Docker Certified Associate (DCA): The Complete 2026 Guide

Are you considering taking the Docker Certified Associate certification? Excellent decision. In a market where containers have become essential, this certification represents a major asset for your career.

But before diving in, you probably have questions: how much does it cost? What's the exam format? How do you prepare effectively? This guide answers all these questions and gives you the keys to pass on your first attempt.

What is the Docker Certified Associate?#

The Docker Certified Associate (DCA) is the official certification issued by Mirantis (formerly Docker Inc.) that validates your containerization and Docker orchestration skills. It's the only certification officially recognized by the Docker editor.

Why This Certification Has Value#

The DCA isn't a "paper" certification you get by memorizing slides. The exam tests your ability to solve real problems with Docker. Questions are based on practical scenarios you'll encounter in production.

In the job market, the DCA is a strong signal:

• Skills validation: Recruiters know you master Docker, not just that you followed a tutorial
• Differentiation: Less than 5% of developers using Docker are certified
• Salary: Docker-certified professionals earn on average 15-20% more than their non-certified peers
• Credibility: You can display the official badge on LinkedIn and your resume

Validity and Renewal#

The DCA certification is valid for 2 years from the date you pass. After this period, you'll need to retake the exam to maintain your certified status. This limited duration ensures that certified professionals stay current with Docker evolutions.

Comparison with Other Certifications#

The DCA stands out for its focus on Docker, Swarm, and Kubernetes basics (via MKE), without dependency on a specific cloud provider.

Practical Information#

Before starting your preparation, here's all the concrete information about the exam.

Price and Registration#

The DCA exam costs $199 USD/€200. This price includes:

• One exam attempt
• Access to the Credly badge upon passing
• An official digital certificate

Registration is done on Examity's website, Mirantis's exam partner.

Exam Format#

The DCA exam comprises 55 questions to complete in 90 minutes. It's a tight timing that leaves approximately 1 minute 30 seconds per question.

Question types:

• 13 standard MCQs: 2-4 options, one or multiple correct answers
• 42 DOMC: Discrete Option Multiple Choice, a unique format where options appear one by one

The DOMC format is often underestimated by candidates. To understand it in detail, check out our article What is DOMC?.

Passing Score#

The minimum passing score is not officially disclosed. However, everyone agrees it's around 70%. This means you need to answer correctly about 39 questions out of 55.

Warning: this isn't an "easy" score. Questions are designed to test your deep understanding, not your ability to eliminate absurd answers.

Available Languages#

The exam is available in:

• English
• Japanese

Unfortunately, no French version for now. If English isn't your native language, plan extra time to properly understand the questions.

The 6 Exam Domains#

The DCA exam covers 6 domains, each with a different weight. Here's the breakdown:

1. Orchestration (25%)#

This is the most important domain. It covers Docker Swarm and Kubernetes via Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (MKE).

Docker Swarm Concepts:

• Initializing and managing a Swarm cluster
• Creating and scaling services
• Rolling updates and rollbacks
• Container placement (constraints, labels)
• Node management (managers, workers, drain)
• Stacks and Compose files for Swarm

Kubernetes Concepts (via MKE):

• Pods, Deployments, ReplicaSets
• Services (ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer)
• ConfigMaps and Secrets
• PersistentVolumes and PersistentVolumeClaims
• MKE and MSR (Mirantis Secure Registry) Architecture

Essential Swarm Commands:

docker swarm init
docker service create
docker service scale
docker service update
docker node ls
docker stack deploy

2. Images & Registry (20%)#

This domain tests your ability to create, optimize, and distribute Docker images.

Key Concepts:

• Writing optimized Dockerfiles
• Multi-stage builds
• Build cache management
• Push/pull to registries (Docker Hub, private registries)
• Image tagging and versioning
• Docker Content Trust

Points of Attention:

• Difference between ENTRYPOINT and CMD
• Instructions that create layers or not
• Security best practices in Dockerfiles

3. Installation & Configuration (15%)#

Docker daemon configuration and environment setup.

Key Concepts:

• Installing Docker on different OSes
• Daemon configuration (daemon.json)
• Storage drivers (overlay2, devicemapper)
• Logging drivers
• Resource management (CPU, memory)

4. Networking (15%)#

Docker networking is often misunderstood. This domain tests your understanding of different network types.

Key Concepts:

• Network types: bridge, host, overlay, macvlan
• Overlay networks for Swarm
• Docker internal DNS
• Port publishing
• Routing mesh and ingress network

5. Security (15%)#

Security is critical in production. This domain covers Docker security mechanisms.

Key Concepts:

• Docker Secrets
• Docker Configs
• Content Trust and image signing
• Namespaces and cgroups
• Linux Capabilities
• Vulnerability scanning

6. Storage (10%)#

Managing persistent data in Docker.

Key Concepts:

• Volumes vs bind mounts vs tmpfs
• Volume drivers
• Sharing volumes between containers
• Backup and restore

Prerequisites and Target Audience#

Who Should Take the DCA?#

The DCA is aimed at several profiles:

• Developers using Docker daily
• DevOps Engineers managing containerized infrastructures
• System Administrators transitioning to containers
• Architects designing cloud-native applications

Recommended Experience#

Mirantis recommends 6 months of hands-on experience with Docker before taking the exam. This isn't a strict rule, but a realistic guideline.

Concretely, you should be able to:

• Create Dockerfiles for different types of applications
• Manage a multi-node Swarm cluster
• Debug network issues between containers
• Configure volumes for data persistence
• Understand the security implications of your choices

What the Exam Does NOT Cover#

Some important points to note:

• Advanced Kubernetes: The DCA covers Kubernetes basics via MKE, but not at the CKA level (no advanced RBAC, no Helm, no CRDs)
• Specific clouds: No questions about ECS, AKS, or GKE
• Programming languages: You don't need to code, just understand Docker
• Docker Desktop: The exam focuses on Docker Engine in server environments

How to Prepare Effectively#

The key to DCA success? A balance between theory and practice. Here's my recommendation: 60% practice, 40% theory.

The Theory/Practice Ratio#

Why so much practice? Because the DOMC format rewards those who know the commands, not those who've read them. When you've executed docker service scale myapp=5 dozens of times, you instantly recognize if a syntax is correct or not.

Preparation Resources#

Official Documentation:

• Docker Documentation - The absolute reference
• Docker Swarm Tutorial - Essential for orchestration

Hands-on Practice:

• Train With Docker - Practical scenarios with real Docker environments
• Train With Docker Sandbox - For quickly testing commands

Quizzes and Mock Exams:

• DOMC-format quizzes to get used to the exam's unique format directly on Train With Docker
• Questions by domain to identify your weak points

Exam Day#

You've studied, practiced, and feel ready. Here's how to approach D-Day.

Pre-Exam Checklist#

If you're taking the exam remotely:

• Stable internet connection (wired recommended)
• Working webcam and microphone
• Quiet, well-lit room
• Clear desk (no notes, phone, etc.)
• Valid ID
• PSI software installed and tested

For everyone:

• Good night's sleep
• Light breakfast/meal
• Arrive/connect 15 minutes early

Strategies During the Exam#

Time Management:

• 90 minutes for 55 questions = ~1min30 per question
• Don't stay stuck more than 2 minutes on a question
• You cannot go back on DOMC questions

For DOMC Questions:

• Read the question carefully BEFORE seeing the options
• Evaluate each option independently (YES or NO)
• If you don't know after 10 seconds, trust your instinct

For Standard MCQs:

• First eliminate obviously incorrect answers
• Watch out for similar but different syntaxes
• Reread the question if you're hesitating between two answers

After the Exam#

Results#

You receive your result immediately after finishing the exam. No stressful waiting!

• Pass: Congratulations! You're Docker Certified Associate
• Fail: You receive a report indicating your scores by domain

If You Pass#

Within 24-48 hours of passing:

1. Credly Email: You'll receive an invitation to claim your digital badge
2. LinkedIn Badge: Add it to your profile for maximum visibility
3. PDF Certificate: Downloadable from your Credly account

The Credly badge is verifiable by employers. They can click on it and confirm that your certification is authentic and valid.

If You Fail#

It's not the end of the world. Use the score report to:

1. Identify the domains where you lost the most points
2. Focus your preparation on these domains
3. Practice the associated commands again

You can retake the exam as soon as you feel ready (subject to paying the $199 again).

Conclusion#

The Docker Certified Associate is a certification that has value in the market. It validates practical skills sought by employers and differentiates you in a field where many claim to "know Docker" without being able to prove it.

Keys to Success:

1. Regular practice on real Docker environments
2. Mastering the DOMC format which represents 42 of the 55 questions
3. Focus on Orchestration which weighs 25% of the score
4. No cramming: deep understanding beats memorization

Ready to start your preparation? Train With Docker offers practical scenarios and DOMC-format quizzes to train under real exam conditions.

Good luck with your DCA certification!