Red Hat Application Development with OpenShift Streams Practice Test

Red Hat recommends that candidates have experience as a developer working with containers and a basic understanding of Kubernetes concepts. While not strictly enforced, successful candidates typically possess skills equivalent to those validated by the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) or have substantial hands-on experience with Linux, command-line interfaces, and application deployment. Familiarity with Git, YAML/JSON, and a programming language (Java, Python, Node.js, etc.) is also highly beneficial. The most critical prerequisite is practical experience using the OpenShift Container Platform.

The exam is entirely performance-based. You will be presented with a series of real-world tasks to complete on a live, pre-configured OpenShift cluster within a specified time limit. There are no multiple-choice or theoretical questions. You must demonstrate your ability to perform tasks such as creating applications, configuring builds and deployments, setting up networking and services, managing storage, and implementing CI/CD pipelines using OpenShift Pipelines (Tekton).

These certifications target complementary but distinct roles. The Application Developer certification focuses on the developer's perspective: building, deploying, configuring, and integrating applications *on* the OpenShift platform. It covers development workflows, CI/CD, and application-level concerns. The OpenShift Administration certification focuses on the platform operator's perspective: installing, configuring, managing, securing, and troubleshooting the OpenShift cluster *itself*. A developer would typically pursue the Application Developer path, while a system administrator or platform engineer would pursue the Administration path.

Red Hat certifications are currently valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. To maintain your certified status, you must either pass the most current version of the exam before your certification expires, or earn a higher-level Red Hat certification (which extends the validity of lower-level ones). This policy ensures that certified professionals maintain up-to-date skills with the evolving OpenShift platform and ecosystem.

Red Hat offers several official preparation resources, including exam objectives (detailed blueprint), recommended training courses (such as DO288: Red Hat OpenShift Development II: Containerizing Applications), and access to free hands-on labs through the Red Hat Developer program. The most effective preparation combines structured learning with extensive practice in a live OpenShift environment, such as using Red Hat's Developer Sandbox, a personal OpenShift cluster, or a corporate development instance.