
90 minutes. Source: Linux Foundation Education, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the PCA exam?
The Linux Foundation and CNCF do not publish the number of questions. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is the PCA passing score?
75%, per the Linux Foundation FAQ for its multiple-choice exams, which the PCA page links to. Checked 10 October 2026.
Are there prerequisites for the Prometheus certification?
No. The Linux Foundation states there are no prerequisites for this exam. Checked 10 October 2026.
Is the PCA exam online?
Yes. It is an online, proctored, multiple-choice exam on PSI’s Bridge platform. Checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the PCA valid?
2 years. You renew by passing the exam again before it expires. Source: Linux Foundation, checked 10 October 2026.
Which PCA domain carries the most weight?
PromQL, at 28%. Source: Linux Foundation and CNCF, checked 10 October 2026.
